The eMusic Dozen: My Dozen

I first discovered this recording as a 15-year-old. The band, including the fabled Jerry Garcia, was featured in an odd documentary about the Hell's Angels called Hell's Angels Forever. I was fascinated by the tenuous connection between a seemingly docile, if not slightly stoned, hippie band and the infamous biker group. These recordings hold a similar fascination for me. They are a psychedelic blend of blues, bebop and organ funk glued together by Jerry's meandering guitar work. Critics have faulted Garcia for a "reedy voice and sloppy guitar licks." To me it's these very "flaws" that lend charm and character to Garcia and to this recording. Favorite Song: "The Harder They Come"

This album blows me away every time I listen to it: the production is clean, the tones of the instruments are rich and warm and the grooves are just ridiculous. It takes an uncanny kind of ability to take simple chord changes and basic melodies and infuse them with such "umph." It's the same thing that makes great blues players great — the ability to "own" the note, to get inside and express a beat or a phrase. Mavis Staples' vocal work is spine-tingling and the endless succession of big gospel moments lifts you up and literally makes you want to dance. My only criticism is that the lyrical content, while laden with powerful messages of racial equality, gets a little sappy from time to time. Favorite Song: "The Weight"

Ever hear of him? Neither had I, but I bet you know one of his songs. I've gotten into the habit of renting Netflix movies and they've gotten pretty good at making recommendations based on my rental history. One of the films they recommended was a documentary about an aging, blind bluesman who teaches himself to do Tuvan throat singing, a strange chant-like technique that enables one to sing two pitches at once and to make use of circular breathing much like you would for playing a didgeridoo. The protagonist of this documentary was Paul Pena. This album is a collection of folk, blues and rock. My favorite songs on the album are "Gonna Move," recently covered by Susan Tedeschi and, yes, "Jet Airliner," written by Pena and made into a huge hit in the '70s by the Steve Miller Band. Paul's version is much more gritty and raucous than Miller's. When I heard it, I felt like I finally understood the song for what it was meant to be. Favorite Song: "Gonna Move"

My wife says I am a musical male chauvinist because I typically do not listen to female artists. For the record: THAT'S NOT TRUE. I do listen to females less than males, for some reason. (Note: If you ever saw my wife's collection of music you would be shocked — we are talking Top 40 all the way — oh, the shame!) I guess what I object to in some female singers is a sort of overt emotional overtone of sappiness or saccharine sweetness (a.k.a. Jewel). Susan Tedeschi is none of the above. She has a powerfully sturdy voice that is expertly showcased in a collection of bluesy pop songs, most notably Paul Pena's "Gonna Move." One of the cool things about this album is that Tedeschi's husband Derek Trucks plays slide guitar on the album — it's like Sonny and Cher, only hip. Favorite song: "Gonna Move"

If you are like me, you think you like jazz and you want to like jazz but sometimes you sit down to listen to jazz and you just don't get it. Certain jazz compositions can be challenging and hard to digest. There are times when the playing is so esoteric that you have to be a certifiable genius to fully understand it. This album put an end to my stupor. It's kind of jazz for idiots and I mean that in the best way. The songs are melodic, thematic and laden with hooks. Favorite Song: "Da Duh Dah"

I think I kind of busted out of my cage a little on this one. If you sort through my playlists, they're filled with overexposed tracks from '70s rockers like CSN, the Allman Brothers or Stevie Wonder and various folk/country titles. Being a self-proclaimed member of the Bad Song Police I would be remiss not to mention that there is not a bad song on this album. It's got witty lyrics and cool instrumentation: Reminds me a little of the Velvet Underground in the lazy, hazy, think-I-might-be-crazy kind of way. Favorite Song: "Miracle Drug"

This is a band I saw perform in a little club in NYC called Sin-e (It’s Irish — I think). I will confess that the skeptic in me was making its presence known and coloring my lack of anticipation prior to the show. As it turns out the skeptic was downright wrong. The Pillcrushers are an extremely talented band and this is a well written collection of timeless songs. The songs are a blend of pop music and roots rock and would sit well on any Triple-A radio playlist. I recently met Greg Beshers (lead singer/songwriter) and professed my admiration for his band and my appetite for crushed pills. Favorite Song: Is it True.