SharkJumping

I spend Summer weekends up in the Lake Tahoe region and we often spend Sunday nights in Tahoe City at the Commons Beach for their weekly free concert series - it's a relaxing and beautiful place where we can picnic, play ball with the boys, and listen to some music.  It normally features a pleasant but somewhat forgettable band, but I was struck last week by the lyrics and overall storytelling strength of artist Brett Dennen (his MySpace page ), as well as a great musical beat  - it just felt good to sit there and hum along. 

As the Rhapsody editorial team will tell anyone who will listen, I have incredibly pedestrian music taste, but I tend to like storytellers with guitars, and Brett Dennen certainly fit the bill.  For the first time in 5 years, I actually spent $15 for a CD (his new one So Much More which hits retail next month), and immediately went home to listen to his earlier self-titled CD on Rhapsody (here).  I continued to listen to it all week, and I can truly recommend that everyone give it a try.  His new release is on Dualtone, one of my favorite Nashville labels, and I think he'll do very well with the greater exposure they can give him, as well his current tour opening for John Mayer.