“Short Street” - Dave Carter, Commitment and Change: If I become a jazz fan before I die, Dave Carter's Commitment and Change will have something to do with it. Just as with “Muhammad Ali” on Barrett Martin's The Painted Desert (Martin serves as drummer and producer for this fine quartet), within the first few bars of album opener “Short Street,” I sensed the presence of something special. This composition has such a great feel to it and Carter, Martin, Luis Guerra, and John Rangel maintain that over the course of the entire record.
“Somebody's Baby” - Jon Foreman, Winter EP: This might be the single saddest song I've ever heard in my life. This could have easily become maudlin and melodramatic, but the arrangement is spare and Foreman's vocal is warm and genuine. The lyric is bleak, but Foreman's vocal exudes a compassion that is profoundly affecting.
“See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” - B.B. King, One Kind Favor: Longevity is one thing, but this is ridiculous. There are a lot of 83-year-olds in the world, but only the King of The Blues could still sound this engaged and in control. King's singing and playing are timeless, just like the man himself. This is the highlight of one of King's best albums, making it mandatory listening.
“The Spirit of Shackleton” - Glen Phillips, Secrets Of The New Explorers EP: The North Pole has been the subject of many a song, but the South Pole has been largely left out in the cold (I couldn't resist), until now. Okay, "The Spirit of Shackleton" isn't about the South Pole, per se, but Ernest Shackleton did lead expeditions to the South Pole and his spirit has lent his name to the song. There is no classic singalong chorus or obvious pop hook, but the loneliness and disconnection in the lyrics and vocal are a great contrast for the shiny synth sounds and off-kilter, electronic percussion.
“Falling Down” - Oasis, Dig Out Your Soul: I found the task of picking a single song to represent this album damn near impossible. Gem Archer's “To Be Where There's Life” and Andy Bell's “The Nature of Reality” (both sung by Liam Gallagher) are both huge, massive, brilliant towers of songs but I'm hopelessly in the Noel camp. You can pretty well bet I'll take Noel's best every time out and that's what I've done here. This might be the best full band song Noel has ever recorded and released on an Oasis album. The ruminative side of Noel is often kept for acoustic B-sides and is therefore one of Oasis' best-kept secrets. “Falling Down” could have been one of those but is instead adorned with effects and otherworldly sounds, giving it additional mystique and helping it feel at home with the rest of the album.
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