...Kendrick, on the other hand, is going to take a little longer to say what he has to say. Don't worry about him saying anything unpleasant or unkind, though - as he very clearly states, he doesn't have a hateful bone in his body! 😉
Day 37
Kendrick Lamar - meet the grahams
2024
USA
...Kendrick, on the other hand, is going to take a little longer to say what he has to say. Don't worry about him saying anything unpleasant or unkind, though - as he very clearly states, he doesn't have a hateful bone in his body! 😉
Day 37
Kendrick Lamar - meet the grahams
2024
USA
Peggy making his second appearance here. Only about one and a half minutes of actual rapping on this, but sometimes that's all you need - not always though, as we'll see tomorrow...
Day 36
JPEGMAFIA - Hazard Duty Pay!
From "LP!" ("offline" version only, 2021)
USA
11 POINTS PLEASE!
Peggy making his second appearance here. Only about one and a half minutes of actual rapping on this, but sometimes that's all you need - not always though, as we'll see tomorrow...
Day 36
JPEGMAFIA - Hazard Duty Pay!
From "LP!" ("offline" version only, 2021)
USA
11 POINTS PLEASE!
One of my latest inclusions, both in terms of release date and when I decided to select this song. I also recommend vocalist Cameron Winter's solo work, particularly the track "Love Takes Miles".
Day 35
Geese - Taxes
From "Getting Killed" (2025)
USA
One of my latest inclusions, both in terms of release date and when I decided to select this song. I also recommend vocalist Cameron Winter's solo work, particularly the track "Love Takes Miles".
Day 35
Geese - Taxes
From "Getting Killed" (2025)
USA
There'll be a battle between two Beach House songs for a spot on my list when we move back a decade (assuming I don't choose both). No such issues here - this was nailed on from the start! "Never out of mind" indeed.
Day 34
Beach House - Superstar
From "Once Twice Melody" (2022)
USA
There'll be a battle between two Beach House songs for a spot on my list when we move back a decade (assuming I don't choose both). No such issues here - this was nailed on from the start! "Never out of mind" indeed.
Day 34
Beach House - Superstar
From "Once Twice Melody" (2022)
USA
If you're not familiar with this gentleman, please do not ask me to explain him. He started in rap, but I'm fairly certain he's dipped his toe in every musical genre under the sun.
Day 33
Lil Ugly Mane - porcelain slightly
From "Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern" (2021)
USA
If you're not familiar with this gentleman, please do not ask me to explain him. He started in rap, but I'm fairly certain he's dipped his toe in every musical genre under the sun.
Day 33
Lil Ugly Mane - porcelain slightly
From "Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern" (2021)
USA
Caroline Polachek and Danny L Harle is just an artist-producer match made in heaven, one which I'll probably revisit in #TheTenx5.
Day 32
Caroline Polachek - Billions
From "Desire, I Want to Turn Into You" (single 2022, album 2023)
USA
Caroline Polachek and Danny L Harle is just an artist-producer match made in heaven, one which I'll probably revisit in #TheTenx5.
Day 32
Caroline Polachek - Billions
From "Desire, I Want to Turn Into You" (single 2022, album 2023)
USA
This song deservedly made Chappell a massive star, and I look forward to the album it will presumably appear on eventually. The "letting the air out of the song" ending is one of my favourite recent musical moments.
Day 31
Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!
2024
USA
This song deservedly made Chappell a massive star, and I look forward to the album it will presumably appear on eventually. The "letting the air out of the song" ending is one of my favourite recent musical moments.
Day 31
Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!
2024
USA
Miley's latest album is the first time I've really been impressed by a project of hers all the way through. This very Blue Monday-esque song is definitely my favourite track from it.
Day 30
Miley Cyrus ft. Brittany Howard - Walk of Fame
From "Something Beautiful" (2025)
USA
Miley's latest album is the first time I've really been impressed by a project of hers all the way through. This very Blue Monday-esque song is definitely my favourite track from it.
Day 30
Miley Cyrus ft. Brittany Howard - Walk of Fame
From "Something Beautiful" (2025)
USA
Sometimes samples are used for cheap nostalgia, or because someone happens to own the rights to a particular song, but here "Puppet on a String" by Sandie Shaw is used really smartly.
Day 29
JADE - Angel of My Dreams
From "That's Showbiz Baby!" (single 2024/album 2025)
UK
Sometimes samples are used for cheap nostalgia, or because someone happens to own the rights to a particular song, but here "Puppet on a String" by Sandie Shaw is used really smartly.
Day 29
JADE - Angel of My Dreams
From "That's Showbiz Baby!" (single 2024/album 2025)
UK
Well, I was going to say "Here's the second and last song on my list to fail the Ice Spice criterion", but since the Strokes (formed in 1998) didn't release anything until 2001, forget that. Enjoy anyways!
Day 28
The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking
From "The New Abnormal" (2020)
USA
Well, I was going to say "Here's the second and last song on my list to fail the Ice Spice criterion", but since the Strokes (formed in 1998) didn't release anything until 2001, forget that. Enjoy anyways!
Day 28
The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking
From "The New Abnormal" (2020)
USA
Giving my second 11-point bonus to this song about a lothario who may not be all that he appears to be. I know the closing monologue by heart, but I think I'd get some looks if I "sang" it in public...
Day 27
Geordie Greep - Holy, Holy
From "The New Sound" (2024)
UK
11 POINTS PLEASE!
Giving my second 11-point bonus to this song about a lothario who may not be all that he appears to be. I know the closing monologue by heart, but I think I'd get some looks if I "sang" it in public...
Day 27
Geordie Greep - Holy, Holy
From "The New Sound" (2024)
UK
11 POINTS PLEASE!
As someone who grew up in the 2000s (sorry if I made anyone feel old there), I always appreciate a well-crafted throwback to that era of music, like this new-rave-meets-Kesha track.
Day 26
underscores with gabby start - Locals (Girls like us)
From "Wallsocket" (single/album 2023)
USA
As someone who grew up in the 2000s (sorry if I made anyone feel old there), I always appreciate a well-crafted throwback to that era of music, like this new-rave-meets-Kesha track.
Day 26
underscores with gabby start - Locals (Girls like us)
From "Wallsocket" (single/album 2023)
USA
As promised, a suitably horror-themed track for my last HM. Daveed Diggs and co. really know how to open an album - see also "Dominator" from this year's "Dead Channel Sky". Happy Halloween to all!
HM 5
clipping. - Say the Name
From "Visions of Bodied Being Burned" (2020)
USA
As promised, a suitably horror-themed track for my last HM. Daveed Diggs and co. really know how to open an album - see also "Dominator" from this year's "Dead Channel Sky". Happy Halloween to all!
HM 5
clipping. - Say the Name
From "Visions of Bodied Being Burned" (2020)
USA
Took a break in the middle of my HMs as I have a choice that seems ideal for Halloween. Before that, here's Cassandra Jenkins with surely the best song from 2021 about getting a driving license 😉
HM 4
Cassandra Jenkins - Hard Drive
From "An Overview on Phenomenal Nature" (2021)
USA
Took a break in the middle of my HMs as I have a choice that seems ideal for Halloween. Before that, here's Cassandra Jenkins with surely the best song from 2021 about getting a driving license 😉
HM 4
Cassandra Jenkins - Hard Drive
From "An Overview on Phenomenal Nature" (2021)
USA
Cycling race backwards could leave you here (3)
Right, time to get drunk (3)
Cycling race backwards could leave you here (3)
Right, time to get drunk (3)
Here's a 5 for Billie in advance of her upcoming 10. Watching her artistic evolution over the past 7 years (she was making music before then, but that's when I really took notice of her) has been brilliant.
HM 3
Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather
From "Hit Me Hard and Soft" (2024)
USA
Here's a 5 for Billie in advance of her upcoming 10. Watching her artistic evolution over the past 7 years (she was making music before then, but that's when I really took notice of her) has been brilliant.
HM 3
Billie Eilish - Birds of a Feather
From "Hit Me Hard and Soft" (2024)
USA
The artist responsible for my second HM will definitely be making an appearance in my #TheTenx5 list proper. This track sums up the vibe of this decade pretty well!
HM 2
Weyes Blood - It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody
From "And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow" (single/album 2022)
USA
The artist responsible for my second HM will definitely be making an appearance in my #TheTenx5 list proper. This track sums up the vibe of this decade pretty well!
HM 2
Weyes Blood - It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody
From "And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow" (single/album 2022)
USA
I've still not entirely settled on my 5 HMs (just 5 on this occasion), but this was sewn up as soon as I was reminded of its existence on day 1. I do have a longer track on the main list, believe it or not...
HM 1
Hikaru Utada - Somewhere Near Marseilles
From "BADモード" (2022)
Japan/USA
I've still not entirely settled on my 5 HMs (just 5 on this occasion), but this was sewn up as soon as I was reminded of its existence on day 1. I do have a longer track on the main list, believe it or not...
HM 1
Hikaru Utada - Somewhere Near Marseilles
From "BADモード" (2022)
Japan/USA
Let's have Simbi close off the first half, shall we? This was sooo close to being an 11-pointer - it announces itself and then it *stays* announced, if that makes any sense at all.
Day 25
Little Simz - Introvert
From "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert" (single and album 2021)
UK
Let's have Simbi close off the first half, shall we? This was sooo close to being an 11-pointer - it announces itself and then it *stays* announced, if that makes any sense at all.
Day 25
Little Simz - Introvert
From "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert" (single and album 2021)
UK
We'll get to the heart of THE BEEF in the second half, but here Kendrick shows off his storytelling chops, while also making significantly better use of Tupac Shakur's body of work than a certain other individual did.
Day 24
Kendrick Lamar - reincarnated
From "GNX" (2024)
USA
We'll get to the heart of THE BEEF in the second half, but here Kendrick shows off his storytelling chops, while also making significantly better use of Tupac Shakur's body of work than a certain other individual did.
Day 24
Kendrick Lamar - reincarnated
From "GNX" (2024)
USA
MIKE can always be relied upon to produce some really woozy, abstract, out-there hip-hop. At 3:39, this is actually twice as long as a lot of tracks on "Burning Desire".
Day 23
MIKE (feat. Earl Sweatshirt) - plz don't cut my wings
From "Burning Desire" (2023)
USA
MIKE can always be relied upon to produce some really woozy, abstract, out-there hip-hop. At 3:39, this is actually twice as long as a lot of tracks on "Burning Desire".
Day 23
MIKE (feat. Earl Sweatshirt) - plz don't cut my wings
From "Burning Desire" (2023)
USA
The hook is based on kind of a tortured pun, but the combination of Freddie's hard-edged lyrics, Anderson's soulful vocals, and The Alchemist's lush production is irresistible.
Day 22
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (feat. Anderson .Paak) - Ensalada
From "Alfredo 2" (2025)
USA
The hook is based on kind of a tortured pun, but the combination of Freddie's hard-edged lyrics, Anderson's soulful vocals, and The Alchemist's lush production is irresistible.
Day 22
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist (feat. Anderson .Paak) - Ensalada
From "Alfredo 2" (2025)
USA
Glad to see some support for this song already. The lyrics are a pretty searing indictment of patriarchal attitudes, and the production by Lana and Jack Antonoff is great.
Day 21
Lana Del Rey - A&W
From "Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd" (single and album 2023)
USA
Glad to see some support for this song already. The lyrics are a pretty searing indictment of patriarchal attitudes, and the production by Lana and Jack Antonoff is great.
Day 21
Lana Del Rey - A&W
From "Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd" (single and album 2023)
USA
Sample clues:
Free love in shed (5)
Doctor Who creature when caught expressed surprise (5)
Blast and G-- darn it! (4)
Sample clues:
Free love in shed (5)
Doctor Who creature when caught expressed surprise (5)
Blast and G-- darn it! (4)