1. Dark Am I Yet Lovely – Sinead O'Connor – O'Connor's canon deserves serious study, on album after album is spotted dark and lovely songs like this one. The acoustic Dublin version is the keeper though the London session is nearly its equal. Sinead takes Song Of Solomon 1: 5 and builds a romantic meditation around it -completely timeless.
2. Amnesia – Jon B – The last song on his bland new album, is a gorgeous finger snapping soul burner.
3. Banjo – Rascal Flats – Country is having an off year and this is a lousy song.
4.Only The Lonely – Roy Orbinson – It sounds true because it is true.
5. Never Never – Eric Contractor – Eric cover Roy on Saturday then crushed this original immediately after.
6. Wholly Holy – Aretha Franklin – Stupendous Gospel work out off her live Amazing Grace album.
7. Al Baqra – Sheil Shaud El Shuraim and Sheil Abdulrahman Al Sudais – Blind men of God put their hand to their ear and recite the Koran in an ululating sing speak which would make a believer out of any one. To Western ears, it has the drone and repetition of a deranged art project. For believers it is its own interpretation of the inscrutable Koran verses. Either way, it delivers the spiritual uplift all religions promise.
8. Simple Feeling – Heartless Bastards – Has its hat in the ring for second best rock and roll song of the year.
9. New Rose – The Damned -What was missed at the time was how surprised Brian James was that he had any sorta Rose at all!
10. Damned For All Time/Blood Money – Murray Head – I think I forgot how great the score to Jesus Christ Superstar really is.