The Meters, “Live Wire” (1969)

Hey. You. Want to feel good? Want to be happy for a few minutes? No? Oh. Okay. Don’t listen to this, then.

The Suffragettes, “Toxic” (2018)

Did the world need a 60’s surf rock style cover of Toxic by a band with a too-on-the-nose silly name and concept? Maybe not. But a) I still love the 60s surf rock style and they nail it, b) it shows just how great and complex a song “Toxic” is.

Home Counties, “New Best Thing” (2025)

You can take your “just because it has an insanely catchy chorus doesn’t make it a great song” negativity right on out of here.

Elastica, “Nothing Stays The Same” (2000)

Woah woah woah. Hold on. For the last 25 years, I’ve been operating under the memory that the second Elastica album was bad. But this is good! Did they change it? One of those digital switcheroos?

Jon Hopkins, “RITUAL (Nothing Is Lost)” (2025)

How Jon Hopkins can keep conjuring up so much beauty is a wonderful mystery.

Sharp Pins, “(I Wanna) Be Your Girl” (2025)

People making music in 2025 have been listening to Guided By Voices. This is not a complaint. The exact opposite, in fact.

Dave Barker, “Do Your Thing” (1972)

One of my favorite genres is “when ska and reggae still showed their American soul music influences”.

Sean Lennon, “Into The Sun” (1998)

His first foray into the family business mostly went right by me…except for this song. I still love it.

Grimes, “Flesh Without Blood” (2015)

I know, I know. But this album is really good!

The Innocence Mission, “St. Paul” (2025)

Q: When, in the last three and a half decades, have the Innocence Mission not delivered?

A: Never.