In The Mood For A Little Bach? Of Course You Are.

This is a great ditty to get the gears moving on a cold Thursday morning.

One Christmas Carol, Six Ways

Maybe people turn into Grinches during the holiday season because they are forced to listen not just to Christmas music all the time, but the same Christmas music all the time. It's one thing to hear "Chestnuts Roasting On A Open Fire," but even Nat King Cole's version starts to lose its luster after the 300th listen.

Thanks to wonder that is Spotify, music nerds like myself can indulge for hours in troves of Christmas music that won't be piped into the local mall. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" is my favorite Christmas song. These are six interpretations that likely aren't on a standard compilation.

Classic Ella, my personal Allah	Dramatic, with excellent French horns

A jazzy medley in four part harmony. One of many arrangements that pairs "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with "Carol of the Bells"	What is Christmas without a little punk?

Live from midnight mass	You can actually dance to this version

Musical Interlude

It's just about coffee break time, so here is a link to Daft Punk's new album, Random Access Memory. "Get Lucky" is the single, but I really like "Motherboard" which has a jazzy, ethereal feel to it. New music is always a good idea.

The Shining

It's Easter Weekend and we're all probably mainlining wine at this point. He's a great song from Badly Drawn Boy from 2001 (!!) that should rock you to sleep. Love the intro. Love the use of French horns. Instead of more cowbell, we all need more French horn.

Hurricane Got You Down? No Worries. I Made A Playlist.

By now people who don't have to be in any of the powerless areas have fled gotten out. I'm still hearing and reading a lot about downtown and Murray Hill, and none of it is particularly good. (Looting? Really?) One friend of mine called his block, 8th Street and Third Avenue, "The Ninth Ward."

If you're holed up and powerless, and no one has offered to take you in, (punks!) entertain yourself with this Hurricane playlist I put together. It's been ages since I've put together any sort of a mix tape for anyone, so indulge me in this Clinton-era exercise.

If you like guitars (and I know you do), be sure to check out the Brian Setzer's version of "Malaguena." It is a far cry from "Zoot Suit Riot", which he is best known for. I'm also a big fan of Tito Puente's version of "Take 5." I know, I know, I also laugh on the inside when someone says they like jazz and then immediately mention "Take 5." We're all a little bit music snob. But Tito's version is great. And if you don't like Tito Puente, then you officially have no soul.

P.S. I bet you didn't know that Henry Mancini wrote the theme song for "What's Happening!!" Now you do.

I Learn About New Music At The Burlington Coat Factory

Tonight I was in the Burlington Coat Factory in Union Square (this is how I spend my Friday nights) when the song below came on over the intercom. It's by Mat Kearney, who I was really into in 2007 when he first came out, thanks in large part to some publicists at Sony who always kept me on their distribution lists.

Then for some reason I stopped following him and his music, which is a shame because is he awesome and apparently has been on tour incessantly for the past few years. How do I miss these things?

'Here We Go' came out three years ago but it will worm its way into your ear. You've been warned.


Apparently he recently played the Red Rocks in Colorado. I seriously need to get back on the music PR lists.

More Music In The House. Always.

I love the idea of using muscical instruments as home decor. Even better if you can actually play them.

I was thrilled to see this video on Ramshackle Glam this morning. No matter if the piano is old and rickety and needs a solid tuning. Always buy it and deal with the sprucing up later.

New Huffington Post Piece: The Beastie Boys Were The Original Hipsters

Source: google.com via Michael on Pinterest

We've all just been copying them for a long time. Check out the piece here.

Music And Senior Citizens

This video shows how music brings life back into a very old man at a nursing home. Of course, he says his favorite artist is Cab Calloway. How could that not perk you up?

Music Humor

Source: Uploaded by user via Gail on Pinterest

A Sunday Morning Musical Selection

If anyone ever wondered what the girliest song ever written is, this 2003 Leona Naess song is certainly a contender. I think she's totally underrated. Thanks to Spotify, I can now listen to this piece over and over again, like a mental patient.

It's a little Sunday Morning Schlock, but it's a nice song and will go well your coffee.

About once a year or so I become obsessed with a song for no particular reason. In college songs like Dave Matthews "Crash Into Me" and 112's "Only You" were on permanent rotation. In 2005 I couldn't get enough of Lifehouse's "You And Me." Last winter not a day went by without hearing Mat Kearney's "All I Need."

Michael Buble' song "Everything" has wormed his way into my ear. I know it's like a million years old, but it's such a sweet little ditty, what's not to like? Ah, crooners.

Is it just me, or does this song totally remind you of Cole Porter's "You're The Top," which was featured in the musical, "Anything Goes."