Rivertown Rock by Garagista Music

Here's what you'll you hear in this collection:

1. BROADWAY (Matt Turk)

Can a smokin' guitar lick help save the world? We like to think so. Apparently, so does Matt Turk. This exceptional singer/songwriter -- who has shared the stage with everyone from Pete Seeger to The Dave Matthews Band -- is committed to using the spiritual power of music to bring people together. On a recent day in Israel, for example, a group of Palestinians, Israelis and Americans broke into a spontaneous dance jam as Turk let loose on some Grateful Dead tunes and traditional Arab folk songs. "Broadway" is closer to home, but equally captivating.

2. CARY GRANT (Khromozomes)

Rarely does a single voice give off such a visceral experience of the word "yearn." Singer Kristin Mainhart has it nailed, concocting a picture of a steamy New York city night and a rickety electric fan barely stirring the air in a cramped apartment. Just listen for that blue-tinged guitar and keyboard groove that floats up effortlessly at the exactly right moment.

3. PANHEAD (Manly Footwear)

They call themselves "gusty geezer rockers" and we couldn't agree more. With years of combined talent in their pool (guitarist/arranger Jimmy Eppard, for example, has performed with Levon Helm and Cyndi Lauper among others), these guys don't limit themselves to any one particular "sound." Songwriter/singer/pianist Richard Cattabiani, drummer Paul Verdon, bassist Larry Andreassen and sax player Ian Bennet join in cooking up a unique sound that's classic but vital: just like the guys themselves.

4. IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND (Ed Bettinelli & The Quandries) Drummer Ed Bettinelli has opened for coliseum favorites including Bon Jovi, Pat Benetar and Average White Band. So we thought it was pretty cool that he put a big-stadium kick in the pants to this old Gordon Lightfoot chestnut. Besides teaching and playing, Bettinelli also runs EKG Music in New York City, producing tunes for film and TV spots.

5. JUST LIKE IT NEVER WAS (Andrew Fox)

This is the kind of song you listen to when you've woken up on a rainy morning after a too-long night. It makes feeling bad feel kinda good. Andrew's bluesy, intimate sound bounces clever lyrics against a delicious acoustic guitar, and the way he bends a note reaches deep into your gut. This is life stripped down to a place where a naked light bulb reveals all the lines.

6. NOWHERESVILLE (Tumbleweed Mile)

Tumbleweed Mile'she mix of jangly guitars, honky-tonk piano groove and Chris Merola's Tom Petty-esque vocal make this track a perfect "kick back" song. Merola calls their sound "Nashville meets The Tubes" - we couldn't have said it better. Besides Merola, the band is made up of established music pros including Pete Wilson (percussion), guitarist Marc Jacoby, and bass player Mike Levine.

7. PARTY OF TWO (Daddy-O)

The Beatles had Shea Stadium, Led Zeppelin had Madison Square Garden and Daddy-O had...the Hastings co-op nursery school. This group of local musician parents first formed for a party thrown by the school and have yet to stop gigging. Their bar-band style is on full display here, featuring songwriter (and "Jeopardy" champ) David Stewart on vocals and piano backed by Jace Alexander (vocals, keyboards), Shavonne Conroy (vocals), Peter Fraenkel, PhD. (drums), Al Cattabiani (guitar) and Bob Caputo (bass).

8. THE LAST TIME (Chris Kulusic/Master of None)

Those who know Chris Kulusic are chuckling at that band name, mainly because the guy actually does "master" many skills. An accomplished cook, basement vintner and ferocious jotter of poems and lyrics, he supports the family unit with a responsible "day job" on Wall Street. Kulusic's musical influences are firmly focused in the blues and rock he heard growing up in Chicago. With Chris' longtime pal Todd Lecuyer shredding on lead guitar, this track poses a classic question.

9. DOWN (SMFK)

Their debut performance was at a Dobbs Ferry Battle of the Bands in 2003, and since then these creative funk-rockers have developed a rabid following. Singer Alex Marans has a growl reminiscent of Kurt Cobain, while guitarist Alex Gordon punctuates the track with swirling, unexpected chord changes. Bassist Ryan Clark and drummer Nathan Ritholz make up the band's impressive rhythm section. With a loose, almost jazz-y sense of improvisation, matched with the raw emotions of grunge, these guys cook up something totally new.

10. WATCH YOU MOVE (Like Sonia)

When you live in the 'burbs, sometimes you need a great live band to remind you that you once drove a used Toyota with duct tape on the seats instead of something with cupholders. Craig Abbott and Like Sonia gave us that rush we used to get when discovering our Next Favorite New Band. So pour yourself a beverage and get ready to do more than the back-of-the-club "head bob."

11. LETTER FROM LONDON (Andy Bart)

As the longtime owner of The Elegant Poster in Dobbs Ferry, Bart has found a way to incorporate his visual talents into this almost cinematic track. Growing up, he was heavily influenced by the British invasion. To this day, he strives to write songs that echo that magical time. Believe it or not, this track was originally recorded in the days of reel-to-reel, so you can really sense that warm, analog vibe. Retro without being dated, it recalls an era of great songs that simply told a great story.

12. GROUNDED (Lauren Smith)

Don't envy this Yonkers resident for being so young and talented (OK, we do a little bit). Born in NYC, Lauren's been singing since she could talk and picked up guitar at age 12. Barely 20, she's already written over 100 original songs. Her playing and her crystalline voice have made her a big favorite on the Toronto and New York folk circuits. Clearly, Lauren is someone to watch.

13. BETTE SAYS (Matt Turk)

We think so much of Matt, we gave him two slots on this compilation. (His Broadway, opens this CD.) For its part, Bette Says has more hooks than a trawler. We particularly love the interwoven guitar parts, which blend the classic vibe of T Rex and the Stones while sounding totally modern.

14. IF AT 1ST YOU DON'T SUCCEED (Soular System)

Hard to believe that such a fat sound comes out of the work of mostly one guy. Cory Morgenstern isn't just the lead vocalist, he also handles piano, acoustic and electric guitar, and harmonica. Those soaring, layered harmonies? Him, too. Morgenstern flawlessly melds a huge range of influences into something uniquely his own.

15. I CALL YOUR NAME (CatDaddy Jones)

It's a classic "burner" delivered by four guys who got together to play just for fun, and wound up as a scorching new band. Geoff Worton, Dee Meyer, Steve Merola and Paul Bisbano have a combined 40 years experience in the trenches of the New York City music scene. All those years of covering classic have given them the craftsman's ability to turn a familiar musical form into something totally new. Plus, we wish we'd thought of such a cool band name ourselves.

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