1. Know Till Now – Jim James – The last time I was duly impressed by Jim James was My Morning Jacket's 2008 New Year's Eve at MSG, but perhaps the difference is that James is at his best when he is working out his soul jones, even if he is making it above a psychedelic electronic dream track. Off next years Regions of Light and Sound of God – Grade: A-
2. By The Time I Get To Phoenix – Isaac Hayes – The spoken intro goes on forever but once he gets into it, it is unstoppably gorgeous. Go for the 18 minute vocal extravaganza – Grade: A
3. Le Sacre du Printemps: Le Sacrifice:VI: Danse Sacrele- Tugan Sokhiev and the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse – Russian composer, Russian conductor, French Orchestra, my dentist recommend it but not for my toothache because it is so tonal it grinds and so strident it becomes stridensky – Grade: A
4. Lover To Lover – Florence + The Machine – A lousy live show at Radio City earlier this year but this live version is a vibrant soul thang – Grade: B+
5. Picking Up The Pieces – Paloma Faith – Starts off really pretty, nice strings in the background and a smart, restrained vocal, Paolma doesn't blow it till the bridge and the chorus is terrible – Grade: C+
6. C'Mon – Ke$ha – ANother goodie from the newbie, especially the backup harmonies and a typical rap – Grade: B+
7. Who Your Around feat. Mary J. Blige – Meek Mill – Tupac territory vocally and both the rap and Blige's chorus are very good – Grade: B+
8. Round Here – Florida Georgia Line – Best line? Where they hope she wears the jeans with the tear that her Mama never fixed – Grade: A-
9. Do You Know What It Means To Love New Orleans – Louis Armstrong And Billie Holiday – In the 1947 movie you just get Billie and Armstrong on trumpet and that's really enough. In the recorded version, Armstrong and band take a trip right through it, including a lovely solo, before Billie joins in. That's pretty damn great as well, One complaint? While they both have a grainess to their voice, a vocal harmony woulda been nicer – Grade: A
10. Homeward Bound/Home – Glee cast – Not bad mash up – Grade: B