• Actress: RIP
• The Congos/Sun Araw/M. Geddes Gengras: Icon Give Thank
• The Notwist: Neon Golden
• Television: Marquee Moon
• Karen Dalton: 1966

Right now, I’m sitting around talking with two co-workers about our unforgivably subjective “12 Perfect Songs” after going over Mark Richardson’s 2008 list. I really like the concept of building a list like this because I think it puts me in a place about music that I don’t visit, in that I really have to think critically, and out loud. So, here goes…

Thinking about what I would include, I know the discussion includes “I See A Darkness”. It would probably also force my hand to admit that the next song, Hefner’s “Don’t Flake Out On Me” isn’t as good as I believe it is, but it makes my list. I’d have to bring “Avalon” to the party, and pick up Brian Eno’s “Baby’s On Fire” along the way. That solo! Throbbing Gristle’s “What A Day”, Skinny Puppy’s “Dig It” are coming, too, even of they don’t make the cut. Animal Collective’s “Brothersport” is there, too. Definitely “Paranoid Android”. Harry Chapin’s “Mr. Tanner” or “WOLD”. Elton John’s “Daniel”. Jim Croce’s “Operator”. “My Sweet Lord”. “Suspicious Minds”. Y’know?

And to think of everything I can’t remember off the top of my head. And, anyways, what even makes any of these perfect?

It’s only ever an impromptu list of my favorite songs. I’m having a hard time thinking critically about what is and isn’t a perfect song, and maybe that’s why I hold Mark’s list in high regard. If there’s one person that I’d want to make a list of thy material, it’s Mark. He nailed it. To me, it’s such an overwhelming concept.

A reminder that placing a single statistic on a pedestal freezes it in time, and that is counterproductive.