1. Can You Believe It – Martha Wainwright – It's been years since we've gotten new material off the other other Wainwright, but this sure ain't "Bleeding All over You". Instead, despite a funny opening line about loving make-up sex because it is the only kind she get, this is all marital. I wouldn't mind so much if the song was a little more brittle. PS: her pipes are in fine shape – Grade: B
2. Bulletproof Pride – k*Naan – Featuring Bono, this is the best song Bono has sung in decades (or two albums, whichever comes first), and it is a completely lovely ballad. A revelation not just for Bono but K*Naan as well. A man I always figured as a bore – Grade: A
3. The New Breed – Donald Fagen – Fagen makes his ultra sophisticated lounge lizard quasi-Dan smooth jazz look easy and it isn't. And if he will never even try to reach the place where "The Goodbye Luck" got to, it will do fine – Grade: A-
4. Sleep To Dream – Fiona Apple – I am not 100% sure I am going to T5 on Wednesday but if I do, I'll be listening for this – Grade: A
5. Put It Down – Brandy – First song I've heard off the new one, the hook is irritating but Chris Brown is in good voice and I am sure elsewhere it will be less like Brandy guesting on his album.
6. Let It Snow – Scotty McCreery – This is terrifying. The exorcist has kidnapped Santa – Grade: C-
7. Origin Of Love – MIKA – Wow, this is a serious modern pop confection. All melody and bass popping – Grade: A-
8. Catch My Breath – Kelly Clarkson – Whatever happened to her? It's the diet that did it – Grade: C+
9. This Nothin' Town – Jason Aldean – Pretty good follow up to his break through – Grade: B
10. That Summer Feeling – Beth Orton – This should be a seasonal hit – Grade: A