1. Never Let Me Me Down – Kanye West, Jay Z, J.Ivy – Speaking of blueprint, off Kanye’s first alum this sounds like his manifesto, west worries about politics but he can’t get out of the way of Jay Z’s stampeding ego, connected by a self made manual: “we are all here for a particular path”. Good to know – A
2. We Are Here – Alicia Keys – For all of us and for a reason as well… “right now it don’t make sense” Alicia pleads, “let’s talk about Nigeria and the mass hysteria”. Ineluctable nonsense – D
3. Dear Jane – The Madden Brothers – Good Charlotte brothers have that magical ability to be iffy at every thing they do, this is a mid tempo pop rocker with a kinda glam undertoe, very 70s and not the worst thing thy’ve put their name to – C+
4. Daily News Blues – JD & The Straight Shot – Nobody says James Dolan doesn’t have every right to sing the blues, every right but no reason. About what you imagine it is – C
5. Recurring – The Allah-Lahs – Sounds like it should be playing during the romance scene from a 60s teenspolitation movie. Pretty cool, right? – B
6. Coast Is Clear – Skrillex – a goodie mixing soul and EDM off his debut album – B+
7. World On Fire – Slash – Blistering riffs etc etc- C-
8. America, The Beautiful – Homeboy Sandman – Great hook, and the Homeboy can certainly rap, “the streets aren’t paved with gold, they are paved though” – B+
9. This Is My Hand – My Brightest Diamond – The strings sound classical, the lyric anatomical – B
10. If I’m Unworthy – Blake Mills – Pleasant enough, great guitar sound… maybe it is time to forgive him for the godawful Beacon set with Fiona Apple – B
