145. All Around the World by Lisa Stansfield (Affection)
A light soul classic.
146. Chelsea Hotel by Lloyd Cole (I'm Your Fan)
Leonard Cohen's songs are wonderful, but his singing is best appreciated in small doses. I'm Your Fan was one of the better tribute records I can remember, and Cole nails the deceptive blitheness in "Chelsea Hotel."
147. Pretty Wings by Maxwell (BLACKsummers'night)
A lovely example of the you're-too-good-for-me-so-I-have-to-let-you-go genre. Plus: The apostrophe in the album title kills me.
148. Dreaming My Dreams With You by Cowboy Junkies (The Trinity Session)
The whole album is specactular, but this is my recent favorite. The chords sound like they're being played underwater.
149. I'm in the Mood by John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt (The Healer)
The only Bonnie Raitt song I really like. I see Hooker lying in a hospital bed, playing guitar and muttering, while Nurse Raitt administers.
150. Connection by Elastica (Elastica)
Let's buy leather pants and start a band!
151. If My Friends Could See Me Now by Linda Clifford (Super Rare Disco Vol. 2)
Broadway standard as a disco rave-up.
152. Don't Tell Me by Blancmange (The Platinum Collection)
It would be awesome if Blancmange would cover Madonna's "Don't Tell Me"—and vice versa.
153. A Stroke of Genius by Freelance Hellraiser (The Best Bootlegs in the World Ever)
I think it was in the early 2000s that "mash-ups"—one song played over another—became popular. The Best Bootlegs... is an album of mash-ups, most of which didn't hold up over time. This one was an exception: Christina Aguilera and the Strokes never sounded better on their own. If you shut your eyes it could be the Divinyls.
154. If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night) (Mad Sex Mix Extended) by Me'Shell Ndegéocello
Funny and sexy and cool. The original is great but the remix steps it way up. Listen to how the remixer plays with the "bitch" line from 1:20 to 1:45—creating entirely new lyrics—and again during the "Call me what you like... bitch" at 2:20.
155. Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) by Digable Planets (Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space))
Hip-hop fans probably consider it a novelty hit, but I'll always love it.
156. Stone Rollin' by Raphael Saadiq (Stone Rollin')
A delightful bit of soul pastiche.
157. Nobody's Diary by Yaz (You and Me Both)
Does anyone make upbeat sad songs anymore?
158. Tears All Over Town by A Girl Called Eddy (A Girl Called Eddy)
Or even just melodic melancholy songs?
159. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy (About a Boy)
Less a song than an incantation.
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