Fountains of Wayne:Welcome Interstate Managers: These guys are killer New Jersey power pop. I first heard them when they were the ghost band in the movie "That Thing You Do" masquerading as "The Oneders." If you like driving guitar, great harmonies and sicky sweet power pop, nobody does it better these days.

Paul Thorn: Mission Temple Fireworks Stand: My good friend Uncle Fuzzy work Paul's show at the Berkeley, CA music house "Freight and Salvage" and was blown away. This guy has led an amazing life. He's the son of a traveling evangelist, he was a prizefighter (fought Roberto Duran), is a talented painter, and of course a very entertaining musician and songwriter. Sound in the vein of John Hiatt or John Mellencamp. He has several good albums out, this one is my fave.

Oingo Boingo: Only A Lad: I needed a Boingo fix bad...and didn't have their best album! So I used some Christmas money to buy it. There's nothing wrong with Capitalism! I say Bring Back Boingo!
Big Blue Hearts: One part Chris Isaak, one part Los Lobos, toss in some Mavericks ... sprinkle in Roy Orbison and you've got Big Blue Hearts. Ultra-fine soaring harmonies, ghostly guitars ... electric glide in cool.
John Batdorf & James Lee Stanley: One of the most impressive folk albums I've ever heard, "All Wood and Stones" are covers of Rolling Stones songs in stripped down acoustic guitar folk style. Beautifully done, sparse production, riveting.
Slaid Cleaves: Born in Maine, now lives in Texas, great songwriter in the Bob Dylan/Bruce Springsteen vein. Watch out for this guy.