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. Placebo – Pure Morning (Without You I’m Nothing, 1998) [singlepic id=191 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Not heard it in years, didn’t even know this album was still in my collection. Second album of the band, which wasn’t as well received as their debut. Stopped following them after Black Market Music, which was released two years later. Time to donate this to charity.
2. Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldier (Broken Boy Soldiers, 2006) [singlepic id=192 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Pure and raw contemporary rock from this already 7 years old album from Jack White and friends. Became a fan of the band thanks to their second album (which is great imo) and discovered this one afterwards. Apparently they are recording a new album this year, but it must be hard to complete something if you’re genius enough to get involved in numerous other projects at the same time. Got to check out The Dead Weather.
3. Joy Division – Disorder (Unknown Pleasures, 1979) [singlepic id=189 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Another band having released two albums to date (of which this one’s also the first), but we can be sure there won’t follow a third one in this case. What started as Warsaw, was turned into the nazi whorehouse afterwards and after losing Ian Curtis they didn’t make the same mistake as the remaining Doors but simply continued without vocals.
4. Band of Horses – Window Blues (Cease to Begin, 2007) [singlepic id=187 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Closing track of this bands second album. Really appreciated it the year it was released, but got tired of it also really quickly afterwards. Probably the reason I never followed this band up, which might be a mistake hearing this one again. Time to try out Infinite Arms.
5. Sunset Rubdown – Stadiums and Shrines II (Shut up I’m Dreaming, 2006) [singlepic id=114 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Don’t have to introduce this anymore. Difference with last time is that I got Dragonslayer meanwhile, which turned out to be another great album; man I love this band. And no matter how many times I hear this song, every time I catch myself thinking there’s somebody knocking on my door halfway.
6. Mercury Rev – Something for Joey (Boces, 1993) [singlepic id=190 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Some psychedelia from the nineties, with this song from Mercury Rev’ s second album. The great instrumentals in this song make me long for another full listen.
7. Jackson Browne – Shaky Town (Running on Empty, 1977) [singlepic id=104 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Typical seventies Westcoast music then. Could as well have been an Eagles song.
8. Simon & Garfunkel – Homeward Bound (Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, 1966) [singlepic id=193 w=80 h=50 float=left]
So much ‘lost albums’ this week with this typical Simon gem following. Paul is having another typical Simon day sitting in a railway station and writing a great song about it. Proud of having added this album also to the vinyl collection.
9. Beatles – I’m a Loser (Beatles for Sale, 1964) [singlepic id=188 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Oh yes, there’s always space for a Beatles song. One of Lennon’s earlier works and really standing out on this album as announcement of what was about to come on Help! and Rubber Soul. The musical as well as lyrical turning point in the Fab Four’s oeuvre set in right here.
10. Andrew Bird – Armchairs (Armchair Apocrypha, 2007) [singlepic id=81 w=80 h=50 float=left]
Closing in style with the longest track (7 minutes) from Bird’s fourth, with a great dramatical intro. Rediscovering this album a couple of months ago made me buy his last album, Hand of Glory (2012), which won’t disappoint you.