We live in a Spotify world except lately there have been more and more stuff I can’t get on Spotify but can get on ITunes and I don’t mean only Taylor Swift. If I download a CD, I can only hear it on the PC I downloaded it on with Spotify, but I can hear it anywhere with ITunes. Specifically, when I am listening to concerts I’ve recorded, demos I’ve been sent, like that, I can’t use Spotify.
So here is an ITunes only playlist:
At The Beacon – Laura Marling – This is the six minute performance I’ve been raving about, “Devil’s Spoke” and “The Simple Life” songs in the key of fucking and fussing if you will – A
Grooveallegiance – Funkadelica –Not on ITunes, not on Spotify, I bought a CD off Amazon to get it and this groovy funky but intensely melodic maelstrom, George Clinton’s greatest song, was worth it – A+
Blank Space – Taylor Swift – Her masterpiece pop move, I don’t see how she will ever write a better pop song – A+
Song Of Life – David Bronson – This and “Songbird” are the two to beat in 2015, a gorgeous melody and a thoughtful moving and movement and the pause before the chorus is money in the bank – A
What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace Love And Understanding – Tomas Doncker Band – Recorded in response to Ferguson and Staten Island deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of white police men, it is as complicated as the choice of songs. Doncker uses his rasp to great effect and Barnes takes the melody. It will be released on Tuesday – A-
You’ll Need Those Fingers For Crossing – Los Campesinos – Speaking of complicated responses, this takes faith as far as it will ever go. One of my favorite moments of all the thousands upon thousands of concerts I’ve been to was the band encoring with it at Bowery Ballroom in February 2009. Indeed, one of the happiest moments of my life – A+
New York’s Alright (If You Like Sex And Phones) – The Gotobeds – A very excellent piece of punk pop with one foot in 1979 – A
Royals – Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band – Only available off brucespringsteen.net where you can buy all kinds of Bruce shows and one day every single bruce show ever… for a price, this lead off of the Auckland show early this year is a lot of fun – A
Things We Said Today – Bob Dylan – What price the pleasure of hearing Bobby croaking “me I’m just the lucky kind”? $17.99 since you asked – A
Side Of The Road – Lucinda Williams – This albu isn’t available on Spotify and the version I saw at Beacon Theatre was the best of the show – A-
Songbird – David Bronson – This is one of two songs written by friends of mine which I consider among the best of the year – A
You Are In Love – Taylor Swift – Squirreled away on the Target Deluxe, it is one of the top five songs on the album which makes it one of the top five songs of the year – A
