By Billy Florio
"Space Cowboy"- Steve Miller Band: a bouncing boogie-woogie number from the late '60s that sounds like it came out a decade later.
"My Funny Valentine"-Elvis Costello: Elvis Costello has recorded new wave rockers, punk shockers and soul crooners, and right when people thought they pinned him down, he recorded a tin-pan alley classic. Costello's version of Hart and Rodgers "My Funny Valentine" is a soulful barebones ballad that sounds right at home next to the ferocious energy of something like "Radio, Radio."
"In A Funny Way"- Mercury Rev: The song first appeared in 2003, but sounds like it hails from the '60s, proving once again that they can easily make psychedelic music work in the new millennium.
"Jenny Take A Ride!"-Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels: Half this song is Chuck Willis' blues standard "C.C. Rider." The other half is Little Richard's "Jenny Jenny." Detroit blues-rock legend Mitch Ryder combined the two into his first big hit in 1965. Ryder rarely did original songs, but his interpretations of the soul/blues covers made up for it.
"Darling Lorraine"- The Knockouts: Half the group may be dead, but the others pick up their vocal lines for a perfect rendition that's possibly even better than the original.
"Things I Should Have Said To Her"-The Grass Roots: This song is about heartbreak, yet is backed with chirpy, happy music. These moments of irony may happen often in pop, but they still are one of those little pleasures to add to the enjoyment of a song.
"All Fired Up"- Tralala: Confusingly, "All Fired Up" was missing on every best of list for 2005. Like a combination of the Ramones with Blondie, this is what The Donnas would sound like in an ideal world.
"Thank You Jack White (For The Fiber-Optic Jesus That You Gave Me)"-The Flaming Lips: Wayne Coyne might sound like a wannabe country artist here, but this is clearly a Flaming Lips song based on an absurd but true touring incident.
"Los Angelenos"- Billy Joel: Coming from the same vein as Bob Dylan's insult songs, "Los Angelenos" is a huge middle finger to the city where Joel spent part of his early career.
"Dyslexic Heart"-Paul Westerberg: Former Replacements front-man Paul Westerberg wrote this song for Cameron Crowe's 1992 movie Singles. It's one of the catchiest and most addicting songs of the 90s, and one of the best of the post-Nirvana era.