It’s Labor Day, and still technically Monday. We had to have our beloved elderly cat, Cici, put to sleep over the weekend. The house feels weirdly empty now.

1. Aubory Bugg, “ive come to realize”: I think a lot about grief. Probably too much, if we’re being honest. I completely understand where this song is coming from, asking if my mother ever needs her mother. I get the feeling that never goes away.
2. Ben Folds Five, “Evaporated (Shelved First Attempt)”: I’m a sucker for sad Ben Folds songs, even if they’re still rather unpolished and rough. I like sad songs that are a little rough around the edges. Feels more authentic.
3. Cassandra Wilson, “Harvest Moon”: Ever wanted to hear a jazz cover of a Neil Young song? I didn’t think so either, but it’s really damn good.
4. The Jayhawks, “American Midnight”: I always thought it seemed a little weird, referring to the Jayhawks as “alt-country.” They didn’t seem to have the punk energy of Uncle Tupelo or the jumped up amperage of the Old 97s. But they’ve got that country heart and those beautiful harmonies, so I let it slide. They just make good music, whatever genre you want to call it.
5. The Head and the Heart, “Rivers And Roads”: There’s a longing in this song that I can’t quite express with words. You just have to listen to it to understand it, I think.
6. Bahamas, “Lost In The Light”: I always like it when a band’s name gives you a good idea of what they sound like. The Beach Boys? You know that surfin’ is in their DNA. AC/DC? If they even know what an acoustic guitar is, I’d be surprised. With Bahamas, I can feel the warmth from the beach bonfire, hear the young people singing along and playing volleyball as the sun sets. It’s evocative and effective.
7. The Gaslight Anthem, “Positive Charge”: One of the things I like about the Gaslight Anthem is that they remain, at heart, hopeless romantics and eternal optimists.
8. Iron & Wine, “Hard Times Come Again No More”: Returning to the topic of grief, I wish I could set it aside and move on from it. It’s probably something I should discuss with my therapist. All that being said, this old standard feels fresh and timeless in the hands of Iron & Wine. I love it.
9. Langhorne Slim, “Put It Together”: What I like about this guy’s stuff is it all sounds like it’s on the verge of just absolutely falling apart, but the band manages to hold it together at the last second and pull it all off. I like that ramshackle feel.
10. Wilco, “What Light”: Jeff Tweedy remains another optimistic songwriter, crafting simple songs that remind you that you’ve got all that you need to add something beautiful and wonderful to the world if you just try. I kinda love that.