Wire season 5, episode 4 (major spoiler alerts)

First, what I didn't like about the episode: the Baltimore Sun stuff, so far, isn't the greatest. I don't mind it -- I remember feeling that way about the dockworkers plot at the this point in Season 2 and I ended up liking it a lot, so I'm patient. But I thought that the editor's reprimand of Gus for his profanity was over-the-top cartoonish. And Templeton's still an annoyingly one-dimensional character. But I did love the scene where the reporters try to come up with a better word than "incensed."

Aside from that, I thought this episode was pretty damn riveting, and it really brought home to me what I've heard David Simon say in interviews, that a lot of what the show is about is a critique of contemporary capitalism (poignantly timely these days). Prop Joe versus Marlo really underscores it nicely. Prop Joe and his co-op seem to represent the way that the American economy was conducted up through the '70s or so. There were big oligopolistic industries who were more interested in preservation of the status quo than cutthroat competition. Unions organized a big portion of workplaces, they got cut in on the deal, and no one really wanted to upset the apple cart too much. They all had a stake in it.

Then along come people like Marlo -- people who want more than these cooperative arrangements would otherwise get them. By trying to take down the competition, of course, they run the risk that they could someday get killed, too, a greater risk than the older, stodgy, cooperative Galbraithian parties used to run. But they're willing to go for it, nonetheless. So Marlo has to to kill Prop Joe, one of the more affecting scenes I've seen in television in a long time.

The other plot developments were interesting. I'm worried that Jimmy and Lester are headed for a fall, big-time (that and Marlo's ascendency would really cap off the pessimism of the series). If Jay keeps pissing off Bunk, who knows, maybe he'll get involved and get caught, too. With Beatrice finally ready to kick Jimmy out, he runs the risk of a loveless, jobless existence. Kima's maternal instinct got stroked, but didn't her girlfriend end up with someone else? And how many years has it been? That kid looks about four; it feels like he was born pretty recently. It was also amusing to see Herc in the office with Marlo.

The Wire: season 5, episode 3

Whoa! Butchie killed! And by ruthless motherfuckers (I talk this way after watching me some Wire) Chris and Snoop. I guess Omar's back.

I loved the fact that Lester was into the caper Jimmy's trying to pull. I'm sure he'll come up with better stuff than the ribbon, which is, after all, pretty lame when you think about it. I liked Jay's reaction, too -- a lot of versimilitude, I wager. Ahh, good old Lester, with his jazz and love of the hunt.

The newsroom plot looks a little less predictable now; the layoffs added another dimension to the story.

So now Carcetti's firing Burrell? I thought he tried to do that in a prior season, and Burrell was able to threaten him with retribution from "the ministers," as well as prove his usefulness for dealing with things like the Herc situation.

I love the frustration Prop Joe expresses about trying to civilize Marlo. Marlo's aggressive visit to the bank showed just how hard it is to civilize him.

I felt kind of sad seeing Dukie, Michael, and Michael's little brother going to Six Flags. It underscored how they really are still kids. I know that it's a cliche to talk about youth being stolen from them, but this episode showed that better than any way we could have been told that.

And ohh, Clay Davis. I like that actor, man. Carcetti handled him probably the only way he could be handled. I wonder if he'll try to team up with Burrell to sink him.

The Wire, Season 5, episode 2

I'd say that the worst thing about this episode was the portrayal of the newsroom stuff; so far it looks formulaic and predictable, but who knows? The writers have been known to throw curveballs at us before.

Aside from that, there was a lot of good stuff in this episode. For a guy who was such a villain in the first season, it was a pleasure to see Avon again, especially in contrast to the humorless Marlo -- who at least seemed to know how to talk to the Russian (and I see with the revival of the Greek connection that all of the seasons are getting tied in together -- I'm waiting to see when the Baltimore Sun's proposed series on education ends up in Prez's classroom).

I liked the humanization of Michael -- he can't shoot the kid who bears a pretty strong resemblance to his little brother. Pretty sad -- and powerfully bookended when Kima finds the other child hidden in the closet.

And Jimmy. Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. What was a he thinking? Well, I have an idea as to what he was thinking; throw some negative publicity on the crime issue to get the major crimes unit up and running again so that they can get Marlo. Strikes me as an unlikely bank shot, but he's driven, I guess.

The Wire, Season 5, episode 1

As with any T.V. show that's great, there's always the fear that its critical success is time-limited (see Simpsons, the). So it was a relief to see the first episode of the fifth season and love it. For a show about drugs, I guess it's appropriate for the first new episode in a year to feel like a head rush.

I thought that the opening scene was hilarious. As I recall from the Criminal Procedure class I took fifteen years ago, the deception that the cops practiced while questioning the suspect was perfectly kosher (which a former criminal defender appellant attorney confirmed for me.)

The scene where Carver addresses a room full of cops irate at not getting overtime, even under the tough-on-crime mayoralty of Carcetti, reminded me of the book "Blue Blood" by Edward Conlon, an account of life as a cop in the Bronx. Conlon disputed the notion that cops like Giuliani, citing similar kinds of workplace grievances. Of course, the budget problems facing a city like Baltimore seem tragically chronic, the bigger picture that leads to the suspension of the Major Crimes Unit.

The suspension of the Major Crimes Unit plot point felt slightly tired; hasn't there been some incarnation of this about three times in the series already? It plays into a larger theme of the show, the inertia of institutions that restricts talented individuals. While that's largely explored in the context of the Police Department, it's often echoed in the other facets of the show (like the cops and drug dealers in season three getting chewed out by their superiors for getting unsatisfactory results).

Of course, the institution the show gets into with this new season is the Baltimore Sun, which has all of the ingredients familiar to Wire viewers; talented underlings seeking to do their jobs but stymied by bureaucratic imperatives; bosses who are alternately clueless and venal; minor victories for the former that ultimately don't change the big picture. It's sort of predictable, particularly when Jimmy McNulty and the Sun reporter express identical sentiments about the institutions they work for. I didn't mind it though; I've drunk enough of the David Simon/Ed Burns kool-aid to dig in and see where it leads.

Two more minor notes: I was amused by the scene where Carcetti asks the U.S. Attorney for assistance in solving the murder committed by Marlo's crew. The U.S. Attorney will only do it if he can get a piece of the apparent prosecution of Clay Davis (about time!), which Carcetti calls out as motivated by partisanship. I saw an echo of the U.S. Attorney-firing scandal, where the Bush Justice Department seemed to be motivated by a desire to manufacture corruption charges against Democratic politicians.

I was also amused to see Herc working as a private investigator for the oily defense lawyer who once represented the Barksdale crew. That might seem to contradict his -- ahem -- perspective on his prior job, but Herc was always kind of a fuck-up and probably landed at the only place he could go. A lot of former prosecutors become defense attorneys, and the investigators they hire tend to be former cops.

So where's Omar? Prez? Namond? Valchek? Will they crowd the cast of thousands that the Wire has become? Any glimpses of Avon in jail forthcoming?

My favorite songs 1/1/08

1954

10. "Taki Kari" - Yma Sumac
9. "Ling Ting Tong" - The Five Keys
8. "Shulie-A-Bop" - Sarah Vaughan
7. "I Put a Spell On You" - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
6. "A Night In Tunisia" - Dizzy Gillespie
5. "All in Fun" - Jeri Southern
4. "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" - The Spaniels
3. "I Just Want To Make Love To You" - Muddy Waters
2. "Mr. Sandman" - The Chordettes
1. "Sh'Boom" - The Chords

1955

10. "Mary Lou" - Young Jesse
9. "Let's Go" - The Moonglows
8. "Car Hoppin' Mama" - Hawkshaw Hawkins
7. "Singin' the Blues" - Marty Robbins
6. "Sixteen Tons" - Tennessee Ernie Ford
5. "Dripsody" - Hugh Caine
4. "Earth Angel" - The Penguins
3. "Only You" - The Platters
2. "The Comeback" - Joe Williams
1. "Lullaby of Birdland" - Sarah Vaughan

1956

10. "Tutti Frutti" - Little Richard
9. "Roll Over Beethoven" - Chuck Berry
8. "Lonely Avenue" - Ray Charles
7. "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
6. "In the Still Of the Night" - The Five Satins
5. "I'm In the Mood" - John Lee Hooker
4. "Candide: The Best Of All Possible Worlds" - Leonard Bernstein
3. "I Walk the Line" - Johnny Cash
2. "Honey Don't" - Carl Perkins
1. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" - Gene Vincent

1957

10. "There Will Never Be Another You" - Bud Powell
9. "Come Go With Me" - The Dell-Vikings
8. "Lush Life" - Joe Mooney
7. "Searchin'" - The Coasters
6. "Conversation" - Machito
5. "West Side Story: Tonight, Tonight" - Leonard Bernstein
4. "Lush Life" - John Coltrane
3. "Walkin' After Midnight" - Patsy Cline
2. "Motel" - Miles Davis
1. "Manteca" - Dizzy Gillespie

1958

10. "Rave On" - Buddy Holly
9. "Tears On My Pillow" - Little Anthony & the Imperials
8. "Fever" - Peggy Lee
7. "Number 9 Train" - Tar Heel Slim
6. "I Mean You" - Thelonious Monk
5. "Come On, Let's Go" - Richie Valens
4. "Summertime Blues" - Eddie Cochran
3. "Bird Dog" - The Everly Brothers
2. "Cuban Nightingale" - Joe Holiday
1. "Guaglione" - Machito

1959

10. "Darn That Dream" - Sarah Vaughan
9. "Lonely Woman" - Ornette Coleman
8. "Poison Ivy" - The Coasters
7. "So What?" - Miles Davis
6. "Apes and Peacocks" - Duke Ellington
5. "Philadelphia Bound" - Jo Jones
4. "Surrey With the Fringe On Top" - Blossom Dearie
3. "Moanin'" - Charlie Mingus
2. "I Only Have Eyes For You" - The Flamingoes
1. "What'd I Say" - Ray Charles

1960

10. "Caravan" - Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
9. "Money (That's What I Want)" - Barrett Strong
8. "Rhode Island Is Famous For You" - Blossom Dearie
7. "Take Five" - Dave Brubeck
6. "New York's My Home" - Ray Charles
5. "Over You" - Aaron Neville
4. "'Til I Kissed You" - The Everly Brothers
3. "Cousin Mary" - John Coltrane
2. "Theme From 'a Summer Place'" - Percy Faith
1. "Shoppin' For Clothes" - The Coasters

1961

10. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" - The Shirelles
9. "Runaway" - Del Shannon
8. "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" - Ike & Tina Turner
7. "Li'l Egypt" - The Coasters
6. "Unsquare Dance" - Dave Brubeck
5. "Surrender" - Elvis Presley
4. "Blue Moon" - The Marcels
3. "A Rose In Spanish Harlem" - Ben E. King
2. "Alex Mambo" - Machito
1. "My Favorite Things" - John Coltrane

1962

10. "Georgie On the IRT" - Dave Van Ronk
9. "Stormy Monday" - Bobby Bland
8. "Cocinando Suave" - Ray Barretto
7. "The Inch Worm" - John Coltrane
6. "Watermelon Man" - Herbie Hancock
5. "I'm Blue" - The Ikettes
4. "Miserlu" - Dick Dale
3. "It Didn't Turn Out That Way" - Mose Allison
2. "Green Onions" - Booker T & the MG's
1. "You Are My Sunshine" - Ray Charles

1963

10. "Be My Baby" - The Ronettes
9. "Da Doo Ron Ron" - The Crystals
8. "One Fine Day" - The Chiffons
7. "Sally Don't You Go" - The Jaynettes
6. "Hava Nagila" - Dick Dale
5. "Bolivar Blues" - Thelonious Monk
4. "Sprite" - Raymond Scott
3. "II B.S." - Charles Mingus
2. "Stella By Starlight" - Bill Evans
1. "Girl From Ipanema" - Joao Gilberto

1964

10. "Soul Dressing" - Booker T & the MG's
9. "Lupita" - Guillermo Gonzalez
8. "Fiddler On the Roof: Tradition" - Jerry Bock
7. "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" - Solomon Burke
6. "Pain In My Heart" - Otis Redding
5. "Thank You Mama Thank You Papa" - The Dixie Cups
4. "Sweet Tater Pie" - Mongo Santamaria
3. "Canteloupe Island" - Herbie Hancock
2. "Little Girl Blue" - Nina Simone
1. "Out Of Sight" - James Brown

1965

10. "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" - The Animals
9. "Pedro Pedreiro" - Quarteto Emly
8. "Boot-Leg" - Booker T & the MG's
7. "Soledad" - Cumbia Los Galleros
6. "Descarga Cachao" - Tito Rodriguez
5. "Agua de Beber" - Astrid Gilberto
4. "Your One and Only Man" - Otis Redding
3. "Daddy Wong Legs" - Cal Tjader
2. "Cold Sweat" - James Brown
1. "Norwegian Wood" - The Beatles

1966

10. "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones
9. "A Simple Desultory Philippic" - Simon & Garfunkel
8. "Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys
7. "96 Tears" - ? & the Mysterians
6. "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries" - Willie Bobo
5. "Ain't That a Groove" - James Brown
4. "Do the Boogaloo" - Pete Rodriguez
3. "One Note Samba/Spanish Flea" - Sergio Mendes
2. "I'm Sick Y'All" - Otis Redding
1. "Tomorrow Never Knows" - The Beatles

1967

10. "Ode To Billie Joe" - Bobbie Gentry
9. "Boogaloo Mania" - Charlie Palmieri
8. "Hip Hug Her" - Booker T & the MG's
7. "Wave" - Antonio Carlos Jobim
6. "Dr. Feelgood" - Aretha Franklin
5. "Small Portion Of Your Love" - Sam & Dave
4. "Up, Up, and Away" - The 5th Dimension
3. "I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles
2. "Femme Fatale" - The Velvet Underground
1. "Hey Joe" - Jimi Hendrix

1968

10. "Lady Godiva's Operation" - The Velvet Underground
9. "A Deeper Shade Of Soul" - Ray Barretto
8. "Something In the Way She Moves" - James Taylor
7. "Watusi Boogaloo" - Willie Rosario
6. "Matrix" - Chick Corea
5. "Folsom Prison Blues" - Johnny Cash
4. "Ave Maria" - Caetano Veloso
3. "I Can't Stand Myself" - James Brown
2. "What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You" - Marva Whitney
1. "Castles Made Of Sand" - Jimi Hendrix

1969

10. "Mama Culanga" - Johnny Sedes
9. "Norwegian Wood" - Sergio Mendes
8. "A Boy Named Sue" - Johnny Cash
7. "Mathar" - The Dave Pike Set
6. "Shangri-La" - The Kinks
5. "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
4. "Suspicious Minds" - Elvis Presley
3. "Grazing In the Grass" - Friends Of Distinction
2. "Everyday People" - Sly & the Family Stone
1. "Irene" - Caetano Veloso

1970

10. "Reverend Lee" - Roberta Flack
9. "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf" - Sly & the Family Stone
8. "Cumbia En Do Menor" - Lito Barrientos
7. "Tu Loco Locoy Y Yo Tranquillo" - Roberto Roena
6. "Blackpatch" - Laura Nyro
5. "Eleanor Rigby" - Aretha Franklin
4. "Purlie: Down Home" - Gary Geld
3. "Chovendo Na Roseira" - Antonio Carlos Jobim
2. "Whitey's On the Moon" - Gil Scott-Heron
1. "Fancy" - Bobbie Gentry

1971

10. "John, I'm Only Dancing" - David Bowie
9. "Inner City Blues" - Marvin Gaye
8. "Drumming Part IV" - Steven Reich
7. "Baby" - Os Mutantes
6. "Monkey Girl" - Toots & the Maytals
5. "You've Got To Earn It" - The Staple Singers
4. "Fire and Rain" - James Taylor
3. "I Know You Got Soul" - Bobby Byrd
2. "Voodoo Village" - Tony Joe White
1. "God" - John Lennon

1972

10. "Saturday In the Park" - Chicago
9. "Pippin: War Is a Science" - Stephen Schwartz
8. "Superfly" - Curtis Mayfield
7. "Popcorn" - Hot Butter
6. "Slow Motion Part 1" - Johnny Williams
5. "Get On the Good Foot" - James Brown
4. "Cravo e Canela" - Milton Nascimento
3. "Cabaret: the Money Song" - John Kander
2. "Soy Boricua" - Bobby Valentin
1. "The Love I Lost" - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

1973

10. "Crazy 'Bout My Baby" - Bonnie Bramlet
9. "A Little Bit Of Love" - Brenda and the Tabulations
8. "Jolene" - Dolly Parton
7. "Sparkle City" - Shuggie Otis
6. "Search and Destroy" - Iggy Pop
5. "Jungle Boogie" - Kool & the Gang
4. "If You Want Me To Stay" - Sly & the Family Stone
3. "Living For the City" - Stevie Wonder
2. "TSOP" - MFSB
1. "Music For Mallet Instruments, Organ & Voices" - Steven Reich

1974

10. "Big John Is My Name" - Undisputed Truth
9. "Love Epidemic" - The Trammps
8. "The Pill" - Loretta Lynn
7. "Aguas De Marco" - Elis Regina
6. "Lively up Yourself" - Bob Marley
5. "Ghosts" - Fred Frith
4. "O Homem de Gravata Florida" - Jorge Ben
3. "Pick Up the Pieces" - Average White Band
2. "Rock Me Again and Again and Again and Again" - Lyn Collins
1. "Lady Marmalade" - Labelle

1975

10. "Walking In Rhythm" - The Blackbyrds
9. "You're No Good" - Linda Ronstadt
8. "Mi Rumba Echando Candela" - Celeste Mendoza
7. "Chocolate City" - Parliament
6. "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" - AC/DC
5. "All Around My Hat" - Steeleye Span
4. "Do It Any Way You Wanna" - The People's Choice
3. "Cut the Cake" - Average White Band
2. "Zawinul" - Brian Eno
1. "Time Warp" - Richard O'Brien

1976

10. "Car Wash" - Rose Royce
9. "Porcupine" - Nature Zone
8. "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen
7. "Say You Love Me" - Fleetwood Mac
6. "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" - Elton John & Kiki Dee
5. "Einstein On the Beach: Knee Play 1" - Philip Glass
4. "Kicks" - Lou Reed
3. "Harvest For the World" - The Isley Brothers
2. "Roadrunner" - The Modern Lovers
1. "Across the Lake of the Ancient World" - Terry Riley

1977

10. "Marquee Moon" - Television
9. "Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac
8. "Peg" - Steely Dan
7. "Nobody Does It Better" - Carly Simon
6. "Don't Leave Me This Way" - Thelma Houston
5. "Trans-Europe Express" - Kraftwerk
4. "London's Burning" - The Clash
3. "EMI" - The Sex Pistols
2. "'Heroes'" - David Bowie
1. "I Wish" - Stevie Wonder

1978

10. "Six Fantasies On a Poem by Thomas Campion" - Paul Lansky
9. "El Bollinski en D7" - Charlie Santiago and Eddie Montalvo
8. "Robots" - Kraftwerk
7. "Bye Bye Love" - The Cars
6. "Hot Blooded" - Foreigner
5. "Nervous Breakdown" - Black Flag
4. "Music For Eighteen Musicians" - Steven Reich
3. "Indestructible" - Ray Barretto
2. "Night Fever" - The Bee Gees
1. "Inland Seas" - Brian Eno

1979

10. "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" - The Charlie Daniels Band
9. "Fire" - The Pointer Sisters
8. "Next To You" - The Police
7. "Me and My Chauffeur Blues" - Lucinda Williams
6. "Money (That's What I Want)" - The Flying Lizards
5. "Pretty Girls" - Joe Jackson
4. "Rock Lobster" - The B-52's
3. "I Feel For You" - Prince
2. "Object" - The Cure
1. "Natural's Not In It" - Gang Of Four

1980

10. "California Uber Alles" - The Dead Kennedys
9. "Upside Down" - Diana Ross
8. "Once In a Lifetime" - Talking Heads
7. "Los Angeles" - X
6. "Cars" - Gary Numan
5. "You Shook Me" - AC/DC
4. "Party Up" - Prince
3. "Jimmy Jazz" - The Clash
2. "Up the Neck" - The Pretenders
1. "Mirror In the Bathroom" - The English Beat

1981

10. "Our Lips Are Sealed" - The Go-Go's
9. "Beautiful World" - Devo
8. "Sexuality" - Prince
7. "White Girl" - X
6. "Under Pressure" - Queen
5. "Johnny Are You Queer" - Josie Cotton
4. "Pocket Calculator" - Kraftwerk
3. "I'm In Love With a German Film Star" - The Passions
2. "Just Can't Get Enough" - Depeche Mode
1. "Filler" - Minor Threat

1982

10. "Dancing With Myself" - Billy Idol
9. "Rockit" - Herbie Hancock
8. "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" - The Human League
7. "I Ran (So Far)" - A Flock Of Seagulls
6. "Breaking Us In Two" - Joe Jackson
5. "DMSR" - Prince
4. "Bhabiye Ni Bhabiye" - Alaap
3. "Myage" - The Descendents
2. "Mo Beru Agba" - King Sunny Ade
1. "That's How I Escaped My Certain Fate" - Mission Of Burma

1983

10. "New York New York" - Nina Hagen
9. "Uncertain Smile" - The The
8. "Buck Hill" - The Replacements
7. "Coup D'Etat" - The Circle Jerks
6. "Burning Down the House" - Talking Heads
5. "She Blinded Me With Science" - Thomas Dolby
4. "Real World" - Husker Du
3. "Split Myself In Two" - The Meat Puppets
2. "Swordfishtrombones" - Tom Waits
1. "Radio Free Europe" - REM

1984

10. "Slip It In" - Black Flag
9. "It's My Life" - Talk Talk
8. "Flags For Everything" - Let's Active
7. "Don't Worry Baby" - Los Lobos
6. "South Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" - REM
5. "Let's Go Crazy" - Prince
4. "Answering Machine" - The Replacements
3. "Close (To the Edit)" - Art Of Noise
2. "Maybe Partying Will Help" - The Minutemen
1. "Something I Learned Today" - Husker Du

1985

10. "How Soon Is Now?" - The Smiths
9. "Close To Me" - The Cure
8. "Bitchin' Camaro" - The Dead Milkmen
7. "Pushin' Pullin'" - The Effigies
6. "GCF" - The Descendents
5. "Kiss Me On the Bus" - The Replacements
4. "Satyagraha: Kuru Field Of Justice" - Philip Glass
3. "Up On the Sun" - The Meat Puppets
2. "King Of the Hill" - The Minutemen
1. "Tango 'Til They're Sore" - Tom Waits

1986

10. "Word Up" - Cameo
9. "Dear God" - XTC
8. "Panic" - The Smiths
7. "Michelangelo" - Astor Piazzolla
6. "Talking To Myself" - Let's Active
5. "She's Crafty" - The Beastie Boys
4. "I'm Bad" - LL Cool J
3. "All This I've Done For You" - Husker Du
2. "In a Glass House" - Antietam
1. "Shadow Of a Doubt" - Sonic Youth

1987

10. "Could You Be the One" - Husker Du
9. "When the Walls Come Down" - Naked Raygun
8. "French Kiss" - Li'l Louis
7. "Isla de Encanta" - The Pixies
6. "In a Jar" - Dinosaur Jr.
5. "I Know You Got Soul" - Eric B & Rakim
4. "Go!" - Tones On Tail
3. "Beauty Lies In the Eye" - Sonic Youth
2. "Hang On St. Christopher" - Tom Waits
1. "Peek-A-Boo" - Siouxsie & the Banshees

1988

10. "Eye" - The Poster Children
9. "Tougher Than Leather" - Run-DMC
8. "Ana Ng" - They Might Be Giants
7. "The History Of the Concept Of the Soul" - The Mr. T Experience
6. "El Canelo" - Los Lobos
5. "Freak Scene" - Dinosaur Jr.
4. "Gigantic" - The Pixies
3. "Delicious Demon" - The Sugarcubes
2. "Teenage Riot" - Sonic Youth
1. "Night Of the Living Bassheads" - Public Enemy

1989

10. "Fight the Power" - Public Enemy
9. "Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)" - Technotronic
8. "Debaser" - The Pixies
7. "Drug Test" - Yo La Tengo
6. "untiedundone" - The Creatures
5. "Cha Cha Cha" - MC Lyte
4. "Say No Go" - De La Soul
3. "Egg Man" - The Beastie Boys
2. "Waiting Room" - Fugazi
1. "Dirty Blvd." - Lou Reed

1990

10. "Vogue" - Madonna
9. "Tunic (Song For Karen)" - Sonic Youth
8. "Stop!" - Jane's Addiction
7. "Tied Up In Chains" - The Chills
6. "Taa Deem" - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
5. "Fortunately Gone" - The Breeders
4. "The Summer" - Yo La Tengo
3. "Make My Body Rock" - Jomanda
2. "Violin Doyna" - The Klezmatics
1. "The Crank Case" - Timber

1991

10. "Total Peace" - Sebadoh
9. "There's No Other Way" - Blur
8. "Pure Pain Sugar" - Unwound
7. "Stacks" - Fugazi
6. "Trompe Le Monde" - The Pixies
5. "Can't Truss It" - Public Enemy
4. "Lineage" - Zakir Hussein
3. "Four O'Clocker 2" - Thinking Fellers Union Local 282
2. "Scenario" - A Tribe Called Quest
1. "Lithium" - Nirvana

1992

10. "Mistadobolina" - Del the Funkee Homosapien
9. "Lightning" - The Blue Humans
8. "Helpless" - Sugar
7. "360 Degrees" - Grand Puba
6. "Sugar Kane" - Sonic Youth
5. "Brand New Love" - Sebadoh
4. "Untogether" - Lush
3. "Magdelena" - Sergio Mendes
2. "Loretta's Scars" - Pavement
1. "Stand Together" - The Beastie Boys

1993

10. "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" - Me'Shell Ndegecello
9. "Got Kinda Hi" - The Goats
8. "Cherub Rock" - Smashing Pumpkins
7. "Little Jenny Bow" - Bill Frisell
6. "From a Motel 6" - Yo La Tengo
5. "The First Part" - Superchunk
4. "All Apologies" - Nirvana
3. "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" - Digable Planets
2. "Stratford-On-Guy" - Liz Phair
1. "Spoonman" - Underworld

1994

10. "Green Glass" - Jawbox
9. "Kun Fe Ko" - Oumou Sangare
8. "Root Down" - The Beastie Boys
7. "Delia's Gone" - Johnny Cash
6. "Back From the Dead" - House Of Pain
5. "Cut Your Hair" - Pavement
4. "Bicycle" - Autechre
3. "Rich Girl" - Louchie Lou & Michie One
2. "Screenwriter's Blues" - Soul Coughing
1. "Jennifer's Body" - Hole

1995

10. "Leave Home" - The Chemical Brothers
9. "Moo Kid" - Aphex Twin
8. "The Holy Ghost Is Here Right Now" - Rev. Milton Brunson
7. "Saucer" - Pell Mell
6. "Little Trouble Girl" - Sonic Youth
5. "Don't Say a Word" - Yo La Tengo
4. "Josephine" - The Magnetic Fields
3. "Song Against Sex" - Neutral Milk Hotel
2. "Man With a Hat" - The Klezmatics
1. "Hyper-Ballad" - Bjork

1996

10. "Thoughts Like Rain" - DJ Spooky
9. "Blood On the Mountain" - Star Pimp
8. "The Dicty Glide" - Don Byron
7. "Valeti Boliyan" - AS Kang
6. "I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone" - Sleater-Kinney
5. "Noise Of Carpet" - Stereolab
4. "4 Skies" - Arto Lindsay
3. "Beef Jerky" - Cibo Matto
2. "Girl/Boy Song" - Aphex Twin
1. "I've Been Everywhere" - Johnny Cash

1997

10. "Ballet Dance" - Roni Size/Reprazant
9. "Wichita Lineman" - Scud Mountain Boys
8. "Five Years" - Bjork
7. "Dog On Wheels" - Belle & Sebastian
6. "Setting Sun" - The Chemical Brothers
5. "Subterranean Homesick Alien" - Radiohead
4. "Shprayz Ikh Mir" - The Klezmatics
3. "Juju" - Mouse On Mars
2. "Magnesium Flares" - We
1. "Brakhage" - Stereolab

1998

10. "Mundian To Bach Ke" - Labh Janua & Panjabi MC
9. "Choserito Plena" - Marc Ribot
8. "Praise You" - Fat Boy Slim
7. "Cross Bones Style" - Cat Power
6. "Ten-Day Interval" - Tortoise
5. "Music For Airports: 1/1" - Bang On a Can All-Stars
4. "Is This Desire?" - PJ Harvey
3. "The Woman Downstairs" - The Handsome Family
2. "Open Light" - Boards Of Canada
1. "The King Of Carrot Flowers Part 2" - Neutral Milk Hotel

1999

10. "Cumbia Raza" - Los Lobos
9. "Cowboy" - Kid Rock
8. "Un Poquito Mas" - Jimmy Bosch
7. "Easy On Your Eyes" - The Aluminum Group
6. "Daremoshiranai Chiisuanakuni" - susumu yokota
5. "A Cleaner Light" - Kristin Hersch
4. "Porcelain" - Moby
3. "Canned Heat" - Jamiroquai
2. "Mykologics" - Mouse On Mars
1. "Papa Was a Rodeo" - The Magnetic Fields

2000

10. "Snowflake" - Languis
9. "Chartsengrafs" - Grandaddy
8. "The Model" - Belle & Sebastian
7. "Beautiful Feeling" - PJ Harvey
6. "Yolanda" - Tied & Tickled Trio
5. "Post Mid Arc" - Jega
4. "Maria" - Feo-Gasy
3. "Eros" - Tortoise
2. "Everything In Its Right Place" - Radiohead
1. "Swing Set" - Jurassic 5

2001

10. "Get the Party Started" - Pink
9. "Finding It Harder To Be a Gentleman" - The White Stripes
8. "Everybody Got That Something" - Nikka Costa
7. "Summer Sun" - Koop
6. "Booc" - Plaid
5. "Knuddelmaus" - Ulrich Schnauss
4. "El Cholulu" - Glover Gill & the Tosca Tango Orchestra
3. "You and What Army?" - Radiohead
2. "Digital 2.0" - Mia Doi Todd
1. "Polaris" - Bostich

2002

10. "Cup Of Tea" - Sage Francis
9. "Imaginary" - Bus Driver
8. "20 Questions" - Amy Rigby
7. "Unionbusting" - Jenny Toomey
6. "Skin" - Andrew Bird
5. "Astro Sister" - The Negro Problem
4. "Misery Is the River Of the World" - Tom Waits
3. "Work It" - Missy Elliott
2. "Hayling" - FC Kahuna
1. "Music Is Math" - Boards Of Canada

2003

10. "Tick" - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
9. "Backdrifts" - Radiohead
8. "Oh, Detroit, Lift up Your Weary Head (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)" - Sufjan Stevens
7. "Bright Future In Sales" - Fountains Of Wayne
6. "Comfortably Numb" - Scissor Sisters
5. "Para Mi Barrio" - Vico C
4. "Supersonic" - Basement Jaxx
3. "No Es Tan Cierto" - Juana Molina
2. "Pass That Dutch" - Missy Elliott
1. "Hey Ya!" - Outkast

2004

10. "Come As You Are" - Caetano Veloso
9. "Laura" - Scissor Sisters
8. "Neon Rider" - Junior Boys
7. "Hsaing Kyaik de Maung" - Bang On a Can All-Stars & Kyaw Kyaw Naing
6. "Galang" - MIA
5. "Wonderful Night" - Fat Boy Slim
4. "'lest Sexy" - Mahala Rai Banda
3. "Belleville Rendezvous" - -M-
2. "Northern Line" - Old 97s
1. "I Wish I Had an Evil Twin" - The Magnetic Fields

2005

10. "The Well" - (Smog)
9. "My Man Is a Mean Man" - Sharon Jones
8. "Jill" - Dynamite Ham
7. "I Love You" - Modeselektor
6. "Koi Aaya AaneBhi de" - Kronos Quartet with Asha Bhosle
5. "Orion: Interlude - Canada & the Gambia" - Philip Glass
4. "Song Of the Sleeping Forest" - susumu yokota
3. "Luvin' You" - Rod Lee
2. "You're Good" - MIA
1. "Jacksonville" - Sufjan Stevens

2006

10. "Song Song Song" - Final Fantasy
9. "Hip Hop Is Dead" - Nas
8. "Duas Opinoes" - Tom Ze
7. "Salam" - Gigi
6. "Stratographic" - Lithops
5. "No Money" - The Evens
4. "A Woman Like Me" - Spanky Wilson
3. "Malherido" - Juana Molina
2. "Connecticut's For Fucking" - Jesus H. Christ & the Four Hornsmen Of the Apocalypse
1. "BKAB" - Ethan Stoller

2007

10. "Someone Great" – LCD Soundsystem
9. "Boyz" - MIA
8. "Canned Goods and Firearms" – Sir Richard Bishop
7. "Faberge For Shuggie" – Of Montreal
6. "Loe Bar" – Bjorn Torske
5. "High In the Morning" – Paul Duncan
4. "Dusseldorf" - Pole
3. "Feeling Free" – Nicole Willis
2. "Sofera" - Rajery
1. "House Of Cards" - Radiohead