1 – Can’t Say No – The Tomas Doncker Band – The first time I heard this song was way after midnight at the Blue Note, and Joe Jackson was sitting behind me. It was, instantaneously, the best Rolling Stones song where the writer didn’t know it was a Rolling Stones but it was any way, I’ve ever heard – A
2 – Don’t Let It Trouble Your Mind – Rhiannon Giddens – Dolly Parton tears into the heart of romance with so much soul, it was perhaps inevitable but also unknown how the country great lent herself to soul and Gospel. Whitney Houston, yes, but also this inspired version -an old time folk soul take – A-
3 – All Of Me Wants All Of You – Sufjan Stevens – Three songs in and this song is almost ordinary in its beauty – B+
4 – Believe – Mumford And Sons – The worst sort of sell out is the one that doesn’t sell -M&S reach for Coldplay’s crown and miss it – C-
5 – The Ghost Of Tom Joad/Do Re Mi – Elvis Costello And Mumford And Sons – Two English stars come together to sing a song by an American superstar about a fictional character and throw in one of Woody’s great songs in the middle – C-
6 – Stop – Plain WHite T’s – We haven’t heard much from these guys in a long while so all I have to say is this is just about as good as it can be,m a lively, melodic little rocker that doesn’t embarrass itself… too much – B-
7 – The Right Time – Brian Wilson and Al Jardine – this might not be the worst song he has ever written, but it would fit on Imagination not Brian Wilson – B
8 – Under A Rock – Waxahatchee – In which the indie folk star merges with a rock and roll band and comes alive when she didn’t particularly need to. Not that a lick this good would hurt anything – A
9 – Low – Young Fathers – Gorgeous breakthrough track, defies categorization – A
10 – Ribs – Lorde – As we eagerly and patiently await the next album, Lorde lowers her public visibility for the first time in two years – B+
