Random 10 for May 20, 2008

1. Miles Davis, “So What.” This is the leadoff track from Kind of Blue, widely recognized as one of the definitive albums in jazz and featuring John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly and Bill Evans. Everyone talks about supergroups in rock ‘n’ roll that are rarely actually super, but Kind of Blue is like the gods jamming on Mt. Olympus.

2. Common, “The Light.”

3. Primal Scream, “Come Together.”

4. Kate Nash, “Men’s Needs.”

5. Chris Letcher, “Deep Frieze.” South African Letcher lands somewhere between Neil Finn and The Flaming Lips in terms of his melodic sensibilities and sonic preferences, which is some fairly precious real estate.

6. Band of Horses, “Detlef Schrempt.”

7. My Morning Jacket, “Bermuda Highway.”

8. Oranger, “Crones.”

9. Eric B. & Rakim, “Follow the Leader.”

10. Ladytron, “Destroy Everything You Touch.” Straightforward glam-disco track is accompanied by a surrealist video worthy of Bjork — it’s as if Mira Aroyo and Helena Marnie are part of the mountains in a Guo Xi painting. Ladytron’s new disc, Velocifero, comes out next month.