In 2005 there was a reality TV show looking for the new lead singer of INXS. There were many fabulous artists as contestants. I am a lover of most music and Dave Navarro was one of the judges, so my husband and I watched every episode.

There were some obvious front runners:

• MiG Ayesa
• Jordis Unga
• J.D. Fortune
• Marty Casey
• Suzie McNeil

I was really rooting for Jordis and Marty, with J.D. Fortune being just a smidgen behind them.

At some point, around week five I believe, the contestants had to write and perform and original song. Marty gave us “Trees.” That was is for me. He was the best and I supported him winning from then on out. “Trees” spoke to my soul, still does. I can’t explain it.

For those who didn’t figure it out – J.D. Fortune won the competition and became the lead singer of INXS, for however long that worked out.

Marty returned to his band – The Lovehammers. They recorded “Trees” and put it on the Marty Casey and the Lovehammers album. The album is one of the few that I can, and do quite often, listen to from beginning to end, on repeat.

I got lucky enough to see Marty on tour with INXS after the show ended. I was way more excited to see Marty perform, and thouroughly enjoyed the show.

Marty Casey and the Lovehammers got me through my brother’s suicide. I turned “Trees” on when I got in the car to drive to my parent’s house. I played that CD over and over in the coming weeks. All of the songs touched on something I was feeling. “Hold On” became clearer to me a few years after his death. It constantly makes me think of his platonic soul mate, someone I call sister. It makes me think of how she must have felt, and the things I wish I had been strong enough to say to her. To this day, “Trees” is at the top of my favorite song list, but I highly recommend the entire album.

What is your favorite album? Or song, if an album is too much to commit to?