WHAT'S ON MY PLAYLIST

JASON BIELER

1 “Heart in Hand” Opeth

They do a ton of stuff right. Songs and technical prowess that never seems forced or like they’re trying to solve a math problem. So good!

2 “Lifeboat Serenade” Jimmy Herring

Jimmy is about as good as it gets: emotional, melodic, with a rich vocabulary that’s always used to serve the tune. The man is a musical giant, and all must bow down before him.

3 “Greenwich Mean” Wayne Krantz

If there’s a guitar player with a better time feel — or someone who is boldly marching to the beat of their own drummer more than Wayne Krantz — I need to be made aware.

4 “One Armed Bandit” Jaga Jazzist

This feels like where music could be going: one part electronic, one part orchestral. Add a dash of snarl and whimsy and you get a wicked new sound.

5 “In the Blood” John Mayer

Even though he’s been cursed by not being as good looking as me, this dude is a deeply underrated player. If he gains 50 lbs., goes bald and is in a kitchen accident involving oil splatter that melts his facial features in a Dali-esque fashion, he’ll go down as one of the all-time greats. At the end of the day the guy can write great songs, and that makes me dig his playing all the more.

SONGS FOR THE APOCALYPSE BY JASON BIELER AND THE BARON VON BIELSKI ORCHESTRA IS AVAILABLE NOW.