Ickmusic’s Friday Five: December 26, 2008
Welcome to the final week of our “Holiday Edition” of the Friday Five!
As we wind down to the New Year the last four editions of the Friday Five will be shuffled from my vast collection of Holiday music. I encourage everyone to play along and spin up some holiday cheer. With the holiday season being short and the duress of the current economic climate being ever present we could all use a little lift in spirits.
For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. The Pogues – Fairytale of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl) (from The Best Christmas Album in the World… Ever!)
As I mentioned in last weeks post, this stands as my favorite modern era non-traditional Chirstmas song period. The gritty tale of two junkies sleeping it off in the drunk tank on Christmas Eve somehow manages to be uplifting and is in all regards timeless.
2. Hall & Oates – Jingle Bell Rock (mp3) (from Classic Soft Rock Christmas)
This kitschy reading of the Bobby Helms classic is on the verge of crossing over into Mellowmas territory but manages to stay the course just enough to be a true holiday classic.
3. Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschannel – Baby It’s Cold Outside (mp3) (from Elf)
From the best Christmas movie since Miracle on 34th Street, this was (for me) the first time I heard the lovely voice of Zooey Deschannel. Paired here with the enigmatic Leon Redbone, the pair put a jazz-ed up spin on the Frank Loesser classic. It’s not a holiday season until I sit and watch this movie with my family.
4. Jimmy Eat World – Last Christmas (from Last Christmas)
A bright and breezy take on the 80’s classic.
5. Dean Martin – Winter Wonderland (from Christmas With Dino)
And to play us out of the holiday season in the last Friday Five of the year it’s out favorite Rat Pack member here to croon us out into 2009.
Thanks to all the Fivers out there for playing along this year. For the last time this year, what’s coming up on your shuffle?
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: December 19, 2008
Welcome to week three of our “Holiday Edition” of the Friday Five!
As we wind down to the New Year the last four editions of the Friday Five will be shuffled from my vast collection of Holiday music. I encourage everyone to play along and spin up some holiday cheer. With the holiday season being short and the duress of the current economic climate being ever present we could all use a little lift in spirits.
For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. Bing Crosby – God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (from Merry Christmas)
Salvation! Satan! Scorn! Way to bring the Christmas cheer Bing!
2. Bing Crosby & David Bowie – Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy (mp3) (from Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy)
More Bing! The “poor relations from the states” and “The Thin White Duke” take on the holiday classic. The track was originally recorded for Crosby’s 1977 television special. Interesting factoid from wikipedia:
According to co-writer Ian Fraser, Bowie balked at singing “Little Drummer Boy”. “I hate this song. Is there something else I could sing?” Fraser recalls Bowie telling him. Fraser, along with songwriter Larry Grossman and the special’s scriptwriter, Buz Kohan, then wrote “Peace on Earth” as a counterpoint to “Little Drummer Boy”. Crosby performed “Little Drummer Boy”, while Bowie sang the new tune “Peace on Earth”.
Bowie? A diva? Who’d have known?
3. Dean Martin – I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (from Christmas With Dino)
Here’s Dino back again to give the ladies a little something.
4. Bing Crosby – It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas (from Merry Christmas)
Looking out my window at the snow that is currently blanketing the greater tri-state area, I’d say ol’ Bing is about right.
5. The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping (mp3) (from The Best Christmas Album in the World… Ever!)
This and The Pouges “Fairytale of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl)” are two of my favorite non-traditional holday tunes. Hell outside of the fact that they mention Christmas in the song they barely qualify but both contain such cool storytelling.
It’s almost Christmas, have you been naughty or nice?
A Truly Beautiful Mess
From the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway. This is quite possibly one of my favorite songs of 2008 let alone Jason Mraz‘s catalog. The power of the vocal performance combined with the orchestra provided for the perfect combination.
Buy We Sing, We Dance. We Steal Things Expanded Edition (2 CD/DVD): Amazon | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: December 12, 2008
Welcome to week two of our “Holiday Edition” of the Friday Five!
As we wind down to the New Year the last four editions of the Friday Five will be shuffled from my vast collection of Holiday music. I encourage everyone to play along and spin up some holiday cheer. With the holiday season being short and the duress of the current economic climate being ever present we could all use a little lift in spirits.
For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime (from The Best Christmas Album in the World… Ever!)
I can’t really say why I like this tune so very much, but it is among my favorite contemporary holiday songs.
2. U2 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (from A Very Special Christmas)
Does anyone else remember the video for this one?
This is a traditional Irish Christmas song? Um, last I checked Phil Spector was from the Bronx and Darlene Love from California. And seriously, could The Edge look any more annoyed? Regardless this stands as Top 5 list material… I truly love this song.
3. Bobby Helms – Jingle Bell Rock (mp3) (from Rockin’ Little Christmas)
Nothing beats the original.
4. Run-D.M.C. – Christmas in Hollis (from A Very Special Christmas)
“It’s Christmastime in Hollis Queens, Moms cooking chicken and collard greens, rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese, and Santa puts gifts under Christmas trees…”
An ’80s classic! To this day I can rock this a cappella on demand.
5. Meco – R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas (mp3) (from Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album)
I’ve made no attempt to cover my geekdom here; yes this is a Star Wars Christmas record. Yes I’ve owned not one, but multiple copies of this record over the years and it is as much a part of my holiday tradition as trimming the tree. And since I’m sharing, yes I have not one, but two Millennium Falcon ornaments along with an R2-D2. And in the spirit of giving I’m sharing this holiday classic with all of you. And yes, the lead vocal is a young John Bongiovi, Jr. Enjoy!
What’s helping you count down the days until Santa pulls his sleigh?
Save Three Sheets!
While this is decidedly not music related I’m a firm believer that you should support the media that entertains you most, especially in a time where networks and labels are increasingly fickle and unwilling to stand behind even a quality product. One such product is the series Three Sheets. Sure, on the surface it’s a show about a guy running around the world and drinking his arse off. And yes there is even a play at home drinking game (peep the rules) but more than that it is like spending thirty minutes with your best buddy (who’s name is Zane Lamprey, in case you are wondering) as he tells you about all the crazy shit he’s gotten up to. In short it’s a quality program.
So why do we need to ‘save’ Three Sheets?
Well, it would seem that MOJO HD, the cable company that has served the show up the last three seasons, closed it’s doors on December 1st and well, that leaves Zane (and Pleepleus) without a home. The fourth season of the show has already been filmed and all the show needs is to be picked up by another network. Long story short there are a few ways to show the networks that Three Sheets is worth saving. You can obviously write to the few stations that Three Sheets logically fits into (Spike, Comedy Central, Food Network, Travel Channel, Discovery) or you can join Zane at one of the rallies being held next week. For more information on the rallies (I’m fairly certain that the wife and I will be in attendance on the 18th) click here (Zane Lamprey’s official site).
And if you are still with me, here is one of my (many) favorite episodes:
And you can catch every other episode to date on Hulu.
Well, It’s Not a Box This Time…
An instant classic from The Lonely Island crew. The Lonely Island is Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone also known as the team behind the SNL Digital Shorts that have become beacons of funny in a sea of mediocre (save for this year). The team is is releasing thier debut record INCREDIBAD on February 10th.
Links: Official Site
A Nudge in the Right Direction
It’s been awhile since we shared what’s popping up on our readers…
- The 25 Days of Mellowmas kicked off over at Popdose this week complete with an original theme song composed and performed by Alan O’Day. (Somewhere Alan Thicke is calling his management to contact Jeff and Jason for next year.)
- Radio Exile provides an official timeline to the whole Satriani vs. Coldplay debacle. (Because C, D, G, Em is clearly the most obscure chord progression ever.)
- It would appear that both Fleetwood Mac and The Faces are both headed out on the road in 2009. (Paging Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers…)
- Finally, it would appear Prince has lured yet another young lady into his life with the promise of a record release. (Can someone have Támar‘s people call Bria‘s people to start the intervention now?)
Enjoy!
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: December 5, 2008
Welcome to the first week of our “Holiday Edition” of the Friday Five!
As we wind down to the New Year the last four editions of the Friday Five will be shuffled from my vast collection of Holiday music. I encourage everyone to play along and spin up some holiday cheer. With the holiday season being short and the duress of the current economic climate being ever present we could all use a little lift in spirits.
For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. The Jackson 5 – Up on the Housetop (from Now That’s What I Call Christmas, Volume 3)
My wife and I were discussing the irony of the bevy of Jackson-related holiday tunes just the other day. I do love this track though.
2. Chuck Berry – Merry Christmas Baby (mp3) (from Rockin’ Little Christmas)
As much as I dig this track, “Run Run Rudolph” is far superior. I will say, however, that Springsteen‘s cover of this is on my “Top 10 Recent Christmas Songs”.
3. Vince Guaraldi Trio – Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental) (from A Charlie Brown Christmas)
Nothing captures the holiday ‘feel’ better than the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas.
4. Andy Williams – It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (from Now That’s What I Call Christmas, Volume 3)
I realize it’s the pangs of nostalgia that endear these tunes to our collective conscious but some of these songs are so earnest and true that it’s hard to deny their timelessness.
5. Dean Martin – Baby It’s Cold Outside (mp3) (from Christmas With Dino)
Dean Martin was one smooth motherf**ker. Proof positive is the cover of the record that this classic is originally from A Winter Romance where we see a picture of Deano holding a lovely young lady while throwing the “how you doin'” look to another philly nearby. You can clearly deduce that he’s bringing both of these birds back to his chalet for martinis and a three way romp.
Now it’s your turn, what’s getting you in the holiday spirit?
No, Really… It’s Me
The marketing machine behind Lily Allen‘s new record It’s Not Me, It’s You, due out February ’09, is in full swing and it’s certainly got my attention. Her video for the first single “The Fear” puts the foul mouthed popster in an Alice in Wonderland world complete with living presents and balloon festooned dancers.
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
Christmas at the Gap
Yes it’s crass commercialism at best but I’ll be damned if this years Gap holiday campaign isn’t brilliant. It’s funny, catchy and doesn’t necesarily beat you over the head with the merchandise. Rainn Wilson and Selma Blair turn in a topsy-turvy take on the Frank Loesser classic “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”. It’s definitely kick started my late blooming holiday spirit. You can catch the rest featuring The Dixie Chicks, Janelle Monáe, Jon Heder and many more at the Gap site, but here’s my favorite…