(FORTUNE Magazine) – Jonathan Richman Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow Vapor Records

At first, this Gen-X Roy Orbison's tender, jokey pop songs--"Give Paris One More Chance," "My Love for Her Ain't Sad"--sound like whimsical little romps. Only later does it hit you that he's actually a clown who's crying on the inside.

Matthew Ryan Concussion Waxy Silver Records

Ryan's raspy yowl sounds like he just got over a really bad breakup by chain-smoking Luckys and gargling lighter fluid. Bad news for him, bliss for us. Yes, the whole sad, twangy roadhouse-loner shtick has been done to death...but rarely as well, or with as much emotional honesty, as it's done here.

Miles Davis Live at the Fillmore East March 7, 1970) Columbia/Legacy

When jazz's resident revolutionary first stirred up the bitches' brew of fusion, it was anything but Lite-FM Muzak. On one incendiary night in New York City (both of the evening's sets are captured on two CDs), Davis' electric-voodoo funk feels as if he was channeling Jimi Hendrix putting Louis Armstrong in a headlock.

Poncho Sanchez Latin Spirits Concord Picante

We were stuck in miserable L.A. traffic when a tiny Latin station came to the rescue. As a song called "Next Exit" ended after 4 1/2 bouncy, samba-fueled minutes, all was right with the world again. The DJ read Sanchez's name, and we scrambled for a pen. You have it easier: Just rip out this page and run to the record store.

The Greenhornes The Greenhornes Telstar Records

If '60s garage rock becomes the next big thing, Cincinnati's Greenhornes should crank out the movement's theme song. With their giddy jackhammer drums, fist-pumping riffs, and groove-happy keyboards, the Greenhornes don't just spread fun, they sound as if they're having tons of it too.