1. DUKE ELLINGTON
"Long, Long Journey" (from the RCA Victor triple CD Highlights from the Duke Ellington Centennial Edition) With Louis Armstrong: two jazz masters creating perfect late night/early morning reflective mood music. Great collection, too.
2. THE SPICE GIRLS
"Stop" (from the import EMI Songbook CD Peter Bagge's Rockin', Poppin' Favorites!) As fine a pastiche of the '60s Motown sound as Diana Ross' "Chain Reaction." From a sumptuously packaged "pop" compilation courtesy of Seattle's own Action Suit.
3. DEAD MOON
"Graveyard" (from the forthcoming Kill Rock Stars CD Drinking From Puddles) Muddy, psychotic, 13th Floor Elevators-esque garage rock from Portland's unstoppable masters of the genre. From a 22-track, live-on-air, KBVR radio compilation.
4. THE AVENGERS
"Teenage Rebel" (from the Lookout! CD Died For Your Sins) Blistering proto-Riot Grrrl punk rock from California's premier teenage scavenger band. Recorded live in '78.
5. RANDY NEWMAN
"The Time Of Your Life" (from the Disney Pictures OST A Bug's Life) Fuck all the smart-ass animated outtakes. I stuck around twice after the end of the movie just to hear this.
