It’s no secret that I enjoy not having a TV. I’ve no desire to buy one, no matter how low flatscreen prices go. But that doesn’t mean I can live without at-home entertainment. Admittedly, I often spend enormous amounts of time befriending my laptop and radio. And Netflix and I have been BFFs since it migrated to Canada (Have you seen The Big C? I have, in one sitting!).

In my attempt to not go over my bandwidth limit this month (was over by $14 in October), I’ve been listening to the radio a lot more and watching online not so much. Mostly, I tune into CBC Radio One. Last Sunday’s Inside the Music, hosted by Jimmy Rankin, yielded a lovely new find: Irish folk singer Sinéad Lohan. From County Cork, Sinéad long ago left the music scene, last performing in 2005. Such a shame. Her voice is enchanting and her songs hypnotic.

Listen to her sing “Out of the Woods” from her second CD, No Mermaid (1998).

And then check out Jimmy Rankin’s playlist:

• Serena Ryder, “


Little Bit Of Red”
• Slowcoaster, “Leave”
• Tin Thorney, “Coat Tails”
• Alison Krauss, “Ghost in This House”
• Gordie Sampson, “Still Working on a Dream”
• Daniel Lanois, “Still Water”
• Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings”
• Sinéad Lohan, “Out of the Woods”
• Fred Eaglesmith, “
Cumberland County”
• Brandi Carlile, “The Story”
• Gordon Lightfoot, “If There’s a Reason”
• John Prine, “Daddy’s Little Pumpkin”
• Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, “Remedy”