1. Mexicali Stars – Hey Harley – With the first album already in the tank, this is Americana if the term means a thing to you, a splendidly constructed singer songwriterly classically attuned rock ballad with a guitar break which is a pure beauty, and a bridge which seems to hover in space. This duo has a back story and I will write it up when the album drops, but till then hear this here – A-
2. Hold On, We’re Going Home – Drake, Majid Jordan – Everybody said this was a great song but I could never quite hear it till Iheard it live FOR THE SECOND TIME!!! Now, I can hear it: the hook isn’t just the title but the “good girl and you know it” – A
3. Put Your Head On Your Shoulders – Paul Anka – They don’t make teen pop idols like this any more because they don’t have songs that straddle generations quite this way – A+
4. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor – There is no reason Taylor should have a deep affinity for Marvin Gaye but this huge hit shows how soulful Taylor can be, and how pop Gaye was, while both remained strikingly true to themselves – A+
5. Can’t Even Do Right Wrong – High spirited blues story song – B+
6. Fooled Around And Fell In Love – Elvin Bishop – A little slower than I remembered – B
7. Talking Talking Blues – Ethan Johns – Still have serious doubts about this folkie, sounds like Dylan in blues mode circa 2012 but without the gift – B-
8. Dangerous – Jennifer Hudson – A disappointment but it may be the production that is slipping it up – B-
9. The First Time I Saw Jupiter – Fall On Your Sword – Wonderful soundtrack composition, where are these guys??? – A-
10. Keep The Car Running – Arcade Fire – One of the great political songs of our time… I think! – A+
