I Need Some Musical Help

1) A couple of years ago I heard about a band on a NPR show. Each of the songs starts out with a historical audio clip and then is about the event - or something like that. I remember liking it, I thinking, "I should look up _____ when I get home." Guess what? I forgot. Does anyone know who they are?

2) Love songs with no despair. I have a great book, 17 Love Poems With No Despair, by BJ Ward. I love the idea and most of the poems. Why pair love and despair so often? It brings us all down. So, not too long ago - right after my sister's wedding, actually - I was trying to think of love songs with no despair that are not mainstream country. Not too much luck. Casey gave me the first two :

- Eight Days a Week, The Beatles
- Love Me Do, The Beatles
- All That Heaven Will Allow, Bruce Springsteen
- For You, Tracy Chapman
- Wedding Song, Tracy Chapman
- The Luckiest, Ben Folds
- Your Charms, Cinerama
- Naked as We Came, Iron and Wine (maybe a tinge of despair here with the death theme and all)


Help me out! I need input! Post a comment or e-mail me (link on profile) and I'll add to the list.