The seven hundred thirty-fourth song: Three Days - Jane’s Addiction
A nearly 11 minute rock track about the affection for someone who died of an overdose - the lyrics feel overshadowed by the music, but there's something haunting playing through the track to the point where that barely matters. The long rock solos have a bigger impact and there's a lot of darkness in here that feels like it comes from somewhere deep.
The seven hundred thirty-fifth song: Dub Be Good to Me - Beats International
A love song of sorts, the musical style is what stands out. Dub evolved from reggae, and the broadening of the sound really helps this track stand out. The smooth sounds still have a lot of life to them, while Lindy Layton's vocals work really well with them. The hip hop breaks feel unnecessary, breaking the flow of the song, but it's mostly really effective.
The seven hundred thirty-sixth song: Kool Thing - Sonic Youth
The smooth punk feel of this track really lures you in and the ending of the track came as a surprise to me, it just flowed along so well. It's smooth, well produced punk that works its way in really well.
The seven hundred thirty-seventh song: Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Saint Etienne
It feels weird to get a dance cover of a folk rock track, but this feels like it works, the African folk influence adding to the ongoing beat and slighter vocals.
The seven hundred thirty-eighth song: Crazy - Seal
Reading that this song took two months together somehow makes sense. The hook is catchy, with Seal's vocal performance adding an extra twist to it. It builds and shifts, drum interludes and vocal samples interrupting that feeling but adding to a dreamlike feeling. It's all a bit off, but in a great way, and to me the lyrics still connect on some level. It manages to hit its high points really well.
The seven hundred thirty-ninth song: Mustt Mustt (Lost in his Work) - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
I haven't heard of Qawwali music before - this is one of those ways where the list is broadening my experiences - although it feels like its sounds made it into other places and feel in line with the Bollywood sound. The music under this track is sparse, the support mostly provided by a chorus while the vocals lie on top. While some are simpler, there's a bunch of vocal trickery that works really well to create that interest as you're listening to something, transcending language. The translation of the subtitle does fit in with it, the droning chorus in particular enforcing that impression.
The seven hundred fourtieth song: Diaraby Nene - Oumou Sangare
Another track from Mali, this is another that partially feels updated to Western tastes - the core of the music is there, the chorus and vocals feeling unchanged, but the underlying musical accompaniment, although in the background, adding a different sort of life to it. It's music that works.