Jimi Hendrix, "Angel"

Naming "Angel" as your favorite Hendrix song is a little like saying that Paul McCartney is your favorite Beatle. It's not as popular as John or "Purple Haze," nor is it as cool as George or "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)." But judging on songcraft alone, it stands above the rest.



Why is that? There's nothing particularly flashy about it, which might be why Jimi never released it in his lifetime. But for an artist whose songs are pretty much universally loved, Hendrix never seems to get enough credit as a composer. Sure, everyone admirers the guitar playing, but he also had an impeccable sense of melody, knowing when to use a good, subtle progression and give it breathing room, the way that he does here. Jeff Beck would have probably gussied it up until it was lost in a nine-minute jam, and Clapton would need outside songwriting help to come up with anything like it. If I believed in angels, I'd thank them that Jimi gave this song the structure and lyrics that it deserves.

Something about this magic little song transcends arrangements and performances. I love the orchestrated version, performed here by Gil Evans' band in the 70s.



Fiona Apple's rendition on MTV Unplugged is as lovely as anything I can think of (starts around 10:43).



Even Rod Stewart and the Faces could stop being silly on Top of the Pops long enough to show some reverence.



Songs usually don't get covered this often unless a) Everyone likes them, and/or b) People assume they can sing it better than the original performer (see "Blowin' in the Wind" or "Hallelujah.") With "Angel," I wonder if it's a little of both--people like it, and most people think of Jimi as the Guitar God and leave it at that. But most likely, Hendrix just created a mood that everyone wants to be a part of. Fly on, my sweet angel.

Ben in the Art of Archery

My buds Ben (not myself) and Arch both have birthdays this month, and are getting hitched this year. This was the only pun that I could think of that included both of their names.



Ben in the Art of Archery

1. Neil Young, "Cinnamon Girl"
2. Joan Jett and Paul Westerberg, "Let's Do It"
3. U2, "Desire"
4. Grateful Dead, "Touch of Grey"
5. Liz Phair, "Polyester Bride"
6. Pulp, "Disco 2000"
7. Hüsker Dü, "Could You Be the One?"
8. The Zombies, "This Will Be Our Year"
9. Roy Orbison, "You Got It"
10. Stiff Little Fingers, "Alternative Ulster"
11. Tom Petty, "You Wreck Me"
12. Squeeze, "Tempted"
13. Matthew Sweet, "Sick of Myself"
14. Japandroids, "The House That Heaven Built"
15. Blue Öyster Cult, "Burnin' for You"
16. The Smiths, "Ask"
17. David Bowie, "Modern Love"
18. TV on the Radio, "Second Song"
19. Elvis Presley, "All Shook Up"
20. Bruce Springsteen, "Glory Days"
21. The Beatles, "It's All Too Much"

Arch is the only person I know who likes both Joan Jett and the Replacements as much as I do, so of course I had to include their underrated team-up from the Tank Girl soundtrack, covering Cole Porter's most punk rock song. I'm hoping that Squeeze and the Grateful Dead's biggest hits will work as either introductions or reinforcements, and I'm including Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and a lesser-known George Harrison song in honor of Arch's affinity for the Traveling Wilburys.

There's a vaguely romantic theme here--I guess almost all songs have one, but tracks like "This Will Be Our Year," "Burnin' for You," "Cinnamon Girl" and "You Got It" are especially for these two. Then again, I couldn't help including Stiff Little Fingers and Hüsker Dü. That's what friends are for.