Another shitty Monday morning here in dreary shitty NC !
Shuffle-up five, describe them to us so that we may learn!
- Hank Williams - Half As Much. Takes me about .3 seconds to identify this one as a Hank song. It's simply impossible for the sound of that steel guitar in the intro to come from anyone else on my iPod. Good song, too. Sadly, the original isn't on YouTube anywhere, though there are dozens and dozens of covers - the link is to an Emmylou Harris cover.
- Replacements - Seen Your Video. I always like songs that go for a verse or two before the vocals come in. In this case, the vocals only last for one chorus. I find it surprising that the Replacements would have done it, though. It seems like a bit of a high-minded concept.
- Husker Du - Makes No Sense At All. I'm not a huge Husker Du fan, but I like this one.
- Andrew Bird - Dissent. One of his experimental things from Useless Creatures. It's some atmospheric loops with a meandering lead over top - all violins, I believe. Not essential.
- Sonic Youth - Blink. From their B-sides and outtakes collection, "The Destroyed Room". A quiet, acoustic-based number, with Kim whispering over the top, and some transient bass noises in the background. It's an interesting change from the standard "Kim" song. I approve. Link goes to the "100%" video, which features a very young skateboarding Jason Lee ("My Name Is Earl", etc.).
Now you do it!
I am having a love-hate relationship with Javascript.
1. The Von Bondies – Rock’n’Roll Nurse
2. Faces – Ohh La La
3. Jeff Buckley – So Real
4. Marc Bolan & T. Rex – Solid Gold Easy Action
5. Portishead – We Carry On
6. Kasabian – Underdog
7. Kings Of Leon – No Money
8. Ultravox – Vienna
9. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
10. Talking Heads – Memories Can’t Wait
It has to be said – that Gaga tune is one hell of a pop song.
I got a new album this week! The Lana Del Rey one. Worth it for ‘Video Games’ alone which is a pretty special song. The UK press can’t decide if they love her or hate her or how fake they think she is. Or isn’t. Most amusing.
The UK press can’t decide if they love her or hate her or how fake they think she is. Or isn’t.
same here. everybody here seems to be using LDR as an excuse to complain about people they already dislike.
i haven’t heard her yet.
Video Games is well worth a listen – it’s an ear-worm. It was Word readers track of 2011 (which is the first time I’d heard of it).
I am also loving The Black Keys at the moment. El Camino is something special.
Dollar short edition!
Chuck Berry – Almost Grown
I have a special fondness for this one because it’s the only Chuck Berry song I ever owned on 45. (B-side was “Little Queenie.”)
Tom Waits – I Wish I Was In New Orleans
From Small Change, possibly my favorite Waits album. The song itself isn’t that strong, but it has good atmosphere.
Willie Nelson – Time of the Preacher Theme
Red Headed Stranger, like a lot of concept albums, is meant to be listened to from start to end, and doesn’t lend itself that well to shuffle. But if you know the larger work, this little nugget is a nice reminder of its overall spirit.
Laurie Anderson – We’ve Got Four Big Clocks (And They’re All Ticking)
I go to Laurie Anderson for the words. Music is an inseparable part of her presentation, but generally I think of her as a performance artist, not a songwriter. So anyway, an instrumental track from her doesn’t hold much interest for me.
The Shins – Girl Inform Me
Jamer Mercer, on the other hand, is a songwriter. Like Paul Simon, his words and his music would each do well enough on their own, but combined they can rise to the sublime. This track (like a few others on Oh Inverted World) is a little lacking in memorable melody or musical hooks, but it still has a way of nestling in my head.
Mercer’s got some great lyrics. he’s a very clever guy. and i love the way he puts everything he has into the “This new convection has left me wondering why” line. just shrieks it.
Here’s a end-of-week shuffle — I have been reluctant to listen to my music library this week as I have been spending all my time listening to me and John’s dress-rehearsal tape, trying to figure out how I could make the beginnings and ends of the songs sound as good as the middles did. Concert was last night and I think we did pretty well in terms of not having to noodle around looking for our groove…
1. “Become the Night” by Varnish Valley. A friend gave me this song but it has yet to make a particularly strong impression on me one way or another.
2. “Life is What You Make It” by Side Effect. Funky!
3 “Furry Green Atom Bowl” by Robyn H. I love the nonsense songs from early in his career. This is the studio version from IODOT, which starts out lousy but picks up. His voice is a little too nasal though — sounds like he is trying to sound like somebody else.
4 “Arnold Layne” by Syd Barrett. (from What Syd Wants.) Trippy! and not produced, which it could use a little production.
5. “Just Like a Woman” by Dylan and the Band. (from Before the Flood. This song has never been a favorite of mine. And on this tape, Dylan is doing something funny with his voice that I do not find appealing.