Song of the Day #2,033: ‘Mirrors’ – Justin Timberlake

justin_timberlake_20_20I’m continuing my recap of the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll this week, I hope with less Kanye West.

Clocking in at #11 is Justin Timberlake’s ‘Mirrors,’ the second single from his album The 20/20 Experience.

I like Timberlake more as an actor and a Saturday Night Live performer than a musical act. I’m just not all that into his brand of smooth R&B.

Continue reading

Song of the Day #2,032: ‘Baby, Let Me Follow You Down (Demo)’ – Bob Dylan

witmark_demosHere’s a track from a collection of early Bob Dylan demos, recorded in 1961 and ’62.

Given my current obsession with the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, it’s hard not to hear a song like this in the context of that great film and the early Greenwich Village folk scene is captures.

Continue reading

Song of the Day #2,031: ‘Vita Nostra’ – The Mission Soundtrack (Ennio Morricone)

missionEnnio Morricone’s soundtrack to The Mission was one of the first instrumental soundtrack I ever owned (second only to Star Wars, I think) and remains one of the few in my collection.

While the movie has faded in my memory, this music has stayed with me for decades. The haunting ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ melody, which shares space in this cut with the chanted vocals, is one of my favorite pieces of music ever.

Continue reading