I was really worried I’d dredge up another Christina Aguilera track from Bionic today, so this is an even more welcome treat.
‘Rose Parade’ is one of the standout tracks from Elliott Smith’s wonderful album Either/Or. It details, in a more straightforward way than he normally used, his participation in a street parade.
OK, this is a little more interesting.
Coming in at #6 on Village Voice’s Pazz & Jop poll of the best singles of 2012 is Taylor Swift with ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.’ Of course I’ve actually heard this song, unlike the first four I’ve posted.
Compared to what’s come so far, Swift’s ditty is a masterpiece. But that’s not saying much.
I feel so woefully out of the loop when I write these Pazz & Jop blog entries. What on earth is a Japandroid?
I like the name, anyway, and I’m hopefully assuming that this won’t be another Marvin Gaye-wannabe. Time to give a listen to ‘The House That Heaven Built,’ entry #5 on the singles list.
Now here’s an entry that has potential. Frank Ocean has a single at #4 on the Pazz & Jop singles chart, but his album, Channel Orange, was the runaway winner of the Best Album poll.
In fact, Channel Orange has topped just about every ‘Best Album of 2012’ list I’ve seen.
Perhaps some of that acclaim is tied to Ocean’s much-discussed and much-applauded coming out (especially brave given his genre) but I have to assume the music is pretty good, too.
Coming in at third place on the Village Voice Pazz & Jop singles list is ‘Climax’ by Usher.
Right off the bat I’m getting a bad feeling about this. How far is Usher from Miguel, really, in the grand scheme of things? I’ve never liked Usher or his music, and I seriously doubt this song will change that.
Here’s hoping I’m wrong.
