1. “The Frim Fram Sauce,” Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, 1946. More of a novelty than anything, but these two still merit a minimum 7.
2. “Four Strong Winds,” Neil Young, 1978. Neil at his country-rock peak, from Comes a Time. 8/10
3. “Welcome to the Room…Sara,” Fleetwood Mac, 1987. At least it’s a Stevie Nicks number, but it’s still from the Mac’s worst period. 4/10
4. “Basket Case,” Warren Zevon, 2002. With lyrics by Carl Hiaasen. If you’re a very certain kind of music lover, it really doesn’t get any better than this. And he had a cool death, so that adds some cachet. 9/10
5. “Tea for the Tillerman,” Cat Stevens, 1970. Very pretty, and much too short. It’s the end credit song for Extras, which bumps it up a smidgen. 7/10
6. “Dawn is a Feeling,” The Moody Blues, 1967. As before, no matter how much I love them, they’re just not cool. 4/10
7. “How Come,” Big Mama Thornton, 1955. One of the best blues artists you’ve never heard of. Janis learned all she knew from Big Mama; so did some other names you might know. Not one of her very best, though. 8/10
8. “Ways of Love,” Neil Young, 1989. Seems better than it really is because it comes at the end of a really bad period. But it is extremely lovely. Still, is it cool? 6/10
9. “Heart,” Stars, 2003. Indie rock is quickly moving into punchline territory, but at least they never ended up on The O.C. And it’s the best song off of a pretty damn good album. 7/10
10. “Elevator Love Letter,” Stars, 2003. It’s…the song immediately prior to “Heart” on the same album. Goddammit. Points lost for repetition. 5/10
Average 6.5/10. Goddamn “random” function.