The Friday Five: July 3, 2009
Friday Five : ˈfrī-(ˌ)dā,-dē ˈfīv : On the sixth day of every week I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five and drop a little knowledge and insight for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes we have 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:
Editor’s Note: After a 4 day work week that felt more like 7 it’s time to unwind, but before I start my holiday weekend I’ve got a quick shuffle to share. Have a safe and great Independence Day weekend.
Harvey Danger – “Flagpole Sitta” (from Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?, 1997)
The Gaslight Anthem – “Great Expectations” (mp3) (from The ’59 Sound, 2008)
Van Halen – “Jamie’s Cryin'” (from Van Halen, 1978)
Prince – “Controversy” (from Controversy, 1981)
Bobby Brown – “Roni” (mp3) (from Dance! … Ya Know It, 1989)
What tunes are getting you started today?
The Friday Five: May 15, 2009
For those who have not joined in the Friday Five here is all you need to know; each Friday I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five and drop a little knowledge and insight for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes we have 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 more the merrier!
The Five:
Van Halen – “In a Simple Rhyme” (mp3) (from Women and Children First, 1980)
Earlier this week our friends over at Addicted to Vinyl posted an incendiary Van Halen related article that sent me on a listening spree. In the last week I’ve listened to every record from Van Halen I to 1984 and still disagree with the assertion that “Jump” was in any way a stretch (or sell out) and that it was really a part of the natural progression of the band.
Primus – Tommy the Cat (mp3) (from Sailing the Seas of Cheese, 1991)
It has been a long time since I’ve heard this tune. Les Claypool is easily one of the funkiest bass players ever. Juxtaposed against the brash beats and dueling vocals with Tom Waits the band picked up the torch dropped by Funkadelic, dropped some Metal on it and moved it along.
Madonna – “Borderline” (from The Immaculate Collection, 1990)
I make no bones about it; I absolutely love nearly everything Madge did prior to the turn of the new millennium. These days it’s all one can do to avoid her pathetic clawing at staying relevant, compounded only by her odd public/private life and her preclusion to much younger men.
Rage Against the Machine – Freedom (mp3) (from Rage Against the Machine, 1992)
While I do really like guitarist Tom Morello‘s current project Street Sweeper Social Club, nothing can replace the sound and the fury of the original Rage Against the Machine record. Born of the first Bush presidency, the record captured the angst and social unrest that was brewing just below the surface; that and the hearts and minds of drunken frat boys from coast to coast.
James – “Laid” (from Laid, 1993)
In researching this tune I discovered that this record was produced by the legendary Brian Eno. It does not necessarily surprise me. One of the best parts of doing The Five week after week is spending a little bit of time getting to know the tunes in my collection a little bit better.
So what’s on deck in your shuffle this week?
“Eruption” Zappa Style
Dweezil Zappa – “Eruption” (YouTube)
My brother-in-law sent this one over… You’ve got to love Dweezil for all his self-deprecating “aww shucks” modesty before ripping a killer version of Van Halen‘s signature crescendo. The 2009 Zappa Plays Zappa tour will be canvasing the rest of the world though June. You can find the dates as well as other goodies at the official site.
The Friday Five: January 16, 2009
If you’ve been working for the weekend, well you are in luck because it’s just about that time. That’s right, it’s Friday and it’s time to kick back hit the shuffle button and let the music take us where it will. Today we’re firing up iTunes to battle the post-lunch dip!
For those who have not joined in the Friday Five here is all you need to know; each Friday I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five and drop a little knowledge and insight for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes we have 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 more the merrier!
The Five:
“Jamie’s Cryin'” – Van Halen (from Van Halen)
“… Hey you two I was once like you and I liked to do the wild thing”
“Crash Into Me” – Dave Matthews Band (from Live in Chicago 12.19.98)
I’ve recently discovered that Dave Matthews has a twitter account that he uses quite actively (clearly via his iPhone and Twitterific). He provides a view into his twisted head and preoccupation with his farts (and sharing photos of himself in various states of clown make-up).
“Golden Ring (feat. Tammy Wynette)” – George Jones (from The Bradley Barn Sessions)
An absolutely classic tune from the master
“Direct Line to the Telepathic” (mp3) – Flickerstick (from Welcoming Home the Astronauts)
Before American Idol, Rockstar:INXS, Making the Band and other awful music-based reality programs was VH1’s “Bands on the Run” which placed 4 bands in vans and sent them out to tour with challenges along the way. It was sort of like MTV’s “Road Rules” with twice the alcohol and prima donnas’. Dallas, Texas’ Flickerstick won the competition and a recording contract. The band released one major label record and an indie follow up (along with a pair of live recordings) and it was announced late in 2008 that they had decided to go their separate ways. They will play a final show on Jan 24th at the House of Blues in Dallas. In honor of this great band I’m sharing this epic track with you all.
“Jet City Woman” – Queensrÿche (from Empire)
I’ve got a real soft spot in my musical heart for Queensrÿche, specifically this time period between Operation:Mindcrime and Empire.
Okay, I’ve shown you mine, now show me yours!
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: October 10, 2008
This week was almost the first Five-less week since the inception of the shuffle happy column. I’m a bit under the weather this week and am saving up my energy to go and see Jason Mraz tonight. Rather than cancel the Five, here’s a quick five (with two downloadable tracks this week!) as I’m resting up.
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. The Beach Boys – Little Deuce Coup (from The Platinum Collection)
Not my favorite
2. Donny Hathaway – Misty (from Everything Is Everything)
A torch song from the master, I love everything about this record.
3. Apollonia 6 – Sex Shooter (mp3) (from Apollonia 6)
Let’s see some action, let’s have some asses wiggling, I want some perfection. Whawhak!
4. Dink – Green Mind (mp3) (from Dink)
I used to spin this one weekly as part of my “Alternative Night” DJ set.
5. Van Halen – Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love (from Van Halen)
One of the most recognizable riffs in the history of Rock n’ Roll.
So what’s making you feel better this week?