The Friday Five: January 09, 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 the iPod 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:
“Sister Christian” – Night Ranger (from Midnight Madness)
Yeah! Now this… this is the way to kick off a shuffle. In the world of truly kick-ass power ballads this definitely is ‘all-time’ material. Who would ever think that a tune written by a big brother watching his little sister grow up would cement’s the bands place in history.
“Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad” – Prince (from Prince)
Here’s the thing, Purple Rain is classic, Parade is sublime and there are few that would argue that Sign “☮” the Times is anything but a masterpiece. But for me Prince‘s 1979 self-titled album is the record that I turn to time and again for my purple fix. From “I Wanna be Your Lover” to “Bambi” this is, for me, the best quick fix.
“Your Boyfriend Sucks” (mp3) – The Ataris (from Blue Skies, Broken Hearts… Next 12 Miles)
This power pop gem pulls absolutely no punches. Hell, the first line about sums it up… “You’re better off without him, don’t call him… He’s breaking your heart.” From the band’s 1999 release, this tune along with “I Won’t Spend Another Night Alone” won me over as a fan back then and I still look forward to hearing their brand of pop-punk brashness.
“Crush” – Dave Matthews Band (from Before These Crowded Streets)
Writing the perfect love song is a task where many a man falls short; Dave Matthews is not one of them.
“The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove” (mp3) – Dead Can Dance (from Into the Labyrinth)
In the early 90’s my desire for new and ‘different’ music was insatiable and one of my favorite ‘finds’ was the dark baroque (and often Celtic) music of Dead Can Dance. Recorded at Quivvy Church (in County Cavan, Ireland) Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry blend world and ethereal music to a profound effect. This track features Perry‘s deep baritone singing of, as Perry put it, “the abstract relationship of myself and woman “.
Okay, I’ve shown you mine, now show me yours!
8 Comments
Owen Brown
“Crush” is about as close to the perfect song as one gets. Well put.
KathyB
1. “Tired of Pretending” by Blue Rodeo from “Are You Ready” (2005).
I’ve stated my love for Blue Rodeo several times here. This song, unfortunately, isn’t one of my favorites, but I’m happy that a Blue Rodeo song came up.
2. “Christmastime” by the Nourallah Brothers from “Nourallah Brothers” (2004)
Because Christmas is never really over as long as you have the music.
3. “Cover Me” by Patty Larkin from “Watch the Sky” (2008)
One of the best songs on what I think is her strongest album to date.
4. “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue from “Kylie Minogue”
Can I just say no comment?
5. “So. Central Rain” by Grant Lee Phillips from “nineteeneighties” (2006)
Not bad, but I do like the original better.
I wish the next five songs in my list had been the first five songs. 🙂
whiteray
It’s a cold evening in the Midwest. Here’s what I get from the player:
1. “Fun Of The Farm” by the Sutherland Brothers from “Down To Earth,” 1977. The brothers were folk-rockers from England who were most successful when they combined with the band Quiver. This one’s a later tune, and it’s okay, kind of herky-jerky at points, and some of the vocals and production put me in mind of 1971-era Paul McCartney. An odd start.
2. “I Don’t Wanna Fuss” by Sugar Pie DeSanto, Chess single 1093. A little bit of Chicago-style R&B. Makes me wanna move a little . . . but just a little.
3. “Laugh, Laugh” by the Beau Brummels, Autumn single 8. One of the great Beatles-soundalikes. And a pretty good single.
4. “Mama, You Been On My Mind” by Bob Dylan, recorded in New York City on June 9, 1964. A rare performance of what seems to be one of Dylan’s least-recorded songs. From one of the Bootleg Series albums. A nice one.
5. “We Belong” by Lowen & Navarro from “Walking On A Wire,” 1990. Pat Benetar had the hit six years earlier, but these are the guys who wrote the song. They do a very nice job. This got a lot of airplay on a Twin Cities radio station in 1990.
Michael
Kathy, no shame in having a Kylie tune come up, that particular song is actually quite good.
Coz
Here’s a quick run down from the sunny Gulf Coast beaches:
Big Hard Sun – Eddie Vedder
Policy of Truth – Depeche Mode
Pop Life – Prince
Four Minutes to Save the World – Madge & JT
The Scientist – Cold Play
Julie
Two Hearts The River Bruce Springsteen
I have worn through more copies of The River on vinyl, cassette and CD than I should admit to. Trying to get my Bruce mojo back after the exclusive to WalMart bummer.
Easy Plateau Cold Roses Ryan Adams
This album is a masterpiece—I know people say that about Heartbreaker, but this one is it for me.
Out There In The Night
The Only Ones
Special View
Just love them.
Dreamin of You
Tell Tale Signs
Bob Dylan
Have had this CD on for weeks
Asking Annie Out
Streets of New York
Willie Nile
Very overlooked record. Just great.
Pete
Happy Weekened….
my Saturday morning five….
1. “Di Good Life” – Linton Kwesi Johnson – Tings an’ Times / Jamaican-British dub poet LKJ. Just came across his entire discography.
2. “Cream” – Prince – Dance 2 the Desert Groove / from his ’07 summer run at the Rio in Vegas.
3. “Maricela” – Los Lobos – Los Lobos: Live at the Fillmore / Everyone should see Los Lobos live at least once in their lifetime.
4. “Evil Town” – The Vines – Winning Days / Just “happened across” a couple of Vines albums too. Never really listened to ’em.
5. “In Full Effect” – Mantronix / Nice variety on my five! Topping it off with some funky old school beats courtesy of Kurtis Mantronik.
Makata
Absolutely love Lisa Gerrard. Kudos to the Depeche Mode/Eddie Vedder fan and to the Beau Brummels fan.
Here are my picks:
1. “The Past Recedes” – John Frusciante, guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, darn good songwriter too!
2. “Don’t You Worry” – Jim Noir Don’t know much about him – came up in a Hype Machine search and I loved his sound.
3. “When Your Mind’s Made Up” – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, from the movie Once. If you haven’t seen it, it is a must-see movie.
4. “Until You Understand” – Kings of Convenience. A band very much like a modern day Simon & Garfunkel.
5. “If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time” – Merle Haggard. I love him for his song titles, and I love him because what he sings is true. Great foundation for country. I don’t need the new stuff – I love the oldies.