Singles File

A weekly playlist for the listener with a one-track mind.

The Swell Season: "Into the Mystic" Ubiquitous and tasteful Irish act the Swell Season covers Van Morrison's ubiquitous and tasteful Irish classic. From the Teach for America benefit compilation "Before the Goldrush."

Jay-Z featuring Biggie and Santogold: "Brooklyn (Go Hard)" (Mick Boogie mix) On the revamped version of this song, Jay-Z does his usual Brooklyn thing, Santogold does her usual singsong thing, and Mick Boogie does his usual Notorious B.I.G.-sampling thing. Because the track (in its un-remixed form) hails from the upcoming Biggie biopic "Notorious." And because no Hova track about Brooklyn would be complete without someone inserting a Biggie sample, anyway.

The Killers and Elton John and Neil Tennant: "Joseph, Better You Than Me" This only vaguely Christmassy Christmas collaboration is a benefit track for Bono's Red charity (available at http://Red.msn.com), which explains its utter randomness. It also explains Brandon Flowers's energetic Bono imitation, though Flowers should know by now to never out-emote Elton John on Elton's own track. He will cut you.

GoldieLocks: "Provider" On this splashy N.E.R.D. cover, the emerging British pinup/rapper (think of her as being like a female, frequently topless version of the Streets) runs drugs and contemplates death. If Amy Winehouse ever stars in an "American Gangster" remake, this would be her theme song. Probably this would never happen -- we're just saying.

Noah and the Whale: "Devil Town" Folk-pop band Noah and the Whale's cover of this slight and spooky Daniel Johnston song is almost as good as Bright Eyes' years-ago version. And that's saying something.

Lil' Bow Wow featuring Bow Wow: "Anything You Can Do" Apparently the way this song works is, Lil' Bow Wow travels from the past to meet/rap with the Bow Wow of today, who no longer calls himself Lil' Bow Wow, being 21 and all. Lil' basically uses this opportunity to sass his present-day (or future?) self, instead of providing useful advice from the past, like how Future Bow Wow should avoid subprime mortgages and Kate Hudson movies.

-- Allison Stewart