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. Pink Floyd – See-Saw (A Saucerful of Secrets, 1968) [singlepic id=95 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Spacey track from one of my favorite Floyd albums. It’s one of the two songs written by Richard Wright, while it’s the only album on which his number of lead vocals outnumbers those of Waters, Gilmour and Barett. Wright’s songwriting might have been overshadowed throughout the years by that of Waters and Gilmour but is not to be underestimated, witnessing this one, ‘Remember a Day’ and the brilliant ‘Summer ‘68’ on 1970’s Atom Heart Mother.
2. Gong – You Can’t Kill Me (Camembert Electrique, 1971) [singlepic id=264 w=80 h=50 float=left]
The Flying Teapot only just floated out of my playlist from the past few weeks and the shuffle is already offering an alternative. I definitely prefer this one, containing better harmonies and a generally harder sound, including a nice guitar riff in this six and a half minutes song. It was written by band founder Daevid Allen, who before he continued his career in France with Gong, invited the 16-year old Robert Wyatt to play in the Daevid Allen Trio before founding Soft Machine together.
3. Metallica – Disposable Heroes (Master of Puppets, 1986) [singlepic id=266 w=80 h=50 float=left]
So it took about 30 times before Metallica finally shows up here. Compared to its predecessor, Metallica’s second and strong album Ride the Lightning, the guitars even sound harder and Hetfield’s stories improved strongly while recording this one in Denmark. ‘Disposable Heroes’ is of course one of those classics, about the soldier whose fate is in the hands of his commanders.
4. Killing Joke – Primitive (Killing Joke, 1980) [singlepic id=126 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Song that surprisingly fits in well after the previous one. A little less loud and some bit slower, but for all other things this could be something the guys from Metallica might (have) like(d).
5. Anathema – Don’t Look Too Far (Judgement, 1999) [singlepic id=262 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Another one with explicit guitars. Ran into this band before, but didn’t follow up back then. A band that was said to be a doom metal band before this release, which obviously was a step towards accessibility although the lyrics still deal with enough depression and desperation for the fans.
6. Beirut – The Rip Tide (The Rip Tide, 2011) [singlepic id=263 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Some beautiful and sophisticated tones then, instrumentally as well as vocally. The piano clearly claims the lead role on this track from the homonymous third album, on which Zach Condon has returned from southern Europe and presents some fresh New Mexican indie pop.
7. Cat Stevens – Peace Train (Teaser & The Firecat, 1971) [singlepic id=163 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Album filled with tunes that will stick in your head for weeks, this song being a nice example.
8. James Taylor – Steamroller (Sweet Baby James, 1970) [singlepic id=265 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Not heard in years and not something I would immediately associate with Taylor, witnessing the huge horn section in the middle. Hmmm.
9. Muse – Apocalypse Please (Absolution, 2003) [singlepic id=233 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Ran into a classical influenced song from this album earlier, and this one simply would have been named prog rock if made some 30 years earlier.
10. Led Zeppelin – Bron-Y-Aur (Physical Graffiti, 1975) [singlepic id=226 w=80 h=50 float=left]