The Friday Five: February 18, 2011
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:
“Make It Mine” by Jason Mraz (from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., 2008)
It feels like it has been forever since I last listened to this record. (According to iTunes, the last time was September; not quite forever.) Taken in small doses, it is impossible to be in a bad mood after listening to Mraz.
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele (from 21, 2011)
I haven’t had a chance to dig into this album properly, yet. What I’ve heard, though gives me hope that Miss Adkins has taken her craft to the next level. With a bit of delta blues spirit, and just a touch of gospel, “Rolling in the Deep” is a slow burn that builds to a full-blown blaze at its close.
“The Game Gets Old” by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (from I Learned the Hard Way, 2010)
One of my favorite live acts, Jones is nothing short of a powerhouse. Popdose’s new music editor, Ken Shane, had a recent opportunity to catch the stellar soul singer in Rhode Island, which he came away from equally blown away. If you have any opportunity to catch the Jones, do not hesitate. I guarantee you’ll have a great time.
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson (from Thriller, 1982)
The King is dead. Long live the King.
“Boogie Chillen” by Buddy Guy & Junior Wells (from Alone & Acoustic, 1991)
This record, mmm-hmm. Hell, I’m not even sure I can put it into words. Two master bluesmen, hold up in a studio somewhere in Europe with just an acoustic guitar, absolutely throwing down.
What’s on your shuffle today?
29 Comments
Zack Stiegler
1. Nikka Costa – “Just Because”
Boy howdy, I was in love with this album when it came out. Will have to spin this weekend.
2. Run DMC – “Beats to the Rhyme
Hells yeah.
3.Nelly Furtado – No Hay Igual
One of the hottest tracks from the Timbaland produced Loose!
4. Common – Faithful
From the amazing Be album.
5.The Clash – Rudie Can’t Fail
They recently put out London Calling for Rock Band. And boy is it a fun album to play.
Michael Parr
London Calling for Rock Band? That is enough to get me to dig up my drum kit! Thanks for the heads up.
Zack Stiegler
Indeed. Bonus points for smashing your guitar.
Kidding.
Jeanne Marie
Rolling in the Deep – Adele
Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
Harvest Moon – Neil Young
Jar of Hearts – Christina Perri
Nothing on You – Bruno Mars
Two – Ryan Adams
Anonymous
1. “Roll With It” by Steve Winwood
2. “Ain’t Gone ‘N’ Give Up On Love” by Eric Clapton
3. “The Most” by Lori McKenna
4. “A Sunday Kind Of Love” by Etta James
5. “Spanish Harlem” by Ben E. King
Chris Holmes
(disclaimer: I’m using Slacker’s classic rock station, so don’t expect much variety here)
1. “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney and Wings – I’m no basher of Macca’s Wings stuff, but I can’t help but wonder how much better it would be if he put as much effort into it as he did this song.
2. “In the City” by Eagles – Damn, Joe Walsh brings it here. Perfect ending to the classic movie The Warriors.
3. “Suffragette City” by David Bowie – Wham bam indeed.
4. “Touch Me” by the Doors – Stronger than dirt! By the way, the recent Doors remasters are superb. That’s how it should be done.
5. “Hold Me” by Fleetwood Mac – Well that’s a neat back-to-back track selection.
Anonymous
“1941” by Harry Nilsson from Pandemonium Shadow Show (1967)
“Escape Maps” by Zoey Van Goey from Propeller Versus Wings (2011)
“Warm Leatherette” by Grace Jones from Warm Leatherette (1980)
“I Can’t Do Anything” by X-Ray Spex from Germ Free Adolescents (1978)
“Bonne Chance Asshole” by Des Ark from Don’t Rock the Boat, Sink the Fucker (2011)
Mike Duquette
1. “Triple Double,” Girl Talk – I’m surprised as always how energetic and unusual Gregg Gillis makes his albums sound. I can forgive the “Whip My Hair” sample thanks to samples of “Paint It Black” and Joe Jackson’s “Steppin’ Out.”
2. “Never Gonna Leave This Bed,” Maroon 5 – still a bit sore that this album kind of stiffed. It was a vast improvement over the last one, and Mutt Lange was a perfect fit producing these guys.
3. “Sheila Take a Bow,” The Smiths – one of my favorite bands, and one that got better as the years went on. Maybe it’s best that they split; they were getting hard to top on the singles front.
4. “Clock Strikes Ten (Live at Budokan),” Cheap Trick – why did I always think this song was longer? No clue, but still one of my favorite live albums.
Michael Parr
I need to go back and listen to that Maroon 5 record again. I agree that Mutt Lange was a perfect fit, but feel like he might have stifled the band a bit.
Mike
Wow…totally disagree with the Mikes here (aren’t we all supposed to present a united front? I suck). I thought “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long” was a great album, and “Hands All Over” was a crushing disappointment. Even the songs I liked back then, I’m finding that I don’t like so much.
dtenero
James Maddock-Dumbed Down
A touching ode to the boob tube.
Mingo Fishtrap-Jangle When I Walk
Cool funky stuff from Austin and a great band to catch live.
Sid Selvidge & Amy Spence-Catch The Wind
Wonderful cover of the Donovan classic.
The Stone Coyotes-Ship Of Fools
Nice workout from this Massachusetts power trio.
SSJ & the Jukes with Gary US Bonds-Umbrella In My Drink
…”these old bones sure love that natural steam heat…”amen
Mindy
1. Josh Ritter – Girl in the War
2. Ray LaMontagne – You Can Bring Me Flowers
3. Kelly Clarkson – Where is your Heart
4. The Ramones – We Want the Airwaves
5. Pink – Sober
Amy Petty
God – Tori Amos
Classic. 9/8. Right on.
Shimmer – Shawn Mullins
Gah, I love this song.
Give It All Up – The Corrs
Well, at least they’re pretty.
She Don’t Use Jelly – The Flaming Lips
This song played every morning between 7 and 8am on 89X in Detroit in 1995. God bless them for making my commute to school bearable.
It’s Not True – William Fitzsimmons
Can I please just say that I was friends with William before all you posers were? True story: Starting in 2006, we had regular myspace communication. He loved my early version of July. We talked about doing a show or two together. Then Ingrid Michaelson came along and stole him from me. Don’t you just hate her?
Michael Parr
“Well, at least they’re pretty.”
Have I told you recently how awesome you are?
Pete
1. “Be Good” – Carbon/Silicon | the group comprised of Mick Jones (Clash) and Tony James
2. “Ask Me Why” – The Beatles – from ‘Please Please Me’
3. “Red Eyed and Blue” – Wilco from ‘American Stars & Bars’
4. “The Show” – Doug E. Fresh w/ the NPG – from a Prince boot called ‘Late Night Shows, Vol. 1’. The Prince / Doug E. Fresh connection has always puzzled me.
5. “Animal” – Against Me – from ‘New Wave’
Oh and 6 is “Bob George”!!
Michael Parr
That skinny motherfucker with the high voice? Dayum.
Zack Stiegler
Bob? Ain’t that a bitch?
Anonymous
On my shuffle:
1) Florence and the Machine – Dog Days are Over
2) The Alarm – Sold Me Down the River
3) Survivor – Desperate Dreams
4) Bad English – Tough Times Don’t Last
5) Gloria Estefan – I See Your Smile
EightE1
One girl, lost in a reverie
Lost love, found in a memory
Those nights live on forever …
Ain’t that the truth? Ah, Kristi, I’m filled with the spirit now. Thank you …
Bill C
Like A Rolling Stone-Bob Dylan live in New York 11/19/01-Great version. I probably have 50 versions of this song, but I really like this one.
Mammy Blue-Ian Lloyd and The Stories-Traveling Underground. From the band that bought you “Louie.” I have 3-4 of their CDs, mainly because I was able to pick them up for a couple of bucks each. Very listenable, very forgettable.
We Can Get Wild-Mark Knopfler-Kill to Get Crimson. I love Mark Knopfler, but his solo work has all begun to run together. Very pleasant songs, but they all seem to sound alike.
Don’t You Know It-Lovin’ Spoonful-Live at Hotel Seville. I am a huge John Sebastian fan. A couple of years ago I saw an ad for two live Lovin’ Spoonful albums. I bought them, stupidly thinking he would be on them. He is not. This is a couple of original members and a female singer. It is awful.
Sweet Lorraine-Frank Sinatra from The Reprise Collection. Ahh, a beautiful way to end the Five on an 80 degree winter day. Life is good.
Mike
Hello, there!
1) “U Ain’t Fresh” by DJ Quik feat. Erick Sermon
Textbook case of a rapper dissing another rapper (in this case, Dr. Dre) and then turning around and working with him. Pound for pound, though, Quik’s a better producer than Dre is.
2) “The (Shipped) Gold Standard” by Fall Out Boy
With FOB broken up and Stumpy on his own, I think the only thing I’ll really miss after Patrick’s solo album comes out is the unbelievably goofy song titles.
3) “All About U” by 2Pac feat. Nate Dogg
“All Eyez on Me”=most overrated rap album ever. “Life After Death” crushed this record qualitatively.
4) “Sandcastle Disco” by Solange Knowles
If Beyonce and Janelle Monae gave birth to a baby and it was mixed in a blender with “Lady Killer”-era Cee-Lo Green, the baby would probably sound something like Beyonce’s little sister Solange. In an ideal world, she’d be selling millions while Beyonce lived off the less-talented sister fumes.
5) “Dodo” by Dave Matthews
I’d forgotten how good “Some Devil” was. While I definitely questioned the logic of Dave doing a solo album, this has held up very well, and “Dodo” is my favorite song from it.
Michael Parr
“So Damn Lucky” and “Stay or Leave” are brilliant as performed with DMB. I actually dig most of the tunes on Some Devil and hope Dave and Trey find time to collaborate again. “The (Shipped) Gold Standard”is one of my favorites from Folie à Deux. I’m hoping that without Wentz, Stump can bring the same quirky pop.
Shannon J
“Here I Come”, The Roots, from Game Theory. I admit to not knowing as much about the Roots as I probably should, but I love this song. And, it is one of my favorites for running.
“40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)”, Bob Schneider, from Lovely Creatures. “You’re the color of the colored part of the Wizard Oz movie…” Great lyrics. The guy should be more popular than he is.
“Bus Station”, Dave Alvin, from King of California. Haven’t heard this one in a long time. Classic album.
“I’ll Be Back”, The Beatles, from A Hard Day’s Night. It’s tough to pick one Beatles song that has the best harmonies, but I’d say this one is right up there.
“Railroad Blues”, Beastie Boys, from Beastie Boys Anthology. This has them breaking out of their genre – good for them, but…ho-hum.
It’s a beautiful Friday here!
dslifton
The Promised Land – Bruce Springsteen (DC, 11-12-07)
Get Out Of My Life, Woman – Lee Dorsey
Long Time – Buddy & Julie Miller
Uneasy Street – Pete Townshend
I’ll Come Knockin’ – Lyle Lovett
EightE1
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, “Save It for Sunday.” From the forthcoming record — maybe his best stuff yet.
Sloan, “If I Could Change Your Mind.” Power pop in excelsis deo.
My Morning Jacket, “Two Halves.” I know folks who didn’t like Evil Urges, but I quite dug it. Good stuff.
Sly & the Family Stone, “Sing a Simple Song.” Sampled by the Beasties and others, there ain’t nothin’ like the original. Stand! I say.
Black Label Society, “Suicide Messiah.” My favorite BLS track. Sounds like it was recorded in some underground bunker. Zakk rules.
Marc
Hi, I’m new here. Nice site! Here’s my shuffle:
1. “Secret Signals” by The Intelligence (from Deuteronomy, 2007).
2. “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)” by Chic (from Chic, 1977)
3. “September Fifteenth” by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays (from As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, 1980)
4. “Green River” by Real Estate (from Real Estate, 2009)
5. “No More Runnin” by Animal Collective (from Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)
Pete
Thanks for stopping by and dropping your 5, Marc!
Anonymous
It’s not Friday, but I wanna play:
1. Don’t Let a Thief Steal Into Your Heart- Richard and Linda Thompson
2. Mrs. Peel- The Cretones
3. Kitty’s Back- Bruce Springsteen
4. The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch- Brian Eno
5. Strange Feelin’- Tim Buckley
judd6149
A very Sunday version of the FriveDay.
1. Somewhere in Ohio – The Jayhawks. Quite possibly the first alt-country band that I turned-on to. The harmonies grabbed me and then I went digging through their influences. A good thing that ended too soon.
2. Penthouse Eyes – ZZ Top. More raunchy, riffs and 3rd rate lyrics to to roust along to. Would you expect anything less – or more? Nope, and that’s they way it should be.
3. Two More Bottles of Wine – Emmylou Harris. A nice uptempo ditty from Emmylou. Best heard driving a pick-up truck with the window open on a summer day after just spending time in the old swimmin’ hole.
4. Dixie-Lullaby – Leon Russell. Leon was high on the boil on this self-title album. Dixie swings hard to and fro with southern redneck soul.
5. Fire & Brimstone – Link Wray. This track is a gut-bucket, foot stomper that you could toot a jug to. This album, “Three Track Shack” is one of the best hidden gems you will ever come across. This song kills.