I figured that the best bet would be to regard many of the songs as covers of Beach Boys songs. The general rule of covers being that they must be either substantially better or at least significantly different than the original, or be discounted. It would not be a particularly interesting artistic statement for someone in 2004 to make a note-for-note re-recording of "Satisfaction."

On Smile, "Surf's Up" and "Good Vibrations" are classic songs, but these recordings aren't that much different than the standard Beach Boys versions. It's good to hear them now in something approximating the original context that Brian had imagined for them, but the songs themselves are about the same.

"Heroes and Villains" has long been my favorite Beach Boys song, though, and sadly underappreciated. So perhaps I'm easily persuaded to give this recording favor.

However, this song has substantial new musical thoughts that make this arguably the definitive recording of the song. Note particularly the new bridge around 2:20 that takes place in a Western cantina out of some Gene Autry tv western, which really adds a new dimension to the old song. He also has a spiffy new coda in the last minute.

This song now even moreso than before unfolds like the cleverest and most charming piece of involved boyish origami ever created. This makes for a perfectly ornate piece of gently soulful pop that will appeal still many years from now. It's pure beauty

3 - "Float On" Modest Mouse
It seems like there's usually one exceptional benediction song a year, from "Forever Young" to "Don't Worry, Be Happy" to "Makes You Feel That Way."

This year, Modest Mouse delivered a particularly well realized and sharp blessing, assuring us that everything will work out ok and we'll all float on.

The band got a real interesting stylistic marriage between the Talking Heads and U2, two great tastes that turn out to taste great together. From U2, they get those sharp guitar lines that the Edge would be proud to claim.

The singer and the melody are distinctly David Byrne takes. Those certain sharp anxious jumps in the melody, the whole singing style definitely has Talking Heads all over it.

Indeed, the whole sentiment and emotional content of the song might be compared to "Don't Worry About the Government." However, "Float On" is a much sharper, more memorable song.

4 - "Either Side of the Same Town" Elvis Costello
This might be a good Elvis song for irregular or mainstream fans. I love all the quirky Elvis neuroses and peculiar twists of style, but this song is a fairly straightforward power ballad of lost love. This, kids, is a melody. The more often you listen to the song, the more compelling it becomes. I'd really LOVE to hear Sinead O'Connor take a swing at this. It could be the big follow-up to "Nothing Compares to You."