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For Jews who like to rock—or just enjoy ethnic parlor games—thank Moshiach for Jewsrock.org. The brainchild of Atlantic writer Jeffrey Goldberg, XM radio executive Allen Goldberg (unrelated, as far as they know), and Washington Post style reporter David Segal, the site is a celebration of Semitic contributions to American rock 'n' roll. But don't let the lolling tongue of Gene Simmons (aka Chaim Witz) scare you. Jewsrock.org isn't all Bar-Mitzvah Boy bluster and tales of groupie glory.

The site's comprehensive Challah Fame is an Aaronson to Zorn compendium of Jewish artists and groups, from the tenuously connected (Courtney Love?) to the wholeheartedly Hebraic (all of J. Geils Band, except J. Geils). It's great ammo for the next time your know-it-all cousin tries to tell you that half the Knack was Jewish. (Wrong! The whole band was—Sharona, too.) Or that Mama Cass choked to death on an unkosher sandwich. (Wrong! It was heart failure that killed Cass, not ham.)

With a Jewish-themed tattoo gallery, a Steely Dan d'var Torah, and close ties to an organization that helps sick children and their families, this site most definitely rocks.

Since the dawn of recorded music—or at least since the rise of impish rock stars—musicians have tucked secret songs into corners of their albums. There these buried beauties lurk, waiting to startle unsuspecting listeners. Anyone familiar with the work of They Might Be Giants knows what we're talking about.

For a long time, this hidden-track trickery slipped by without any documentation. But then, HiddenSongs.com hove into view. This inventory of melodic deception not only catalogs the secret sounds, but tells you exactly how to find them on the album.

We reviewed HiddenSongs back in 2004. Now, we check in with Erik, the man behind the site, to see what inspired him to build the encyclopedia of concealed tunes...

Do you remember the first time you heard an unexpected tune on an album? Is that what inspired you to start the site?

It was probably "Endless, Nameless" by Nirvana, off "Nevermind." That was right around the time that CDs were taking over tapes, and not all CD pressings of "Nevermind" had the track. Between that and Nirvana's hidden track from the "No Alternative" compilation, I sort of developed a weird fascination with the idea that there was a... bonus for people who listened all the way through an album. I started making compilations for myself so that I could listen to the songs easily, and figured it only made sense to catalog what I found about each song.  Read the full profile...

It all started over lunch last year. Mary told Bryan how a particular song had been wrecked for her forever. One thing led to another, and according to legend—and MySpace—they "skipped dessert and registered the domain" for Ruined Music.

Fast forward a year. Hundreds of people have logged their achey-breaky tunes. Mary continues to handle the "word-and-grammar" parts. Bryan covers the "art-and-technology" pieces. And together, these two Brooklynites are still curating a vibrant web testament to songs painfully colored by their association with breakups, fights, death, tears, or any other brand of melancholy.

Having just celebrated its first birthday (with readings and beer and live bands, hopefully none of them blues-inducing), Ruined Music also boasts a brand new look, search functionality, and a random cat generator. Thank the big musician in the sky for kitties.

As for their own lost lullabies? Don't even try to play a certain Simon & Garfunkel song for Mary. And wild horses couldn't drag Bryan to a Tori Amos concert. Ever.