The Friday Five: November 18, 2011
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:
“Girls on Film” by The Wesley Willis Fiasco (from The Duran Duran Tribute Album, 1997)
I’m now racking my brain, trying to recall how Wesley Willis came up in a recent conversation with Jeff Giles and Mike Heyliger.
“Toothache (Chemical Brothers remix)” by The Charlatans (from The Jackal, 1997)
Another track from 1997? This track is like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, two great tastes that taste great together.
“In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (from The Social Network, 2010)
It almost looks like there is a thread of logic running through today’s Friday Five. 1997 Tune; 1997 soundtrack tune; 2010 soundtrack tune; okay, I’ll admit it is a bit of a stretch. As for this tune, I don’t have much to say other than how odd is it to say OSCAR award winner, Trent Reznor?
“Nocturnal Transmission” by BT (from Ima, 1996)
… And back to the ’90s! During said decade I harbored a secret affinity for all things techno. Specifically the ambient sub-genre, which this track falls solidly under. I’m not sure what the hell I was doing that would enable me to sit for long sessions … oh, wait, yes I do. Anyhow, I still have a small collection of my favorites from the likes of BT and Aphex Twin that I’ll spin once in a while.
“Wave of Mutilation” by Pixies (from Doolittle, 1989)
Whether is be the original, or the “UK Surf” version, “Wave of Mutilation” is one of my favorite songs.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: July 22, 2011
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:
“Rewrite” by Paul Simon (from So Beautiful or So What, 2011)
There aren’t enough hours in the day to listen to Simon’s latest record as much as I’d like. “Rewrite” is just one of the many reasons why.
“Another Lonely Christmas” by Prince & The Revolution (from 12″ Archive 2.0, 2001)
Christmas in July? With temperatures across the country reaching well into the triple digits, I’d bet everyone could stand a little holiday cheer to remind them that snow and sub-zero temperatures that’ll be here in just six short months. There’s not much cheer to be found here, though.
“Legs (dance-enhancing version)” by ZZ Top (from Greatest Hits, 1992)
I know, I know … what is “Legs” without the video, right?
That’s better, right?
“The Scientist” by Johnette Napolitano & Danny Lohner (from Wicker Park, 2004)
Take the already haunting Coldplay cut, amp it up with the incomparable vocals of Concrete Blonde’s Johnette Napolitano, and you’ve got yourself a perfect cover.
“[silence]” by Nine Inch Nails (from Broken, 1992)
They say silence is golden. I swear, this is the next track that shuffled up, though I feel like I might be cheating you guys. Maybe I should elucidate on just how … oh, forget it. I used the word elucidate and I want to kick my own ass right now.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: May 13, 2011
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:
“One Way or Another” by Blondie (from Just Can’t Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the ‘80s, Volume 1, 1994)
I don’t begrudge any artist making a few bucks via licensing, but I swear, if I have to hear “One Way or Another” one more time…
“Heaven” by Warrant (from Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, 1989)
Oh, goodness. I’d hang my head in shame, if it weren’t for the fact that I still kind of like this song.
“Take Me Home” by Phil Collins (from No Jacket Required, 1985)
iTunes seems to be in a mood today, eh?
“Space (acoustic remix)” by Prince (from Space, 1994)
Originally from Prince’s Come, I actually prefer this stripped down version to the one that is featured on the record. Looking back, Come is a quality album.
“March of the Pigs” by Nine Inch Nails (from March of the Pigs, 1994)
Well, that is one hell of a way to wrap up this week’s five.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: February 5, 2010
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:
This week’s shuffle served as a soundtrack to what has turned out to be an insanely busy morning; here are the first five tracks to hit my ears. This week’s Five was followed up by Episode 6 of The Popdose Podcast, which I highly recommend everyone making time to listen to.
“Scar Tissue” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (from Californication, 1999)
“Skeletons” by Stevie Wonder (from Characters, 1987)
“Out All Night” by The Pietasters (from Willis, 1997)
“Bleeding” by Flickerstick (from Tarantula, 2003)
“Last” by Nine Inch Nails (from Broken, 1992)
What is playing as your soundtrack today?
Ickmix Podcast: Alternative Thursday Night, Vol. 1
The Pre-Game Show
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away I spent my evenings working in a tiny little club in a college town somewhere in upstate NY. It was the mid-90’s and while the other establishments in town focused on “Ladies Night” and “All Request Dance Night”, the bar I called ”home” was featuring “Alternative Thursday Night”. Originally helmed by DJ “Mad Man” Ray, I took over a few years later and dubbed myself DJ Flood. (There’s a long story that goes with that name but we’ll save that for another week.)
Pete’s recent trip down Cripple Creek inspired me to revisit the tunes that I used to spin to the masses and I got to thinking that this could be a great opportunity to regale in some short term nostalgia and put together some killer mixes. At the moment my plan is to make this a bi-weekly feature with the prior week’s mix only being available until the next one is released. I’ll keep the mixes to about 30 minutes at a clip but in the end you’ll be able to play the set back to back and get the full experience. Without further adieu, here’s Volume 1:
Download: Alternative Thursday Night, Vol. 1 (24.0 MB MP3)
Playlist (26.03):
“Something I Can Never Have” by Nine Inch Nails
(from Pretty Hate Machine)
“Under the Gun” by The Sisters of Mercy
(from A Slight Case of Overbombing: Greatest Hits, Volume One)
“Hell Is Round the Corner” by Tricky
(from Maxinquaye)
“Glory Box” by Portishead
(from Dummy)
“Paraffin” by Ruby
(from Salt Peter)
“Condemnation” by Depeche Mode
(from Songs of Faith and Devotion)Comments on Vol. 1:
When setting up and getting ready for the night I usually would run through two or three tunes to make sure everything sounded right. I was usually coming in the night after “80’s Night” and the previous night’s DJ inevitably left the EQ a mess and I had to make sure that I wasn’t going to blow the system up. There were usually only a few patrons in the place that early and generally it was just staff so I could get away with leaving longer and mellower tracks on and bellying up to the bar for my first round of shots and “Seinfeld”.
“Something I Can Never Have” by Nine Inch Nails was always my opening. There is something about that tune that despite all its tortured measure is quite peaceful and beautiful. Following that are the haunting lyrics behind “Under the Gun” which features the vocals of Terri Nunn formerly of Berlin. For a very long time that was one of my favorite songs and to this day holds a spot in that goth part of my heart. The paring of “Hell Is Round the Corner” and “Glory Box” is a no-brainer as they both borrow heavily from “Ike’s Rap II” by Isaac Hayes. “The Bristol Sound” was coming up and I fully embraced it for all its Trip-Hop goodness. “Paraffin” by Ruby keeps with the Trip-Hop and is probably the only song that I can recall that is about an old man’s ass. Closing volume one is “Condemnation” by Depeche Mode which is, for me, one of their defining songs. The emotion in David Gahan’s voice is nothing short of breathtaking.
So that’s it for Vol. 1, feel free to leave any requests (because a good DJ always takes requests), comments, compliments or complaints below and I’ll meet you all back here in 2 weeks for Vol. 2.