Random five, described!
- Digable Planets - Swoon Units. Minimalist, jazzy, swinging: as are all the best Digable Planets songs. Even though this isn't one of those...
- New Pornographers - Sing Me Spanish Techno. Incredibly catchy: as are all the best New Porno songs. This one is one of the best.
- Oxford Collapse - Molasses. One of this band's best. Not sure why these guys weren't more popular. Maybe they were just a few years late - they do have a bit of an early 90s sound. Archers, definitely.
- Mos Def - New World Water. A lot tougher than the Digable Planets, but definitely mining the same vein: a simple drum track with some minimal space-jazz samples to set a mood. Nothing like mainstream rap - then or now.
- Unrest - Teenage Suicide. It's based on a song from a fictional band in the movie "Heathers", but it's pure Unrest: catchy, blissful and dizzy. They're another overlooked treasure. Knowing how much I loved the band, my girlfriend forced me to have a beer with the singer before a show, many decades ago. He was nice, but I had nothing to say to him.
What you got?
That Unrest song really reminds me Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, just not quite as manic.
1. The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
Not my favorite Ramones song, probably because it is one of the most iconic and overplayed. Reminds me of Los Angeles actually for some reason. The alternative station there (the world famous KROQ) always played a lot of Ramones (and reggae) in the summer.
2. The Doors – L.A. Woman
I am not the biggest Doors fan. But this one I have always liked. It’s got a drive and flow that I really like. It’s one of those long songs that you still don’t want to end when it does, just keep on building and building.
3. Radiohead – NO Surprises
My second favorite Radiohead song (the first being Fake Plastic Trees…actually number 1 is this live version of National Anthem which may be the coolest thing I have ever heard ever.). I am sure it is a lot of peoples’ favorites but that just proves that it is an objectively awesome song.
4. Aha – Take on Me
Norway’s national anthem. Or, might as well be. Iconic video, and I was captivated by this song long before I ever ended up here. Aha are basically gods here. They played a concert a couple summers back at the local football stadium, which is a few blocks from my house. I sat in my yard and listened to the whole concert for free.
5. Oysterhead – Rubberneck Lions
A bizarre supergroup of Les Claypool, Stewart Copeland and Trey Anastasio. Three fantastic musicians and the album was pretty good. This live version is ok but goes on a bit long.
Young People Dance, by Robyn Hitchcock. Eh. Makes me remember why I never really listen to Groovy Decay… this sounds sort of like Tears for Fears with a lower voice. Goes on for too long.
Little Sister by the Lafayette Afro Rock Band. Now this is a little more exciting, yeah… Sweet jazzy guitar and synth and horns, funky bass.
Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians, Listening to the Higsons. More than makes up for YPD. The long clear treble notes of “Won’t you see, for, me..” are exactly what Robyn’s voice is supposed to be doing (at that time in his career anyways).
The Soft Boys, Asking Tree — hm, this shuffle is a bit Hitchcock-heavy. Groovy. The jam at the end (or well, the late middle) of this song is one of the all-time greats.
Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream, by Aretha Franklin — kind of a weird follow-up to the Soft Boys tune. But after a jarring transition, lovely.
I never really listen to Groovy Decay
ditto. it’s completely slathered in 80s awfulness.
Listening to the Higsons .. is an awesome song.
“Won’t you see, for, me..” are exactly what Robyn’s voice is supposed to be doing … indeed, indeed. love that. after the low-key sing-song delivery of the verses, that bit soars.
Agreed, Higsons is in contrast a song I don’t listen to enough/can’t get enough of.
Hey it’s Saturday, why not shuffle a couple more songs?
Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus cover Dylan’s “Song to Woody” is practically a perfect cover version of a beautiful song, one that magnifies its beauty.
The Dead are playing Know Your Rider in Boston, in 1969. I find a pracically perfect Dead performance difficult to describe.
Also on stage, but in a storefront in Chelsea in the 90’s (side by side with Deni Bonet!), is Robyn Hitchcock singing Beautiful Queen. Ah…… Storefront is a sort of perfect concert film.
Neil Diamond’s on stage with The Band singing “Come Dry Your Eyes”, sort of breaking the streak of practical perfection. Perfectly hilarious I guess.