The Friday Five: September 25, 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:
The Juliana Hatfield Three – “Spin the Bottle” (from Become What You Are, 1993)
In the early ‘90s Juliana Hatfield was kind of like everyone’s slightly older, slightly dirty sister – whereas Liz Phair was your slutty college-aged sibling, but I digress. After obtaining a moderate bit of notoriety with her first band, Blake Babies, she struck out on her own releasing her debut solo record, Hey Babe, in 1992. It wasn’t until 1993’s Become What You Are and the inclusion of this particular tune in the generation defining film Reality Bites that secured her place as an alternative rock superstar. With its simple sing song melody and lyrics that seem ripped from every teenage girl’s diary she connected with Gen X’ers soft side.
Hall & Oates – “Kiss on My List” (from Greatest Hits: Rock ‘n Soul, Part 1, 1983)
Little known fact: In an interview with Mix magazine, Daryl Hall said: “Eddie Van Halen told me that he copied the synth part from ‘Kiss on My List’ and used it in “Jump.” I don’t have a problem with that at all.”
Channel Live – “Homicide Ride” (mp3) (from Station Identification, 1995)
Taking cues from the grimy sparse beats of Wu-Tang Clan and the vivid street imagery of the Notorious B.I.G. the hardcore rap duo behind Channel Live should have been huge. Add to it the tight production and guidance of “the Teacher” KRS-One and it just further boggles the mind how this crew could only drop one single record and disappear.
Dweezil Zappa – “Anytime at All” (mp3) (from Confessions, 1991)
In the rampant resurgence of Beatlemania in pop culture in recent weeks I had nearly forgotten about this gem of a cover. Confessions was produced by Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and his influence can be heard all over the record, but no more than on this the cover of an album cut from A Hard Day’s Night. The layers upon layers of vocal tracks (provided by Nuno, Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa) take the song to a new level and the addition of a backwards tracked guitar solo – an obvious nod to George Harrison’s use of the technique – make for a truly stellar tribute.
Camera Obscura – “Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken” (from Let’s Get Out of This Country, 2006)
Scotland’s Camera Obscura is easily one of my favorite groups of the last few years. The perfect blend of lush orchestral indie-pop married with beautifully twee vocals and just a hint of a throwback to a simpler time the band here is issuing a – albeit 22-years-late – response to Lloyd Cole‘s classic “Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?”
Okay, I’ve shown you mine, you know what to do…
8 Comments
Anne
My list starts out embarrassing but gets better.
1. “Alive”–Black Eyed Peas
2. “Closing Time” — Semisonic
3. “Make No Plans” –Marching Band
4. “The Ghost of you Lingers”–Spoon Love it!!
5. “The Start of Something”–Voxtrot
Bill C
Long Stem Rose- Graham Parker (Burning Questions)
She’s Rare-Paul Kelly (Live at the Continental)
Blue Sky-Allman Brothers (Dreams)
Turning Blues into Gold-Phil Alvin (Country Fair)
How it Is-Aztec Camera (Stray)
Pretty neat list. I love the Shuffle.
EightE1
Replacements, “Anywhere’s Better than Here.” I was late to the ‘Mats — Don’t Tell a Soul was the first record of theirs I bought. Later I recognized how minor it was in their discography, compared to Let It Be, Pleased to Meet Me, Tim, etc. I still like this song, though.
Jackson Browne, “In the Shape of a Heart.” A beautiful relationship song in the middle of a political album, Lives in the Balance. The pre-chorus is so heartbreaking, and it leads into such a wonderful resolution in the chorus:
“People speak of love don’t know what they’re thinking of
Wait around for the one who fits just like a glove
Speak in terms of belief and belonging
Try to fit some name to their longing”
The chorus changes in subsequent verses, but the sentiment is there and it’s a little piece of perfection.
Black Sabbath, “Lady Evil.” Can’t help myself — I love Ronnie James Dio’s voice, and the first two studio records he made with Sabbath are my favorite Sabbath records. This one’s on side one of Heaven and Hell, and it’s a straight-up classic.
Bob Dylan, “Bye & Bye.” I think I’m in the minority on this one, but I think Love & Theft is a major Bob Dylan record.
Rolling Stones, “It Must Be Hell.” This is from Undercover, and it’s probably the first I’ve heard it in 15 years (just threw the album on the iPod; it hasn’t come up in previous shuffles). Just realized Urge Overkill totally stole their “Positive Bleeding” riff from this song. I wonder who the Stones stole it from?
azecho
1. Dino Jr. “Creepies” a nice instrumental track off the bonus ep of their new disc “The Farm”. I’ve loved this band since ’87 which makes me old…but cool. Super stoked to see them play Tempe with the original lineup. Lou Barlow is an old idol of mine.
2. Megafaun “Impressions of the Past” saw these guys open up for Bowerbirds at the Rhythm Room and really liked their song structures and the vibe so I picked up the album. A really tranquil, peaceful tune. Learned they are former members of a DeYarmond Edison, who’s former member was Justin Vernon (Bon Iver). They’re opening his show next week in Mesa and I can’t wait to see them again.
3. The Rural Alberta Advantage “Don’t Haunt This Place” Probably the best show I’ve seen so far this year. I love this album and this is prolly the best song on it. Love how the music isn’t hidden or obscured by the production…
4. Leornard Cohen “I’m Your Man” Shit, this was the best show I saw this year not the RAA. I think Cohen haunted my shuffle after my previous entry. Is there anything else that needs to be said about LC? He’s a God.
5. Bob Dylan “Licensed to Kill” I always seem to like the Infidels album more than most people. This is yet another Dylan gem…here listen: http://snipr.com/s4ugl
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Kristi
H&O and CO = Nice!
My Five:
1) Time After Time – Matchbox Twenty
2) Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams
3) Kinda I Want To – Nine Inch Nails
4) Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5) Kingpin – Wilco
Pete
1. “Normal Jean Riley” – Diamond Rio / I have a soft spot for SOME cheesy 90’s country. “Norma Jean Riley” is one of them.
2.”Maybe Your Baby” – Stevie Wonder / Talking Book, of course, is a masterpiece.
3. “Down to the Waterline” – Dire Straits / Live in Cologne, Germany, February 1979.
4. “Bruca Manigua” – Ibrahim Ferrer / Thank you Ry Cooder for re-discovering Ibrahim. This is the first song from The Buena Vista Social Club Presents: Ibrahim Ferrer. I’m glad I got to see Ibrahim before he passed.
5. “Auf Wiedersehen” – Cheap Trick / Great tune from their third album Heaven Tonight.
Judd6149
“Liz Phair was your slutty college-aged sibling…”. What happened to her. She was so perfect that way (well, not in a “sibling” way, of course)
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