The Friday Five: June 4, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a 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: “Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.” Today, I’m feeling a bit like the bug. – Michael
“Let Me Ride” by Dr. Dre (from The Chronic, 1992)
Puff, Puff, Pass…
“Every Woman in the World” by Air Supply (from Greatest Hits, 1988)
Shameless.
“Your Love” by The Outfield (from Play Deep, 1985)
Somehow, this has charted as my favorite ’80s tune. Undeniable.
“Pray Your Gods” by Toad the Wet Sprocket (from Fear, 1991)
Somber, haunting.
“Light” by Phish (from Joy, 2009)
The last Phish record has stuck with me longer than any of their previous. Very aptly titled record.
What’s on your shuffle today?
19 Comments
dopeburger
“Bound to Go Home” by Or, The Whale
“Journey to the Center of the Earth” by Rick Wakeman
“Watching You” by Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
“Vocoder Ba Ba” by Apples in Stereo
“Baba O’Reilly” by The Slip
Mike
This week’s five:
“Hush” by LL Cool J (from “The DEFinition”, 2004): LL’s a little too old and Hollywood to do the menacing thing anymore, so he’s best when he goes the “lover” route. This track is definitely a little saccharine, but it’s got a great groove and a bit of a retro-80s New Edition-type feel. One of the best things he’s recorded in the last decade or so.
“So Far I Have Not Found the Science” by Soul Coughing (from “El Oso”, 1998)-I actually discovered Soul Coughing the band after falling in love with Mike Doughty as a solo artist. The SC stuff is hit or miss for me, even though given my musical tastes, one would think I’d like their stuff better than his solo work. Either way, I’m pretty “eh” on this song.
“Battle of Who Could Care Less” by Ben Folds Five (from “Whatever & Ever Amen”, 1997)-The “Franklin fucking Mint” line cracks me up every time. Ben hasn’t performed this song either time I’ve seen him. I’m a little sad about this…
“That’s That Shit” by Snoop Dogg & R. Kelly (from “Tha Blue Carpet Treatment”, 2006)-I always feel like I need to take a shower every time I listen to something with R. Kelly on it. I always feel like I need to smoke a J every time I listen to something with Snoop on it. Too bad I can’t smoke in the shower. Decisions, decisions…
“Lovers” by Babyface (from “Lovers”, 1987)- If there’s ever been a classier song about deflowering a woman, I don’t know what it is. I shudder to think what a song like this would sound like coming from the artist I mentioned above. Oh wait, I forgot about “It Seems Like You’re Ready”. Great. Now I have to take another shower…
I know from feeling like the bug…stay up, homie.
Michael
I don’t know that L.L. is too old, but he’s clearly outgrown his brash persona. Let’s face it, he is the musclebound man these days.
“Lovers” is nice, but “Whip Appeal” slays. There’s something magical about the melody when he sings “No one does it like me” that just kills.
Dave Lifton
Cadillac Ranch – Bruce Springsteen (KC, 11/19/84)
Randy Newman’s Theme From Lord Of The Rings – Paul and Storm (Opening Band)
Razor Face – Elton John (Madman Across The Water)
Where There’s A Road – Robbie Fulks (Georgia Hard)
Scarlet Knights – Prefab Sprout (Jordan: The Comeback)
Bill C
Hank Williams-Window Shopping. I love me some Hank Sr. A typical twangy, light Hank love song.
Elvis Costello-The Other Side of Summer. From Mighty Like a Rose. While much of Elvis’ work during this period was indistinguishable this is a great song.
Lovin’ Spoonful-Rain On the Roof. Ah, now we are talking. What a great song.
Graham Parker-Blue Horizon from Deepcut to Nowhere. Not much to say about this song. Not great, not bad. Just average.
Johnny Cash-We’ll Meet Again. From American IV. Agonizingly beautiful. Johnny’s frail voice sounds great in this song.
Kristi
1) Drive-By Truckers – Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife
2) NIN – Terrible Lie
3) Fiona Apple – Never is a Promise
4) Britney Spears – Toxic
5) Jenny Owen Youngs – Dissolve
Jason
I’ve got a ton of work to do today and need music to keep me motivated, plus I’m starting to prep for an Acoustic ’80s gig on the 18th — so it’s my Awesome ’80s playlist today! It’s been playing for a couple of hours, but here’s what’s on right now.
1) Level 42 – Something About You
2) Billy Ocean – Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car
3) Chaka Khan – I Feel For You
4) Jets – Cross My Broken Heart (Rocket2U came on before, it was so awesome.)
5) Mr. Mister – Kyrie. YES!
Michael
The Jets are a total guiltless pleasure here. I’m going to have to yell out for “Kyrie” on the 18th, it’s right up there with “My Love.”
Jason
“Kyrie” is way too complicated, I think…but maybe…
“My Love” by who? Lionel Richie? Paul McCartney?
Michael
Says the guy who I witness rock “Prelude/Angry Young Man” a couple of weeks ago?
Dammit, I meant to say: “Your Love,” which is, you know, my statistically proven favorite ’80s tune.
Jason
Aw, thanks. But there are significantly less synths in the Billy Joel song.
I think I mentioned we did “Your Love” once, for Matthew Bolin’s wife’s birthday. We should bring it back. It sounds wussier when we lower it a half-step, though.
Mindy
NICE, some I haven’t heard. I like when there are new tunes for me to check out.
The Way I Am – Ingrid MIchaelson
Hard To Handel – The Black Crowes
The Right Time – The Corrs
I Do Not Hook Up – Kelly Clarkson
Sweetest Decline – Ryan Adams
twojams
I look so forward to doing this on Fridays, it’s scary. Love seeing everyone else’s five.
1) “My Opening Farewell” – Bonnie Raitt, from Sweet Forgiveness. She does such a nice job on Jackson Browne covers.
2) “In the House of Tom Bombadil” – Nickel Creek, from their eponymous album. Talented trio that I believe have gone their separate ways. I need to check out their solo works.
3) “Who Makes Your Money” – Spoon, from Transference. I haven’t given their newest album a close listen yet, but dang if this song isn’t grooooovy.
4) “My Old Man” – Joni Mitchell, from Blue. “When he’s gone…. the frying pan’s too wide.” Cool. I don’t care if she trashed Dylan, I still love her!
5) “Lord of the Starfields” – Bruce Cockburn w/Rob Wasserman, a live version from a 1994 Columbia Records Radio Hour compilation. I bought the CD for some other performances and honestly don’t think I’ve ever listened to this whole song. Not sure why, because it’s pretty good.
Happy weekend!
ceriddell
“Crawl” – Kings Of Leon, from Only By The Night
“Ain’t It Strange” – Maze & Frankie Beverley, from Inspiration
“Kiss” – by Prince, from Parade
“Lines” – by Eric Leeds, from Times Squared
“Spay” – by Velvet Revolver, from Libertad
Michael
Love the Frankie Beverley > Prince > Eric Leeds!
Pete
cerdiddell! old school prince peep. great to see you here!
EightE1
I hear the rumbling of thunder … my kid just saw yellow and red on the Doppler radar … ooh … scary.
Boz Scaggs, “Near You.” Croony Boz from the Moments album, kinda in that medium point between his cool bluesy R&B and his California pop mush. Pleasant enough, but not vital Boz (yes, there is indeed some Boz that is vital — “Loan Me a Dime” anyone?) This came out in 1971; I’ve been looking for an MP3 version of his other ’71 album, Boz Scaggs and Band, for a while now, to no avail. If anyone out there in Ickmusicland can point me in the direction of one, I’d be mighty obliged.
Rainbow, “Starstruck.” Cannot get away from Dio. This is from Rising, the band’s second record, where Blackmore fired everybody in the band (essentially, Elf) but Dio. shitty thing to do to the band, but that’s rock ‘n’ roll, I suppose. The solo here is really short, but it’s definitely Blackmore — I’d recognize that whammy bar anywhere. Good rock tune; shame you don’t hear this more often on classic rock radio.
Dokken, “Burning Like a Flame.” This one goes out to Tommy T., the guitar player in my high school rock band, who knew every George Lynch lick and solo. I remember him playing this in the car all the time — Back for the Attack, ’87. Hearing this is pure magic — it’s one of those things I don’t hear that often, but it puts me right back in that place and time. Wish I still had my ’78 T-Bird, the QEIII. Thing only got, like, 12 miles to the gallon, but I loved it. [sigh]
KISS, “Sure Know Something.” Oh, just a lousy song in just about every way, until you get to the chorus. The chorus is money, boys. Paul Stanley just struts that muhfucka out there, all bravado and bluster. Dynasty was such a shitty record, wasn’t it? God, you have those disco production values, the sound compression, the guitar tones, the drum sound — it just blows all around. But that chorus — can an album be redeemed by a single chorus? Nah, it can’t.
Bob Mould, “Underneath Days.” Best ending to a Friday Five in a while. Just a terrifying fucking song — it jumps out of the speakers like it intends to do you bodily harm. Mould’s the only performer I’ve ever heard use Autotune and still sound fierce. This is from Body of Song, I record I absolutely love, but which got iffy reviews at the time. Trust me, though — it is worth getting, via whatever means you typically get music. This is the best song on the records, but there are plenty of other solid songs on it. And it’s alson on his live DVD, Circle of Friends. Just fierce, fierce stuff. Love it.
Pete
My 109 degree Saturday afternoon 5 – – –
“Fire” – Bruce Springsteen
“Such A Night” – Elvis Presley
“Singing Man” – The Roots
“You’re Too Gone” – Jason Lytle
“Someday I’ll Be Forgiven For This” – Justin Townes Earle
whiteray
And it’s Saturday for me as well. Some nice Fives above. Let’s see how I do:
1. “Valerie” by Beausoleil from “Beat the Retreat,” 1994. “Beat the Retreat” is a collection of the songs of Richard Thompson, and it’s startling how well the Cajun sound of Beausoleil works here.
2. “Total Destruction To Your Mind” by Swamp Dogg from “Total Destruction To Your Mind,” 1970. A weird and sometimes disturbing record from a weird and sometimes disturbing album. Odd but somehow great.
3. “Everything” by Collective Soul from “Disciplined Breakdown,” 1997. Not sure how this got here, but it seems to work.
4. “Sweet Sweet Rock & Roll” by Richard Torrance & Eureka from “Belle of the Ball,” 1975. Not sure how this got here, either, but it doesn’t work all that well.
5. “Houston in Two Seconds” by Ry Cooder from the soundtrack to “Paris, Texas,” 1989. Moody, ethereal and brilliant.