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Pete Yorn's Six Discoveries of 2006

NPR

Published December 19, 2006 at 5:16 PM EST

Singer-songwriter Pete Yorn had a good year in 2006, releasing an excellent pop record (Nightcrawler) and touring extensively. Here, he picks his year's half-dozen best musical discoveries.

TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio has developed a unique sound, so it's tough to compare the band to anything else out there right now. All I know is I like it. I'm hoping to catch the live show sometime soon, because I hear it's great.

Wanda Jackson

She was the first female rock 'n' roll singer: She was a contemporary of Elvis and a mean guitarist, and she has this amazing voice... She sounds like a snarling kitten. Listen to "Funnel of Love" for rockabilly at its craziest.

Cult Cargo: Belize City Boil Up

There's this small record label called Numero Group that's been putting out amazing reissues over the last few years, mostly of the soul variety. This is a compilation of music from Belize from the '60s and '70s, and it's kind of soul, kind of funk, kind of reggae... the ultimate soundtrack for a late-night tour-bus party.

Patsy Cline, "Why Can't He Be You"

It's about a woman dating a guy who treats her really well, but she's in love with someone else who doesn't want her. I think we've all been there. I heard it in the bathroom of a Cracker Barrel, and I really responded to the honesty of it.

Guillemots

I saw this band on Top of the Pops and was really impressed. I couldn't tell what they were doing (lip-synching, playing live?), but it didn't really matter. They've got an exciting stage presence and beautiful melodies, keeping up the legacy of other awesome British bands.

Bob Dylan, "Blowin' in the Wind"

With Dylan, I was mostly just into his Blonde on Blonde/John Wesley Harding-era stuff. Then, this year, I was asked to perform "Blowin' in the Wind" at the Songwriters Hall of Fame for the induction of Peter, Paul & Mary. When I went back to examine the song and go through the lyrics, it hit hard. It's unfortunate how relevant those words still are.