The Friday Five: November 11, 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:
“God Is Love” by Marvin Gaye (from What’s Going On, 1971)
A simple prayer, rife with the soul of the record.
“The Wicker Man” by Iron Maiden (from From Fear to Eternity: The Best of 1990-2010, 2011)
The lead-off single from Maiden’s triumphant return to form in 2000. The triple threat of Murray, Gers and Smith is in full churn here, with Smith burning through a killer solo. I recall the trepidation with which I approached listening to a new Iron Maiden tune at that point, and the surprise when it was as strong as this.
“Cherish the Day” by Sade (from The Ultimate Collection, 2011)
I’m going to just sit back and enjoy this one.
“Never Land (a Fragment)” by The Sisters of Mercy (from Floodland, 1987)
They weren’t kidding when they said “a Fragment.” This is, at best, an incomplete thought.
“Blue Flame” by Joe Jackson Band (from Volume 4, 2003)
It occurred to me while this tune played just how much Ben Folds copped Jackson’s shtick. I’m not sure why it never dawned on me before this. Maybe this is why I hold Folds in such contempt.
What’s on your shuffle today?
20 Comments
dslifton
“Only You Know And I Know” – Dave Mason. Sometimes I’m not sure if Mason is an underrated artist or a guy who happened to be at the right place at the right time. This is a great song, though.
“Live It Up” – Chris Isaak. The lone original from his new collection of Sun and post-Sun songs, and the only one that captures the raw excitement of those early records.
“Handshake Drugs” – Wilco (Columbia, MD 9-25-11). I’m not a fan of A Ghost Is Born in general, and this song’s obtuseness is one of the reasons why. But Nels Cline’s solo at this concert was mindblowing.
“Trust” – The Generationals. An e-Music Daily Download I got a year ago. Pretty cool garage rock.
“Song About Rocks Off” – The Loud Family. Eh, not my favorite Scott Miller song.
Dennis Corrigan
Handshake Drugs is a phenomenal showcase for Cline. Yeah, it’s obtuse, but it’s in my top 5 have Wilco songs
Phil
Crunchy – “Jerk Store” (All Day Sucker, 2001)
Fun power pop from the debut album of Monty Colvin’s first post-Galactic Cowboys project. Low, distorted bass, catchy chorus, great harmony vocals, and it’s based on a George Costanza joke. Nice.
Rush – “The Weapon” (Signals, 1982)
Well it looks like Rush is here to stay for my Friday Fives, and you know what? I’m OK with that. I’ve really grown to love Signals over the years despite it being instrumental in ushering in Rush’s more-synths-less-guitar period. “The Weapon” is one of the high points on the album.
I Mother Earth – “Hello Dave!”/”Like a Girl” (Scenery and Fish, 1996)
I’m cheating again. “Hello Dave!” is the 48-second nonsensical album opener from I Mother Earth’s second release, so I included the track that follows it as well. I Mother Earth can be an acquired taste at times, and “Like a Girl” is no exception. It continues the heavily percussion-based funky grooves found on their excellent debut Dig, but they dropped some of the Latin flair and jam-band attitude and added a more post-grunge alternative feel. Unfortunately, vocalist Edwin left the group after this album, and I Mother Earth seemed to continue to struggle to find its sound, changing styles from album to album. Their releases can sometimes be fairly hard to come by at a good price in decent condition, making it difficult to check this band out if you’ve never heard them before.
Galactic Cowboys – “The Buzz (coughing)” (The Horse That Bud Bought, 1997)
“The Buzz” contains none of the progressive leanings or quirky sense of humor present in other Galactic Cowboys tunes. Short and sweet (clocking in at only 1:26), this is straight-ahead, heavy, aggressive metal.
Geoff Tate – “Every Move We Make” (Geoff Tate, 2002)
What’s the deal with iTunes shuffle?! How does it repeatedly decide to pick songs from the same albums week after week? Anyway, here’s a low-key, laid-back, soft-groove tune from the Queensrÿche frontman’s solo disc, although I think it’s a better song than last week’s pick by iTunes.
Michael Parr
More Rush? I swear, Phil, you must have an insane collection of Rush in your library!
Phil
I think I have just about everything they’ve ever released with the exception of the new tracks on the Caravan single and all of the various live discs and classic/hits/retrospective things they’ve done in the last 10 years or so. Love them as I do, I just don’t see the point in buying yet another live version of “Tom Sawyer” or “Limelight.”
Anonymous
Because I’m already working on a post for Popdose about my favorite albums of 2011, I’ve loaded up the MP3 player only with music released this year so that I can listen to everything again.
“Midnight City” by M83 from Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (2011). I just got this record, but I’m already getting tired of this song because of its use in a Victoria’s Secret commercial. That said, this is a great album.
“Inn of the Seventh Ray” by Eleanor Friedberger from Last Summer (2011). This record may very well end up on my “best of” list. I’ve always loved Eleanor’s voice and every song on this album makes me happy, this song in particular.
“Doomsday” by Tristen from Charlatans at the Gate (2011). Tristen is a recent discovery of mine and she is fantastic. I’ve seen her live a couple of times this year and she’s such a dynamic, energetic perfomer. And she’s cute as hell. Definitely check her out.
“Virtual Boyfriend” by Poly Styrene from Generation Indigo (2011). If you read my tribute to Poly Styrene on Popdose after her untimely death earlier this year, you know how much she and her music mean to me. Listening to this album now is bittersweet, but I still love it to pieces.
“The Valley” by Okkervil River from I Am Very Far (2011). I got to see Okkervil River live for the first time at this year’s MidPoint Music Festival and they absolutely blew me away. I haven’t been that taken by a band’s live performance in a really long time. Their latest album is amazing and will definitely show up on my “best of” list.
Michael Parr
I love that M83 record. I’m thinking I’m glad that I don’t watch enough TV to be annoyed my its inclusion in a commercial.
IanLozada
1. “You Know My Name”, Chris Cornell. Totally underrated Bond theme song.
2. “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Queen & The Muppets. I blame my children.
3. “Devil’s Dance Floor”, Flogging Molly. This version, from Live At The Greek, can’t hold a candle to the far better version on Whiskey On A Sunday.
4. “Bernadette”, The Four Tops. Simply my favorite bass line ever. James Jamerson brings it.
5. “Sweet Painted Lady”, Elton John. Can’t say this one was ever one of my favorites.
Mike
1) “Beautiful Thing” by Tevin Campbell: An incredible vocalist who should’ve had a great career. Unfortunately, once he grew up and the R&B audience realized he was a flamer (and then he got busted in a George Michael-esque situation), his career ended. A comeback was rumored at some point, but has yet to come to fruition. Too bad.
2) “The End of the World” by Pet Shop Boys: No one sounds bored better than Neil Tennant. Not even Rihanna.
3) “Spend the Night in Your Mind” by Cee-Lo: Probably the song from either of Cee-Lo’s first two solo albums that sounds most like it would fit on Cee-Lo’s latest album.
4) “Like to Get to Know You Well” by Howard Jones: Why don’t I remember this song being a hit?
5) “Desperate But Not Serious” by Adam Ant: My iPod <3s the '80s!!
Have a great weekend, everyone.
Dennis Corrigan
Pet Shop Boys are one of my musical guilty pleasures
Mike
Nothing guilty about those two!
Anonymous
I may never be able to top this batch of Friday Five tunes …
1) Keb Mo — “Last Fair Deal Gone Down” (Just Like You, 1996).
2) Miles Davis — “All Blues” (Kind Of Blue, 1959).
3) Luther Allison — “Bad Love” (Live In Chicago, 1999).
4) Lauryn Hill — “When It Hurts So Bad” (The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, 1998).
5) Prince — “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night” (Sign O’ The Times, 1987).
Michael Parr
I just listened to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill this week. I completely forgot how amazing that record is, which then made me sad that she has yet to follow it up with anything worthwhile.
Mike
…and never will. I think that ship has sailed.
Anonymous
Agree with both of you. Miseducation is a great record but that unplugged/acoustic follow-up was lame.
EightE1
Down at the beach. Drunk. It’s all good. Oh, iPod, speak to me …
Beck, “Paper Tiger” from Sea Change.
Fleet Foxes, “Grown Ocean” from Helplessness Blues.
Robert Plant, “Darkness Darkness” from Dreamland.
John Mayer, “Something’s Missing” from Heavier Things.
Kelly Clarkson, “Einstein” from Stronger.
Michael Parr
Livin’ the dream, Mr. Smith. I’ll raise a brew in your honor tonight.
Mike Duquette
Capping a ridiculous week, like “if I ever see a week like this again, I’ll kick its ass thoroughly” kind of week.
1. Ben Folds Five, “Video”: One of my favorite tracks from BFF’s debut album and one that’s the most indicative of their sound, all that fuzz bass and throaty background vocals. The lyrics are obtuse as they come (Ben wrote this maybe seven years before BFF recorded it, so youth’s to blame), but it’s such a nice melody.
2. Ben Folds, “Give Judy My Notice”: My Five’s out to get you, Michael! Another beautiful melody with a wrenching lyric that hits a bit closer to home than I’d like. (This is the version from the Speed Graphic EP, just Ben and his piano. I love the pedal steel and layered vocals on the version from “Songs for Silverman,” but I hate that they shortened some of the lyrics. It lost some punch, in my eyes.)
3. Bonnie Tyler, “Holding Out for a Hero”: Of all the hits from “Footloose,” this is the one I’ve never understood. It maintains this ridiculous cult following even among twentysomethings like me, but it’s so very overwrought. (What would you expect from Jim Steinman, if not infinite piano glissandos?)
4. Weezer, “Mykel and Carli”: One of my favorite Weezer B-sides, far and away.
5. ZZ Top, “Pearl Necklace”: Billy Gibbons, that sweetheart, buying jewelry for his girl…right? Oh…er…uh…I’m just going to leave this one here.
Michael Parr
Ha! Apparently I pissed off your shuffle.
Dennis Corrigan
Relaxing at home for the first time this month (although on some of those I was having fun hanging out with some of you), so I grabbed my drink and spun my five:
1. “So This Is Love” by Van Halen from Fair Warning. And we are off! While growing up on Army bases overseas, my buddies and I swore that German vinyl was far superior than good old US vinyl. It seemed to be heavier weight. Recorded this off a German pressing bought way back in the day. Could be my favorite VH record.
2. “Beneath The Southern Cross” by Patti Smith from Land. And just as quickly the Five stops down. I go back and forth with her.
3. “Short Haired Woman” by Lightnin’ Hopkins from Mojo Hand: The Lightnin’ Hopkins Anthology. We’re all over the map tonight. “I don’t want no woman if her hair ain’t no longer than mine”. Some of you all have seen me, it doesn’t take much…
4. “Froggie Went A Courtin'” by Burce Springsteen and The Seeger Sessions Band from their self-titled record. This version’s great, but I’d highly recommend Dan Zanes’ version titled “King Kong Kitchie” on Rocket Ship Beach. (we listened to that a lot when the kids were younger). Bruce’s most avowedly song for kids, “Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips”, is a keeper and will be all too familiar to those of us with picky eaters.
(pardon the interruption for this rant, but my iTunes decided to crash in the middle of that last one. Apple’s made it more impossible to not use iTunes with all the wireless iPhone syncing, AppleTV etc, but that doesn’t mean I don’t hate it with a f-ing passion)
5. “Too Much Ain’t Enough” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers originally from You’re Gonna Get It! this one from Playback, the Tom Petty box set. I think the reason I don’t have a lot of 90’s releases is that I was spending my cash on box sets and reissues.
There you have. Hope you hear or see something great this weekend!