Okay, so Rolling Stone magazine has their latest Playlist in their newest issue, seven songs they’ve recommended to us jackjills for our perusal. Not as strong this time I’m afraid, and one song, Tweedy’s (a collaboration between Jeff Tweedy and his 18-year old son) “I’ll Sing It” isn’t on YouTube and the sound has been removed on other sources, so I can’t comment on it, but here be the other six :
1. Jack White–“Alone In My Home” : The melody kept nagging at me because it reminded me of an older song, which after wracking my brain, it turned out to be Sham 69’s “My Dark Angel”, though the melody isn’t really exactly the same. Still, Jack seems to have retained his batting average as regards his solo efforts, so good for him. B+.
2. Caribou–“Can’t Do Without You” : Repetitious repeating of the song’s title over a slightly catchy groove reminds me why the term “repetition is death” was coined. B.
3.Alvvays–“Archie Marry Me” : I used to hear songs like this indiepop number back in the late ’80s and ’90s–and those were more interesting and kept your attention. This one is nothing new and drifts away in its professionally done slickness. B.
4. Priests–“Doctor” : Jerky Postpunk, a teenie arty in structure, but the only tune in this batch that really moved the room. A.
5. J. Mascis–“Every Morning” : Nice, fast acoustic guitar-based song off the Dinosaur Jr. frontman’s new solo disc. But he throws in a sloppyspunk electric guitar solo to right its rudders, so good for him. A-.
6. Miranda Lambert–“Smokin; and Drinkin” : Sorry, I don’t get the hype. She has a good voice, but she’s about as Country as a microprocessor, the lyrics and music are cliched and if this is what people want, then this is what they’ll get. B-.
