The Donkeys - "Living On the Other Side" (2008)

The Donkeys second album has the band moving to the Dead Oceans label who's name is fitting as the band clearly has its sails unfurled in California waters. Hailing from San Diego, these beach town boys sound like they've spent many a lazy afternoon in an oceanside garage with their instruments, a couple bottles of Pacifico, and some Workingman's Dead era Grateful Dead boots. I first came to know them, not as The Donkeys, but as Geronimo Jackson, the bellbottomed fictional band on LOST sporadically mentioned throughout the series. When the 1970's came into play on the show, a song called Dharma Lady could be heard at points in the background. It turned out to be The Donkeys doing a reworked version of their song Excelsior Lady which closes out this album. I knew I had to check this band out and was glad to find The Donkeys are as groovy as Geronimo Jackson and clearly drank the Dharma brand Kool-Aid. -- Chris Baginski

1. Gone Gone Gone
2. Walk Through A Cloud
3. Dolphin Center
4. Pretty Thing
5. Traverse Wine
6. Bye Bye Baby
7. Downtown Jenny
8. Nice Train
9. Dreamin’
10. Boot On The Seat
11. Excelsior Lady

Dharma Lady

See The Donkeys on Tour

Belle & Sebastian - "Dear Castastrophe Waitress" (2003)

Scottish Indie Poppers Belle & Sebastian took their name from a children's book which was later turned into a 1980's Nickelodeon cartoon and when you hear their music, you'll see the Saturday morning connection. There's an innocence to Dear Catastrophe Waitress that's pretty bubblegum and the seven members of Belle & Sebastian have no problem embracing that. The music has an airy quality to it that's delicate and breezy and comes from the band in soft effortless breathes. Makes for a nice audio addition to your coffee and paper on a weekend morning. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Step into My Office, Baby" (4:12)
2. "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" (2:22)
3. "If She Wants Me" (5:05)
4. "Piazza, New York Catcher" (3:03)
5. "Asleep on a Sunbeam" (3:22)
6. "I'm a Cuckoo" (5:26)
7. "You Don't Send Me" (3:08)
8. "Wrapped Up in Books" (3:34)
9. "Lord Anthony" (4:14)
10. "If You Find Yourself Caught in Love" (4:15)
11. "Roy Walker" (2:57)
12. "Stay Loose" (6:41)

The Shins - "Oh, Inverted World" (2001)

One of my favorite records from the past decade, The Shins debut album is a pillowy white cloud that combines 60's sunshine pop with hypnotic melancholy. The dreamland created gives the music a lucid feel that streams by you at a sweet tempered pace, spins you around and sings you a lullaby. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Caring Is Creepy" (3:20)
2. "One By One All Day" (4:09)
3. "Weird Divide" (1:58)
4. "Know Your Onion!" (2:29)
5. "Girl Inform Me" (2:21)
6. "New Slang" (3:51)
7. "The Celibate Life" (1:51)
8. "Girl on the Wing" (2:50)
9. "Your Algebra" (2:23)
10. "Pressed in a Book" (2:55)
11. "The Past and Pending" (5:22)