1 – The Blacker The Berry – Kendrick Lamar – When I saw this guy open for Kanye iw as less than impressed whatever, and I guess it is weird calling a song this in your face subtle, but at least subtleties of rhyme, of tempo, is lost on stage. On this extremely vicious hit back at blacks who didn’t like him questioning Fergusson, Lamar makes his point and then some: emancipation of a real nigga, he claims at the end. I buy it – A
2 – Fool For Love – Lord Heron – Sometimes I think writing great songs is simply not enough. This has a lovely introduction to one of the best John Hiatt rips I’ve ever heard – A
3 – Dark Issues – Mourn – Some bloke in Stereogum compared her at length to PJ Harvey. Well, I can just about heart it, you know but really… not quite there – B
4 – Cheap Extensions – Sonny & The Sunsets – Pleasant enough, nice acoustic guitar lick, kinda telstary for some weird reason – B-
5 – Trying to Get To You – Colin Hay – Harmless enough in a pleasant quiet way, except I don’t dig the voice – B-
6 – Time After Time – Estelle – Tis very strange indeed, without being very good indeed – C+
7 – Ghosts – Ibeyi –This is so irritating – C-
8 – The Forest – Jose Gonzales – I know a girl who swears by Junip, I’m sure she’d love this as well – C
9 – Boxing Day – Letts – When you switch acid for pot, your imagery cotracts and the colors become shadier, but your melodies tighten up – B+
10 – I’m So Sorry – Imagine Dragons – Awful, awful, awful – D+
