Start thine musick shuffling device. Describe unto us the first five songs which play!
- ZZ Top - Have You Heard. Some Monday mornings, I start my iPod but forget to hit Shuffle. And when that happens, the song is always A.C. Newman's "Miracle Drug" (first song, off the first album, by the first artist). I did that today. And if iTunes' band name sorting algorithm put numbers before letters instead of after, this one would be the last song in my music collection (last song, last album, last artist). But, it doesn't sort that way; 10 ft Ganja Plant comes after ZZ Top. So... cool story, bro.
- Ramones - Cretin Hop. A completely typical fast, dumb, three-chord Ramones song. I like it much more than some of the other stuff on the album - the stuff the Ramones are justifiably not known for.
- CSN - Pre-Road Downs. On an album with so many great songs, this one doesn't always grab my attention. But on its own, on a sleepy Monday AM, it holds up a little better. And "be sure to hide the roaches" seems subversive, even today.
- Vetiver - Everyday. I saw these guys open for The Shins, many years ago. They didn't do much for me at the time, but I've grown to like them. It's that neo- psychedelic folky chamber-pop that bands like Rouge Wave and The Shins used to do. Not a bad little song. Neat idea for the video.
- U2 - Two Hearts Beat As One. Back when War came out, this was my favorite U2 song. I dig Clayton's bass line, and the Edge's spiky and minimally-used guitar is always a good time.
Take it away!
Old Man – Neil Young, from Harvest. A great tune, understated banjo, sweeping steel, orchestration which can all be safely ignored as the song is great with guitar and voice. Needs more barn.
Radio Radio, Elvis, This Year’s Model. A protest song about one industry that sounds a lot more general if you’re already in the right frame of mind.
Homicide by 999. A true classic. Rhino put ’em in the punk bin for a compilation album, but a very slick, AOR sound for punk. I suppose it is a little on the rough side for mainstream American AOR though.
Mouth of a Story by The Raincoats from Moving. The Raincoats really should be one of my very, very favorite bands. Sometimes they actually are. When the song started this morning it wasn’t one of those times. 90 seconds into it it was.
Where Did All the Girls Come From by Treat Her Right. Mark Sandman in a pre Morphine incarnation. The bass often has more than one string. A really, really great band all around, and they picked a great James Blood Ulmer cover to play here.
Homicide is one of my all time favorite songs.
Quick no link random five from the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Freaking gorgeous here, 25C and sun today. Had my first beer today at 10:50 am.
Colin Hay – Wayfaring Songs
The guy known as the singer from Men at Work with that unmistakable voice turns out to be quite the singer-songwriter. This is a nice acoustic number, just him and a guitar.
Nine Inch Nails – Closer
Still love this song, even if the lyrics are obviously written specifically to create a stir. It’s got a great beat and I love the whole build up in the middle.
Ministry – Roadhouse Blues
From their last record. This is a beast of a song. Huge drum machine, ridiculously fast and what sounds like 10 guitars doing the Doors song. This will clear a room under normal circumstances but I like it.
The Black Angels – Black Grease
I really, really like these guys. Like a cross between heavy blues, 60’s psychedelic and My Bloody Valentine. Always makes me want to close my eyes and sort of bang my head in slow motion.
Frightened Rabbit – Keep Yourself Warm
Spectacularly good song. One of my favorites over the last few years. “You won’t find love in a hole…It takes more than fucking someone to keep yourself warm.” I’m a sucker for a song that builds too, and this one does that well. I love these guys.
Have a nice week!
“Moon Goin Down”, Rev. Gary Davis. This is one of his greatest vocals.
“Jockey Full of Bourbon”, Mountain Station. Could be really good if it were just a little better…
“Baby Sign Here With Me”, Henry Badowski. Love the spacey synths, love the track. Such a weird, weird lyric.
“Manoir de mes Reves”, Stefane Grappelli. Too much piano! But otherwise great. After the long, piano-heavy introduction, this is a totally rockin tune.
“A Day in the Life”, Robyn Hitchcock and Heavy Friends. Not a great choice for a cover IMO. RH’s voice is very nice but the whole thing needs to be a bit orchestrated.
Currently on business in Holland so no list from me this week. Hotel Wi-Fi sucks and the office proxy isn’t as liberal as the Dutch themselves. :)
This is why god created ssh. I tunnel back home for all my browsing.
Meters “Pungee”
Skatalites “Christine Keeler”
Sundays “Here’s Where The Story Ends”
Ernest Ranglin “King Tubby Meets the Rockers”
Paul Simon “American Tune”
I been digging Paul Simon lately, his latest record is very good IMVHO.
Bonus: Susana Baca “Anchor Song”
That’s off an interesting CD Baca recorded on 9/11/01. Bunch of smartass NY downtown guys on there, but they can’t harsh her deep Afro-Peruvian soul.