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.

Shuffle of the week #1

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.    The Beatles – Chains (Please Please Me, 1962) [singlepic id=33 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Although it ended up to be a shuffle dominated by recent music, it flew a long way back to start. This is a 1962 song from the Fab Four’s debut album Please Please Me. It’s actually written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and was a former hit for The Cookies, before being released by The Beatles as a typical short sixties rocksong.

2.    Fruit Bats – Blue Parachute (Echolocation, 2001) [singlepic id=36 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Fruit Bats is a folk-rock band from Chicago that debuted with Echolocation in 2001. Pleasant album, time to listen to this one again. Tips about their recent work are welcome.

3.    Phish – David Bowie (Junta, 1989)
[singlepic id=39 w=80 h=50 float=left] I discovered this band from Vermont thanks to an American friend that highly recommended it to me. Given the fact that this guy also is a real Deadhead, you get an idea of what to expect in case you never heard of the band. This song (counting 11 minutes) comes from their debut studio album (again!), which contains a healthy portion of improvised jams and prog suites. The band is also known for covering classic rock albums live.

4.    Bright Eyes – At The Bottom Of Everything (I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, 2005) [singlepic id=34 w=80 h=50 float=left]
No debut this time, but the sixth album by this indie folk band from Nebraska. This is the opening track, which starts with a spoken recording. See Fruit Bats.

 

5.    The Avalanches – Extra Kings (Since I left you, 2000) [singlepic id=32 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Another debut and actually the only studio album from this Australian electronic group. Said to be one of the best albums of the 2000’s, should give it another try.

 

6.    Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent (Favourite Worst Nightmare, 2007) [singlepic id=31 w=80 h=50 float=left]
I could ask myself ‘Where have those guys gone?’, but then I would ignore the fact that I ignored their last albums.

 

7.    Girls – Saying I Love you (Father, Son, Holy Ghost, 2011) [singlepic id=37 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Californian indie rock band. An album I got this year, as it was praised as one of the best of last year in several lists. Still don’t know about that. This one very much sounds like Elvis Costello.

 

8.    Echo & the Bunnymen – Crocodiles (Crocodiles, 1980) [singlepic id=35 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Another debut album, from the British post-punkers. I like their classic Ocean Rain, don’t know if I should give this one another try or search for their later work.

 

9.    Tortoise – Monica (Standards, 2001) [singlepic id=40 w=80 h=50 float=left]
A nice 6’30” lasting surprise from the shuffle towards the end with this song of the post-rock band from Chicago. Standards is their fourth album and truly recommended for all the fans of the genre.

 

10.     Kyuss – Tangy Zizzle (…And the Circus Leaves Town, 1995) [singlepic id=38 w=80 h=50 float=left]
No better way to close a shuffle than with two and a half minutes of dynamite by this Californian stoner band. Perfect album to blow off some steam.