This is an ode to the shuffle. How better to get a good insight in your digitized album collection than by a classic shuffle? Finally discover the albums you never got into, finally throw the ones away you will never get into and worship those classics that never grow old again. The Shuffle of this week:
1. Devendra Banhart – Electric Hart (Niño Rojo, 2004) [singlepic id=225 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Born in Texas, Devendra Banhart was raised in Venezuela after moving back to the US (Los Angeles) at the age of 14. Nine years later this fourth album was released, full of short, strange but most of the times colorful folk songs. This one (being one of my favorites) is the last and by far the longest track on the album.
2. Cat Stevens – Time (Mona Bone Jakon, 1970) [singlepic id=223 w=80 h=50 float=left]
We ‘re flying back 34 years in time (Time rise, time fall…), but the acoustic guitar, the singer-songwriter and the beards are still there. Only difference: this one is the shortest track on the album, which probably is one of the best ever made.
3. Gong – Flying Teapot (Flying Teapot, 1973) [singlepic id=183 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Let’s use the flying teapot to move three years forwards. After leaving the planet during a mystical intro, we start drinking tea up high on this centerpiece of the first part of the Radio Gnome trilogy. Listening these albums gives the band some esteem again, which they completely lost from me after an embarrassing live performance, that proved that some music (or better: band) is stuck to a particular era.
4. American Music Club – Laughingstock (California, 1988) [singlepic id=222 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Waited a long time for this one to be picked up by the shuffle, as this album was laying there pretty much untouched for a long time. However, not everything that comes from California can be a winner. Didn’t exactly meet my expectations.
5. Radiohead – The Bends (The Bends, 1995) [singlepic id=227 w=80 h=50 float=left]
A band that doesn’t need an extra word. Second song from their second album, an album that in fact was already pretty good, but one that would be overshadowed by later works. A nice classic guitar rock song, this one.
6. Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb (The Wall, 1979) [singlepic id=69 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Absolute classic. Written by Waters (obviously) and Gilmour, but clearly dominated by the latter’s tremendous guitar solo. One of the most heard songs during the end of the year and also covered by Van Morrison a couple of times during more recent live performances.
7. Led Zeppelin – The Rover (Physical Graffiti, 1975) [singlepic id=226 w=80 h=50 float=left]
The guitars smoothly blend over into the intro of this song, although tuned heavier and chased by the driving drums of mister Bonham. One of Zep’s best songs on a terrific album, ultimate rock band. I missed this album.
8. Country Joe & The Fish – Colors for Susan (I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die, 1967) [singlepic id=224 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Closing track of Country Joe’s second album with his Fish. As a very sober song and standing on one of those many psychedelic rock albums that were released in the fall of ’67, it sounds like a farewell song to the Summer of Love.
9. The Clash – Brand New Cadillac (London Calling, 1979) [singlepic id=228 w=80 h=50 float=left]
While the lyrics still remind of the band’s punk background, the music can not even be called post-punk anymore, thanks to its enormous variety. In this way the album can only be classified as ‘historic’, in every sense of this word.
10. Genesis – Firth of fifth (Selling England by the Pound, 1973) [singlepic id=73 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Closing with the sixth song from the seventies this week, from the album that is one of the favorite records of all time for Robert Pollard as well as Pollards greatest fan. The path is clear.