I went to the Tasting Room here in Houston on Saturday night. The classy venue welcomed Albuquerque native singer/songwriter, Matt Jones, who records in Austin. He played only a few songs, including a cover of Criag David’s “Fill Me In,” before an unfortunate incident of sound equipment failure. Given the friend and family discount, I left with a copy of his latest full-length album, Passerby.

The lyrically gripping opening track called “Parked Car” presents a motivating phrase, which serves as the facilitating factor to the gradual offsetting of a dark situation. Dig deep and you might find the strength to turn things around for the better. Believe in the possibility of recovery because “life get’s hard/ but standing still won’t get you far/ it’s hard to steer a parked car.” In addition to its lyrics, the harmonizing vocals and piano dynamics make this song one of my favorites.

The last song is a brief and sweet, finger-picking acoustic. Following a string of lovely hammer on’s are the pleading words for a clean break-up. After coming to the conclusion that it is time to end a relationship, all he wants is a “good goodbye.”

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“Parked Car” by The Real Matt Jones

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“Good Goodbye” by The Real Matt Jones

This is the free song from Walmart this week. It is the first single on the self-titled 4th solo album from the Old 97’s lead singer, Rhett Miller. Click here to read a few words from PASTE magazine and to hear another album track titled “Caroline.”

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“I Need to Know Where I Stand” by Rhett Miller

Still Night, Still Light is the third album by electronic indie pop trio Au Revoir Simone. It was released on Tuesday May 19th 2009.

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“The Last One” by Au Revoir Simone

Andrew Belle is a singer-songwriter who stirred up quite a buzz in his home town of Chicago, IL before recently taking his talent to Nashville, TN. All Those Pretty Lights EP is available on iTunes. You can also find it on CD Baby in disk and mp3 formats, along with a few words of review. Have a listen to the title track here.

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“All Those Pretty Lights” by Andrew Belle

I saw Shara Worden in Austin, TX supporting The Decemberists as The Queen in their fairytale, Hazards of Love. I didn’t even know who she was at the time but she blew me away as soon as she opened her mouth. It makes me wonder how many artists I could fall in love with if I just had the opportunity to see them/him/her live. Here she is singing a cover of Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good” from the Dark Was the Night Compilation.

“Feeling Good” by My Brightest Diamond

I have to give another shout out to SHIROCK. From my hometown of Novi, Michigan, Chuck Shiock, now calling Nashville his home, fronts this young group. They have all the necessary online networking publicity in place and, from what I can tell, they seem to have made it. Good job guys– and gal!

In this song you’ll hear Pap Shirock, backed by Chuck, accompanying herself on one of their several piano driven melodies.

Also, escaping a close call on “The Crap Stack,” read here what Spinner critics have to say about the album.

“I’ll Take Rain” by SHIROCK

This is my 200th post everyone! This calls for something special. So, let me introduce you to Free Energy. Awww, these guys are just babies…only 203 myspace friends! They have, however, gotten the attention of The FADER and RCRD_lbl. The New Yorkers have also been featured in The Village Voice out of NYC– To absolute, to choce, to The Village Voice, to any passing fad–

Ok, clarification because it occurs to me that I am not making much sense… The FADER= a music magazine; RCRD_lbl= a network of online labels and blogs; “To absolute, to choice, to the The Village Voice”= lyrics from the musical Rent which I couldn’t refrain from spewing after the mention of The Villiage Voice.

“Dream City” by Free Energy- have a listen and wait for the beautiful horns at the end.

I’m going to Rutyard’s tomorrow night to see The Virgins and Anya Marina. Both I have already seen. The Virgins I saw in March of 2008 at SXSW before their debut album came out last June. So, it’s been a while and I’m glad they’re coming to my neck of the woods. It’s gonna be a late night. Anya doesn’t go on until after 10pm; then we have New York newcommer, Lissy Trullie; then The Virgins. Should only be $ 8 to $ 12 to get upstairs so come join me!

I got a myspace “friends” invitation from this indie New York trio. I listened, I liked, and I accepted their friend request. They will be swinging through Austin and Dallas on their tour supporting Greg Laswell in June.

This song basically says that we’re not getting older and wiser, “in the end we’re all just taller children.”

“Taller Children” by Elizabeth and the Catapult