1. So What – Miles Davis – Yup, that is Coltrane on the second solo.
2. Jesus And Mary – Martha Wainwright – Not the best song on a real good album. Overwrought on a track that doesn’t earn it.
3. The Groom’s Still Waiting – Bob Dylan – The purist genius, “I see the turning of the page, see the rising of the new age…” Dylan originally (mindbogglingly) left it off his best born again album, Shot Of Love. Indeed, Shot Of Love is so good it demands the box set treatment and demands to be considered among his best work. Better than anything he has recorded post Love And Theft .
4. Tigers In the Fire – Love Grenades – This dance band should get its act together. They are perfect for 2011. What are they doing??
5. Break of Dawn – Michael Jackson – This was number one? Why?
6. The Sound Of Silence – Simon And Garfunkel – Talking about aging badly: is there anything more insipid then that “subway walls” line?
7. Love Like Laughter – Beth Orton – The Taylor Swift of the 1990s.
8. Come Saturday – The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – The problem with being a waif is people look right over your head.
9. I Wanna Walk Around With You – The Ramones – One minute 25 of perfect rock.
10. I Got A Right To Sing The Blues – Louis Armstrong – Louis was so great the full on orchestra doesn’t hurt. Though it certainly doesn’t help.
11. Angel baby – John Lennon – This doesn’t rock, it staggers.
12. I Shoulda Danced With You – Mick Rhodes – Replacements fan has a harp and he’s gonna use it on all time rocker.
13. Over And Over – Hot Chip – An electronic legendary band still in stasis.
14. Brave New Girl – Brittney Spears – Brit semi-rapping over good track.
15. Battle Is Over But The War Goes On – The Levon Helm Band – And on and on and on
16. When It Hurts So Bad – Lauryn Hill – Before she lost it, she had it.
17. My Sweet Lord – Yim Yames – Bland irrelevant cover.
18. Coyote Enchantment – Miniature Tigers – OK, no more songs with the noun “coyote” in em.
19. Wooden Heart – Elvis Presley – German folk song and Presley swallows his pride and nails it. “And if you say goodbye, I know that I would cry, maybe I would die…” GI Blues of course.
20. Into the Ocean – Blue October – Helen swears by em. Me? I think the problem is the band itself are not good enough: this is a good song but the arrangement is ordinary