Five Essential Songs

Violinsit, arranger and composer Owen Pallett's longtime work with Arcade Fire gives him an intimate perspective into the band's discography. So we were delighted (and amazed) when he agreed to write about his "Five Essential Arcade Fire Songs" for FUV Essentials:

Hurray for the Riff Raff's Alynda Segarra writes from the sharp perspective of a native New Yorker, traversing a similarly socially outspoken, urban path as Lou Reed, this week's FUV Essentials artist. Segarra has found inspiration in Reed's fearless lyricism, as she eloquently writes in her "Five Essential Lou Reed Songs."

Joan Osborne has a long string of solo albums, a side project with Trigger Hippy, and a forthcoming 2017 album that's entirely focused on the songs of Bob Dylan, but the adventurous singer and songwriter has a special place in her heart for the music of Motown. Read her "Five Essential Motown Songs" (plus a bonus track).

The panoramic, stirring songs of Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles, Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac inspired Andrew Davie and Kev Jones of

On the Lemon Twigs' impressive debut album, Do Hollywood, brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario don't hide their deep affe

The octet St. Paul and the Broken Bones has a crafty way of writing retro-soul songs, like the fervent "All I Ever Wonder," but the band is no nostalgia act. They take a fresh look at a vintage sound first laid down by musicians like this week's FUV Essentials artist, Ray Charles. Lead singer Paul Janeway found the time to give us his picks of "Five Essential Ray Charles Songs" for FUV Essentials.

A bold storyteller, Margo Price looks directly at her own life on her auspicious 2016 debut, 'Midwest Farmer's Daughter.' Price has expressed her affection for equally candid, hard-living songwriters like Lucinda Williams, and for FUV Essentials, she reflected on her "Five Essential Lucinda Williams Songs."

As a New York punk ambassador, Jesse Malin kickstarted his career with Heart Attack and the legendary D Generation, and the road he's taken as a solo artist and songwriter has followed many different directions including transforming songs by Bruce Springsteen, the Clash and the Replacements into fiercely personal testaments. Malin has a close friendship with the Replacements too, so it's not unusual that Malin would have a unique view the band's songs, which he writes about for FUV Essentials.

Esperanza Spalding's shapeshifting and erudite command of the many fusions between jazz, soul, rock, pop and gospel is a reminder of the versatility of one of her favorite musicians, Aretha Franklin. And as Esperanza Spalding enthuses in her observant and ebullient "Five Essential Aretha Franklin Songs" for FUV Essentials, "[Aretha's] whole musical spirit speaks to me."

As a longtime solo artist and as one half of a duo with Iron and Wine's Sam Beam, Jesca Hoop has always been a fearless, insightful lyricist, so it's not surprising that Hoop found an early kinship with our FUV Essentials artist Patti Smith. Like Smith, Hoop confronts hard truths with empathy and strength—and in her perceptive picks for "Five Essential Patti Smith Songs," it's clear that the Smith was an early guide for a young Hoop, finding her way and her words in California.