The Right Time – Brian Wilson – For the first song off the eagerly anticipated new Brian Wilson album No Pier Pressure (best pun ever -though these are neither his Piers or Peers), Brian hooks up with two Beach Boys for a minor though not unpleasant Wilson circa Imagination type work. It swings like the mid-70s, mostly because of David Marks subte guitar (his solo is lovely and lowkey). Al Jardine adds his voice of the harmonies – B+
One Man Can Change The World – Big Sean – It is hard to know who to blame first but my bet it is the Common -Legend axis, by themselves and together, who have opened the floodgates for the execrable lachrymose case of the heartfelt hip hop song. This reaches its nadir where Big Sean, never a favorite rapper of any one really, tapes himself calling his Grandma. Absolutely unbelievable tasteless, though the bridge aint bad – F
Lifted Up – Passion Pit The first listen I thought this was fun in a disco synth pop jolly way, third listen in it sounds too strained for disco or synth or indie – C+
The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box – Surrealistic lyric meets a rockist version of Talking Heads on this the best song off their upcoming album so far – B
Terry – Action Bronson – Any rap song that begins with “Don’t hurt me gain” repeated four times, with a baby thrown in at the end, maybe he is sensitive. Plus, Action bronson is different not because he is white but because he has a tear in his voice. A perfect hook helps this one – B+
