1.The Only Living Boy In New York – Simon And Garfunkel – If I seem whimpier then usual, bereft of Pusha T's and Tyler, the Conquerors, it is because I am reading David Browne's "Fire And Rain" and liking it fine. as for this song, I don't like traveling and this is very comforting stuff: nostalgia, yes, but also those deep chorales at the end kinda sooth your tattered nerves.
2. Anywhere Like Heaven – James Taylor – And, after seeing Peter Asher a coupla months ago, I have heard heard about Sweet Baby James from inside and out now. I never liked the blues pastiches, but this I like. It sounds serious, it sounds like "they don't see the days slipping by and neither do I" isn't simply a cliche.
3. Helpless – Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young – Of all the really, really big bands from the sixties (but really 1970!), I like these guys least. But, despite my intense antipathy towards in 2011, I worshipped Neil Young. Deja Vu has aged well for the most part, that's why half of the bands in L.A. owe their career to it. But this is on a whole other level. Old before its time, and comfort, but cold comfort, for all of us.
4. One After 909 – The Beatles – The last of the four albums Browne was studying was a study in the limitations of genius. This old time rocker was just a study in rockin'.
5. Daydreamer – Adele – The problem with Adele isn't her visage but she isn't great because of her songwriting either. The opening of her first album is exactly what you thought it was -overwrought, oversung, underplayed… blah blah blah.
6. Runaway – Kanye West – This song towers above his career and singlehandedly pushes the album into the masterpiece category. It isn't quite that he is portraying hidden depths -songs about being a male slut seldom will, but the piano motif deepens the song and there is something so disturbed by the track: it is as if this is the real explanation of what he was going thru by the time of the VMA debacle. Pusha T shows such perturbed compassion on his verse he never steals. "Never much of a romantic, I could never take the intimacy" is good enough but "I don't know how Imma manage, if one day you up and leave me" is better. Anything but swag. By dropping their guard they get the one thing rap superstars, the Jiggas of the world, in-ti-ma-cy.
7. My Mistake – Eleanor Friedberger
8. Unkind – Sloan – Is this the bands long awaited breakthrough? A terrific and simply play on words to a crunchy pop rock melody.
9. Mysterious Ways – Angelique Kidjo
10. Miracle Worker – Superheavy – This is very whatever, though Jagger's vocal is really good and growly. I prefer his solo work.