Eternal Father, Strong To Save – Choir Of St. Mary's Episcopal Church – Having spent years at English Boarding Schools when just a wee tot, English Hymns play like nostalgia trigger for me. Something compounded by being in the UK right this minute (but not as I write). I always thought it was me who could only ever remember "For those in peril on the sea", but listening to it here, that's still all I can remember becausethe words are muffled – Grade: A
2. The Only Living Boy In New York – Simon & Garfunkel – OK, I guess I'm pre homesick!
3. Man Out Of Town – Elvis Costello – I've been thinking about wring a post about betrayal in music, having hist suffered through it myself, and I thought of this one. But the betrayal here, a variant on the Profumo Affair, is larger than that. It is all encompassing – Grade: A
4. Leaving On A Jet Plane – Peter, Paul And – Ever since John Denver wrote it, I haven't taken a plane without thinking of it – Grade: A
5. Ready For The Weekend – Icona Pop – How much can you throw at a song? Everything is thrown at this electro pop mover and the damn song thrives – Grade: B+
6. Wanted – Hunter Hayes – Gawdawful twee pop country. Is this what it has come to? – Grade: D+
7. Ho Hey – The Lumineers – Have yopu checked out the state of the rock charts? When did folk and pop become rock and roll? – Grade: A-
8. Come, Ye Thankful People, Come – Leigh Nash – This is a lovely version of the old English Hymn by the lead singer of Sixpence Non The Cheaper – Grade: A-
9. Goodbye England – Laura Marling – I saw her a coupla years ago and she was terrific, this song isa timeless piece of nostalgia – Grade: A+
10. Not Like The Others – Robbie Williams – Last song on the new album is modern power pop, and very good as well – Grade: A