Songs From An Unmade Bedwww.GhostLightRecords.com
Like Rent, this intimate musical had many drafts and voices bringing it to life briefly in New York for a limited run in May of 2005. Serving also as the debut album for its star, Michael Winther, Songs From An Unmade Bed is a compelling and well-crafted musical with each song presented in a cabaret/jazzy setting - sparse and pure with a backing trio onstage. Michael Winther is the solo star and eighteen composers crafted a love song cycle for the modern gay man - the agonies, longings and ecstasies. My picks: "The Man In The Starched White Shirt," "Perfect, Finite," "He Never Did That Before" and "The Night You Decided To Stay."

James Hunter
People Gonna Talkwww.JamesHunterMusic.com
Sounding like a throwback to doo-woppy 50's soulsters, British singer-songwriter James Hunter sounds like the cream of the crop of rhythm and blues singers teleported for our own intimate concert. With sweetly crooned love songs and uncontrived delivery he pines for love's affection and shares that intimacy then celebrates on danceable turns into joy. My picks: "Riot in My Heart," "Kick It Around," "Don't Come Back," "Tell Her for Me" and "Talkin' 'Bout My Love." Gig alert! James Hunter sweeps the floor May 19th @ SF's Great American Music Hall.

Faun Fables
Balance 009
www.FaunFables.net
One of my favorite artists who hails from her own orbit is Dawn McCarthy of Faun Fables with a new song cycle all about an ominous twilight zone train trip. Think folk rock for the apocalypse with a Celtic twist and an ethereal edge. No telling what planet Faun Fables is from but get your passport ready, they're worth the trip. My picks: "House Carpenter," "In Speed," "Roadkill," "Questioning" and "Corwith Brothers." Gig alert! Faun Fables takes on passengers May 26/7th @ Oakland's Oakland Metro.

Susana Baca
Travesias
www.LuakaBop.com
Peruvian songstress Susana Baca arose from the lower classes and uses her rich history to share tucked away folk worlds of creating one's own from scratch cooking to your own music. Born in Lima, Peru she opens her life and sings (in Spanish, French, Italian and English) serenades of life and love. My picks: "Guillermina," "Una Copla Me Ha Cantado," "Ne Quelque Part," "Luna Rossa" and "Pensamiento." Gig alert! Susana Baca troubadours May 21 @ SF's The Independent.

Dylan Rice
Wandering Eyes
www.DylanRice.com
Chicago folkster and rocker Dylan Rice cranks up the amps for his well-rounded debut Wandering Eyes, a full-blown heartfelt tour from forlorn soulful crooners to full out rockers. Introspective soul-stirring songs with gutsy singing. My picks: "The Lie," "Just Like You," "Drama Queen," "Barely Knew You," "One Pure Thing" and "Intangible."

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
Fear Is On Our Side
www.SecretlyCanadian.com
Sexy gloom Gothers will simply cream for this - a hypnotically morose guitar-fueled descent into darkness with lush cinematic walls of angst and clear windows revealing nothingness. Austin, Texas-based I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness's first full release is a tour of the more lonely aspects of the human experience. My picks: "According To Plan," "The Owl," "Our Side," "We Choose Faces," "Last Ride Together" and "Fear Is On Our Side." Gigs alert! I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness turns off the lights May 22 @ SF's The Independent and May 23rd @ Sacramento's Junta.

KT Tunstall
Eye to The Telescope
www.KTTunstall.com
Gutsy and sultry Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall whips out a dozen winners on her debut Eye to The Telescope. With searing lyrics and a direct poppy approach she leaps from cut to cut making each sound distinctively grown as it's own hit while slipping in great music and sly sensibilities. The whole come off as "best of" which is surprising as this is her first album. My picks: "Other Side Of The World," "Another Place To Fall," "Under The Weather," "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" and "Miniature Disasters."

Ann Hampton Callaway
Slow
www.Shanachie.com
With a smoky-jazzed and polished delivery ala Tuck & Patti, Ann Hampton Callaway breathes new life into the American songbook and does exactly what the best aspirations of the pop phenomena American Idol would hope to do … making you hear that same old song with new ears and enjoy it as a new classic. My picks: "Slow," "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?," "Someone To Light Up My Life," "Never Really Mine" and "Love Dance."

A-Trak
Sunglasses Is A Must
www.DJATrak.com
Turntablism is the art of DJing utilizing the many styles and techniques for transforming sounds, mostly off vinyl records and mainly has its roots with bedroom DJs and in clubs although all bets are off with multimedia artists and composers finding new ways to include this emerging art form. One of the pioneers was the pimply Canadian A-Trak who as a young teenager took the world by storm and now is Kayne West's DJ. This homespun DVD captures raw footage of A-Trak at his teenage best amazing crowds worldwide by splicing together sounds and tag teaming up to six turntables in a team competition. Gig alert! DJ A-Trak creates and destroys May 19 @ SF's Boca.

Suede
Live at Scullers Jazz Club
www.SuedeWave.com
Another diamond in the rough is the enchanting and delightful Suede disarming the most jaded and quickly wooing entire rooms of folks into her private audience. Her latest release, "Live at Scullers Jazz Club" is a live concert DVD aired nationally on PBS stations sharing her unique performing of Americana classics mixed with a few originals. She sings wonderfully with fair comparisons to Rosemary Clooney who could sing a bird to the sky. Suede will turn and do a total Satchmo trumpet solo or dance along the piano keys and has a genuine warmth that will win you over. Gig alert! Suede holds court June 1-4 @ SF's Plush Room.

Wilson Gil & The Willful Sinners
American Banned
www.WilsonGil.com
Redneck poets and balladeers Wilson Gil & The Willful Sinners speak to heartland rockers with a gun rack and beer bruised brains. Surprisingly soulful and poetic numbers lurk behind party-hardy rockers about bruisers and babes. My picks: "Six Before Seven," "Stripped," "Wasn't That You," "Twinkies and Speed" and "Borrowed Time." Gig alert! Wilson Gil & The Willful Sinners repent May 26 @ SF's Kimo's.

Pelican
The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw
www.HydraHead.com
Orchestral garage rock soundscapes oppressively clearing the way for gloomy otherworld tours of distorted sonic walls and cinematic spills. Your body will surely feel it - not sure what your brain might do. My picks: "Last Day Of Winter," "Autumn Into Summer" and "Red Ran Amber." Gig alert! Pelican flies under the radar May 31 @ SF's Great American Music Hall.

Lord Loves A Working Man
www.LordLovesAWorkingMan.com
San Francisco-based Lord Loves A Working Man revives classic rhythm and blues vibes for the ready go set and fuses old-school sensibility with soul and authentic love of the player and the played. My picks: "You Throw Out Your Lifeline," "Yuba City Breakdown," "Can't Remember Her Name" and "The Anthem." Gig alert! Lord Loves A Working Man dips into the office pool May 26 @ Oakland's The Stork Club.

Cevin Fisher
Love You Some More
www.Star69Records.com
House/electronica DJ, remixer, collaborator, sampler and producer Cevin Fisher is known for his enduring anthems such as "Women Beat Their Men," "Hands on Love," "The Freaks Come Out," "House Is A Feeling," "Music Saved My Life," "House Music" and "You Got Me Burning Up" featuring the diva Loleatta Holloway. His latest cut hoping to become a new club classic is "Love You Some More" complete with bumping mixes - Exacta Smooth Operator Mix, Hector Fonseca Love U Some More Mix, Peter Rauhofer Reconstruction, Lawler Flight to Atlanta Mix as well as the original mix. Be it - believe it.

Subpop Records
Acquired Taste
www.Subpop.com
When music TV (MTV) started up not many knew that the new outlet for musicians would not only revolutionize the music industry but also the film, fashion and video worlds. Musicians became household names while defining and redefining the short story art form. Musicians had the money to invest in the emerging technologies and the creative vision to be daring and experimental. Enter Subpop's Acquired Taste featuring 25 eclectic videos from the last five years ranging from high concept futuristic Sci-Fi to striped down acoustic deconstructions to inventive films and experimental ditties starring poo or peanut-butter eating raccoons.

Charmed
The Final Chapter
www.ArtistsAddiction.com
An eclectic offering with indie folk rock leanings and plenty of feel-good fuzzy-wuzzy toe-tappers from the usual suspects (Sarah McLachlan, Collective Soul & Natalie Imbruglia). A perfect listen for those brave enough to embrace emotions and empathize with songwriting angst and inner turmoil - think Lilith Faire with guest rockers. My picks: Liz Phair's "Baby Got Going," Barenaked Ladies' "Punch Me," Chantal Kreviazuk's "Weight Of The World, Beth Orton's "Stolen Car," Eddi Reader's "Bell, Book, & Candle" and The Crystal Method's "Name Of The Game."

Romica Puceanu & The Gore Brothers
Sounds From A Bygone Age Vol. 2
www.Asphalt-Tango.de
Larger than life Romanian singer Romica Puceanu was an old school and old-world diva that was called the Billie Holliday of Romania. She sung the seductive and homespun melodies that enlivened the stories of everyday people and the Gypsy experiences for mixed audiences at the cafes and by request at your wedding. My picks: "Balanus," "Sa Te Ajunga Dorul Meu," "Adu Calu' Sa Ma Duc" and "Unde O Fi Puiul De Aseara."