RIP Wilson Pickett

1941-2006









1. I Guess I Planted - Billy Bragg & Wilco Mermaid Ave. 1 & 2 are probably the greatest work any of the artist involved have done, but this song falls short. The musicianship is fine, but the union-ho lyrics left me flat. "All You Fascists" is a superior bit of rabble rousing from the same album. 6

2. Unity - Operation Ivy There ain't nothing wrong, with another unity song. 6

3. Delia's Gone - Johnny Cash A scary ass song. Decades after Cash recorded "Folsom Prison Blues" and guest-starred on Columbo, he can belt this out and make you think, "What a psycho. Charming and powerful, but a total psycho." 9

4. Knockin' On Mine - Paul Westerberg The parts of this song never add up for me. A rockin', anti-authoritarian, pro-literacy song with a great hook. It ought to be "Rumble Seat" meets "Barn Burning," instead it's a 5.

5. Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters Hell yeah! 10

6. Divorce Song - Liz Phair An underrated songwriter, Phair could do more than titillate. She captures betrayal perfectly with "If you'd known/ how that would sound to me..." 9

7. The Prisoner - Iron Maiden I should give them points for trying to meld geek and metal, but some musty, old BBC show does nothing for me, and the riffs sound like paint-by-number. Gets a point for the cheezy lead-in sample, and a point for not being about Dr. Who. 2

8. Rock You Like a Hurricane - Scorpions The pinnacle of arena rock. And still only a 6.

9. Hammer & Nail - Indigo Girls A beautiful song with a tiny bit of humor to undercut the 50 cent words and progressive world view. How deft is that? 7

10. If You Gotta Go, Go Now - Cowboy Junkies The allure of great Dylan song, performed by superior musicians who keep the snarky spirit of the original. I missed a Cowboy Junkies concert to study for a test, and always considered it a poor choice. 8

A 7.5. I rated it. I wrote it. I stand by it.