Rounding out the top ten of Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop poll, surprise!, are more pop and rap songs.
Charli XCX lands at #8 with her minor summer hit ‘Boys’, while Selena Gomez (‘Bad Liar‘) ties for the 9th spot with Future (‘Mask Off’). Gomez’s ‘Bad Liar’ has emerged as one of my favorite 2017 songs.
I know ‘Natchez Trace’ as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Dusty Springfield’s seminal classic Dusty in Memphis, but it turns out its backstory is rather interesting.
This song was originally recorded for an album titled Faithful, which was to be Springfield’s seventh studio recording. In 1971, Atlantic Records released two singles from the album but neither made the charts. Disappointed with the response, the studio shelved the album and declined to renew her contract.
Today’s Random Weekend SOTD, ‘Electron Blue,’ is one of the best songs on R.E.M.’s worst album, 204’s Around the Sun. It’s the album’s second track and third single.
‘Electron Blue’ is lead singer Michael Stipe’s favorite track from this album, and one of his favorite R.E.M. songs, period. I like it well enough, and agree that it’s a highlight of an otherwise unforgettable album, but I’m sorry, this doesn’t stand up to the best of R.E.M., not even close.
Indie rocker St. Vincent takes the #7 spot on Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop poll with ‘New York,’ a single from her fifth studio album, Masseduction.
Annie Clark (the woman behind the pseudonym) teamed up with super-producer Jack Antonoff to deliver a pop twist on her usual alternative sound and garnered some of the best reviews of her already critically-adored career.
Lil Uzi Vert takes the #6 spot on Village Voice’s annual Pazz & Jop poll with a track titled ‘XO TOUR Llif3’ (translating, I suppose, to “XO Tour Life”).
According to the invaluable website Genius, this song is “about Uzi’s relationship issues with ex-girlfriend, Brittany Byrd, and substance abuse.” A rap break-up song? That could be interesting.
Meet Me In Montauk 