I can't remember where Brendan Benson was first recommended to me. I think if you buy enough happy indie pop albums on Amazon or iTunes, he'll inevitably show up. In that vein, if you like generally up-beat pop songs, you'll like Brendan Benson. Don't listen for deep insight into the human condition, listen to bop your head along.

The first two tracks, "Tiny Spark" and "Metarie," are especially good (the latter has a kind of Big Star poignancy to it), but don't stop there. eMusic describes the last three tracks as "bittersweet, down-tempo, semi-acoustic, melancholy with a sense of humor and just a little bit psychedelic." I'll buy that: down-tempo, but still peppy. Check it out.

It's a couple of days late, but I am committed to continuing this new musical feature. Here's what ended up in my iTunes "Added This Week" playlist since January 8:

Beirut, "Elephant Gun" from IndieFeed.com. When the dude started singing, my hand hovered over the "skip" button, but as soon as the accordion kicked in, I let it play. And a good thing, too! The host compares them to DeVotchKa, whom I should really go back and listen to. 4 stars.

Guava Duff, "Destroyed" from IndieFeed.com. This one starts out with a handicap on account of the really stupid band name, but it's catchy. The vocals are a little flat on the high notes, but I should probably shut up about that. It kind of sounds like every college band ever trying to sound jazzy, but for all that it's listenable. 3 stars.

Monolith, "The Sounding" from IndieFeed.com. On my first listening, I was decidedly neutral. On second listening, I kind of like it. It's got some nice melody going on. 3 stars.

Let's Go Pop, by I Rock Cleveland. This is a mix of "power pop" made by, well, some guy, I guess. I had high hopes. I like pop! On downloading it, I find, style-wise, it's more or less The Sounds of Matt's High School Experience (1989-1993), with Brendan Benson and The New Pornographers thrown in. That isn't a bad thing, but I wasn't as thrilled on listening as I thought I would have been. There are some things I hadn't heard before, but none of them are going to be a new favorite. That said, if you somehow haven't heard "The Laws Have Changed," you should grab it right now. Other highlights: Benson's "Spit it Out," and classics like Teenage Fanclub's "Star Sign," Big Star's "September Gurls," and, ironically, The Replacements' "Alex Chilton." Overall: 3 stars.

A 1-minute snippet of the Holmes Brothers' cover of Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me," a different exceprt from which can be downloaded here from Austin 360. Holy crap! As the man says, it's "as pure an example of art and skill transcending and transforming what we would ordinarily take to be inferior materials" as you'll find. So awesome. Want! 4 stars.

Apples In Stereo, "Energy". Oh, Apples In Stereo. Does it get happier or peppier? I don't think it does. This one is an instant sing-along. Just go download, and start your enjoyment. 5 stars.