Shuffle of the week #26

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. Jethro Tull – Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square (Stand Up, 1969) [singlepic id=16 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Second and short track from Tull’s second album, on which the bands’ blues rock roots are still strongly present. The Jeffrey who is mentioned is Jeffrey Hammond, the band’s bass player from the later Aqualung (1971) till Minstrel in the Gallery (1975). Ian Anderson of course already knew Hammond from his first band The Blades at the time he wrote this song.

2. Panda Bear – Take Pills (Person Pitch, 2007) [singlepic id=250 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Also the album’s second track, one of the seven genius pieces of music that together form one of the best albums from the past ten years. This song was the last of five that were released as a single before the album came out, containing a nice sample from Scott Walker’s ‘Always Coming Back to You’. Playing this album has become a ritual act on a first summer day.

3. Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m Amazed (McCartney, 1970) [singlepic id=251 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Getting spoiled with this classic from McCartney following. This debut solo album was released only a week after The Beatles broke up and a month before Let It Be still had to came out. Like other songs on it this one was written for Paul’s wife Linda, with some  great guitar playing by McCartney himself, as he played all the instruments on the album (!). It’s a good album, that was a commercial success (because of the break-up) but one that was badly received by music critics (because of the break-up).

4. dEUS – Instant Street (The Ideal Crash, 1999) [singlepic id=246 w=80 h=50 float=left]

One of the biggest hits for this Belgian rock band, from their strong third album. Their early albums get my attention once a year and after the debut last time it’s time to crash now.

5. Led Zeppelin – Black Dog (Led Zeppelin IV, 1971) [singlepic id=249 w=80 h=50 float=left]

A loyal customer of the shuffle, not playing live this time. This is the opening song from that great fourth album, featuring the band’s most mature sound till that point. Despite the diverse strange influences on that album, the band still rocks in an old-fashioned way on this track built around a great riff written by John-Paul Jones. Vocals and band alternate like the early Fleetwood Mac on ‘Oh Well’.

6. Paul McCartney – Mrs. Vandebilt (Band on the Run, 1973) [singlepic id=252 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Not the first time to shuffle the same artist twice within ten songs, but highly unusual. But you don’t say no against an extra McCartney song a day. Great bassline.

7. Frog Eyes – The Heart That Felt Its Light (The Folded Palm, 2004) [singlepic id=164 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Indie rock from Canada, been a while. Third album by this band, mainly consisting of singer Carey Mercer and his wife Melanie Campbell on drums. But on this song it’s the piano playing from Grayson Walker that stands out.

8. Jefferson Airplane – 3/5th of a mile in 10 seconds (Bless Its Pointed Little Head, 1969) [singlepic id=248 w=80 h=50 float=left]

One live song a week is something that’s highly applauded and that’s why the Airplane is welcomed again after last time. Slick and Balin are once again taking up the vocal battle against each other on this psychedelic showpiece, originally from Surrealistic Pillow .

9. They Might Be Giants – Turn Around (Appolo 18, 1992) [singlepic id=253 w=80 h=50 float=left]

A band I totally forgot about, so time to catch up. A pioneer band, as the 21 separate short tracks that together constitute ‘Fingertips’ (4’35”) on this album were specially designed for the shuffle mode of CD players.

10. Fleet Floxes – The Cascades (Helplessness Bues, 2011) [singlepic id=247 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Just like last week, the closing song is again located in the land of the elfs. Little dwarfs are waking up and rub the dew out of their eyes on this beautiful instrumental.

Shuffle of the week #15

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. Grizzly Bear – Knife (Yellow House, 2006) [singlepic id=165 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Can’t you feel the knife? It’s Grizzly Bear’s second album, with the title referring to the bands own version of Big Pink, where the cd was recorded. After getting to know Grizzly Bear with this album, I kept following them which lead me to listening their last album Shields for the last couple of months.  Another strong album, although it has to been said that there’s a thin line between creating a typical sounds and repeating oneself.

2. George Harrison – See Yourself (Thirty Three & 1/3, 1976) [singlepic id=85 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Second time we run  into a track from this album, on which Harrison succeeded another time to combine some cheerful melodies with confronting lyrics to reflect on.

3. Frog Eyes – The Oscillator’s Hum (The Folded Palm, 2004) [singlepic id=164 w=80 h=50 float=left]

One of my favorite rock voices from the past couple of years must surely be Carey Mercer’s one, not only to admire on Frog Eyes’ albums (for example on this third album, the provisional highlight being their sixth album: Tears of the Valedictorian) but also on those of side-project Swan Lake.

4. Cat Stevens – Tuesday’s Dead (Teaser and the Firecat, 1971) [singlepic id=163 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Over to the third part of Cat Stevens’ famous 1970-71 trilogy, of which this might even be the least part, despite being a great album.  On it of course one of Cat’s biggest hit singles ever, ‘Morning Has Broken’, which ironically was the only song on all of those three albums that he didn’t write himself.

5. Kraftwerk – The Robots (Minimum Maximum, 2005) [singlepic id=166 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Fantastic track from this bands’ 2005 live album. It originally appeared on their 1978 album The Man-Machine and both song and album can be classified as classics.

6. The Fall – Mother-Sister! (Live at the Witch Trials, 1979) [singlepic id=168 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Other than the title does presume, no second live album in a row here. To the contrary, as this was the debut studio album from the British post-punk band. Not really getting into this.

7. Throbbing Gristle – Weeping (D.o.A: The Third and Final Report of Throbbing Gristle, 1978) [singlepic id=169 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Welcome to the mysterious world of Throbbing Gristle. A moment I waited a long time for. Not that it’s one of my favorite albums or something, in fact I can’t say anything significant about this album. I got it once when it was recommended to me by a book, I listened to it a couple of times and put it back on the digital shelf. Once in a while it was hit by the shuffle and I glared out of the window to see if something could explain the suspicious noises I heard. Now it’s finally the moment to search for the true meaning of this album. (update: still searching)

8. Buena Vista Social Club – Orgullecida (Buena Vista Social Club, 1997) [singlepic id=162 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Track that sounds somehow misplaced on this rainy afternoon, but part of a great album. Recently read an interview with Ry Cooder, who could be considered the creator of this project after all, in which he said that this album and its success unfortunately also threw a dark shadow on the life of many members of the band.

9. Phish – Run Like an Antilope (Lawn Boy, 1990) [singlepic id=167 w=80 h=50 float=left]

During the very first shuffle of the week we already ran into this  debut album. This ten minutes lasting jam originates from the second album and is a true recommendation for those who like an ocassional improvisation now and then.

10. The Allman Brothers Band – Whipping Post (At Fillmore East, 1971) [singlepic id=161 w=80 h=50 float=left]

We totally continue to jam with this track, what a great way to close a shuffle and stretch it just a little longer! It covers the entire second side of this double live album and gives you a legitimate reason to exuberantly play some air guitar on a Wednesday morning.