I wouldn't say my tastes are way the hell out there in left field. You will probably have heard of almost anyone on my favorites lists. Even if they aren't necessarily mainstream, they're someone you've known (**see list below).

But through Blogcritics there's been a few bands I've really just been excited about and which deserve to be up there with all the others who actually focus on the music of the industry.

And I have them in my iTunes mix and when they come on - and I'm not quite paying attention - they fit right in until I look up.

That would fit the Mike Dalton Band. I really enjoyed them (review here). They ain't no folksy whiners; they aren't angry whiners. They don't whine, they narrate - real emotion, a sense of understated humor with a great guy's voice. I tend to be one for women's voices so the guy's voice has to tell me something in a hurry.

A little heads up to anyone in New York - they'll be one Q104.3. It's a classic rock station, which isn't quite my cup of tea. But they seem open to playing other bands like, well, like Mike Dalton.

**Here's tha favorite iTunes mix game by the way. The top 10 songs that I've got on que.

For My People - Missy Elliott
Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani
Aeroplane - Red Hot Chili Peppers (one of handful of songs I like from them. Albeit a hand after a chainsaw accident that cut off two fingers and a thumb.)
James Bond - Moby
Milk Shake - Kelis
Pretty in Pink - Social Distortion
Handle With Care - Travelling Wilburys
I'm Like A Bird - Nelly Furtado
The Game - Motorhead (Triple H theme)
Something in the Way - Nirvana
No Respect - Vain