Slightly melancholy, who knows why?

So fresh on the heels of the Spring Fever mix, here is another, slightly melancholy mix. I really don't know why, I just needed to express this inner unsettledness (SO not a word...) and this is what did it. I just feel better when I listen to this mix I call With a Heart Wide Open. There are hopeful, happy songs sprinkled throughout; Matt Nathanson, Over the Rhine, Eastmountainsouth, and even Donny Osmond, for heaven's sake. Additionally, my 5-month obsession every year, American Idol, now posts all performances on iTunes for downloading. I have shown remarkable restraint, but couldn't resist my favorite tattoo'd chick Carly Smithson - her Here You Come Again during Dolly Parton week was stellar, showing her range, control, and excellent pitch. And I really like David Cook and what he did with Mariah Carey's Always Be My Baby.

Some new folks this time: Entertainment Weekly had an article highlighting up and coming female singer/songwriters, 6 of which I had heard and purchased, 4 I had not. Throw in a couple free singles of the week, a new Weepies album, John Mayer (from which the title comes) and Donny Osmond (so sue me), and it's a mix:

With a Heart Wide Open
Wish I Could Forget - The Weepies
Say - John Mayer
Here You Come Again - Carly Smithson (American Idol)
Come On Get Higher - Matt Nathanson
Blue Skies - Jaymay
Impossible - Larkin Gayl
I'm On a Roll - Over the Rhine
It's Only Life - Kate Voegele
Best Days - Graham Colton
Worrisome Heart - Melody Gardot
Between the Lines - Sarah Bareilles
The Wrong Girl - Missy Higgins
Always Be My Baby - David Cook (American Idol)
Mercy - Duffy
Apologize - OneRepublic
Madly - Tristan Prettyman
All the Stars - Eastmountainsouth
Under the Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
Breeze On By - Donny Osmond

My habit is to find, listen, order and reorder new music, create the mix, send it out, and start again. So as my friends and family are just getting familiar with that set of songs, I've already moved on. My gestation period is around three weeks - could be sooner this time, thanks to new music from MB-C. Of course, there will need to be a summer mix for the teachers in early June, so I do have a deadline...