Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down…

Spring has finally sprung this week in New England and in a twist of fate it’s pouring outside (it’s been beautiful all week). I guess Meatloaf was right when he sang “two out of three ain’t bad” because it’s Friday and I’ve got The Five to keep me company while waiting out the rain. Last week’s Five was positively on fire! The familiar Fivers Club all showed up en masse and we had quite a few new and welcome additions to the group. For the first timers here’s how we get down… I hit shuffle in iTunes and share the first five random tracks that pop up with some insight and thoughts on the track, then it’s your turn!

Here are this week’s tracks:

1. G. Love & Special Sauce – Baby’s Got Sauce (from G. Love & Special Sauce)

This is definitely in my “All Time Top 5” list for most ridiculously sweet and perfect love songs.

2. Biffy Clyro – Umbrella  (from Radio 1’s Live Lounge, Volume 2)

While by in large an unremarkable version, this is a testament to the power of a well written pop song.

3. The Brian Setzer Orchestra – Sleepwalk (from The Dirty Boogie)

Again, the power of a beautiful melody can transcend time, fashion and fads. The arrangement here deserves a special nod for the fact that it takes liberty with the simplicity by adding the full horn section to Brian Setzer’s blazing fret work.

4. Prince – How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore (from Girl 6)

This tune never did much for me in any recorded version. It was not until I heard it live that it really stuck.

5. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Lenny (from Texas Flood)

The story goes like this, Stevie’s wife Lenora scraped together the $350 needed to purchase a 1965 Stratocaster that had caught his eye in a pawn shop months earlier. She presented it to him for his birthday and that night as she slept Stevie wrote “Lenny”. Lenora remembers “He was sitting on the edge of the bed and said, ‘Listen to this.’” He proceeded to play his tribute to his loving wife “Lenny”.

How are you ringing in the weekend?

For most people, Friday’s just the day before the weekend. But after this Friday, the neighborhood’ll never be the same.

It was back to the daily grind this week (day job, well, during the day and Mr. Home-Improvement-Man in the evening) and that means the tunes have been going nearly non-stop. The wife and I decided that we’re taking this weekend easy, despite the unfinished project so I’m psyched to push play on this weeks Five. Last week we missed a few of the faithful fivers but had a few new friends to play along. For the first timers, here’s the deal… I hit the shuffle button and share the first five tracks along with thoughts, quips and memories.

Then it’s your turn!

Here are this week’s tracks:

1. Keith Urban – Days Go By (from Days Go By)

While I’m not much for the stuff they call “Country Music” these days I make exception for guys like Keith Urban and Brad Paisley. Both bring a bit more rock to the table then most of their pop-driven peers not to mention that both are wickedly good guitarists.

2. Tool – Prison Sex (from Undertow)

Have you ever tried to explain Tool to someone? It’s nearly impossible to define them. Art-Rock? Progressive-Metal? Disturbing? I haven’t a clue. What I do know is that I’ve faithfully purchased every single thing that they have released in their 15+ year tenure as one of the most indefinable bands of the last decade and enjoyed every moment thoroughly.

3. Prince – La, La, La Means I Love U (from Emancipation)

Can we take a minute here to acknowledge the fact that Prince has pretty much managed to set the bar for all future Cochella headliners straight into the stratosphere? Aside from the sensational take on Radiohead’s “Creep”, the man delivered a solid performance that could sell out a stadium on its own.

4. Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams (from Greatest Hits: Rock ‘n Soul, Part 1)

I’ve got a wicked soft spot in my heart for the blue-eyed soul of Daryl Hall and John Oates.

5. Chet Baker – When Lights Are Low (from Chet Baker in New York)

And a beautiful and romantic tune to take us into the weekend.

Okay, it’s your turn, what’s knocking you the f**k out?!?

While I’m doing my best Tim Allen impression (the TV version, not the reality version) I’m again going to have to phone in the very late edition of the Friday Five.

As I had mentioned last week I’m in the midst of a home remodeling project and have had the tunes on non-stop to get me through the trying experiences of being a non-handy type being handy. That said, here’s what came up the most during the last 7 days of home ownership bliss. Last week the Fivers played along with the playlist theme and no one seemed to have a single tune with improvement in the title (yours truly included). We’ll do more themed weeks in the coming months and perhaps a guest feature or two! Due to the lack of time, this week will be an all-video edition but never fear, we’ll be back to the random MP3 format next week.

Now, on with the show!

Here are this week’s tracks:

1. Jason Mraz – I’m Yours (from We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things)

I’ve made my no secret of appreciation for Mr. A-Z, and this tune in particular happens to have a wonderful video that reminds me very much of my Honeymoon in Hawaii. This has been in heavy rotation for weeks and I think that everyone should get his new record when it comes out May 13th.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A 336 278]

2. Beastie Boys – Shadrach (from Paul’s Boutique)

Aside from being a damn funky record, this is one of my default ‘working’ albums.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFolUn88q-o 336 278]

3. Rolling Stones – Paint it Black (from Forty Licks)

Apparently this is my son’s favorite song as he’s played it on his iPod 20 times in the last few weeks and so it worked it’s way into my playlists more often as well. It could be worse, he could be listening to Miley Cyrus.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLFGLHIfVTU 336 278]

4. Pearl Jam – Black (from Ten)

Another one of my default ‘working’ records. Even over 15 years later it stands as one of the best records I’ve ever heard.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFVlJAi3Cso 336 278]

5. Billy Joel – A Matter of Trust (from The Bridge)

Billy came up a whole lot this week for some reason. I don’t know why… this has always been one of my favorites.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx53c_6h-W4 336 278]

Now it’s your turn, what’s helping keep you sane?