Just Might Be – Young Thug – A nice rapid fire rap and fine flow plus a reggaeton feel to it, and a, dare I say, despite the “bitch” a whole lotta sensitivity under the surface – B+
Big Brother – Turbo Fruits -A goodbye to his big brother filled with sad loss with a declaration of “take my pain away”. Sorry and sad end rock ballad to an only ok album – B
Dvrk Wvrld – Speedy Ortize – You know what? Nice legs, shame about the band – C
The Dreich – Skinny Lister – This owes a lot to Sandy Denny – a Fairport Convention goes Brogue sound, and the singer has a lovely voice, but the problems are the same with Skinny Lister as a whole, the songs aren’t good enough – B
Billy Bibbit – San Fernin – After a noisy intro it calms down to a piece of self help “Give in to love…” then orchestrates its way out – B
I’m Going Home – Sam Lewis – Although I don’t concentrate on Lewis as hard as I might, when I do he heads straight to the top of the singer songwriter class. Maybe if he cut his hair… – A-
Come Pick Me Up – Ryan Adams – I offered up Ryan’s name as a musician as great as any in rocks golden age and got pooh poohed the othe day. He is too prolific not to be hit and miss. And this souvener from a two day stand late last year proves his problem is the same as Prince’s in the 1990s and maybe Steve Earle’s today… he doesn’t know when enough is enough. Still, a gorgeous version of a great song – B+
The Finish Line – Rocky Votolato – I put lo fi and slow singer songwriters like Rocky a stop above feelgood half wits like Jack Johnson. Sometimes not even that – C-
Looks Like Rain Live Multi Synth Performance – Passion Pit , Chris Hartz, Ray Suen – As long songs go, this is a goodie: a lovely song with a full, sweet sound. A real goodie and a pleasant surprise – B+
Stephen Says – OOFJ – These guys are better then their resumes suggest, a moody downbeat but pretty end – B
Both My Knees – Low Cut Connie – I should love these guys in theory, in practise I like em fine on this cool rocker, the bridge kinda blows it, but the chorus kills… great outro – B
When I’m Blind – Built To Spill – OK, cmon this is overkill. I don’t like em, they don’t like me, let’s leave it that way – D+
You, The Room, And The Devil On Your Shoulder – As It Is – Pretty and smart dark outro to the album -emo-ish – B
