New Good Song: "Shadowplay," The Saint Johns 9.1.15

Here's a new good song: "Shadowplay" by The Saint Johns. This duo was responsible for the 49th best new good song of 2013, "Your Head And Your Heart." "Shadowplay" is similarly light, acoustic and melancholy. Many songs in the singer/songwriter genre are these things, but The Saint Johns have superior melodies, harmonies and vocal abilities. They should be much more famous by now than they are. All it will take is having a big song on a soundtrack. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Never Gonna Take You Back," Satchmode 9.1.15

Here's a new good song: "Never Gonna Take You Back" by Satchmode. Worth a listen, but note that the intro is over a minute. What makes this '80s-inspired song particularly special is the transcendental chord change right before the fourth measure of the verses and the chorus. Like a cool breeze. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Suicide," Midnight To Monaco 8.14.15

Here's a new good song: "Suicide" by Midnight To Monaco. I absolutely adore this. It's on my playlist and I listen to it on repeat. It's innovative while also feeling familiar -- it's unusual, clever and glorious. The title is a downer, but the song is anything but ("Suicide is not for me. Doesn't suit my style" ... Brilliant). Jump to 1:40 if you need convincing. I suspect I will end up slotting this high on my year-end list. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Back Together," Robin Thicke f/ Nicki Minaj 8.14.15

Here's a new good song: "Back Together" by Robin Thicke f/ Nicki Minaj. I'm still not sure how I feel about Robin Thicke generally speaking, but I will always acknowledge good songs regardless of the delivery method. "Blurred Lines" was the 30th best new good song of 2013, based on a formula calculated from weekly charts I created for myself that year. The song did well on my personal charts several months before it gained mainstream popularity, and had that horrendously offensive video, all of which -- combined with over-exposure -- left me a bit regretful that it ended up at No. 30. He also had the 67th best new good song of 2012, "Pretty Lil' Heart," a great song that may have ranked higher had it not featured Lil Wayne, who's awful. Nicki Minaj had the No. 1 best new good song of 2011, "Super Bass," and the 57th best new good song of 2014, "Anaconda." I get what she's doing and I think she's brilliant. Anyway, "Back Together" is a good song. Hope it doesn't get overplayed. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Pray For Rain," Pure Bathing Culture 8.14.15

Here's a new good song: "Pray For Rain" by Pure Bathing Culture. I first discovered this Portland, Oregon, duo while being staffed on a work project in Portland, Oregon, and I'm so glad I did. They had 10th best new good song of 2013, "Dream The Dare" (which also has a lovely music video), as well as the 66th best new good song of 2014, "Ever Greener."  Now they're back with something still distinctively in that eletro-pop adult contemporary category, but a bit livelier and poppier. My one criticism of "Pray For Rain" is that the repetition of the final minute and a half is a bit tiresome. Feels like they ran out of ideas or something. But, still, an appreciated effort. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Do What You Like," Taio Cruz 8.14.15

Here's a new good song: "Do What You Like" by Taio Cruz. This is just great. Reminds me a bit of "The Other Side" by Jason Derulo, the fifth-best new good song of 2013. "Do What You Like" is not quite as housey/clubby, but the two songs share the common thread of great songwriting and very nice vocal delivery, in a tight pop structure. Also worth mentioning that both these artists are clearly inspired by Michael Jackson, which is nice to hear. I particularly like the bass line in "Do What You Like," and the way the instrumentals scale back during the last line of the chorus -- a subtle but wonderful touch. Actually I have to say this whole track is just fantastically produced overall ... There's real creativity here. And, finally, this video nearly makes me heterosexual. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Miradors," Solomon Grey 8.14.15

Here's a new good song: "Miradors" by Solomon Grey. Well, it's sort of new. Apparently it was released late last year, but it's new to me. Solomon Grey was responsible for the 49th best new good song of 2014, "Firechild." This one is slower and more haunting, and very catchy at the same time. There's clearly real talent here. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "You Change," Lindsey Webster 8.14.15

Here's a new good song: "You Change" by Lindsey Webster. It has a slow, jazzy throwback song very reminiscent of "Inside That I Cried" by CeCe Peniston, and "All Woman" by Lisa Stansfield, both wonderful R&B songs from the '90s. This is music you listen to relax to by a roaring fire, or get freaky to on a summer night. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "White Light," Shura 8.14.15

Here's a new good song: "White Light" by Shura. I liked this song originally for its '80s production, but wasn't particularly overwhelmed beyond that. However it's really grown on me over the past few weeks. Sexy vocals, sweet melody, wet bass line, funky atmosphere, and creative lyrical content ("You're different, I like it. You're from another planet, ah. I'd like you to take me there. You can fly your alien spaceship.") Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Down The Middle," Elizabeth Luthringer 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "Down The Middle" by Elizabeth Luthringer. A mellow throwback with a Sunday morning vibe, this soulful track stands out because of unexpected chord changes and melodic detours. Reminds me of Catherine Scholz, who had the 100th best new good song of 2014, "Remember The Love (Just Not Like Her),"  as well as "For The Lonely" by Nicole Zuraitis. All three are jazzy adult contemporary songs in 3/4 time by women with hard-to-remember names. Not everyone's cup of tea, I realize, but could be somebody's. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "One Ticket," Vel Crowe Johnson 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "One Ticket" by Vel Crowe Johnson. Now and then, one needs a rappy party anthem on one's playlist. The current state of hip-hop is, in my opinion, generally an embarrassing tragedy. When tunes like this come along that are more classically structured and fun, with a rock-inspired production, I'm enthused. This seems inspired by Eminem, who had the 14th best new good song of 2013, "Berzerk." "One Ticket" has a bit of that sniveling high-school sentimentality found in early releases by the Beastie Boys and pop-punk songs of the early 2000s. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "All Falls Down," Totem 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "All Falls Down" by Totem. As of this writing, this song has fewer than 100 views on YouTube, a crying shame. This tune combines a snappy '80s pop instrumental with soulful lyrics driving a very catchy melody. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Leave A Trace," Chvrches 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "Leave A Trace" by Chvrches. This group had the 25th best new good song of 2013, "Lies." All their tracks have a common thread of dream pop / '80s synth throwback, with drama and energy. Hard not to appreciate. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Heartbreak Reputation," Zimmer f/ Polina 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "Heartbreak Reputation" by Zimmer f/ Polina. Has a bit of a '90s club vibe, similar to what Kiesza put out last year with the well-received "Hideaway." Enjoy!

New Good Song: "What You Don't Do," Lianne La Havas 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "What You Don't Do" by Lianne La Havas. Sounds to me like a cross between Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis, with a throwback pop/soul sound brought to modern times through crisp production. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "For You," Rae Morris 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "For You" by Rae Morris. The Gaelic-sounding chants in the opening lines, repeated in the chorus, are, to me, an irritating blot on an otherwise gorgeous track. If you can get past that, you will enjoy!

New Good Song: "Forget You In LA," Poema 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "Forget You In LA" by Poema. Definite echoes here of "LA Song" by Beth Hart, a good song from 1999. Both are about the mystique of moving to Los Angeles as a way of escaping one's troubled past. Can't say I relate, but they are both nicely done songs. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Adore," Jasmine Thompson 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "Adore" by Jasmine Thompson. There are (at least) two versions of this track available on iTunes -- this one, which has a pop production, and a more stripped down piano ballad, filed in the Singer/Songwriter genre. At first I preferred the latter, but my current playlist is a bit too slow, so I have come to prefer the version below just for the sake of variety. I was nothing short of shocked to learn that this artist is 14 years old, born in 2000. That's hard to process. Jasmine apparently has a large following on YouTube. I was not aware of any of this, but discovered and came to appreciate the song on its own merits. Enjoy!

New Good Song: "Montana," James Taylor 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "Montana" by James Taylor. He has returned with an album of new material, "Before This World," which impressively went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart a couple weeks ago. "Montana" is a track off that record I happen to prefer, perhaps because I, like the protagonist, find myself often pining for a simpler, more rural life. I also happen to adore Montana. Since I was a boy, I dreamed of going there, and I finally made it happen a few years ago, when I stayed at a ranch for several days and had one of the best times of my life. My only criticism of this song is the oddly abrupt ending, but prior to that it's very nice. Enjoy.

New Good Song: "Rumble In The Park," Catey Shaw 7.25.15

Here's a new good song: "Rumble In The Park" by Catey Shaw. This one has really grown on me over the past few weeks and has turned into one of my favorite songs of the year so far, even though I find the cover art needlessly obscene. It's an upbeat tune about two women, Jenny and Dylann, who break up, and the subsequent feud between their groups of friends (gangs, really) who agree to meet up in a park and try to kill one another. It is, apparently, a follow-up to another song by Catey, "Night Go Slow," which tells the story of Jenny and Dylann falling in love. So kind of fun to follow the story line. Enjoy.