Sequencing is crucial in a record. You need an ebb and flow. A kick-ass opening song. Should the outro be a rabble-rousing kiss-off or a contemplative fade-out? Inquiring minds want to know!

Personally, I’d like to have sat in on the record meetings for African Elephants, the somewhat drab new release from Dead to Me. What made them choose “X,” the lone reggae song of the collection, as the opener? I’m not complaining; it worked for GNV FLA, after all. [more]