Admit it. We all have some guilty pleasures when it comes to popular music. There are many of us who actually know the words to “I Need to Know” by Mark Anthony, and then there are those of you who can dance and sing “The Electric Slide” or, far worse, “The Macarena.” Dan Bern is a gifted singer-songwriter on the neo-folk scene who readily admits this. Just listen to “Baby Bye Bye,” the opening track to his new Fleeting Days release on Messenger Records and you’ll see what I mean. Take this lyric, for example: “Listening to the big guy’s new CD laying in bed / The one his producer thinks he never should have made / but it gets me going gets me into the shower…”

Sometimes, music serves a purpose. It can fill up the interior of an elevator, drown out the dreariness at the office, help you forget about a relationship turned sour or simply motivate you to get out of bed and into the shower. And while this CD is full of some catchy riffs and hooks, Fleeting Days is not guilty pleasure music.

In “Graceland,” Bern sings, “Look at me, Lord. I’m at Graceland on a Saturday afternoon.” And while America’s Elvis Presley might be the subject of this particular song, Bern’s style lends itself more to England’s Elvis Costello. Even in this tune, sung in a style like that of the original King of Pop, Bern notes that his musical heroes are soul-searching singer-songwriters like Woody Guthrie. Bern’s style and songs are unique. However, if you’re looking for similar artists or inspirational forces (other than Elvis Costello and Woody Guthrie), try Bob Dylan, Freedy Johnston or maybe even an acoustic version of Nirvana.

Bern knows how to put a song together and never seems to limit himself to a particular style or mood. Crunchy ditties like “Baby Bye Bye,” “Eva,” “Jane,” and “Crow” are instantly engaging and a treat to listen to. However, songs like “Closer to You” and “Superman” are melancholy and seem to slowly meander through the crevices of your mind while you figure them out. “Chain Around My Neck,” “City” and “Fly Away” are easily classified as folk or neo-folk, while “Don’t Make Me Leave” and “Soul” almost create genres of their own.

Anyone can make a noise that’s memorable or one that even gets you out of bed and into the shower in the morning, but artists like Bern create songs that you can really appreciate without all the guilt. Fleeting Days is available on the Messenger Records, www.messengerrecords.com.

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