Alright, folks, it's once again time for the Friday Random Ten. I've been criticized lately for grading my own picks a little too harshly, but I'm happy to say that through the power of Dianetics, I've thankfully overcome that problem for good. Here's this week's ten as proof.
1. A Tribe Called Quest, "Find a Way" -- Even with timeless lines like "Teasing me, just like Tisha did Martin," this is still a nice little Tribe tune. 6/10
2. The Decemberists, "16 Military Wives" -- Phenomenal song, given a coolness boost by its brilliant, Rushmore-themed video that spoofed the Bush administration's approach to foreign policy. (Trust me, it worked. Video available here.) 9/10
3. Huevos Rancheros, "Drive-Through at Molly's Beach" -- What's better than a great surf guitar instrumental? Naming it after a delicious breakfast. Muy picante! 8/10
4. Astrud Gilberto and RJD2, "The Gentle Rain (RJD2 remix)" -- Brilliant techno remix of an amazing Brazilian torch song. From one of the excellent Verve Remixed CDs. Can't imagine much that's better. 10/10
5. Johnny Cash, "25 Minutes to Go" -- A dark Cash tune. It's from the Columbia Records era, but the black tone and topic (a convict waiting for his own execution) make it sound like it's off an American Recordings album. 7/10
6. Reverend Horton Heat, "Where in the Hell Did You Go with My Toothbrush?" -- Not the typical RHH blistering, speed-on-brother, hell-ain't-half-full rockabilly, but a slower break-up song that's still catchy as hell. 8/10
7. The 5.6.7.8's, "Edie is a Sweet Candy" -- Man, a big day for surf and rockabilly. The 5.6.7.8's are a unique one, though -- a trio of Japanese women who dress in cavegirl outfits and play songs about James Bond and, apparently, a sweet candy named Edie. 9/10
8. The Avalanches, "Flight Tonight" -- From the Australian group's all-samples Since I Left You. I alternate between loving and ignoring this CD with the sort of ambivalence hipster dudes show to their ladyfriends. Guess that's so cool it doesn't care about coolness at all. 9/10
9. Camper Van Beethoven, "Pictures of Matchstick Men" -- A nice cover of the classic Status Quo tune. Not spectacular, but not too bad. 6/10
10. Jimmy Castor Bunch, "Say Leroy (The Creature from the Black Lagoon is Your Father)" -- Wow, did I stick the landing, or what? A phenomenal, 6 and 1/2 minute funk grinder, by a criminally underappreciated funk band and with a title like that? 10/10
All in all, that's an 8.2 average. Right between Bill Clinton and George Clinton. Sweet!
Please drop your own random ten in the comments, folks, with or without the coolness self-audit.
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17 comments:
otto -- glad to see you took the constrictive criticism to heart, but then again you had a pretty sweet week so it would be hard to score too low...As we've all grown closer here on this little patch of cyberspace I've come to depend and trust all of you like friends the friends that I don't really have, and with that in mind I can share will all of you my shame but also unbridled excitement at cheating on my wife - that's right, I've been cheating on my wife (Neko Case-Supertramp) with FRT's first entry,
1-Grace Potter and the Nocturnals "Toothbrush and My Table" - wow, these guys are awesome (recently saw a live show and was completely blown away)... a quaint little blues folk band that jump right into jamband territory from Vermont that have been accumulating phish-heads like premium patchouli vendors (with nitros hits for sale behind the curtain). Comparisons to Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, etc are all justified but don't even begin to give you the full scope --- plus Grace is super talented and wicked H-O-T......8/10
2-Spokane "By the Bend" – I love these guys, a side project of the band Drunk this is enchanting rural soundscape music that is slowcore and forlorn and desolate and full of despair and despondency, ethereal folk dipped in heavy syrup and left out in the cold – the perfect soundtrack to freezing to death. 8/10
3-Ted Leo & the Pharmacists "Come Baby Come" – ted is indie god, and rightfully so – this little ditty off of “Treble in Trouble” is a great example of Leo’s punk foundations with a bit of quirky new wave soul that aren’t afraid to address issues both political and lovelorn …how is it that DC is so full of corruption and crap, and yet over the years can consistently churn out free spirited, independently focused and motivated kick ass rock? 8/10
4-The Jealous Sound "What's Wrong is Everywhere" - former Knapsack lead singer Blair Shehan fronts this band and his peculiar rasp is a great lead for the catchy power pop these guys put out, but as with most pop tunes it gets a bit stale after a while – I need to refresh my selection list. 6/10
5-Elton John “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” oh sir Reginald, I don’t know what happened in your latter years but damn you made some amazing music – and this is a classic among classics. 9/10
6-Kevind Seconds "Stumbled into Ben" – so old Kev has a tender side that enjoys a little acoustic based singer songwriter fare, I knew it ever since I heard “soulforce revolution” and while not really groundbreaking it is a damn fine tune. 7/10
7-Nanci Griffith "Last of the True Believers" – the wintertime looks cold to me too Nanci, but we can face anything together…..8/10
8-CeeLo Green "Bad Mutha" - preach on mr green. You are insane, and I don't think anyone would argue that in fact you are a bad mutha, and this little funk infused r&b tune proves it. 8/10
9-Jimmy Buffett "Come Monday" - some people would be upset that just as they wind down the FRT up pops mr buffett in a far too accessible tune - I'm not one of those people. 8/10
10-John Vanderslice "Bill Gates Must Die" - talk about sticking the landing! What I can only assume to be the very first tune offered on iTunes, Vanderslice gives a scathing yet unbelievably catchy tune about the evils of mr gates and rigors and concerns of "progress". 9/10
malibu - not familiar with the grime of broadway, but the Ben harper sets the weekend mood, and now I feel really guilty because you mentioned my first love, Hope Sandoval....too all the girls I've loved before, who've traveled in and out my door...yeah, I just gave myself a 10/10.
Otto - You gave Johnny Cash a 7/10? And then gave an all girl group from Japan a 9/10? Not coo! You must show respect to the man in black.
Malibu - I am glad I am not the only one with the Avenue Q soundtrack
And now direct from iTunes v4.9(17)
1. Moon River - Audrey Hepburn - And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's?"
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."
- It kept a whole generation of couples together 8/10
2. Let's Get It On - Jack Black - This is from the "High Fidelity" soundtrack. Its a fine cover, but it's just a cover of Marvin Gaye 5/10
3. The Troopers - Iron Maiden - There was a reason this was on my list and now I can't remember it. Well at least I have street cred with all the kids who smoke before school. 6/10
4. Christmas Time is Here (instr.) - Vince Guaraldi Trio - The saddest of all holiday songs ever and yet it captures the the whole winter feeling (at least in Cincinnati where we have snow sometimes)
5. High Speed - Coldplay - In the new movie "The 40 Year Virgin" Paul Rudd, tells another person he knows he is gay because "he listens to Coldplay". When did this happen? 7/10
6. Milestones - Miles Davis & John Coletrane - This is from a live recording so it is ridiculously fast. It's great to hear those two play together. Awesome. 10/10
7.I'm That Type of Guy - Ll Cool J - Only LL would use Wizard of Oz loops to rap over. My 2nd favorite LL song ("Going Back To Cali" is #1) 9/10
8. The Devil Went Down To Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band - Isn't this the state song of Georgia by now? Well it should be. But only listen to it once every six months or it loses it's charms. 7/10
9. Blue Rondo Ala Turk -The Dave Brubeck Quartet -One of my favorite tunes in 9/8 (next to Genesis' Apocalypse in 9/8 - back when they were cool). This comes from the album "Time Out" where every track is in an odd time signature. Dave Brubeck got beat up by other jazz musician often for being a nerd. 7/10
10. Twin Peaks Theme - Angelo Badalamenti- Great show! Over used theme! 5/10
1. "Dazed & Confused (live @ Paris Theatre 1/4/71)," Led Zeppelin.
Good, but at 18 minutes--next! 8/10
2. "Jump in the Fire," Metallica.
Generic but not terrible. 4/10.
3. "Flash's Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations)," Queen.
Still haven't seen this movie. 7/10
4. interview track, James. [null]
5. "It Doesn't Matter Two," Depeche Mode. 7/10
6. "Iconoclast," Emerson Lake & Palmer.
It's only a minute! 5/10
7. "Scarecrow," James. 9/10
8. "Head Down," Soundgarden. gross 0/10
9. "Dancing Barefoot," U2.
Melodic B-side. 7/10
10. "Even Better Than The Real Thing," U2.
A blemish on a great album....skip 4/10
An average of 5.67...we share many things, but not music.
mrs thrillh -- you do realize that that is a VERY good thing.....
Yeah, where's the FRT from Mr. Thrillhous? Maybe he wanted to download another Europe album to give it some more variety.
You guys all obviously know each other, so I feel awkward posting this, but what the hell... I am really enjoying the blog, so here goes:
1. "Another Record" Genesis -- The beginning of the end for a great band.
2. "Behind the Sun" RHCP -- My favorite "slow" Chile Peppers
3. "Kings" Steely Dan
4. "Me Died Blue" Stephen Delopoulos -- Song from a PASTE magazine sampler. Cat Stevens clone. Good tune.
5. "Definite Door" Posies -- Great song. Great album. Completely overlooked band.
6. "Do it Again" Matthew Sweet -- Love that nerd-rock/pop
7. "Morning Dew" Allmans
8. "Life Without You" SRV
9. "Takin' my Time" Little Feat
10. "La Dolly Vita" Smashing Pumpkins
Mr. Furious, glad to hear you're enjoying the blog. But don't think you're crashing a private party by commenting. Only the bloggers (and wives like Mrs. T. and Malibu Stacy) know each other in the real world.
Everyone else has just made themselves at home, which is what we'd like. So pull up a seat. (But don't wake up Inanimate Carbon Rod. He gets cranky when he's been drinking, I mean, napping.)
furious -- as a fellow interloper I'll say welcome - and thanks for sharing about the cloning of Cat Stevens ... man, those terrorists are really quite crafty -
Mr. Furious, your list is way cooler than most of these people. It's all Mazzy Star and Sister Hazel and Depeche Mode with these freaks.
Everyone should ignore Mrs T's comments. She's been reading the bad parts of the bible, like the book of Ruth. I'll set her straight.
Hear me now and believe me later!
1. Switch Opens - Soundgarden. Good song, but not rockin' good. 6/10.
2. Empty Spaces pt. 1 - Pink Floyd. Never heard it before; I used to be anti-PF, but I'm just now giving them a second chance. I like the music parts, but not the extended keyboard chords. 4/10
3. Knife Edge - Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. Now we're rockin' for real! Sweet! I love extended keyboard chords! 10/10
4. South Side of the Sky - Yes. The best kept secret on their seminal album Fragile. Tell it like it is, Jon Anderson (not the guy who ran for president, I think)! 10/10
5. For Dear Life - Prong. Good stuff from a great band (until they got all techno). 8/10
6. Bonzo's Montreux - Zeppelin. Awesome riff, stupid drum solo. 3/10
7. Witch's Promise - Jethro Tull. I hate it when the singer sounds bald and grimy. 3/10
8. Manticore - Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. This is our lucky day! Wonderful instrumental piece off their legendary album, Tarkus. Since there's no dulcet tones from Greg Lake on this one, I have to give it only a 9/10.
9. Olympics Theme Song - John Williams. I had to download this one for an awards ceremony I was conducting here at work. Best . . awards . . song . . ever! 5/10
10. Sweet Euphoria - Chris Cornell. Bad song off a good album. 3/10.
Man, this list is so cool it could cause a major internet traffic jam to our site. Well, that's the price of perfection.
You may now continue with your lives.
If I didn't know you, Thrillhous, I'd swear you were in your late '50s and living in your mom's basement. Remember the old saying -- Emerson, Lake and Palmer once, shame on me; Emerson, Lake and Palmer twice, shame on you.
As long as we're talking music, here are some links you folks might be interested in:
Free concert downloads (Wilco, Interpol, Bloc Party, Decemberists, etc.) courtesy of NPR.
Free and legal MP3s courtesy of Amazon.com.
Enjoy.
Malibu Stacy's post made me realize that I haven't uploaded my Oasis CDs yet. Won't T'hous be pleased with this addition! I hope he'll like their Cum On Feel The Noize cover. He wasn't fond of Inspiral Carpets' Paranoid.
(1) Hello Mr. Heartache Dixie Chicks
Big fan of the DC's. As much as I tried to dislike them per "the Onions" joke.
(2) Lo Boob Oscillator Stereolab - this totally says boob.
(3) Sports Car The Wedding Present - Again, the Wedding Present is beyond criticism, like the White House - but less wars.
(4) Can't Take My Eyes Off of You Lauryn Hill - Enjoy this album, doesn't sound like Lauren is capable of many more.
(5) Novacane Beck - bought his record because they were under the Bong Load lable. Figured I couldn't go wrong.
(6) Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto James Brown - the only X-mas album I listen to year round. That and Andy Williams - bam, he's still got it!
(7) Virtue And Vice The Black Crowes - I believe the Black Crows have only gotten better in their later (more LSD based) albums.
(8) Let's Get It On - Jack Black - Jack Black gets 2 times the rotation today.
(9) Lovers In A Dangerous Time 4:05 Barenaked Ladies - I will have you know i-tunes lables BNL as "Alternative / Punk" therefore I am not weak with this selection. Hey, I'm Canadian, back off.
(10) The Mountains Win Again Blues Traveler - reminds me of Busch beer.
i-tunes lables BNL as "Alternative / Punk"
What?? Now I'm no longer inclined to getting an iPod. They might try to give me a new Backstreet Boys song.
i-tunes lables BNL as "Alternative / Punk"
Maybe they meant it was an alternative to punk?
The Mountains Win Again Blues Traveler - reminds me of Busch beer.
Weak and watered-down?
Well maybe BNL is just "Canadian" alternative /punk. I mean, c'mon Canada gave us Avril and she thinks she is punk
Good point, Yos. Avril didn't even know who David Bowie was. But I bet she'd identify Anne Murray in a heartbeat.
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