1 – Family (Blended) – Chance The Rapper – This is the Vic Mensa remix, and it is so good, “It still warms my heart to hear my Grandma pray” is one thing, “My sister says she likes my rap because it sounds good” is one thing, “I’m gonna stay in the land where my fam-o stays” something else again. Chance and Vic are like no one out there. Big time hip hop guys doing it differently – A
2 – You Carry A Sickness – Astral Swans – Excellent heavy drums folk music, a terrific song – A
3 – What New York Use To Be – The Kills – Karen Anne, late of the band that didn’t but absolutely should have made it Ramona, said this song reminds her of me. Which means, I am a rhythm heavy nostalgia for nyc merchant. Which is fine by me – B+
4 – Take U There – Jack U Kleisa – This is the Missy Elliott remix and it is a powerhouse, with a typical words as sounds as words Missy verse – B+
5 – Go Out – Blur – God, I hope this isn’t a tease and the entire album is this good… please god I don’t ask for much – A
6 – If It Makes You Happy – Sheryl Crow – Not just her personal best, a masterpiece of legs and muted sorro. A sad sad sad song – A+
7 – She Is Beyond Good And Evil – The Pop Group – Way before its time, this is all quirky angular guitar barbs -sounds like indie experimental – A
8 – The Blacker The Berry – Kendrick Lamar – Potentially the best song of the year – A
9 – Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vine – Kendrick Lamar – Did Flying Lotus write the beat? Sure is special, and his rap is better – A
10 – Screen Shot – Swans – Made em superstars all over again if not, indeed, for the first time. A glorious midtempo extravaganza… They are playing next week… A
