1. Sometimes There’s God – John Mellencamp – This is a perfect example of Mellencamp’s problem, it should be as great as a Springsteen or Dylan, it has the gravitas, indeed the self-importance, but it isn’t as good at all. “Sometimes it’s god, sometimes it’s not”? How about “I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea, sometimes I turn, there’s someone there, other times it’s only me.” And yeah I know the Wiliam Blake poem, but that’s pure Dylan. And Mellencamp sounds like a chump – B
2. . I – Kendrick Lamar – This is gonna excited a lot of people a great great deal. Kendrick’s introduction to album # 2 is the sort of killer pop track (it samples the Isley brothers “That Lady”) with maybe the best flow in the business – B+ (though it may go up in a compla spins).
3. I’m Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee) – Marshall Crenshaw – Written by Ben Vaughn who turned the humor inside out and gave it a strange and wonderful compassion… it’s the way he trails off “Brenda Leeeh…” – A
4. I Decline – Perfume Genius – Lovely piano ballad that drones and drains you out – B+
5. Slow – Leonard Cohen – A musical manifesto – A+
6. Was There Anything I Could Do – Missy Higgins – Nice hook, circular and sart – B
7. He Ain’t Going Nowhere – Jennifer Hudson, Iggy Azalea – Not very pleasant -C+
8. Portal – Lights – First song on the new album is a lovely alt pop buzzed out synth sound – B+
9. Orphan – Empires – Pleasant indie popper with a nice come on “don’t don’t don’t call be baby” – B
10. Drink It Up – Kenny Chesney – Meh – C-
