Music of the month

Admittedly, it's been a while since the last music of the month post. There is usually pretty good response to these posts, so I thought I'd give a roundup of what I've been listening to a lot lately.

Ben Harper, Both Sides of the Gun: This is a two-disc album, and from the moment I heard track one of disc one, "Morning Yearning," I was hooked. He's been getting fantastic reviews for his latest effort, and for good reason. Favorite tracks: Morning Yearning, Better Way

Wideawake, Not So Far Away: There is no amount of praise I could give this band to do them justice. If The Fray was the band that defined my fall semester¹, Wideawake is the band that has defined my spring semester. I don't know if these guys will ever make it nationally or not (they're pretty big in Texas), but you owe it to yourself to check 'em out. Favorite tracks: Mariposa, Misunderstood, Broken

Josh Garrels, Stonetree: Really, I am only listening to this album because I am so excited about his new one, Over Oceans. It's a little difficult to describe Josh's style, and I assume many reading this are unfamiliar with him, so just check out some of his stuff on his Myspace. Favorite track: Alleluia

Dave Barnes, Chasing Mississippi: Barne's second full-length album sounds much better production-wise. His music has always been genre-defying, and this album captures that wonderfully. He'll go from 70's sounding disco-pop to straight-up blues to acoustic love song without a second thought. I gave a copy to a friend of mine recently and he said it's currently his favorite album. Favorite tracks: Miles to Go, Everybody But You, Someday Sarah

Stevie Wonder, A Time to Love: Received this album via Shawn, and I must say it is a gem. Stevie's still got it. I think that he's the kind of artist you've always enjoyed and always will, or have never enjoyed and never will. Favorite tracks: From the Bottom of My Heart, Please Don't Hurt My Baby

Rascal Flatts, Me and My Gang: Rascal Flatts is a money-making machine; they're pumping out albums before you even have a chance to finish listening to the last one. I think they've released an album every year I have been in college. For the most part this album is really crappy and disappointing. The only redeeming qualities are the first two tracks, "Stand" and "What Hurts the Most". "Stand" is lyrically cheesy, but I think it's done tastefully. "What Hurts the Most" is the most-played song on my iPod recently. Favorite tracks: What Hurts the Most, Stand

1. I posted about The Fray way back in September, the day their hit album came out, remember? Now their single "Over My Head (Cable Car)" is everywhere. [↩]