"Little Bitty Baby (A Cumulative Song)" - Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends

Artist: Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends 

Song: "Little Bitty Baby (A Cumulative Song)" 

Album: The Sounding Joy 

Description:  As a general rule, I have a strong aversion to listening to Christmas and holiday music when it's more than 100 degrees out.  Such is the occupational hazard of a music reviewer in the Sonoran Desert.  But I'm willing to make the sacrifice for Elizabeth Mitchell's long-awaited holiday album.  The Sounding Joy  uses songs from Ruth Crawford Seeger's out-of-print 1953 songbook American Folk Songs for Christmas .  Based on the song Folkways has posted for streaming, this seems like it's going to be a very festive and joyful album.  And, yes, it works even in 107-degree weather.

Source: Smithsonian Folkways  / Soundcloud

"I'm Not Sleeping In ('Cuz It's Saturday)" - The Verve Pipe

Artist:  The Verve Pipe

Song:  "I'm Not Sleeping In ('Cuz It's Saturday)"

Album:  Are We There Yet?

Description:  Horn-accented pop, I'm not sleeping in because I've got this very peppy song running through my brain.  (Also: good to have the Verve Pipe back!)

Source: Soundcloud 

"(Look for the) Good People" - Sugar Free Allstars

Artist:​ Sugar Free Allstars

Song: "(Look for the) Good People"​

Album: N/A

Description: A soulful new number from the Oklahoma band.  All proceeds from the single will go to the American Red Cross of Central and Western Oklahoma to aid in the disaster relief for the May 19 and 20, 2013 tornadoes just outside Oklahoma City.

Source: Bandcamp​

"Can We Buy A New Car (So I Can Have a Balloon)?" - Eric Herman

Artist: Eric Herman​

Song: "Can We Buy a New Car (So I Can Have a Balloon)?"​

Album: Party Animal​

Description:​ Washington-based Eric Herman says the country sound of this new tune from his forthcoming album is more the exception than the rule for the album, but I like it -- very Wilco circa-Summerteeth​.  The song lyrics?  Well, based on the title alone I'm pretty sure you can guess that it's not one of his tender ballads.

Source: Reverbnation​

"Fruit Jar" - Justin Roberts

Artist:​ Justin Roberts

Song:​ "Fruit Jar"

Album: Pop Fly

Description: It is safe to say that "Fruit Jar" ​is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists.  So I don't care if I've posted about the song before.  When Roberts streams it, I'm gonna share it.  Just click on the link below.

Source​: Soundcloud

"Kevin From The Internet and Lady Tomato" - Chicken Weebus

Artist: Chicken Weebus

Track: "Kevin From The Internet and Lady Tomato"​

Album: N/A

Description:​ Y'all, you know I think that Chicken Weebus and his whole crew are awesome, right?  Well, maybe you think it's too much work to go over to the website and click play on some Flash widget to hear some previews or download a free episode.  FINE.  Just click on the YouTube embed.  Even though it's Weebus-free, you'll get a pretty good idea of the show's humor.

Source: YouTube​

"Trash 2 Treasure" - Yumzah!

Artist: Yumzah!​

Song: "Trash 2 Treasure"​

Album: Freebee (Sampler)​

Description: For those of you who thought that maybe Nashville's Steve Lee incorporating his music under a new "Yumzah" moniker would totally make his music bland and less happy, you, friends, ARE WRONG.  This is glorious kitchen-sinky.  It costs $1 via the link below (but you can get it for free or pay-what-you-will via the "Freebee" link above, which, as i tell you repeatedly, you need to do now).