Miles Kane - Better Than That- Your description is spot on, but the vocal and guitar hooks and arrangement don't do much for me. My enjoyment of XTC is pretty limited, so that makes sense. 5/10
Hammell On Trial - I'm Gonna Watch You Sleep - I like the DIY, low key vibe of this with things kinda coming and going in the instrumentation. Doesn't go for anything grand, but that's okay. Solid 7/10.
Silver Sun - I'll See You Around
I don't love the ELO backing vocals, but the verse and chorus hooks are so good. Added to my Matey's World playlist. 8/10.
Michael Kiwanuka - You Ain't the Problem
Love percussion and warm instrumentation. The fuzz guitar or whatever with the backing vocals are very very evocative of the time, but I can't say I find it appealing. The lead vocal is pretty monotone which doesn't do the song any favors either. Good soundtrack music or background music, but I can't say I love it. 5/10.
Soap - Golden Days - Love me a good clap track. The verses are great, but the chorus is a bit limp. Again with the overdone octave vocals on this one giving it that 70s sheen. I really like about half of it and kinda meh on the other half. The breakdown is really good too. Solid 6.5/10. Almost want to rate it higher, but the chorus just isn't strong enough for me.
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.