SONOS Presents
Nickel Creek - When You Come Back Down

Song: When You Come Back Down

Artist: Nickel Creek, Vista, CA

Album: Nickel Creek, 1999

Notes: Easy-swaying acoustic pearl from their lovely debut album which was produced by Alison Krauss. The much-missed bluegrass combo who regrettably split up five years ago combined the talents of lead singer and mandolin player Chris Thile, and siblings Sean Watkins on guitar and his sister Sara on violin.


Angela McCluskey - Dream

Song: Dream

Artist: Angela McCluskey, Scotland

Album: Dream (UNICEF single), 2008

Notes: Powerful pop-soul belter from lead singer of California-based folk-pop combo, the Wild Colonials - (Angela's also collaborated with French poptronica outfit, Telepopmusik). Why isn't she a bigger star? More at www.angelamccluskey.com.


Psychedelic Furs - Heaven

Song: Heaven

Artist: Psychedelic Furs, England

Album: Mirror Moves, 1984

Notes: Solid slice of accessible, vintage Modern Rock from the Furs' best album. Written by the brothers Butler, bassist Tim and frontman Richard who went on to pursue a solo career after the group disbanded in 1991.


Sarah Bettens - Stay

Song: Stay

Artist: Sarah Bettens, Belgium

Album: Scream, 2005

Notes: Overlooked nugget by smokey-voiced songstress originally from Belgium who relocated to live in Tennessee. Also lead singer of the Belgian rock group, K's Choice.


Spring Standards - Only Skin

Song: Only Skin

Artist: Spring Standards, New York

Album: Yellow/Gold EP, 2012

Notes: Another strong folk-pop cut from an upcoming pair of EPs from trio of James Cleare, Heather Robb and James Smith who originally formed the band when they were all just 16.


Nada Surf - Waiting For Something

Song: Waiting For Something

Artist: Nada Surf, New York

Album: The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy, 2012

Notes: Driving rhythm track from the alternative rocking, indie-darling trio led by Matthews Caws. From their latest CD.


Anna Nordell - I'll Still Love You Then

Song: I’ll Still Love You Then

Artist: Anna Nordell, Sweden

Album: Message In a Bottle Soundtrack, 1999

Notes: Buried on the outstanding and much overlooked soundtrack which is just stuffed with lost rare earth minerals, quality ballad from Swedish singer-songwriter who got her start in showbiz at the age of just 14 playing the part of Leisl in a major production of the 'Sound of Music' in Stockholm.


Honorary Title - Stay Away

Song: Stay Away

Artist: Honorary Title, Brooklyn, NY

Album: Scream and Light Up The Sky, 2007

Notes: Sturdy rock outing by the alternative rock quintet which was only around for six years before splitting in 2009 - lead singer Jarred Gorbel has subsequently undertaken a solo career.


Lionel Richie - Deep River Woman

Song: Deep River Woman

Artist: Lionel Richie, Tuskegee, AL

Album: Dancing On The Ceiling, 1987

Notes: Somehow this exquisite, highly harmonious pearl never cracked the Top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. A Country-flavored corker with superb harmonies from veteran Country band, Alabama.


Susan Justice - Eat Dirt

Song: Eat Dirt

Artist: Susan Justice, Aruba

Album: Eat Dirt, 2012

Notes: Outstanding title cut from a new album by extremely promising songstress. A painful autobiographical account of a questioning teenager trying to break free from a cultish upbringing and domineering parents.


Athlete - Street Map

Song: Street Map

Artist: Athlete, England

Album: The Tourist, 2005

Notes: Too good for prime time, a delicious tender number about trying to map out a new love that seems impossible, from their best album to date. Why aren't they as big as Coldplay in the US?


Magic Numbers - Gone Are The Days

Song: Gone Are The Days

Artist: Magic Numbers, England

Album: Help: A Day In The Life, 2005

Notes: Lovely easy-flowing folk-pop from a British pop quartet comprising two sets of siblings, Angela and Sean Garron and Michele and Romeo Stodart. One of several top cuts on a terrific benefit compilation album released to benefit the worthy War Child charity.


Kristina Train - Moon Rivers and Such

Song: Moon Rivers and Such

Artist: Kristina Train, New York

Album: Spilt Milk, 2009

Notes: Full blues-gospel sound of the remarkable Kristina, horribly under-appreciated sitting squarely between Norah Jones and Adele. Signed to the venerable Blue Note jazz/blues label. Essential listening.


Vangelis - The Tao of Love

Song: The Tao of Love

Artist: Vangelis, Greece

Album: China, 1979

Notes: Greek synth-God, Vangelis (he of 'Chariots of Fire' fame) - with an intriguing oriental excursion. He recently turned 70, a prolific instrumentalist and composer who's recorded over 40 albums over the past 40 years including several top soundtracks.


Lydia - Dragging Your Feet In The Mud

Song: Dragging Your Feet In The Mud

Artist: Lydia, Gilbert, AZ

Album: Paint It Golden 2011

Notes: A mighty collage of sound, such a creative musician, songwriter and infectiously emotive singer, Leighton Antelman also known as Lydia (and one half of The Cinema too). Album is top notch.


Spinners - The Rubberband Man

Song: The Rubberband Man

Artist: Spinners, Detroit

Album: Happiness Is Being With The Spinners, 1976

Notes: Crossover smash from 1976 but barely heard anymore, the soulful precision of the evergreen vocal group with a timeless R&B shuffler written and produced by the great Thom Bell.


Nitin Sawhney feat. McCartney - My Soul

Song: My Soul

Artist: Nitin Sawhney feat. McCartney, England

Album: London Undersound, 2009

Notes: An intriguing quiet pairing of British-Asian jazz/electronica producer/composer Nitin Sawhney featuring a soulful guest vocal turn from Sir Paul. Ironically, Nitin is currently working on music for a new movie titled 'The Fifth Beatle'.


Ingrid Michaelson - I'm Through

Song: I’m Through

Artist: Ingrid Michaelson, Staten Island, NY

Album: Human Again, 2012

Notes: Heartbreaking, a melodic masterclass by Michaelson with wrenching, spare purity: yet another A+ track on her cracking recent album.


Wellspring - Waterproof

Song: Waterproof

Artist: Wellspring, Los Angeles

Album: Wellspring EP, 2010

Notes: Deeply harmonious strings-laden nugget buried on their 2010 EP. Relatively new LA-based indie-folk duo of Talia Osteen and Dov Rosenblatt, opened for the likes of Pete Yorn and Ben Kweller.


Laid Back - Bakerman

Song: Bakerman

Artist: Laid Back, Denmark

Album: Bakerman, 1989

Notes: Curiously hypnotic pop-rock winner by Danish New Wave band based in Copenhagen. New Order's Bernard Sumner was a big fan. Album now available online.


Sepiamusic - Ease Me

Song: Ease Me

Artist: Sepiamusic, Denmark

Album: Prototype, 2003

Notes: Breezy vocalist Erin Chapman and musician/producer Michael Adler Miltersen who got together in 1999 and have since weaved a lovely catalog of accessible, dreamy electronic emotionally-charged pop.


Korgis - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime

Song: Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime

Artist: Korgis, England

Album: Dumb Waiters, 1980

Notes: Rarely heard anymore on the radio (rather dated production) but still a fabulous melody and sentiment pouring out of a song subsequently covered by the likes of Dream Academy, Erasure, Vanessa Carlton etc.


Mark Knopfler feat. Van Morrison - The Last Laugh

Song: The Last Laugh

Artist: Mark Knopfler feat. Van Morrison, England

Album: Sailing To Philadelphia, 2000

Notes: Knopfler trading vocals with the king of blue-eyed soul, Van Morrison on an immaculate horns-laced pearl from Knopfler's finest solo set.


R.E.M. - We All Go Back To Where We Belong

Song: We All Go Back To Where We Belong

Artist: R.E.M., Athens, GA

Album: Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982'2011, 2011

Notes: A lovely but overlooked swansong, fittingly the final official single released by the iconic band before they called it quits last year. Beautiful old-school, low-key strings arrangement and lyrical sentiment.


Kenny Rogers - The Last Ten Years (Superman)

Song: The Last Ten Years (Superman)

Artist: Kenny Rogers, Houston, TX

Album: Water & Bridges, 2006

Notes: No rules on L&F: seemingly corny but actually rather clever, a song written in 2005 by Tommy Conners and D. Vincent Williams to reflect on the previous 10 years of American life and society but ultimately a sad goodbye to the singer's friend, Christopher Reeves.


Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno

Song: Geno

Artist: Dexy's Midnight Runners, England

Album: Searching For the Young Soul Rebels, 1980

Notes: Strong horn refrain and a bolshy, soul-dipped tribute to the great R&B singer, Geno Washington from the always controversial Kevin Rowland and his Dexy's cohorts. A #1 in the UK, ignored in the US.


Jennifer O'Connor - Swan Song

Song: Swan Song

Artist: Jennifer O'Connor, Brooklyn, NY

Album: I Want What You Want, 2011

Notes: Melancholic vocal delivery is offset so well amidst the violins and cellos, another winner from her fifth long-player. She become a real musician's musician over the last 10 years, performing with the likes of Feist, the Indigo Girls and Wilco. More at www.jenniferoconnor.net.


Detroit Emeralds - Feel The Need

Song: Feel The Need

Artist: Detroit Emeralds, Detroit

Album: Feel The Need, 1977

Notes: Morte fabulous vintage soul from Motor City which somehow got lost. Truly a band of brothers, the Tilmon lads - sadly one of the middle siblings, Abrim Tilmon died way too young at the age of just 37 from a heart attack in 1982.


Kiki Dee - Loving and Free

Song: Loving and Free

Artist: Kiki Dee, England

Album: Loving and Free, 1973

Notes: Sweet title cut lost treasure from way back when by a long-standing friend and occasional musical partner to Elton John ('Don't Go Breaking My Heart').


William Fitzsimmons - Passion Play

Song: Passion Play

Artist: William Fitzsimmons, Pittsburgh, PA

Album: Until When We Are Ghosts, 2005

Notes: One of many overlooked gems by an A+ underrated tunesmith and top acoustic guitarist. Five intriguing organic albums since 2005 by this very personal and intimate songwriter. Utterly authentic.


Michelle Featherstone - Coffee and Cigarettes

Song: Coffee and Cigarettes

Artist: Michelle Featherstone, England

Album: Fallen Down, 2006

Notes: Beautiful but intensely sad ballad about the pain involved in trying to overcome the hardest addiction of all. An alumnus of the esteemed Royal Academy of Music in London, Michelle relocated to Hollywood some years ago and regularly performs on the LA club circuit.


Cameo - Word Up!

Song: Word Up!

Artist: Cameo, New York

Album: Word Up!, 1986

Notes: Funk-filled fun, crisp rewind from Larry Blackmon's R&B combo. Showcases a similar funk-rock rhythm and percussive backdrop to the best work by the Fine Young Cannibals. Covered by nu-metal rockers, Korn to commercial success in 2004.


Emeli Sand� - Next To Me

Song: Next To Me

Artist: Emeli Sande, Scotland

Album: Our Version of Events, 2012

Notes: Glorious new pop-soul bubbler from 24-year old British newcomer who sports a shocking blonde punkish hairstyle. Originally set on a career in medicine before thankfully committing to music instead. Already a successful songwriter for other British acts including Leona Lewis.


Lunik - The Rest Is Silence

Song: The Rest Is Silence

Artist: Lunik, Switzerland

Album: Lonely Letters, 2009

Notes: Neatly melodic offering from Swiss four-piece fronted by songstress/guitarist Jael Krebs which began as an electronic unit but have progressed to more acoustic fare.


Emmanuel Jal - Gua

Song: Gua

Artist: Emmanuel Jal, Sudan

Album: Gua, 2004

Notes: Top-drawer World Music by former (forced) child soldier who has emerged as an important cultural force in Africa. Four languages in the song, Arabic, English and the tribal tongues of both Nuer and Dinka - with lyrics themed on finding peace and freedom in his war-torn home country.


Shivaree - Goodnight Moon

Song: Goodnight Moon

Artist: Shivaree, Los Angeles

Album: Kill Bill Vol. 2 Soundtrack, 2004

Notes: Haunting number used over the film's closing credits by Tarantino. Distinctive lead female vocal by the band's Ambrosia Parsley - the indie rocking trio is no longer with us, splitting in 2007.


Beach House - Myth

Song: Myth

Artist: Beach House, Baltimore, MD

Album: Bloom, 2012

Notes: Fabulous new cut from upcoming fourth CD (out in May) by dream-pop/space-pop duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally, rounded off with some lovely cinematic flourishes.


Love In The Circus - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Song: Love Will Tear Us Apart

Artist: Love In The Circus, Los Angeles

Album: Love In The Circus, 2011

Notes: Uber cool with a nice old-school sax break in the bridge, a fab electronica-kissed update of the INXS smash by a fast-rising LA combo. Graced by the sultry tones of lead vocalist and bass player, Leanna Rachel. They're an immensely creative and highly visual septet, more at www.loveinthecircus.com.


Paul Brady - Nobody Knows

Song: Nobody Knows

Artist: Paul Brady, Ireland

Album: Trick or Treat, 1991

Notes: Literate lost pearl from the immensely under-rated Irish singer-songwriter. Ten terrific albums since 1978, all worth a gander.


Jem-Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed

Song: Maybe I’m Amazed

Artist: Jem/Paul McCartney, Wales/England

Album: Music From The O.C. Mix, Vol. 2, 2004

Notes: A tender cover of the McCartney classic by the much underrated Welsh performer, morphing into the iconic live version by Sir Paul.