The Friday Five: March 19, 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.
Editor’s Note: It doesn’t happen often, but I’m actually going to be away from all forms of internet today so I’ve asked my Popdose cohort, Rob Smith, to watch the shop for me today. I’m sure you will all make him feel right at home, and I’ll be back next week! – Michael
The Five:
Huh? Wha? You want me to do what? Lead off this week? Sure, dude. Absolutely. Anytime.
Here goes:
Gowan, “Moonlight Desires.” Cool live version, solo piano. I like this a lot better than the original studio version, with Jon Anderson on guest vocals. Gowan, of course, has been the new Dennis DeYoung in Styx for the last 11 or so years. I know a few Styx fans who can’t stand Gowan, but it’s not like he won a Rock Star: Styx competition to get the gig or anything. He had a solid, though unspectacular career prior to joining the band. I recommend this live record (called Solo Live: No Kilt Tonight) for Gowan’s voice and chops, certainly, but also his humor (he performs a 30-second snippet of Monty Python’s “Lumberjack Song”) and this most excellent ballad.
Escape Club, “Wild Wild West.” Jesus freakin’ Christ, I have Escape Club on my iTunes? Damn that Like, Omigod box set. On the rare occasions I hear this song, I think about doing radio in college, freshman and sophomore years. We had a Top 40 show I’d DJ on occasion, and this one was in the stacks and played pretty much constantly [I also think of Information Society’s “What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy)” when I hear this, cuz both tracks were more or less ubiquitous]. We could play Escape Club once an hour with no complaints from management, but when I tried to squeeze in Thomas Dolby’s “Airhead,” I got in trouble. I did win once, though — I was the first to play Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy,” got yelled at, but was eventually vindicated when it became, oh I don’t know, the Number One song in the country. I had fucking EARS back then, man! But I hate Escape Club. Shit. Next?
Van Halen, “Unchained.” That’s more like it. My fave Van Halen song, whether performed by Roth, Hagar (on the ’04 tour — fucking awesome), or Cherone. I just think the riff is tops — one of the simplest and best Eddie VH ever conjured. Big fail, though — having Wolfie do the “C’mon Dave, give me a break” line on the most recent tour. Roth could eat that kid alive, and on occasion did. You’d think Ed would want to protect his only child from wiseacres like Roth. Perhaps ye olde parental instinct got burned out during one or another evening with the Schlitz Malt Liquor tallboys.
Jonatha Brooke, “Because I Told You.” The gods smile upon me. I love Brooke’s music, particularly the stuff from the Story through maybe ’95 or ’96. This is from her first live record, and it’s a gem. A track from Ten-Cent Wings, arguably her best solo record, the melody gives me chills every time I hear it (only other song to do so consistently: Springsteen’s “Bobbie Jean.” Man, when that sax solo kicks in at the end …). The sorta/kinda middle-eight is particularly beautiful: “You take the wheel for now / I’m too tired to drive this one home anyhow, for now.” Find this if you’ve never heard it — studio version or live. You’re welcome.
John Denver, “Rocky Mountain High.” Fuck you if you think this is wimpy. Just … I don’t want to hear it. It takes a man — a real man, one not afraid to mow his lawn in the nude — to come up with a chorus like this one. “I’ve seen it raining fire in the sky?” Are you kidding me? Fucking great image. I also like the AM radio vibe on this; it doesn’t matter what I hear this song on — computer, earbuds, boombox, or multi-component stereo system — it still sounds like I’m listening to it in my dad’s old Chrysler. The one with the manual transmission, shift on the column. But I don’t want to hear that it’s crap, or wussified pap, or unfit for man or Muppet. Great song. “Friends around the campfire and everybody’s high?” I could go for being around that campfire right about now.
So anyway, now that I’ve defended John Denver by telling you all to fuck yourselves, I suppose that I should ask forgiveness. But really, all I want to know is this: What’s on YOUR shuffle?
The Friday Five: March 12, 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:
“Comin’ Home” by City and Colour (from Sometimes, 2005)
A few weeks ago, I mentioned the songs that find you at the just the right moment in your life; this is another one of those songs. In the mid-aught’s my job had me shuttling back and forth to Toronto, Ontario on a monthly basis. On one hand, I got to know my host city in intimate detail, finding favorite restaurants, pubs — P.J. O’Brien, just in case you are curious — and hidden corners of Canada’s largest city. I was lucky enough to have my wife join me on more than one trip, but more often than not, I was alone and far from home. Around the same time, I discovered singer/songwriter Dallas Green’s City and Colour. I vividly recall listening to the album on one of many flights home and this song coming on, sealing it forever in that time and place.
Well I’ve been down to Georgia
I’ve seen the streets in the West
I’ve driven down the 90, hell I’ve seen America’s best
I’ve been through the Rockies, well I’ve seen Saskatoon
I’ve driven down the highway 1 just hopin’ that I’d see you soonCause I’m comin’ home, I’m comin’ home
“We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles (from Mono Masters, 2009)
If you had asked 13-year old me what my favorite Beatles tune was I surely would have responded with “We Can Work It Out.” These days I find myself gravitating to other, deep catalog tracks to find my favorite, but always come back to this as a great example of the Lennon/McCartney songwriting style. Listening to it now does reaffirm it as one of my Top 10 Beatles songs.
“Misunderstanding” by Genesis (from Turn It On Again: The Hits, 1999)
Somehow I had never put this together, but if you listen to “Misunderstanding” and follow it up with Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain” — which you call may recall is my favorite Zeppelin tune — you’ll notice certain similarities. Not just in its rhythmic swing feel, but lyrically it covers the same ground. Originally written by Phil Collins for his solo debut, Face Value, the track was a real departure from the rest of Duke. It is also one of my favorite Genesis tunes, which is probably somehow related to the whole “Fool in the Rain” thing, odd how that happens.
“Fragile Tension” by Depeche Mode (from Sounds of the Universe, 2009)
Why this is still on my iPod, I am not sure. As much as I dig Depeche Mode, this album was just awful.
“Misery Business” by Paramore (from RIOT!, 2007)
The little subtle things in this song are what make it so damned awesome. Sure, it is an arena-ready rock anthem, on par with some of the greats. The little things, like the half-time drums that build the tension in the second half of the chorus show attention to detail that is rare in a band so young.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: March 5, 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: This week’s Friday Five comes courtesy of the iPod and was listened to in-between taking conference calls. The awesome side-effect was I went into each meeting with a smile as there wasn’t a stinker in the bunch.
“Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money (from Can’t Hold Back, 1986)
“Take Me With U” (feat. Apollonia) by Prince & The Revolution (from Purple Rain, 1984)
“Easy Lover” by Philip Bailey & Phil Collins (from Chinese Wall, 1984)
“Suedehead” by Morrissey (from Viva Hate, 1988)
“The Authority Song” by Jimmy Eat World (from Bleed American, 2001)What’s on your shuffle today?
Editor’s Note, Part Deux: Thanks to Jason Hare for the on the fly proofreading. When you are done with the five, make sure you get your a** over to Popdose for this month’s episode of The Popdose Podcast which is all about a**holes!
The Friday Five: February 26, 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:
“Loom” by Ani DiFranco (from Little Plastic Castles, 1998)
There are songs that define you; coming into your life at the exact right moment in your life, taking up residence next to the memory of that time. This song is one that finds place in a very distinct period in my life. Lyrically it spoke to a relationship that had consumed me in a decidedly unhealthy way. I will admit, I listened to this a second time before moving onto the next song.
“Endless Summer Nights” by Richard Marx (from Richard Marx, 1987)
Nearly a decade earlier, here is nostalgia in a jar. You see, before I grew into the wise old music geek that I am today, I was a young music geek — with an emphasis on the geek. Even at the tender age of 13, I was smitten with the schlock-pop of Marx. Fast-forward some twenty-odd years and I still get that tinge of youthful yearning that hearing this tune brings to mind.
While we’re on the subject, has anyone else heard the Adam Lambert single, “Whataya Want from Me,” and asked themselves, “Hey, does Richard Marx have a new song out?”
“The (Shipped) Gold Standard” by Fall Out Boy (from Folie à Deux, 2008)
I know I have stated it here before, but I dig Fall Out Boy. If you can manage to ignore the gossip-columnist drama of the band, and get past the image, the band has actually cranked out some quality pop music. It certainly does not hurt that Patrick Stump’s voice is golden.
“Bad Habits” by Maxwell (from BLACKsummers’night, 2009)
The lead off track from Maxwell’s triumphant comeback record, BLACKsummers’night; this song starts at a smolder and builds to its soulful climax before breaking it back down to a simmer. It might have taken him eight years to create this record, but it was well worth the wait.
“Don’t Stop ’till You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson (from Off the Wall, 1979)
In all, not a bad way to end this week’s installment of The Five and kick off the weekend. Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with this week!
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: February 19, 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:
“Another Day” by Dream Theater (from Images and Words, 1992)
Oh Dream Theater, how your melodrama seems to haunt the Friday Five. You may recall that this tune reared its ugly head back in October, where I speculated on David Fosters’ involvement in the high gloss production of the power ballad. Upon further research, it turns out that it was producer Jay Beckenstein — of the Smooth Jazz/Fusion group Spyro Gyra — that supplied the soprano saxophone solo. This doesn’t change the fact that this tune is a sappy lump of crap on an otherwise quality record.
“The Best of My Love” by The Eagles (from On the Border, 1974)
I unapologetically will proclaim my love for this song, though. Penned by Henley, Frey and J.D. Souther, this holds some magical nostalgia for me as I can recall listening to this, followed by England Dan & John Ford Coley’s “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” and “She’s Gone” by Hall & Oates in the back seat of my mothers Pontiac.
“Stuck With You” by Huey Lewis & The News (from Fore!, 1986)
Come on, how can you resist?
By the by, Huey and the boys recently spent some time in Ardent Studios in Memphis cutting a new record paying tribute to the Stax catalog.
“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” by Black Sabbath (from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973)
I had nearly given up on this week’s shuffle providing some bite; enter my favorite Sabbath tune. I will admit that my introduction to the song came by way of Anthrax’s faithful cover on their I’m the Man EP. I had heard the tune before, both on Ozzy’s Speak of the Devil and a mix-tape a friend had made me with the original Sabbath version, but it was Anthrax’s take that sold me on the song originally. To this day, I’ll reach for this one when I want to bring the RAWK.
“Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” by Elton John (from The Greatest Hits 1970-2002, 2002)
The Saturday nights of my youth were often spent glued to the radio, listening to the “All-request Saturday Night with Dr. John Barron.” This track would make its weekly appearance and signal the start of the more rock-oriented portion of the evening.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: February 12, 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: Is anyone else feeling like maybe February is going by too quickly? This week’s Friday Five comes courtesy of the iPod, see you back here next week!
“Sebrina, Paste and Plato” by Jellyfish (from Spilt Milk, 1993)
“Time Bomb” by Rancid (from …and Out Comes the Wolves, 1995)
“America’s Suitehearts” by Fall Out Boy (from Folie à Deux, 2009)
“Le Freak” by Chic (from C’est Chic, 1978)
“Girl” by The Beatles (from Rubber Soul, 1965)
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: February 5, 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:
This week’s shuffle served as a soundtrack to what has turned out to be an insanely busy morning; here are the first five tracks to hit my ears. This week’s Five was followed up by Episode 6 of The Popdose Podcast, which I highly recommend everyone making time to listen to.
“Scar Tissue” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (from Californication, 1999)
“Skeletons” by Stevie Wonder (from Characters, 1987)
“Out All Night” by The Pietasters (from Willis, 1997)
“Bleeding” by Flickerstick (from Tarantula, 2003)
“Last” by Nine Inch Nails (from Broken, 1992)
What is playing as your soundtrack today?
The Friday Five: January 29, 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:
“So Into You” by Shudder to Think (from Pony Express Record, 1994)
Bringing post-hardcore though pop colored glasses, Shudder to Think brought something different to the oversaturated, grunge-fueled alternative scene in ’94. A cover of the 1977 hit by Atlanta Rhythm Section, the track is angular and tense; singer Craig Wedren croons in a devilish falsetto taking the track in a darker direction than the original.
“Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen (from 1984, 1984)
Like many burgeoning guitarists of the day, I spent months dissecting the legato tapped intro of this classic. I was convinced that somehow, Eddie Van Halen was in possession of extra digits on each of his hands to be able to play the impressive passage. All this before the tune even kicks off into its school-boy crush inspired shuffle. While many will point to his signature cadenza, “Eruption,” as his finest moment, I have to point to this track as the defining track of the David Lee Roth era.
“Fool in the Rain” by Led Zeppelin (from In Through the Out Door, 1979)
I may have mentioned it here before; I am not a huge Led Zeppelin fan. This is immediately apparent when I say that “Fool in the Rain” — possibly the least “Zeppelin” tune in the band’s oeuvre — is my favorite tune by the band. From the slow shuffle, building up to the samba breakdown and Jimmy Page’s super-processed octave guitar solo, the song has long been on my “desert island” list.
“Pink Cashmere” by Prince (from The Hits/The B-Sides, 1993)
His Purple Badness shows up for a second week in the number four slot. “Pink Cashmere” was one of three ‘new’ tracks included on The Hits/The B-Sides, and by far the most solid of the bunch. Recorded during around the time of Lovesexy, the song bears only a passing resemblance to the other tracks recorded during that cycle. As the story goes, Prince wrote this track for his special woman of the moment, to whom he presented with a rather expensive custom pink cashmere and black mink coat.
“If 6 Was 9” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (from Axis: Bold as Love, 1968)
The shuffle has hit the trifecta this week. Starting with Eddie, followed by Prince, and closing with Jimi; three of my favorite guitarists turn in appearances on this week’s Friday Five. The psychedelic blues-rock jam of “If 6 Was 9” is a truly a headphone masterpiece. If you doubt this, grab your favorite set of cans — and those earbuds do not count — and click on the little blue arrow above.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: January 22, 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.
Editor’s Note: The nightmare of recovering my hard drive continues, so I’m still relying on my iPod to provide the shuffle. Hopefully I’ll be back up and running by next week’s Friday Five. – Michael
The Five:
1. “Buddy Holly” by Weezer (from Weezer, 1994)
My 11-year old son absolutely loves Weezer, so much so that he’s taken to belting out “Say it Ain’t So,” spontaneously.
2. “Each Year” by Ra Ra Riot (from The Rhumb Line, 2008)
I never get tired of hearing this record. With any luck, we’ll get something new from the band in the next year.
3. “WWXII” by The Damnwells (from One Great Century, 2009)
A somber view of the secondhand victims of war, the refrain of this song stings like nails; “We don’t feel no shame / And we don’t take the blame / Men on TV tell me there’s no other way / We’ve got to take mama’s baby away.”
4. “I Love U in Me” by Prince (from The Hits/The B-Sides, 1993)
One of the most beautifully dirty tunes in the Prince’s catalog.
5. “Black” by Pearl Jam (from Ten, 1992)
I finally purchased 2008’s “Legacy Edition” of Ten just before the holidays, and found myself wrapped back up in the impact of this set of songs had on my life and “Black” is definitely a high point of that.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: January 15, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, 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.
Editor’s Note: Due to a recent hard drive crash, my library is a bit compromised at the moment. Today’s five comes courtesy of my iPod which, not surprisingly, has some holiday music that was skipped along the way.
The Five:
1. “She’s Got a Way” by Billy Joel (from Greatest Hits, Volume I & Volume II, 1985)
2. “Twice as Hard” by The Black Crowes (from Shake Your Money Maker, 1990)
3. “Cousin Mary (alternate take)” by John Coltrane (from Giant Steps, 1960)
4. “Sara Smile” by Hall & Oates (from Greatest Hits: Rock ‘n Soul, Part 1, 1983)
5. “Burning Down the House” by Dave Matthews Band (from 2008-08-09: DMB Live Trax, Volume 15: Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI, USA, 2009)
What’s on your shuffle today?