Lots of us have skeletons in our musical closets. I have several. The most frightening is my unabashed love for the Jackson 5. Not Michael Jackson - he's almost as horrific as Chicago using synth-horns - but I digress...The secret I'll confess today is that there are days when I love punk. I grew up in the glory days of Punk and New Wave (and New Age unfortunately). I just picked up a 2003 release

I think bluegrass might be the most honest music I've ever heard. Although I don't seek out bluegrass, I'm almost always happy when it appears. Through my work with Westside Folk, I've gotten to hear live shows by The Wilders, The MIdday Ramblers and Lynn Norris. I paid money to see Nickel Creek and learned that the word "screaming" can be used to describe mandolin work. Never thought that would happen.You

Aloha. Never, ever judge a band by its name. Aloha is a very interesting blending of pop, free jazz, post-rock and about everything else. The first thing that sets them apart is the vibraphone as on of their lead instruments. You can't miss it. The second thing is the almost eery blending of completely incompatible styles in a way that is just on the edge of being outside. I picked up That's Your Fire