The Silver Jews’ “Tennessee” is, without question, the perfect postmodern country song.

One second, David Berman’s poke-along baritone drawl is the most heartfelt you’ve ever heard. The next minute he’s borrowing Johnny Cash’s larynx, his lyrics boldly staring you in the face. Pretty soon his cynical side shows through. And then suddenly, he knocks you down in hilarity with a line like this one:

“Punk Rock died when the first kid said, “Punk’s not dead… Punk’s not… dead.”

“Tennessee” combines equal parts sincerity, cynicism, and bone dry deadpan wit with a voice that Johnny Cash’s family must be collecting royalties on.

“Marry me, leave Kentucky, and come to Tennessee,” sings Berman, “’cause you’re the only ‘ten’ I see.” To which his girlfriend, Cassie Marrett, sings back, “I’ve looked through offices and honkytonks for a man man enough to be Mr. ‘Mrs. Tennessee.’”

This track’s lyrics, its instrumentation, and, of course, Berman’s voice helped it quickly rise to the top of a recent roadtrip playlist of music on my iPod I hadn’t listened to much, but the song is so unique and interesting in its style, I just had to share it with you.

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Silver Jews: Tennessee

My friend Evan Gross is one of the most naturally gifted songwriters I know, so when he emailed me a few of his latest songs, a grin snuck its way out of my teeth and hung itself between my ears, just beneath my nose. (This is where smiles go. They are not to be kept elsewhere.)

When I opened my email, I didn’t know that a couple of these new songs would quickly join the short list of highly elite “five-star” tracks in my iPod. I actually wish I could rate one particular song, “Go West” a six as it rose to the top. (Although his song, “Let Go” is phenomenal and “Your Scent” is fairly incredible, too.)

Last week, I listened to Evan’s three new songs all the way to Portland and back (a total of over eight hours of driving) and I’ve been listening to them ever since. But in the words of LaVar Burton, “You don’t have to take my word for it.” Charlie, the hitchhiker who rode with me for 100 miles asked for me to play them over and over and over.

And over.

Check out “Go West”

And for more from Evan’s outstanding new recordings, visit his website at vangross.com (Yes, Van Gross.)