• Friday Five

    The Friday Five: March 18, 2011

    Friday Five

    Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

    The Five:

    “Everyone Knows It but You” by David Mead (from The Luxury of Time, 1999)

    I hear strains of Don Henley in Mead’s voice, but that is where the comparison ends. I have not given this record enough of a listen, guess it’s time to do so.

    “Dear Old Nicki” by Nicki Minaj (from Pink Friday, 2010)

    I think I was wooed by this record when it was first released. Subsequent listens have proven otherwise. It is still, however, one of the hottest hip-hop records of the last few years.

    “Into the White” by Pixies (from Death to the Pixies, 1997)

    I could listen to the Pixies all day.

    “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” by Billy Joel (from Glass Houses, 1980)

    Hearing this tune is a powerful nostalgia churning experience. As much as I’ve listened to this record over the years, I’m still the little kid in the back seat—with no seat belt, mind you—with my head titled backwards, looking up towards the sky, daydreaming about a galaxy far, far away.

    “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow (from Top of the Pops 1994, 2008)

    I’d skip this, but then I’d feel guilty.

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: March 4, 2011

    Friday Five

    Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

    The Five:

    “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel (from Turnstiles, 1976)

    I was going to wax poetic about Billy, but I just read this brilliant review of his upcoming Last Play at Shea and would rather you take the moment to go read Jeff Giles’ thoughts. It’s okay, I’ll wait.

    Okay, you’re back? On with the five!

    “Push” by Matchbox Twenty (from Yourself or Someone Like You, 1996)

    You know what? I still kind of like this tune.

    “Real Vacation” by Caleb Hawley (from Steps, 2009)

    No truer words have been spoken.

    So, for those of you that partake in the American Idol, you might recognize the name Caleb Hawley. He managed to make it all the way to the Las Vegas stage, before being given his walking papers. It’s a damn shame, really. Rather than wallow, get over to iTunes or Amazon and pick up Steps, and his latest We’ve All Got Problems, and celebrate a great singer/songwriter.

    “Cold Truth” by  The Guggenheim Grotto (from …Waltzing Alone, 2006)

    “Hey Maria, I’ve been thinking, been thinking bout moving … far away, cross the sea, maybe, somewhere cold and magnificent.” From Caleb to the duo that introduced me to him! Over the course of the last year I’ve had the pleasure of seeing The Guggenheim Grotto perform five or six times, and this song specifically at least three or four times. Like most tunes by the duo, it is beautifully simple, with soaring vocal harmonies.

    “Down By the Water” by The Decemberists (from The King Is Dead, 2011)

    Until hearing The Damnwells’ No One Listens to the Band Anymore I was pretty certain that I was going to crown The King Is Dead my favorite record of the first quarter of 2011. The funny thing is, I wouldn’t categorize myself as a fan of the band. I listened to Hazards of Love a few times, and while I liked what I heard, nothing stuck. Flash forward to the band’s latest, which managed to grab me by the ears with its none too subtle nod to a certain little band from Athens, GA. If you haven’t given this a listen for fear of shanty songs and prog-rock leanings, fear not! This is one of the best records of 2011.

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: April 30, 2010

    Friday Five

    Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

    The Five:

    Would you believe I actually forgot it was Friday? I was able to sneak in a quick listening session during a short break between meetings, here’s what I heard:

    “Let Me Love You Tonight” by Pure Prairie League (from The Best of Pure Prairie League, 1995)

    “A Matter of Trust” by Billy Joel (from The Bridge, 1986)

    “Rapture” by Seed (from Ling, 1994)

    “Stars Fell on Alabama” by Cannonball Adderly & John Coltrane (from Cannonball & Coltrane, 1960)

    “3×5” by John Mayer (from Room for Squares, 2001)

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: January 15, 2010

    Friday Five

    Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

    Editor’s Note: Due to a recent hard drive crash, my library is a bit compromised at the moment. Today’s five comes courtesy of my iPod which, not surprisingly, has some holiday music that was skipped along the way.

    The Five:

    1. “She’s Got a Way” by Billy Joel (from Greatest Hits, Volume I & Volume II, 1985)

    2. “Twice as Hard” by The Black Crowes (from Shake Your Money Maker, 1990)

    3. “Cousin Mary (alternate take)” by John Coltrane (from Giant Steps, 1960)

    4. “Sara Smile” by Hall & Oates (from Greatest Hits: Rock ‘n Soul, Part 1, 1983)

    5. “Burning Down the House” by Dave Matthews Band (from 2008-08-09: DMB Live Trax, Volume 15: Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI, USA, 2009)

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Friday Five

    Ickmusic’s Friday Five: September 12, 2008

    Many Bothans died to bring us this shuffle.

    Ah Friday it’s time to relax and you know what that means a glass of wine, your favorite easy chair and of course the Friday Five shuffling on your home stereo. So go on indulge yourself, that’s right, kick off your shoes, put your feet up, lean back and just enjoy the melodies. After all, music soothes even the savage beast….

    Last week’s Five (and ½) brought back the straight shuffle with turns from every genre and era. For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.

    Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.

    Here are this week’s tracks:

    1. Billy Joel – Matter of Trust (from The Bridge)

    I can’t put my finger on exactly why, but this is hands down my favorite Billy Joel tune. It brings me back to being a young man and living for the radio on Saturday afternoons. I realize looking back at the last few weeks that Mr. Joel popped up last week as well. We’ll have to see next week if he can take the Shuffle Triple Crown.

    2. City and Colour – The Death of Me (from Bring Me Your Love)

    I just picked this up from emusic last week and have not had a chance to give it a proper listen. I was a huge fan of Dallas Green‘s first record Sometimes. For those not familiar City and Colour is the mostly acoustic and decidedly singer-songwriter slanted side project of Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire‘s singer/guitarist Dallas Green (the name comes from his own name as he felt uneasy “putting the album out under the name Dallas Green”).

    3. Joey Scarbury – Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)  (from America’s Greatest Hero)

    I wish I could say that I dislike this song. I don’t and I suspect that many of you dig it too.

    4. John Williams – The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme) (from Star Wars Trilogy: Anthology)

    Performed majestically by the London Symphony Orchestra this is easily one of the most instantly recognizable sections of movie score ever. My sci-fi geek roots are certainly showing today!

    5. Jshua – Forever (from The Rose Line)

    Occasionally I get the opportunity to listen to music well before its release date, and this is one of those cases. Multi-Instrumentalist Jshua blends Soul, Funk, Beatlesesque progressions and a certain sense of grandeur usually reserved for compositions by a certain diminutive fan of purple. I truly cannot wait to share this one with the rest of the world.

    May the Shuffle be with you…

  • Friday Five

    Ickmusic’s Friday Five: September 5, 2008

    Does She or Doesn't She? Only Her Shuffle Knows for Sure.

    As I’ve said before four day work weeks always throw me for a loop. This week had the added pleasure of a computer move leaving my music on one while I get the other ready for day to day use. Needless to say, I’m in need of a Friday Five fix to get me through the rest of this day.

    Last week we wrapped up the “The Theme Days of Summer” with a send off. This week we’re back in the swing of the general shuffle. For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with some words for each track.

    Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.

    This week’s Friday Five is courtesy of Last.fm.

    Here are this week’s tracks:

    ½. The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick (from Christmas with the Beach Boys)

    Apparently Last.fm does not know it’s not Christmas yet, this was quickly skipped but I thought I should include it here.

    1. Rihanna – Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) (from Good Girl Gone Bad)

    For as overexposed of a track as this was I still genuinely enjoying hearing it and have not reached for the ‘skip’ button any time it’s popped up in a shuffle.

    2. Prince – When 2 R in Love (from The Black Album)

    Featuring the beat Justin Timberlake lifted for his all-too-obvious Prince inspired track “Until the End of Time”. I’m rather ambivalent about this track in particular as it always seemed out of place on the raunchy Black Album. While it’s a great song it’s no “Cindy C.”.

    3. Billy Joel – The River of Dreams (from River of Dreams)

    I think that this might be the first Billy Joel track to appear on a Friday Five. I have an odd relationship with Billy Joel in that I do truly appreciate and enjoy his music, but own relatively little of it and have not ever really looked to change that. I actually do not even own this record, rather the greatest hits package that covers this period of his career.

    4. Eric Johnson – My Back Pages (from Bloom)

    While I prefer his instrumental work, this is a great cover of the Dylan classic.

    5. Led Zeppelin – Fool in the Rain (from In Through the Out Door)

    I know that this may be blasphemy and an act of music-snob hari-kari but this is hands down my favorite Led Zeppelin song. It never fails to lighten even the darkest mood and I’m always up and dancing about during the Samba breakdown.

    So what’s bringing you joy this Friday?