1 – Anything Goes – Tony Bennett And Lady Gaga – Bennett is a genius and Lady Gaga had the tools of genius without the scope, and I actively disliked their album of standards when it was first released. With the duo playing New York this week, this is nothing much, but not terrible either. In the end, it is all a little whatever because Gaga lacks a certain sweetness to her voice, it isn’t abrasive but it isn’t an instrument built for the Great American Songbook – B-
2 – I’ve Done Bad Things – Graham Parker And The Rumour – Best song off the newbie was a perfect melodic high point during yesterday’s gig – A
3 – Before This World/Jolly Springtime – James Taylor – As great a song as Taylor has ever put his name to, the (half a) title track to his new album is a masterpiece with an astounding instrumental segue between two songs. One of the first tracks of the year – A
4 – Cool Kids – Echosmith – I like these guys as much as you do, maybe a little more, and this is a catchy happy song about sad things. hat it has to do with Clinton, I have no clue – B+
5 – Brave – Sara Bareilles – This better not be Hilary’s campaign song -please, I mean really… – C+
6 – Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac – Not for nothing, but cmon, this is a Presidential campaign song – A+
7 – Whenever God Shines His Light – Van Morrison And Cliff Richard – If Christian Contemporary Music had a song a tenth this great I might take it seriously – A+
8 – Thirty Days – Chuck Berry – Look, when you are inspiring the Stones “Satisfaction”, you are simply the greatest rock and roller of all time – A+
9 – Talking Backwards – Real Estate – Is it worth mentioning that their best song is the one where they remembered the melody? – B+
10 – About A Girl – Nirvana – So good it seems to fly in the face of everything they would do for years – A
