1. Jay-Z + Danger Mouse + Beatles, “Encore.” This is probably a tie with “Change Clothes” for the most astonishing recontextualization (or mash-up, if you like) of The Grey Album. The irony is that it took “Savoy Truffle” by a quartet of pasty Scouse boys to give Sean Carter’s track real soul.
2. David Holmes, “Lifting the Building.”
3. The Jam, “Eton Rifles.”
4. Stars, “Ageless Beauty.”
5. Ratatat, “Wildcat.” As near as I can tell, what is happening here is the confluence of Daft Punk roboticism with wanky ’70s guitar heroics. This alone would makes it absolutely amazing, but then the recurring sample of a tiger or some other jungle cat pushes it into absolutely amazing hilarity.
6. Radar Bros., “Papillon.”
7. Ashby, “Horizon.”
8. Pulp, “Common People.”
9. Bebel Gilberto, “Tanto Tempo.” Languid, sensual tropicalia from Joao Gilberto’s daughter. Her latest disc, 2007’s Momento, includes a collaboration with the Brazilian Girls, who are not Brazilian and only one is a girl. Discuss.
10. April March, “Laisse Tomber Le Filles.”