This week we're offering up five new songs to check out and five older ones that you may have missed. The same way that we pass on what we're digging to you, many people have passed on their own recommendations to us. So if you see one of your own popping up on this list, think of it as musical karma. First, five new ones:

"Bad Day" - Daniel Powter
Daniel Powter is new to the scene with his debut album coming next month (though it's already available for download on iTunes). Though he doesn't stray far in originality from some of today's other top young male artists (like Gavin DeGraw, Five For Fighting, and James Blunt), the guy has a strong voice and as is evident by this catchy number, he knows how to write a memorable chorus.

"If I Ever Leave This World Alive" - Flogging Molly
Flogging Molly is a hard rocking Irish band with a bit of a punk edge to them. Like most traditional Irish units, they are prone to songs about drinking and girls. They take it down a notch (if only slightly) on this sweet track off Drunken Lullabies that will have you crying in your Guinness one minute and slugging it back the next.

"Thank You" - The Redwalls
This Chicago-area quartet channels the Stones in their new happy, retro-rock tune. We'd actually put this one on the jukebox over the songs from A Bigger Bang, the new Stones album. No offense to Mick and the boys, but this one is just four and half minutes of perfect rock melody.

"Swallowed By The Sea" - Coldplay
The new Coldplay album may not be as strong as the last, but there are two songs that particularly stand out. One of them, "Fix You," is already a heavy fixture on Top 40 radio. Our personal favorite, "Swallowed By The Sea," shows Martin as the rare optimist, and like the best of this band's work has a great ending to match it's hopeful lyrics.

"Lonelily" - Damien Rice
B-Sides albums rarely work - a bunch of songs that weren't good enough for an album originally don't suddenly become strong enough for a full album (hint to Ryan Adams). But the Irish crooner does provide at least one solid leftover on his most recent disc. "Lonelily" is a sad acoustic number that slowly builds to a powerful finale just as strong as anything from his hit album O.

And here five older ones you may have missed:

"Fall At Your Feet" - Crowded House
Before going solo, Neil Finn had several hits with his band Crowded House in the eighties ("Don't Dream It's Over" being the biggest). This one had slipped under our radar until a friend recently passed it along. Finn's voice carries this not-so-uplifting tale of a broken girl and the poor sucker who likes her. Finn has always been great at nailing the bridges in his music, and this one might be his best.

"Dixie Drug Store" - Grant Lee Buffalo
Here is the least old of the Five released just 9 short years ago. The now defunct Grant Lee Buffalo always offered unique Americana folk rock with captivating melodies and lyrics. This one tells the story of a memorable night in the great city of New Orleans.

"Until The Night" - Billy Joel
Billy Joel, you ask? Sure, why not. Most of his music from the seventies was wonderful pop, and the ones not yet over-played still sound great today. "Until The Night," off 52nd St., has one of the best endings to any of the songs by the Piano Man. If you're looking for other lesser-known gems by a younger and skinnier Joel, also check out "You're My Home," "Vienna," "Summer Highland Falls," and "Rosalinda's Eyes."

"Northern Sky" - Nick Drake
Nick Drake hit the mainstream when the lovely "Pink Moon" was used in a Volkswagon commercial a few years back. Check out another heartfelt tune from the troubled, late folk singer. "Northern Sky" is longer, has just as powerful lyrics, and is equally as moving.

"My Father's Gun" - Elton John
Like the aforementioned Piano Man, Sir Elton's image has not remained perfectly intact since his peak. That said, he still has just as many, if not more, unknown classics from back in the day. "My Father's Gun," off Tumbleweed Connection, is the touching tale of a young boy fighting in the Civil War. Look for it in the new Cameron Crowe movie Elizabethtown.