And so, we ramble on.

15. “Desire” – Pharoahe Monch (Desire) – Maybe patience is the key to success. Monch’s first album was released in 1999. Desire is his second. I could’ve picked any one of about six tracks, but the title track represents the best of what Monch does. Great head-nodding beats (sourced from Detroit and Northern Soul, mostly), gorgeous supporting vocals, and brilliant rhymes that never fail to force you to think and think again. Bonus YouTube-ry
14. “The Night Starts Here” – Stars (In Our Bedroom After The War) – You’ve heard this before. Years ago. Maybe somebody made you a mixtape to say the things they couldn’t express. In the middle of Side B was that song that threatened to break your heart. Remember? Well, here’s 13 more songs just like that one. What’s it sound like? The Housemartins meet The Spinanes at Joe Jackson’s house to score a Michael Winterbottom film. Basically.
13. “The Get Go” – New Young Pony Club (Fantastic Playroom) – Another case of sonic deja vu. Not everything on Fantastic Playroom is so good … in fact, about half of it is ill-advised … but “The Get Go” makes up for every other mistake. Just close your eyes, press Play, and you’re back in 1985, soaking in synth-pop. Bonus YouTube-ry
12. “Silver Lining” – Rilo Kiley (Under The Blacklight) – I have a confession to make. I listened to a lot of FM Gold during my formative years. Steve Miller. The Eagles. Pretty much the entire KZ-106 playlist from 1975 to 1980. It only makes sense that I would be an instant fan of Jenny Lewis & Company’s unabashed album-length tribute to that very era. Bonus YouTube-ry
11. “Radio Nowhere” – Bruce Springsteen (Magic) – “I want a thousand guitars, I want pounding drums, I want a million different voices speaking in tongues.” Coming out of anyone else’s mouth, those lines would ring hollow like lyrical filler, but Springsteen ends up sounding like a preacher in a tent revival, chastising all of rock and roll for sleeping on the job. Bonus YouTube-ry

Soon and very soon, 10 to 6.