Jack Johnson’s 2005 album “In Between Dreams” is one of the few albums reviewer Kelsey Amos can listen to without skipping a few songs. Johnson is a singer-songwriter and surfer from Hawaii. He is often known for his 2001 album “Brushfire Fairytales” and the song “Upside Down” from the Curious George soundtrack.

Kelsey Amos is not ashamed to admit she is a music snob. She likes obscure bands with esoteric lyrics—so the album “The Crane Wife” by the Decemberists appeals to her elitist taste. The Decemberists is an indie folk rock band whose songs reference literary and historical events and include an extensive vocabulary.