Michael Hurley - "Be Kind to Me"

A sloppy, lumbering country boogie, "Be Kind to Me" is a humble, but ultimately unreasonable plea for kindness. The specific form of kindness that Mr. Hurley is after is the reciprocation of his love for a particular woman - "the best ol' girl you've ever seen" - who for years has rebuffed him at every turn. "I hardly feel like a mustard seed," Hurley whines, "because your love is all I need." What kind of pain must this man be in to describe his status as sub-mustard seed? Unfortch for The Hurler, he doesn't quite understand the situation: "I told you once and I told you twice, why be mean when you can be nice?" he admonishes. Of course, what he needs is luck, not generosity; a requitement of love is not the kind of thing that can be given as a kindness.

"Be Kind to Me" is replete with the good things in life: Tiny Tim-like falsetto vocal leaps, Dave Coulier-style mouth-trumpet solo and a certain Leonard Cohen-improvising-at-night-with-friends-around-a- piano bohemian informality. [Buy at eMusic]

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Sam Prekop - "Chicago People

"Chicago People" has been sitting in my metaphorical "to post" folder for several months, but always manages to get itself bumped by more melodically ambitious material. Sam Prekop writes songs that highlight the latent power in the everyday sounds of pop music: the rich trembling tone of a tremolo guitar, the round sound of a hefty and distinct bass note, the long-decaying hiss of a ride cymbal with chain, mallets and low-tuned toms, sticks and a high-tuned snare. Without hooks or riffs, just an elegant setting for tones and timbres too often taken for granted. [Buy]