Kip Winger - Angel Of The Underground (1997) [Alternative / Art Rock]



Kip Winger started getting a little off the beaten path starting in 1997 on his debut solo record, This Conversation Seems Like A Dream. Specifically, he started playing around with more experimental ideas and other genres outside of the whole glam metal aesthetic, including jazz, the alt-rock spectrum and even a bit of modern classical. While the whole album is actually pretty solid as far as late 90's rock fare goes, the swooning strings and stabs at understated dissonance on this otherwise straightforward power pop cut is an especially good example of why Kip was more than the sum of his parts and worth paying attention to.

Castanarc - Old Air Head (1997) [Art Rock / Neo Prog.]



Dreamy slice of rock. Very reminiscent of Genesis's mid 70's prime but with a New Romantic polish to it. The bass and vocal harmonies really carry things along.

Subaeris - The City In Rain (2014) [Ambient / Kankyō Ongaku]



The ultimate urban environmental ambient experience. The title alone should tell you how great this is, but if you don't believe me go pick it up from Bandcamp for free. You'll have the best sleep of your life.

T-Square - Flying Colors (2007) [J-Fusion]



Think of the most nostalgic SNES video game OST you've ever listened to, then crank up that optimism and those fuzzy feelz about a thousand fold....boom, you've got 'Flying Colors'.

No-Man - Pretty Genius (1996) [Trip-Hop / Dub / Prog]



Chill, dubby stuff - goes well with the novocaine delivery of Tim Bowness and the surprising inclusion of some orchestral flourishes and a spattering of jazzy flute.

Jamiroquai - Blow Your Mind (1993) [Acid Jazz / R&B]



I like the spacey, expansive feeling that early Jamiroquai material had before they started gunning hard for radio play. This song in particular is really nice - Funkadelic with a dash of Slave at their most cosmic.

The Panic Division - Bleed (2012) [Pop-Punk / Alternative Rock]



Colton Holiday is a singer / songwriter / producer out of San Antonio who has done a lot of great popcraft under his Panic Division moniker - his style covers everything from pop punk to alternative metal to synthwave to straight up synth-pop. This particular song comes from Eternalism, which was one of my top albums of 2012 and a good middle ground between his various styles.

Bakoda - Aurora Corona (feat. Joseph Jacobs & Cin Side) (2013) [Jazzy Lo-Fi / Chill Beats]



Breezy, piano driven instrumental hip-hop joy. There's something about it that hits my nostalgiabones and tickles 'em.

King - The Right One (2016) ["Quiet Storm" / R&B]



The musical equivalent to a long drink of icewater when the AC is out and that midsummer heat is blazing. Pretty sublime.

Groundhogs - Earth Is Not Room Enough (1972) [Hard Rock]



One of the best opening cuts to any album ever made. That acoustic riff coupled with the subtle orchestrations and Mellotron is simply unassailable. Everyone should own Who Will Save The World? - The Mighty Groundhogs!