The Friday Five: March 20, 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:
“Golden Age” by TV on the Radio (from Dear Science)
I listened to this record quite a bit when it came out and the following month or so but can’t say that it’s gotten much play in 2009. I’ll have to remedy that this weekend.
“Turn on, Tune in, Find Joy” (mp3) by Freak Power (from The Rebirth of Cool 3)
This represents another random selection from my vast collection of mid to late 90’s trip-hop and abstract acid jazz. Freak Power was a collaboration between Norman Cook (better known as Fatboy Slim) and Ashley Slater.
“In Between Days” (mp3) by The Cure (from Staring at the Sea: The Singles)
It always struck me as odd how easily Robert Smith could whip out a sprightly and joyful pop tune. This ranks among my favorites.
“All About Love” (mp3) by Earth, Wind & Fire (from That’s the Way of the World)
I had a “Quiet Storm” listening marathon earlier this week and forgot all about this tune. Complete with the “Lemme take a minute and talk at you” break this is soulful music meant for making sweet love to your lady (or man, have mercy). This is baby-making music at its finest, dig it.
“Animal” by Def Leppard (from Vault: Greatest Hits 1980-1995)
Seriously, the lyrics to this tune make no damned sense.
What is bringing it home for you this weekend?
6 Comments
Rich
True, the lyrics to animal don’t make sense. But once again this week, I will play! And first one to do so! Whoo!
1) “Circle of Cysquatch” off the album “Blood Mountain” by Mastodon… I have no idea how this band is as popular as they are. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great. I just find it astounding that this has mainstream appeal. Or even slightly-off-mainstream. It’s too damned weird!
2) “Warriors of the World” off “Warriors of The World United” by Manowar. I did a radio show in college that prominently featured a segment called “Mandatory Manowar” (later to be stolen for Metallica’s benefit by Sirius Satellite Radio. Bastards). They are the most metal band ever, to a fault. They seem more a parody of metal than Spinal Tap or Tenacious D, and they believe everything they say. It’s terrifying. But, the songs are brilliantly simple, the lyrics sublimely ludicrous, and I do now and will forever love them.
3) “Full Tank” off “Get Out of My Yard” by Paul Gilbert. Paul Gilbert has gotten writing instrumental guitar down to a science. It’s never boring, never seems superfluous. This tune is kind of a minor bluesy jam, with a faster solo in the middle.
4) “Deliverance” off “Deliverance” by Opeth. 13 minutes of death metal, ambient prog, and general weirdness from Sweden. That’s kind of all I can say.
5) “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey… Really, iTunes? Really? I don’t think I need to write anything about that one.
Anyways, thanks for letting me play, and keep up the good work!
Michael
I realized when Stereogum started covering Mastodon that they were apart from the standard de-tuned metal fare. I actually enjoy Leviathan but that’s about it.
“Just a small town boy… born and raised in south Detroit… he took the midnight train going anywhere…”
Dammit, now I have to listen to it!
Gonzo
1. Prince – “Reflection” – I like this song, though the performance with him and Wendy from Tavis Smiley blows this version out of the water.
2. Snoop Dogg – “Ridin’ in My Chevy”
3. Girl Talk – “Hand Clap” – GT isn’t really the kind of thing that works in single tracks. But hey. Pittsburgh, represent!
4. Dizzee Rascal – “Jezebel”
5. Iggy Pop – “Lust for Life” – classic, classic, classic.
RobC
1. “Wild Tales” by Graham Nash from “Crosby, Stills & Nash (The Box Set) (Disc 4)”. I had a period in the 90s when I was really into CSN(&Y). Haven’t really listened to them a whole lot in the 00s. Never really liked this song that much.
2. “PDA” by Interpol from “Turn On The Bright Lights”. One of the many fine albums I’ve picked up from Emusic. I’ve discovered a lot of music there that I would never have picked up otherwise.
3. “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” by Bob Dylan from “Greatest Hits, Volume 2”. You can rarely go wrong with Bob.
4. “Only You” by Yaz from “Retro Night Romance”. Yuck. There are some half decent songs on this disc (I mainly bought it for Forever Young by Alphaville because it was played at my High School Graduation), but this is not one of them.
5. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by Cat Power from “The Covers Record”. I love Cat Power, but I’m not crazy about this disc. This cover is OK.
Anne
What a sad, forgettable group of songs–until the last one.
1. “She’s a Rebel” by Green Day from “American Idiot, 2004.
2. “Something Worth Knowing” by Sherwood from “Sing, But Keep Going”, 2005.
3. “Space City” by Drive-By Truckers from “A Blessing and a Curse”, 2006.
4. “Jungle Gym (Ft. G. Love)” by Jack Johnson from Curious George Soundtrack, 2006. This one is for my son!
5. “Cindy” by Johnny Cash and Nick Cave. I have that it came out in 2003 on an album titled “Unearthed” but I am not completely sure and did not take the time to do the research. But, it is a great song!
And as a side note, the next two songs were SO much better but I will refrain from listing them.
Michael
Gonzo – Prince and Wendy performing “Reflection” on Tavis Smiley brought me back to the quiet performances of “Sometimes it Snows in April”.
Anne – I should institute a ‘bonus round’ for those occasions. For the record my #6 was “Friday I’m in Love” and it made me dance around… shame I wasn’t wearing my “Friday I’m in Love” T-Shirt (yes, I do own and rock this shirt often).