MUSIC: Justin Townes Earle

Named after the late country singer Townes Van Zandt and the son of country rocker Steve Earle, Nashville native Justin Townes Earle seemed destined to be a star. His funky acoustic style, coupled with a preternatural songwriting ability and pleasant folk voice, make for a commendable musical effort.

The 28 year-old's third album in two years, Harlem River Blues, debuts tomorrow, but be sure to check out his "earlier" material, including 2009's "Midnight At The Movies" and 2008's "The Good Life". Like an old pair of jeans that you forget about how much you love them until you slip then on, Earle's music is vintage and contemporary all at once; each song makes you want to sing along until you realize you don't know the lyrics.

While the parts of his name already have household recognition, hopefully it won't be long before they collectively do. This is an up-and-coming artist worthy of your ear.

Sergio del Limonar

MUSIC: Sam & Ruby

She is from Ghana. He hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are based in Nashville. Together they make the folk-pop duo Sam & Ruby.

Released almost a year ago in 2009, their debut album The Here and the Now is perfect blend of folk harmonies, pop hooks, and R&B soulfulness. "More" is a beautiful coming-to-terms break-up song with both parts of the duo singing "Don't be mad about it, just be sad about it. I need more than you have to give." Literally every track on this album contains carefully crafted lyrics and gorgeous vocal arrangements. The horn-infused "Sarah" is the story of telling a friend that the man she is dating is actually married and her reaction while the title track begins with the line "come sit with me on the porch where we last had a fight, tell me its going to be alright" and continues by expressing the fact that relationships are hard but are worth the work.

The stand-out track, however, is "The Suitcase Song" which could be open to interpretation but on a very surface level is the personified story of the way we treat our luggage. In it Ruby sings:

"Remember when I fell down the stairs when you were rushing down that long flight of concrete squares.
You brushed my dirt off and checked to see if you had hurt me more than you thought but how hurt could I be?"

This is the perfect album for anyone who has ever tapped their toe to the stylings of Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Colbie Caillat, Matt Nathanson, Ben Harper, Sara Bareilles, or Jason Mraz. It sounds nothing like any of them but if you like one you will love the other!

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: Gin Wigmore

I love me some Joss Stone. It could be said that we have a history together. The smokey groove of her voice and its ability to drip off of every single soulful note it touches is masterful. Which is why I was intrigued when an advertisement on the side of my Facebook account invited me to check out New Zealand's own Gin Wigmore, comparing her to my favorite British soul singer.

While the two of them sound nothing alike, they both choose intriguingly pieces of music and bring heartfelt meaning to them. Sounding like a cross between Macy Gray, Bonnie Raitt, MoZella, and Missy Higgins, Wigmore's songs are inventive in the way they combine elements of pop, jazz, soul, and folk music into one beautiful heap. Born Virginia Wigmore, her most recent album, and first full-length, Holy Smoke, includes the infectious single "Oh My" as well as the rousing "Hey Ho" and the jazzy piano bar ballad "Dying Day".

Wigmore's EP, appropriately titled Extended Play contains some of her more tender and emotionally charged material like "These Roses" and "Hallelujah" about her father's death from cancer when she was a teenager. It's not easy, but I'm hoping this Kiwi makes it across the ocean into the earbuds of the American conscience; if Joss can do it, surely Gin can too!

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: Gregory Alan Isakov

Hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, Gregory Alan Isakov is sing-songwriter worth becoming a follower of. Hardly a new-comer to the industry, Isakov has released four albums since 2003, including his most recent masterpiece, This Empty Northern Hemisphere.

"Well its 3 am again,
Like it always seems to be,
Drivin' northbound drivin' homeward,
Drivin' wind is drivin' me."

"3 a.m." (That Sea, The Gambler)

Utilizing an mostly acoustic sound, Isakov strums his way through gentle and thoughtfully crafted songs. Drawing comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Chris Whitley, Ray LaMontagne, and Brandi Carlile, the later - another ZONINO! favorite - who he has toured with, Isakov's work is equal parts ethereal rock and contemporary folk.

Check out his website and then head over to iTunes or CD Baby to get your hands on his incredible music!

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: Women & Country

If Lyle Lovett, Hank Williams, and Ryan Adams joined forces to create an album, I imagine it would sound something like The Wallflower's lead singer and Bob Dylan offspring, Jakob Dylan's second solo album Women & Country. With a mostly mellow and semi-acoustic vibe, Dylan croons his way through this collection of thoughtful and clever songs that can not easily be boxed into one single genre. Combining hints of old-school country, alternative rock, jazz, swing, and perhaps even a little traditional Mexican folk music, each song is a gift in and of itself, waiting to be unwrapped by the ears and relished by the soul.

Helmed by über-producer T-Bone Burnett (albums O Brother Where Art Thou, Raising Sand, and recent Grammy-winning song "The Weary Kind") and featuring backing vocals by indie-rock queen Neko Case this album is bound to be one of the biggest records of the year. Single "Everybody's Hurting" pleas for understanding while "Lend A Hand" is a quiet call to arms for humankind with a smoky New Orlean's club feel. My favorites are tied between the coy "Smile When You Call Me That" and "Holy Rollers For Love", which could only be made more perfect by riding a horse slowly through the desert with a rose-colored sunset cresting the horizon.

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: Volume Two

Earlier this month we ZONINO!ed the first single, "In The Sun", by duo She & Him, off their sophomore album Volume Two. Now that the full record has dropped, featuring the talents of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, its celebration time all over again!

The actress and singer-songwriter have compiled a set of tunes that will keep your playlist on repeat for weeks. Both bubbly, melancholy, and sweet, each song seems to be crafted with purpose and care. Lead off track, "Thieves" has a distinctly alt-country vibe that would surely make Ryan Adams proud and the bouncy and steady strings and drums guiding "I'm Gonna Make It Better" make it a delicious piece of ear-candy as well. Overall, everyone will find their own unique gems in this collection, even after only one listen.

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: "In The Sun" video

Let's ignore for a second that the alt-folk duo comprised of actress Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous, Elf, The Happening), and M. Ward is sorely under-appreciated for a moment. Their first full-length studio album, Volume One, received much critical praise, and for good reason. Their second album, appropriately titled Volume Two, comes out later this month. But let's instead focus on this:

While their first disc was ZONINO! in and of itself, as will be their next, the music video for the lead single, "In The Sun" is campy romp of youthful abandon.

Combine Britney Spears' "Baby, One More Time" video with the scene from Hairspray where Tracy Turnblad sings "I Can Hear The Bells" and a pinch of ballet. If this doesn't make you smile in a wow-that-was-awesomely-bizarre-but-I-liked-it kind of way, then don't talk to anyone the rest of the day because clearly you're a little crabby and you might ruin someone's day. Just saying!

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: "Ghost In This House"

With the Grammy Awards just this past weekend, it seems appropriately timed that the most winningest woman and tied for second place overall, with 27 statues in total, gets a ZONINO! today. While cleaning the apartment the other day, I popped in an old mixed CD recently and the incredibly heartbreaking and powerful ballad, "Ghost In This House", by the infinitely talented Alison Krauss, came streaming from the speakers.

Off her 1999 album, Forget About It, the Queen of Bluegrass sings of being a veritable ghost in her life. Feeling abandoned emotionally in her relationship, she sings, "I don't live in these rooms, I just rattle around." The metaphors are simple and beautiful, yet strike powerfully to the pain and sense of being lost in your own life. Krauss's unmistakable vocals also elevate the haunting and desperate feeling of the song.

Written by Hugh Prestwood ("A Song Remembers When" and "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart") and originally recorded by country band Shenandoah, my favorite lyrics include the ending of the second chorus:

"I'm just a whisper of smoke
I'm all that's left of two hearts on fire
That once burned out of control
You took my body and soul
I'm just a ghost in this house"

Alison Krauss is guaranteed to go down in music history. If you are not versed on her incredible catalogue, do yourself a favor and start with this one. It never fails to impress and is perfect for those grey and rainy days.

Sergio del Limonar

MUSIC: Sarah Siskind

Please do yourself a favor and check out Sarah Siskind. Her debut album, Say It Louder, is getting all kinds of deservedly good reviews, including Bob Dylan collaborator, Al Kooper, who said it "might be 'Tapestry' for the new millennium."

Die a little when you listen to "Lovin's For Fools".

Mrs. Fitzsimmons 1

MUSIC: Little Big Town's "Go Tell It On The Mountain" cover

I remember learning the traditional folk song "Go Tell It On The Mountain" in fourth grade when my class was attempting to collectively learn how to play the recorder. I'm not sure how I felt about the song then but I know I despised music class that year solely because of that little resin flute. Nevertheless, I'm reminded of those days every time I hear the song, usually around the holiday season, which, being mid-October, is fully upon us.

Hopefully, after a few listens to country quartet Little Big Town's cover of the tune, my memories will shift and I was involuntarily shiver when it comes on the speaker system next time I'm passing through the mall rotunda. LBT's version, built around the vocals of Karen Fairchild and the strong harmonies of the other band members, throws in just the right amount of drums to make the song rock but not enough tot destroy the natural driving nature of the song.

Recently rereleased as a single on iTunes (the first time was in 2006), I can only hope that this track makes it on an upcoming studio or Christmas album soon!

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: The Weepies

How about this awesome duo?!?! The Weepies are a sultry married couple who rock the tunes w/ quality music and amazingly insightful lyrics. "The World Spins Madly On" I love and was the first song I heard off their 2006 album Say I Am You. My friend, Rachel, who just lost her dad, gave me the CD and said that song is hers. I also love "Nobody Knows Me At All" and the song "Painting By Chagall" w/ the line "sometimes rain that's needed falls."

Mrs. Fitzsimmons 1

MUSIC: Kiss Me Hello

Any record with a song titled "Crayola Doesn't Make A Color For Your Eyes" is worth a listen if you ask me. If you dare, try and not love this song. You will fail. Or have no soul.

Kristin Andreassen's 2007 album "Kiss Me Hello" is full of folk-indie-country goodness from start to finish, however, honestly, all the tracks could be horrible drivel after the aforementioned opening tune and it wouldn't matter. (The song is pretty much all hand slapping and whistling! C'mon, how can you go wrong?!?!)

Some other personal favorites are "Dancing In My Sleep," "Your Ex-Life Calling," the titular "Kiss Me Hello," and the quirky "Hello Where Are You?" which I actually kind of hated at first but now can't remember why...

This is great record to have on in the background, as it is mellow and chill, and also sing along to. Or you know, just put "Crayola" on repeat and try unsuccessfully to replicate the hand slapping rhythm.

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: soul of me

If this is the last album you ever buy, so be it! Rebecca Correia hand-delivered it to me this past Sunday and I have been listening to the album on repeat ever since. Stripped down, raw and lyrical, soul of me triggers all emotions and leaves you wishing for more. A Massachusetts native, Rebecca has been writing and playing since 4th grade. "Breathe," the first track, was written at a mere 17 years old - I mean, really!??!?!

It's cool to be on the inside of a songwriter's insight. Living with Rebecca last year and knowing her since college has given me the opportunity to be "in the know" for most of her songs. "Hold Me" is a delicate and somewhat fearful song about her mom's battle with breast cancer (that she beat!) and "Tell Kyle" is about the d-bag that she broke it off with shortly before moving to Nashville. It's also cool because I was one of the first to hear the tune "Oh Nashville!"

Bottom line is that the album is amazing; her voice is spellbinding. Also, the chance to see her live is unparalleled. Do not miss it.

The album should be up on iTunes in the next few weeks and you can also buy it on cdbaby.com.

Mrs. Fitz 1