Pick six: A half-dozen cool things in music

Updated: November 7, 2009 - 5:03 PM

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A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:

Michael Bublé, "Crazy Love." There's nothing like a standard, especially when the phrasing brings the lyrics to life. Add David Foster's lush arrangements and some sassy soul from Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and it's not surprising that this went to No. 1.

www.playlist.com. Choose 200 of your favorite songs and put them on an ever-changing free playlist. Right now, I'm listening to music from Bettye LaVette, Van Morrison and "Wicked." By tomorrow, some will be deleted and others added.

Taylor Swift. She's fresh, smart, talented and genuine. Her music is perfect pop, sweetly sentimental and wise beyond her years. I look forward to what she writes about in her 20s, 30s and 40s.

BONNIE HOFFMAN, GOLDEN VALLEY

To contribute: popmusic@startribune.com

Nancy Harms, "In the Indigo." This 30-ish Twin Cities jazz thrush has a quiet confidence, an innate sense of swing and languorously seductive phrasing. On this debut, she does standards, a John Mayer tune and a couple of originals. Quite impressive.

Michael Bublé sings Top 10 list, "Late Show With David Letterman." The topic was "least popular musical standards." With clever lyrics by Letterman's staff, Bublé sang with his usual suave, wink-at-you flair. Best lyric: "Al Goré" to "That's Amore."

Luther Dickinson and the Sons of Mudboy, "Onward and Upward." Three days after musician/producer Jim Dickinson died, his son, Luther, brought some musicians together at Jim's studio to record these spirituals. Knowing the circumstance enables you to better appreciate the rawness and sadness.

JON BREAM, STAR TRIBUNE