1. Someone To Watch Over Me – Amy Winehouse – The intro is perfection (lots of people skip it) and her voice is glorious, there is an ache along with the rasp. But the arrangement is too fast.
2. New Religion – Black veil brides – Kiss for new kids? Its heart is in post-hardcore but the thrills are kids playing grown-ups.
3. Otis – Jay-Z and Kanye West – They have more things than you do -sucker.
4. Private Idaho – the B- 52's – Both musically and thematically, one of the greats.
5. Future – DJ Khaled – Big Sean can sure rap but he is essentially shallow so it is left to the DJ, who gives it speed if not depth.
6. The Glorious Land – PJ Harvey – The bugle on this track are so weird, the song marches forward but the bugles seem to be calling from a different era.
7. Unloved – Sloan – Remind me of Superchunk in this way: they've been around for decades and have maintained a career based upon inspirational consistency.
8. Yeah Right – Dionne Bromfeld – Didja read where the 15 year old soul singer played a gig TWO HOURS after her Godmother had been found dead. Professionalism? Perhaps. but who have blamed her if she had canceled out of respect.
9. My Mistakes – Eleanor Friedberger
10. Mysterious Ways – Angeleique Kidjo