1 – Fourth Of July – Sufjan Stevens – From a contender for album of the year, Stevens mourns his recently dead Mom and all he can say to comfort himself is “we’re all gonna die”. Cold comfort, right? But I know where he is coming from – A
2 – Substitute – The Who – The greatest song the Who ever recorded is a series of parenthetic opposites disguised social commentary – A+
3 – Old Rock And Roll – Young Fathers – “For fuck’s sake…” yeah this is from Scotland… “I am tired of blaming the white man, his indiscretions don’t betray him, the black man can play him”: one of litany of things this brilliant band are tired of. A contender for song of the year from a contender for album of the year from a contender for band of the year – A
4 – Short Movie – Laura Marling – Maybe if I had made it to Warsaw I’d feel different, but this album is a disappointment try as I might to hide it. This song, however, isn’t – A
5 – Nobody Really Cares If You Go To The Party – Courtney Barnett – Definitely maybe, one of her better vocals – B+
6 – Nobody Wins – Jodeci – I haven’t cared for B.o.B. since he opened for Jay Z and stank a coupla years ago, but this is a terrific track, a soulful beauty and B.o.B. is in complete control of his rap – B+
7 – Uncle John’s Band – The Grateful Dead – “Well, the first days are the hardest days…” Their best song – A+
8 – Calling Out A Name – Marching Church – These guys played Saturday night, and if it had been in the city I would have gone. A sludgy special thing on a downward spiral – B+
9 – Do The Damage – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Bird – This is generic UK rock and it needs a better singer… but not terrible – B
10 – Need You More – Darius Rucker – I know there is that one track on the newbie that would flip me out if I could find it. This ain’t that – C+
