My whole family including Ethan is headed for the annual family vacation to a lake house in Michigan for a full week of summer fun. Me? I’m in class taking a test. Number of times I’ve been able to enjoy the summer week at the lake house? Zero. Summer classes, baby, and there is a lot of work waiting for me this weekend.
The good news is that I’ll be on vacation next weekend. In Arkansas! Yeah! My only hope is that my Friday Random Ten will bring me good luck and favor with St. Lauren, patron saint of the Left Behind.
Joy.
1) Vybz Cartel – Up To Di Dime
Surprisingly not a bad dancehall ditty, but the tune is off which denotes a bad remix. 3/10
2) Lisa Germano – From a Shell
Apparently this song is on the Underworld soundtrack, yet another movie I will never ever see on self-indulgent grounds of integrity. Good song until the singer rhymes “buzz” with “fuzz.” Get yourself a rhyming dictionary, woman. 5/10
3) Steve Miller Band – Dance, Dance, Dance
Does my computer hate me today? 3/10
4) Peter Frampton – Baby I Love Your Way (live)
My computer totally hates me. 1/10
5) Notorious B.I.G. – Big Poppa
If there is a god, please take away this horrible algorhythm that forces me to listen to music I downloaded on an ironic-ish whim out of boredom three years ago when I was less set in my ways. If you do, I promise I will not rip so hard on the church and maybe attend a Christmas service the next time Mom lays on the holiday guilt trip. Amen. 2/10
6) The Four Tops – It’s the Same Old Song
Okay, getting better. But there is still no Winamp god. 5/10
7) The Cramps – Let’s Get Fucked Up
Yes, let’s. Especially if this playlist keeps on sucking (minus the Cramps). 8/10
8) Night Ranger – Sister Christian
Believe it or not, this list is totally legit. 1/10
9) The Isley Brothers – This Old Heart of Mine
What’s with the Motown kick? This song is going to be stuck in my head all damned day. 7/10
10) Demented Are Go – Holy Hack Jack
I give up.
No, an extra five for good measure:
Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the Devil
Rev. Horton Heat – The Devil’s Chasing Me
Madonna – Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina (Dance Mix) Beg pardon? Where did this come from?
Mojo Nixon – Elvis is Everywhere
Too Short – Shake That Monkey
I’m not even averaging the score on this shit. Obviously the moral to this story is not to take summer classes and just go on vacation already.
I am so there with you. Only six weeks of summer session to go. But then you only get two weeks off and it’s back in classes for fall.
I am so drinking fo the fourth.
Well, it’s a 3.9 for the nine songs you did. I think I heard a similar rotation at a suburban Slick Willie’s Pool Hall, if it’s any consolation. A whole crew of thirtysomething wastoids pulling an Alfred Molina in Boogie Nights for “Sister Christian.”
I think the irony is, Christopher Wallace began not to love it when they called him Big Poppa near the end of his life. In fact, he rarely threw his hands in the air, insofar as he was harboring doubts as to whether he was a true player.
Friday Musical Coolness Audit #4
Careful with that axe pair of scissors, Eugene Robyn! As you read through my insufferable dozen weekly selections, be sure and go over to Lauren’s and offer her consolation, as her musical shuffle done turned on her. The cruel…
Click This Link Edition:
1) Tool – Parabol
The soft half of a typical Tool song. I saw these guys in the summer of 2002, having spent the summer of 2001 listen to this CD constantly. 5/10
2) The Beatles – Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
I think this is the Electioneering of Sgt. Pepper. 8/10
3) Luscious Jackson – Citysong
Not the best song on the album. It always reminds me of the only time I saw R.E.M. (These ladies opened.) 6/10
4) Radiohead – Paranoid Android
Cool. I make a reference to an OK Computer song and this comes up. Unfortunately it was an attempt at a new Bohemian Rhapsody. PI*EXP(1)/10
5) Mindless Self Indulgence – London Bridge
Ahhh…. The band that loves to get shit thrown at them. This is one of their more obnoxious, hip-hoppy numbers. I’ve seen these guys live too. Too many words for what it’s worth. 3/10
6) Habib Koité & Bamada – Din Din Wo 6/10
7) The Sonics – Cinderella 7/10
8) Pearl Jam – Last Exit
These guys put on a good show. 4/10
9) Helmet – Unsung
So much nineties rock. I guess I need to diversify. 3/10
10) Weather Report – Man in the Green Shirt Becky & I saw Wayne Shorter. It was a great day. 10/10
~6.5; My die must be loaded.
Bonus: The Gadjits – Beautiful Girl
Heh.
Which lake, Lauren? I might know it. Of course, it could be one of The Big Lakes, in which case I would definitely know it.
I think you’re being a little too harsh on Steve Miller and Night Ranger. Being the music junkie I am, I’ll gladly take whatever throwaway tracks you have.
PS, get the new Bebel Gilberto.
Cat pics and a Friday Random Ten “Everybody Wang Chung” Edition
I managed to get into my guest room/office this morning! No houseguests! Whee! Here’s the Friday Random Ten and if anyone asks you what you’re doing tonight, I suggest telling them, “Eh, we’re just gonna Wang Chung tonight,” because I…
Friday Random Ten – If I Buy the House I Want, I May Never Go on Vacation Again Edition
Thanks to Norbiz, this business is becoming a much bigger chore than the quick copy and paste job the originator intended. 1. The Cisco Kid – War Although a fun tune, be wary of high school history teachers who use
Moonlight Dance – James Bobchak – Gypsy Fire
Another Minute More – Patti Witten – Rockrgrl Discoveries 2004
Like The Way I Do (live) – Melissa Etheridge
Testimony – Ferron – Testimony (memories of college vinyl and candlelight vigils)…
I Really Don’t Mind If You Sit This One Out* Edition:
1. No Doubt – Don’t Let Me Down
Gwen Stefani’s weirdly possessive in this song. 4/10
2. The Donnas – Too Bad About Your Girl
I really like The Donnas’ typical subject matter – drinking and sex – but after a while, their songs all start sounding oddly similar. 5/10
3. Puddle Of Mudd – She Hates Me
I realize this song is not cool, since my local free indie newspaper has come out against this band, but this song describes something pretty close to what actually happened to me. A long time ago. 5/10
4. Marshall Crenshaw – Someday, Someway
It’s too bad Marshall Crenshaw didn’t make it bigger. This one’s a great fusion of jangly rockabilly with pop sensibility. Pure bliss. 9/10
5. George Harrison – My Sweet Lord
The Beatles broke up right when Harrison was coming into his own as a songwriter. Good thing it carried over into this song. 10/10
6. Sir Mix-A-Lot – I Checks My Bank
Okay, we don’t get too many rappers out here, so we overrate Mix-A-Lot, who actually has better tunes than “Baby Got Back”. But this isn’t one of them. 3/10
7. Steely Dan – Deacon Blues
The perfect 1970s band. If you want to feel the decadence and anomie of the period, put this one on. 8/10
8. The Nails – 88 Lines About 44 Women
I got this song from a girlfriend once who liked it because one of the women in the song shared her name. Much to my chagrin, the woman in the song liked certain sexual practices that her real-life counterpart did not. Nice. 6/10
9. Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Hoedown
I know prog rock isn’t cool, but loving keyboards as I do, I thought this take on Aaron Coupland was really neat. Of course, I was 17 at the time. 6/10
10. Electric Light Orchestra – Sweet Talkin’ Woman
ELO makes it for the second week in a row! 8/10
Bonus Friday Guilty Pleasure Track:
Boyz II Men – Motownphilly
I guess it is hard to say goodbye to yesterday… 7/10
*Extra credit points if you know the song I’m referring to here. Of course, you could just be older than I am.
1. Spanish Bombs — The Clash
2. Hell’s Bells — AC/DC
3. Standing in the Shower Thinking — Jane’s Addiction
4. Cannonball — The Breeders
5. The Process of Weeding Out — Black Flag
6. Dust My Broom — Elmore James
7. Walk This Way — Aerosmith
8. In the End — Green Day
9. Heartspark Dollarsign — Everclear
10. Do You Love Me Now? — The Breeders
Linneaus, those are of course the first words of “Thick As A Brick.” And I doubt I am older than you, but many of us had high school attractions to the layers of lyrical references in Tull, Floyd, etc. Some of us moved on to Marrillion, while others successfully recovered.
I sang my baby son to sleep with Deacon Blues many a night, but “Here at the Western World,” “Dr. Woo,” “Kid Charlemagne,” and “Show Biz Kids” all convey the descent into post-idealistic hedonism and dissolution more clearly. Deacon Blues is still, in its way, about something to believe in.
Muzak XVIII
The “I Forgot All About This Meme Last Week So I’ll Double My Output This Week” Edition.
System of a Down :: System of a Down :: Spiders
Dream Theater :: Scenes from a Memory :: The Spirit Carries On
Kyuss :: …And the Circ…
Friday Random Ten
Friday Random Ten y mis gatos
I have been looking forward to this for a good long while now, so here we go, it’s my first Friday Random Ten
1. Decembrists- Grace Cathedral Hill
2. Shakira- Ciega Sordomuda
3. Elvis Costello- Green Shirt
4. Bobb…
Thomas, you are of course correct about the Jethro Tull reference. And I never recovered, by the way; I still listen to “Thick As A Brick” quite often.
And your Steely Dan selections are probably closer to what I was thinking about, now that I think about it. But they didn’t come up on my shuffle. :)
Friday Random Ten – 06.24.05
Time for Friday Random Ten, where you hit
Sydney’s “Strictly Hip-Hop” random 10
I have only hip-hop on my ipod at the moment, so this is only for the hip-hop inclined. Warning: my rankings will be probably be really good because I only have good hip-hop on my ipod.
1. Jay-Z & Eminem- Renegade
This song is just hot. Lyrically, I think it might be Eminem at his best. 10/10
2. The Roots- Don’t See Us
Love the song- off Things Fall Apart 6/10
3. Daddy Yankee- Gasolina
You know, this song was so much better before every wannabe reggae fan heard it. Now its lost its novelty. 5/10
4. Notroious B.I.G.-Juicy
This will always be my favorite Biggie song 7/10
5. Nas- American Way
Who says hip-hop has nothing valuable to contribute to political discourse? Nas proves them all wrong with this track. 8/10
6. Nas- These are our Heroes
First time I heard this song I nearly choked on my drink. Great song which addresses an important question in the black commuity- who are our heroes? 8/10
7. Beastie Boys- Intergalatic
As a former b-girl, I love this shit 8/10
8. N.E.R.D.- Lap Dance
I really don’t want to like this song, but the beat prevents me from deleting it. Plus I love the line “I’m an outlaw…”5/10
9. Dead Prez- We Want Freedom
I seem to be getting the politically motivated rappers right now…6/10
10. Kanye West f/ Jay-Z- Never Let Me Down
Kanye might be arrogant as all hell, but he knows how to produce a hot track. This song has a sick beat, excellent rhymes, and great spoken word. Oh and a gospel choir. Really, it’s the best song I’ve heard from Kanye. 9/10
Bonus: Eric Sermon f/ Marvin Gaye- Music
It’s a classic. Has the Motown feel with an on point Sermon. 7/10
It’s my first time her. Nice site you have.
Sometimes I wonder, how the hell did this get in my iPod:
1. “Set Me Free” – The Kinks
Classic Dave Davies, or is it Ray Davies? I dunno.
2. “Revolution” – The Beatles
This is the electric version which was a single in 1968, as opposed to the slower acoustic version on The White Album.
3. “My Mood Swings” – Elvis Costello
From “The Big Lebowski” Soundtrack, one of my favorite films.
4. “Duesa do Amor” – Moreno Velsos
From a Putamayo compilation of Brazilian music. It’s sung in Portuguese so I have no clue what it’s about.
5. “Hey Ya!” – Andre 3000/Outkast
Apparently Andre wrote this after being inspired by the pop-influenced post-punk sounds of the Buzzcocks and the Jam.
6. “New World” – Bjork
Weird beautiful sounds from the Icelandic princess. It’s too early for this music. Bjork is better late at night when you want to space out.
7. “No More Trouble” – Bob Marley
From the 4-disc set “Songs of Freedom”
8. “Changes” – David Bowie
This song reminds me of Phys Ed in high school. For some reason we would sing this song while doing laps around the track.
9. “Venus in Furs” – Velvet Underground
Andy Warhol + Lou Reed + A fair amount of smack = Good album
10. “Double Team” – Tenacious D
Not only is Jack Black funny, but the guitar work is great.
Friday Random Ten
I have to admit — I’m growing tired of this. Are you?
1. “Bomb Yourself” — TV on the Radio, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
2. “Human Hands” — Elvis Costello, Imperial Bedroom
3. “Good…
I’m Gonna Run — The Fiery Furnaces
Elizabeth Montgomery’s Face — The Embarrassment
Late Blues — San Serac (from the New Believer music issue)
Insignificance — Jim O’Rourke
Buzzards and Dreadful Crows — Guided by Voices
Lucky Cloud — Arthur Russell
Down By The Riverside (North American Ballads) — Fredric Rzewski performed by Lisa Moore
Cowboy — Harry Nilsson
This Time Another Year You May Be Gone — Rev. Edward Clayborn
Been Listening All the Day — Blind Joe Taggart
The last two are from American Primitive, Vol. 1, Raw Pre-war Gospel. Totally great album.
Bonus track 11 — “Vocabulary Building” by Del Close and John Brent from How to Speak Hip
Jessiematic – The Koop Bump
Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin’) – Devo
We Are the Clash – Sparks
What’s the Most Exciting Thing – Moondog
The Calm Before the Storm – Sparks
WEILL: Tango Habañera [from Youkali] – Angelina Réaux
Let’s Not – 100 Flowers
Yankee, Go Home – Van Dyke Parks
Photomusik – Ryuichi Sakamoto
MACDOWELL: Sea Pieces, Op. 55: Nautilus – Fred Karpoff
If you have time, read The Lake, the River & the Other Lake, by Steve Amick – it’s a lot like being at a lake house in Michigan.
# “The Day John Kennedy Died,” Lou Reed
# “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” Beach Boys
# “Got to Get You Off My Mind,” Solomon Burke – Burke: Preacher, singer, undertaker, star.
# “I Need You,” Kinks
# “Stand By Your Man,” Tammy Wynette – Structurally brilliant – more opera than bluegrass, building to a crescendo with a beauty-shop aria. “You’ll have bad times/he’ll have good times/doing things that you don’t understand.” Who’s she married to – Ed Wood?
# “Kemayoran,” Grup Bamba Puang – Exquisite Indonesian guitar and vocal.
# “Copperhead Road,” Steve Earle
# “You Must Be Born Again,” Rev. J. M. Gates – Why do liberals like this stuff on “The Anthology of American Folk Music ” and at folk festivals, but hate it in real life? That’s the Unified Field Theory of Democratic politics. The one who solves it gets to be President.
# “I Must Be Dreamin’”, Coasters
# “Two Sevens Clash,” Culture – When asked where they got the idea that “1977″ (two sevens) signified disaster, they said they made it up. Like Orson Welles, they scared some people anyway.