FUV Essentials

Matthew Sweet released his latest album, Tomorrow's Daughter, on May 18, 2018 — and he still loves the Beach Boys.

As a songwriter, Okkervil River's Will Sheff says that he's spent "countless hours" trying to figure out what makes Elton John’s songs work so well. Read Sheff's wonderful assessment of "Five Essential Elton John Songs."

With Ani DiFranco is playing a sold-out show at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 10, 2018,  it's a good time to revisit Ben Jaffe of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's reflection on his good friend and collaborator.

On what would have been Sharon Jones's 62nd birthday on Friday, May 4, 2018, FUV is celebrating one of our most beloved artists — and friends — by spinning nothing but the music of incomparable women, like Jones, all day.

Middle Kids drummer Harry Day cites Damon Albarn as one of his "favorite musicans in life" and chose his "Five Essential Damon Albarn Songs."

Willie Nelson, who turns 85 years old on April 29, 2018, knows he's a pretty blessed survivor. His new album, Last Man Standing, is his 73rd studio album and while it wrestles with mortality, it does so with a wistful grin, a shuffling groove, a hearty swig of beer, and a little (maybe more) weed. He's an FUV Essentials legend.

Damon Albarn's diverse, compelling career has spanned Blur, Gorillaz, The Good, the Bad & the Queen, the collaborations of Africa Express, musical theatre, his own solo work and much more. A visionary musician with a workaholic's tenacity, he's one of our FUV Essentials.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra released its fourth album this year, Sex & Food, a record that found singer, songwriter and guitarist Ruban Nielson traveling the globe. And yes, a jazzy hint of Nielson's beloved Steely Dan gently ripples through new tracks like "Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays" and the tender "Hunnybee."

As FUV celebrates Essential Songwriters during our 2018 Spring Membership Drive, now through April 20, we realize that every songwriter is essential to someone. As you tell us who your Essential Songwriters might be this week — and support the radio station you love — the FUV on-air staff has chosen some of the songwriters whom we personally treasure and revere.

Joe Henry happens to also be an enthusiastic admirer of this week's FUV Essentials artist, John Prine. When FUV asked Henry if he might like to choose "Five Essential John Prine Songs," he not only agreed, but wrote a loving and long assessment of the man and his music: