Shuffle of the week #27

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. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Hey Tonight (Pendulum, 1970) [singlepic id=259 w=80 h=50 float=left]

B-side from the single ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain’, which is on the same album, Creedence’s penultimate one. CCR also deviated from its traditional pure guitar sound in these orchestral times on Pendulum, which was their second album in 1970 after Cosmo’s Factory and the last one with Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar. You can pep up any party with this sing along.

2. Jethro Tull – Nothing Is Easy (Stand Up, 1969) [singlepic id=16 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Moving back one year when Jethro Tull is disclosing itself as an upcoming band. Still playing uptempo folk rock on this album, some kind of Cream-like hard rock actually on this track, but flirting with hazardous prog some years later.

3. The Beatles – Octopus’s Garden (Love, 2006) [singlepic id=45 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Originally from the same year of course, this Starr-Harrison collaboration from Abbey Road.This is the remixed version from 2006, thanks to George Martin and son. Especially the intro has some added value here, towards the end we slightly fade into the reversed Sun King.

4. Echo & The Bunnymen – Pictures on My Wall (Crocodiles, 1980) [singlepic id=35 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Heard this album plenty of times since last time, just like Ocean Rain. After long consideration I have to admit I might prefer this great debut in the end.

5. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run (Born to Run, 1975) [singlepic id=258 w=80 h=50 float=left]

An artist I didn’t listen to for some months. Never been a huge fan, but of course an admirer of some of his albums, like this one.

6. Motorhead – Iron Horse/Born to Lose (No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith, 1981) [singlepic id=135 w=80 h=50 float=left]

An almost traditional couple of minutes live music then, from Lemmy and friends this time. Despite the album’s title it was not recorded in the London Hammersmith but in Leeds and Newcastle during a tour with the wonderful name ‘Short, Sharp Pain In The Neck’. I think there’s no other band that has a live album but no studio album in my collection.

7. The Beatles – Think for Yourself (Rubber Soul, 1965) [singlepic id=12 w=80 h=50 float=left]

If one band can’t surprise by coming around two times it must be this one. Harrison song with that typical Rubber Soul sound, uptempo folk rock with gordeous harmonies. Also the first album on which Harrison starts to write songs equally as good as those of Lennon and McCartey.

8. 13th Floor Elevators – I’ve Got Levitation (Easter Everywhere, 1967) [singlepic id=257 w=80 h=50 float=left]

The magical year also delivers an album this week. One of those many psychedelic rock albums released in the aftermath of the Summer of Love, predicted to be played many times during the following weeks.

9. Dub Trio –  Respite (Another Sound Is Dying, 2008) [singlepic id=260 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Tested and rejected.

10. The Olivia Tremor Control – Jumping Fences (Music from the Unrealized Film Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle, 1996) [singlepic id=261 w=80 h=50 float=left]

An album that was recommended many times by a colleague music professor, but without any success. However, in the nick of time it ends up on the playlist for the upcoming weeks.

Shuffle of the week #9

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:

[singlepic id=111 w=80 h=50 float=left]1. Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention – Let’s make the water turn black (We’re Only in It for the Money, 1968)

Surprising start this time, this one being an album that I urgently had to discover for real. Zappa’s experimental charge against everyone wearing flowers and breathing the psychedelic air of San Fransisco, including a parody on the Sgt. Peppers’ album cover. This cover featured among others Zappa’s friend Jimi Hendrix, whose song ‘Hey Joe’ was used as inspiration for ‘Flower Punk’, another song to be found on the album.

2. Swan Lake – The Pollenated Girls (Beast Moans, 2006) [singlepic id=115 w=80 h=50 float=left]

This album to the contrary does not have many secrets to me anymore, having spent many months on my mp-3 player last year. It’s the debut album from this all Canadian supergroup, consisting of Frog Eyes singer Carey Mercer, Daniel Bejar (Destroyer, New Pornographers) and of course Spencer Krug, one of my favorite musicians of today (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, Frog Eyes).

3. Moby Grape – Fall On You (Moby Grape, 1967) [singlepic id=112 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Over to some typical sounds of 1967, with this band originally founded by some former Jefferson Airplane members. A must have for the lovers of the genre, so without any doubt a true favorite for Frank Zappa.

4. Fleet Foxes – Innocent Son (Sun Giant, 2008) [singlepic id=110 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Some beautiful vocals then from the first EP of Fleet Foxes, although you might also think it’s one of My Morning Jacket’s songs when you don’t know that.

5. Sunset Rubdown – Stadiums and Shrines II (Shut up I’m Dreaming, 2006) [singlepic id=114 w=80 h=50 float=left]

And there’s Spencer Krug again! This really is a fantastic album that I’m gonna put on that mp3 player once more. I guess this album will never bore me, definitely being one of my favorite albums from the past 10 years. Points me to the fact that I finally have to get Dragonslayer (2009) also.

6. Velvet Underground – Pale Blue Eyes (Velvet Underground, 1969) [singlepic id=116 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Talking about true rock jewels? This must be one of the best Lou Reed compositions, whose  genius was discovered way too late by me. But I have to admit, I’m seriously catching up with that.

7. Tindersticks – Talk to me (Tindersticks (II), 1995) [singlepic id=70 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Another track from Tinderstick’s magnificent second album.With decliciously driving string part in the end.

 

8. dEUS – Secret Hell (Worst Case Scenario, 1994) [singlepic id=58 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Song that I heard more often lately, as I listened to it again during a couple of weeks following an earlier shuffle of the week .

9. The Electric Prunes –Wind-up Toys (Underground, 1967) [singlepic id=109 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Surprisingly, exactly the same goes for this one. Good album.

 

10. Motörhead – Stay Clean (No Sleep ‘Till Hammersmith, 1981) [singlepic id=135 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Starting and closing with a little surprise this week, as this is the only abum in my collection from this band. Factually, it’s not even a real one, as it’s a live album. I acquired it after reading some lyrical reviews about it; good album, nothing more (update: this rocks).