1. You Gave Your Love To Me Softly – Weezer – Rivers Cuomo is like the Junior High nerd who became big man on campus in his sophomore year in College. And, as is so often the moral to these stories, was much nicer when he was the nerd. This is just a terrific piece of extended sexiness where the man is suspended in disbelief from 1993
2. Nothing Left – Marnie Stern – Not bad but not that good either. It is all very no new york-y to my ears. It sounds like Glenn Branca taking a vacation or barbara Ess playing her toy ukele. Those are compliments so what’s my problem? The song is a little weak.
3. Never Grow Up – Taylor Swift – This isn’t first tier because despite a great chorus, amd terrific bridge, the verse is missing something. Plus? Cut a minute, you can’t enjoy a hook if you aren’t waiting for it: all the best songs are delayed gratification songs. So if she sang the “Grow Up” line twice instead of FIVE times, she’d shave time and make it more effective. I’m just mentioning in passing. I might add, this is a problem all over Speak Now: she sometimes has an OK idea but she won’t leave it alone and she kills it. Brevity isn’t simply the soul of wit, it is the lifeblood of the Brill Building genius at the heart of taylor’s gift.
4. Carolina Days – Megafaun – Real real good country rocker.
5. Spring Clean – Johanna And the dust Floor – I got a real nice email from Johanna after my review of her set at Rockwoods. Which shows how tough it is for even the best of singers to get any press.
6. In The Night – Gary Wilson – Speaking of which, I got an email from Gary after I reviewed his previous single.
7. Witchcraft – Light Pollution – These is a calliope of sound swirling outta control. Soooo good. try it.
8. MIC 4312 – Tyrek – Ooooooh, Ramonsey!!!
9. I Think I Like U 2 – Jamaica – Catchy as all get out.
10. Melissa – Rob Drabkin – AND I got a thank you note from this ultra talented singer-songwriter. The moral: send me an email and I’ll write about you again!