• Friday Five

    The Friday Five: January 13, 2012

    Friday Five

    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:

    Nothin’ Comes Close” by Journey (from Arrival, 2001)

    “Nothin’ Comes Close” is a perfectly serviceable bit of AOR that just seemed completely out of place in 2001. I always liked Augeri’s voice, though. He sounded like Perry enough when he had to, but had enough of his own identity that he didn’t seem like a puppet on the end of Schon’s hand.

    Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night” by Bon Jovi (from Cross Road, 1994)

    Oh, it’s going to be like that, huh? I can’t say I care much for this tune. I recall thinking it was pandering when it was initially released.

    God” by The Smashing Pumpkins (from The Aeroplane Flies High (disc 3: Zero), 1996)

    I’m beginning to question what I ever saw in The Smashing Pumpkins.

    Remember” by Bryan Adams (from Anthology, 2005)

    I’m not going to lie: I kind of dig this song. This is Adams before he started growling his way through every damn song. He definitely has a knack for writing a hook that sinks right in.

    Outshined” by Soundgarden (from A-Sides, 1997)

    One of the handful of Soundgarden tracks I actually like. You know what my favorite part is? The pre-chorus with Matt Cameron’s background vocal!

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: July 1, 2011

    Friday Five

    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:

    “Everything Is Fair” by A Tribe Called Quest (from The Low End Theory, 1991)

    I don’t know if this cut stands up well on its own, but when listened to in the course of the record, it’s all sorts of hot. The Low End Theory is a record that just reminds me of summer.

    “Village of the Sun” by The Mothers of Invention (from Roxy & Elsewhere, 1974)

    Music is the best!

    “Edge of the Blade” by Journey (from Frontiers, 1983)

    Pretty standard, early ’80s AOR fare from the masters of the craft. I dig Schon’s guitar playing here.

    “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” by Matt & Kim (from Grand, 2009)

    New school summertime jam!

    “32 Pennies” by Warrant (from Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, 1989)

    I’d be embarrassed, but I dig this tune.

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: January 7, 2011

    Friday Five

    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:

    “Heaven” by Bryan Adams (from Reckless, 1984)

    Oh, the melodrama! Now, I’d be lying if I said that I did love this song for every bit of its Journey inspired power balladry. Hell, the entirety of Reckless provided the soundtrack to my tween years.

    Here’s a fun little bit of trivia: the drum part on “Heaven” was played by Journey’s own, Steve Smith.

    “Get Over It” by Amy Petty (from House of Doors, 2010)

    If you follow me on the twitter, you’ll no doubt already be aware of my deep seated love for Amy Petty’s songwriting and seductive voice. This record earned a spot among my favorites of 2010.

    “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes (from Billboard Top Hits: 1979, 1991)

    I really don’t care for Piña Coladas, but I love this song.

    “Creep” by TLC (from Now & Forever: The Hits, 2003)

    While I prefer the Afghan Whigs version, I have nothing bad to say about this track.

    “O.P.P.” by Naughty by Nature (from The Hip Hop Box, 2004)

    Seems like a great track to kick into the first Friday dance party here in the office.

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Nudges

    A Nudge in the Right Direction

    I swear I was only going 60!!

    Editor’s Note: Ah Sunday, it’s time to relax and you know what that means a glass of wine, your favorite easy chair and of course a few nudges in the right direction.

    • The All Points West Music & Arts Festival is taking place this weekend at New Jersey’s Liberty State Park. Jay-Z took up the Friday night headliner slot vacated by the Beastie Boys and paid tribute by opening with the classic “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”. (link)
    • ChordStrike has what could be the oddest “cover” that you’ll ever experience with an unlikely take on M.I.A.‘s “Paper Planes”. (link)
    • It looks as if Foreigner has gone the Journey route with a Wal-Mart exclusive triple-disc new + greatest hits package and Matt over at Addicted To Vinyl has the details. (link)
    • Jeff Vrabel introduces us to the ‘redonkulous’ trailer for Guy Ritchie‘s Sherlock Holmes and proved that even hundred old characters have fanboys. (link)
    • Popdose chart master Jason Hare drops a Chart Attack from 1992 featuring En Vogue, Boyz II Men, Jon Secada and quite possibly one of the worst tunes ever. (link)
  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: April 10, 2009

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    For those who have not joined in the Friday Five here is all you need to know; each Friday I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five and drop a little knowledge and insight for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes we have 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 more the merrier!

    The Five:

    Oh Sherrie” (mp3) by Steve Perry (from Street Talk)

    Perry’s first foray away from Journey ended up sounding more or less like, well, a Journey record (albeit with less Neal Schon). I fondly recall this tune being absolutely everywhere the summer of 1984.

    “Workin’ for a Livin'” by Huey Lewis & The News (from Time Flies… The Best of Huey Lewis & The News)

    Between “Takin’ Care of Business” and “Workin’ for the Weekend” this completes the perfect trifecta of “Workin’ Man” songs that for some reason always remind me of 80’s Michael Keaton.

    “U Don’t Have to Call” by Usher (from 8701)

    Between 8701 and Confessions Usher Raymond cemented himself as the go-to Pop/R&B guy. Sure, he may not have Musiq‘s or Raphael Saadiq‘s soul or Brian McKnight‘s velvety voice, but the ladies love him and he can dance his ass off.

    “The Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground (from Sex Packets)

    Ya’ll know this… time to do the Humpty Dance!!

    “Ask the Lonely” by Journey (from Greatest Hits)

    Apparently iTunes is in the mood to hear Mr. Perry’s voice. I’ll abide…

    What’s shuffling up on your player today?