Nirvana - Silver
6/10
I've never heard this song, as I've never delved deeply into Nirvana, beyond In Utero and Nevermind. It's okay.
Nozomi Aoki - Longing (Mother in My Mind - Blue Earth)
8/10
If this is Mort's pick, I greatly underestimated him. This lushly orchestrated score oozes with wistful melancholy.
The Beach Boys - Surf's Up
6/10
This is more like an evening at the beach than sitting under the overbearing midday sun. Still kind of meh, though.
The Smashing Pumpkins - Disarm
8/10
As the theme is childhood, nostalgia points should be duly considered. As it is, this is a good, heartfelt ballad, although it will never stop sounding like Billy Corgan is singing "Sodomy is such a part of you."
NoMeansNo - Dad
7/10
I understand that this band is known for more experimental work than this, but this is decent, albeit standard punk.
Birdbrain - Youth of America
7.5/10
This reminds me of what Carpe said a while back about how the 90's had some of the best truly mainstream music of any decade. This is clearly radio-friendly material with a catchy hook, but it's not bad because it sprung from the Zeitgeist of that decade.
The Queers - Ursala Finally Has Tits
5.5/10
This is an ironic song title considering the name of the band. Although I am partial to their song "I Can't Stop Farting", I am not partial to pop punk in general, although this is more punk than pop at least.
Whitney Houston - Greatest Love of All
2/10
More like Shitney Houston, amirite guise?
Avatarium - Moonhorse
3.5/10
Powerful vocal performance from Jennie-Ann Smith, rock solid riffs, and psychadelic elements - it's a shame that this does not belong. I don't know how some acoustic verses negate the fact that this is a metal song. I hate having to subtract points for this, especially since I now need to apply a butthurt penalty in addition to the point deduction for being metal.
LeadBelly - Cotton Fields
4.5/10
This song just doesn't really do it for me. However, when it comes to picking cotton, nothing beats "Pick a Bale of Cotton" by the very same artist.
The Cure - A Forest
8/10
I first heard this song via the cover by Carpathian Forest. It's a classy song, so I guess I'll have to take it on faith that it's about a childhood dream.
Tom Waits - Kentucky Ave
5/10
I don't find this early era of Tom Waits very interesting to be honest. This was before the music got darker, edgier, and weirder. It does still possess some of the hallmarks of his signature sound.
Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
8/10
Wu-Tang Clan is naught with which to be trifled.