The Friday Five: October 23, 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:
Nirvana – “Come as You Are” (from Nevermind, 1991)
If I’m being completely honest this is probably the first time I’ve listened to anything from the seminal grunge record in probably the last couple of years.
The Gaslight Anthem – “Casanova, Baby!” (from The ’59 Sound, 2008)
The ’59 Sound is one of those records that gets under your skin and just hangs with you. Since discovering the band I’ve found myself coming back to the record time and again for a blast of tried and true rock n’ roll.
P.M. Dawn – “I’d Die Without You” (mp3) (from The Bliss Album…?, 1993)
Boys and girls, during the summer of ’93 this track was my ‘jam’.
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds – “Granny” (from Live at Luther College, 1999)
Quite simply this is a perfectly simple and sweet love song.
Dream Theater – “Another Day” (mp3) (from Images and Words, 1992)
As much as I like this song I’ve come to realize that in the context of the rest of the band’s discography that this tune stands out as possibly the worst. With its Kenny G inspired sax breaks (lest we not forget that Mr. Gorelick’s Breathless was one of the biggest records of 1992) and overall adult contemporary leanings – I swear, it would not surprise me at all if David Foster had a hand in its creation – it could easily represent the group’s weakest moments.
What is shuffling up for you this week?
5 Comments
Jason
Dude! I just randomly listened to “I’d Die Without You” this morning at the gym — not the best workout song, but awesome overall. I had forgotten about it completely.
Anne
1. “When I Was Drinking”–Hem from “Rabbit Songs.” I think that Hem has come up a few times on my Friday shuffles.
2. “Tell Her”–James Hunter from “The Hard Way.” An album from 2008 that sounds like it could have been made in 1968. Love it.
3. “I Can’t Turn You Loose”–Otis Redding–live recording. Love it!
4. “Mary Jo”–Belle & Sebastian from “Tigermilk.” I am not a huge B & S fan but I can appreciate some of there music.
5. “Shotgun”–Pete Yorn from “Back & Fourth.” Whatever.
EightE1
1) Yes, “Run Through the Light.” This is the Drama band, with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes. You know, I like this record quite a bit. The rhythm section sounds really muscular. I’m sure there are plenty who’d argue with me, but whatever … that’s how the shuffle rolls.
2) Big Audio Dynamite, “The Bottom Line.” This wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Sandinista. A good song to stick in the middle of an up-tempo mix.
3) Mudcrutch, “Crystal River.” I liked this album so much more than the last few Petty records. It’s a hell of a record to put in the car for a long drive. Good, languid song, with lots of those chiming gee-tars.
4) Sammy Hagar, “One Sip.” Ugh. Sammy covering country tunes. Thing is, I’ve taken this record on the back porch the last couple summers, and it is quite a hit with the cookout crew down at the beach. I’m usually well into the evening’s buzz by that point, though, so I wind up dancing around, too.
5) Air Supply, “Lost in Love.” This is the acoustic version from The Singer and the Song, a damn fine album. Funny how the stuff you like when you’re 10 or 11 years old keeps coming back at you, 30 years on. Or maybe it’s just me.
Gonzo
1. Nine Inch Nails – Ruiner. I so rarely listen to NIN these days. And when I do, it’s usually Pretty Hate Machine.
2. Kool Keith – Rockets on the Battlefield. From the great Black Elvis/Lost in Space album.
3. The Clash – Something About England. Oh, Sandinista. How I love thee.
4. NIN – Kinda I Want To. What the hell?!?!??!!?
5. Van Halen – Top Jimmy. He’s the king.
Pete
1. “Bury Me” – Dwight Yoakam – from Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. (1986)
2. “Sir Duke” – Stevie Wonder – from Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)
3. “When U Were Mine” – Prince – from City Lights, New York (1981)
4. “Natty Dread Taking Over” – Culture – from Two Sevens Clash (1977)
5. “Bare My Naked Soul” – Jesse Johnson – from Bare My Naked Soul (1996)