- Andrew Bird - "Sovay (with My Morning Jacket in Boulder, CO)" (MP3): Andrew Bird is great on record, but in my opinion his songs find new depth and meaning live. It helps to be there to watch Andrew emote through a menagerie of instruments and of course his amazing voice. Listening to this live version of "Sovay" from Mysterious Production of Eggs may be the next best thing. My Morning Jacket back Andrew here with some beautiful slide guitar and more. Taken from the "Sovay" single. Essential!

- My Morning Jacket: "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man" (MP3): MMJ take on the Artist. Unlike Prince, they play the song in its entirety live. No annoying medleys.

- Robyn Hitchcock - "Madonna of the Wasps" (MP3): Robyn Hitchcock was unknown to me until I saw him open for R.E.M. in Tempe, AZ, 1989. Inspired by his performance, I bought two albums, Globe of Frogs and Queen Elvis. The latter was my favorite and Robyn's psychedelic and sly observations have stuck with me through the years. If you're not familiar with Robyn, his website, organized like a museum, is overloaded with information.

- Camper Van Beethoven: "Take the Skinheads Bowling" (MP3): This song makes me smile. I usually try to find a spot for it on the infrequent mixtapes I make. CVB have always been criminally underappreciated for their pioneering genre blending and off-kilter point of view.

- Doveman: "Honey/Only Love Can Break Your Heart" (MP3): "Honey" is the lead track on Doveman's exquisite debut album The Acrobat. I expressed my appreciation for The Acrobat back in July, but my fondness for it continues to grow. It's an album that takes its time gaining control of your brain, but once its there it won't go away. This live version of "Honey" from a WNYC broadcast is perfectly melded with Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart". Find more live Doveman on the band's site.