Tracy Spuehler

1. Butterfly Boucher, Flutterby (A&M, 2003)
The songs are so infectious on this album, that I can't stop myself from obsessively listening. They're also incredibly fun to sing along to. But because her voice is a little bit higher than mine, I end up singing really loudly to be able to sing that high. Needless to say, I've been enjoying it a lot in the car…by myself!

2. Bright Eyes, Lifted…Or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ears To The Ground (Saddle Creek, 2002)
I go through phases with this record, and I happen to be in a listening phase right now. There's something about the writing and the music that I find incredibly inspiring, especially tracks 5 & 6 (I just had to look up the song titles: "Lover I Don't Have to Love" and "Bowl of Oranges"). The songs take me to a raw emotional place filled with beauty and sadness. And if I surrender to it, I experience that amazing, exciting feeling of being truly awake.

3. Deathcab For Cutie, Transatlanticism (Barsuk, 2003)
I've been drinking in this album lately. There's something that's very familiar about it that I have a hard time putting my finger on. Maybe it's his voice, or the simple and spacious arrangements that put me in a trance. Whatever the recipe is, it's perfectly addictive and keeps me coming back for more.

4. Patty Griffin, 1000 Kisses (ATO, 2002 )
I ordered her new album, "Impossible Dream," online. But as I was waiting for it to arrive, and she was on my mind, I decided to put on her last album 1000 Kisses. I got hooked all over again. Songs like "Rain" and "Making Pies" are such incredible songs, and Patty's voice just kills me, it's so beautiful.

5. Antonin Dvorak, Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81 (Rudolph Firkusny on piano with the Juilliard Quartet) (Sony Classical, 1977)
Growing up, I was surrounded by classical music. Not only did my whole family play chamber music (I was started on the violin at age 3), but it was the only thing my parents listened to. The cycle of listening to classical music has come back around for me, and this piece has always been one of my favorites.

Los Angeles-based Tracy Spuehler toes the line between alt-edge and alt-pop-bubblegum on her second album, It's The Sound, from her own Tracy Music.

Mike Damron, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House

1. Bruce Springsteen, Nebraska (Columbia, 1982)
This rocks! I discovered The Boss late in life and am making up for lost time. This is one gloomy motherfucker of a record.

2. Steve Earle, The Revolution Starts…Now! (Artemis, 2004)
This man is a hero and this record has a feeling of desperation. I hope to someday to write something this good.
 
3. Prince, The Hits 1 (Paisley Park, 1993)
GOD!

4. Various artists, This Ones For The Fellows (BlueDisguise, 2004)
Young Fresh Fellows tribute record we are on. This is one fun record. We did 'Hillbilly Drummer Girl.' Scott McCaughey writes a helluva pop song.

5. Richard Buckner, Bloomed (Dejadisc, 1994)
This record makes me feel so damn sad. The guitar playing and voice are amazing!

Menace (In Music We Trust Records) is the third full-length from Mike Damron's Portland-based, Southern-rock-channeled band, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House. Drive-By Trucker fans listen up!

Matt Bauer

1. Raushan Orazbaeva, Akku (Felmay, 2004)
Solo performances on the two-stringed kyl-kobyz from Kazakhstan. I've just never heard any music like this. It sounds like ghosts and wild animals. It's unbelievable the amount of emotion, the number of tones and overtones and the weird beauty she gets out of her instrument.

2. A.J. Roach, Dogwood Winter (New Folk Star, 2003)
Lately, when I'm tired of my own music and want to get away from it, I play banjo and sing along with this album. Spare but just-right arrangements, great writing and what a voice!

3. Royal Court Music Of Thailand (Smithsonian Folkways, 1994)
These compositions are like little movies. They unfold slowly over 10, 15 or 20 minutes. I lose track of time when I listen to this CD.
 
4. Odessa Chen, One Room Palace (Self release, 2003)
Her voice is so clear and beautiful, if she sang the Federal tax code, I'd listen. My favorite part of the album is when her voice soars up during the bridge of "Snow Angels."
 

5. Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Oh, My Girl (Barsuk Records, 2004)
If there is a world record for the number of times a person has listened to the same record back to back, It probably belongs to me for the number of times I listened to Husker Du's Zen Arcade in high school. I may soon break that record listening to Oh, My Girl.

Kentucky-born San Franciscan Matt Bauer makes his mark with his self-released debut album, Nandina. Think sparse 'n' cinematic banjo-fueled folk with an indie-rock sensibility (and a hint of Richard Buckner).