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Shuffle of the week #35

1. The White Stripes – Little Acorns (Elephant, 2003) [singlepic id=145 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Great song from White Stripes’ fantastic fourth, on which this is the traditional song with ‘little’ in its title. The famous spoken intro was contributed by American TV anchorman Mort Crim, whereupon the combo of the heavily tuned guitar and White’s threatening voice gives this track its great verses.

2. Belle and Sebastian – Dress Up in You (The Life Pursuit, 2006) [singlepic id=307 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Polished indie pop from Belle and Sebastian’s seventh album, loaded with sunny melodies. The Life Pursuit reminds of all the good things that sixties and seventies pop had to offer, including great vocal harmonies and well-balanced instrumentals, like the beautiful horn section in this song. Personal favorite.

3. King Crimson – Moonchild (In the Court of the Crimson King, 1969) [singlepic id=204 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Longest track on this epic album, preceding the title track on side two. The track can in fact be separated into two sections. ‘The Dream’ is a ballad with a prominent role for Ian McDonald’s mellotron (and lyrics provided by English poet Peter Sinfield), while the band completely starts to improvise on ‘The Illusion’. This is in fact nothing more than an elitist patchwork, making it the most disappointing part on the album.

4. The Flaming Lips – Race for the Prize (The Soft Bulletin, 1999) [singlepic id=309 w=80 h=50 float=left]

From bearded men in a dark cellar to an explosion of confetti on main stage: the transition couldn’t possibly be more abrupt. Defining album for the band’s later sound and live performances.

5. Led Zeppelin – Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin II, 1969) [singlepic id=6 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Ultimate air guitar song, highlight on the notorious album and a crowd favorite at live concerts (including several improvisations). Interesting detail: the famous solo was recorded and added after the song was already ‘completed’, resulting in a somehow different guitar sound.

6. The Jam – The Place I Love (All Mod Cons, 1978) [singlepic id=310 w=80 h=50 float=left]

From the third album of this late seventies mod revival band, with the title referring to this as well as the abbreviation of ‘all modern conveniences’, often used in housing adverts.

7. Guns ‘n Roses – 14 Years (Use Your Illusion II, 1991) [singlepic id=216 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Best song (great piano playing) on the only GNR album that survived my record collection throughout the years. Never realized all these years however that it’s actually rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin on lead vocals. Stradlin had already left the band before the UYI-albums were released, after being detoxed from alcohol and drugs.

8. Radiohead – Paranoid Android (OK Computer, 1997) [singlepic id=22 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Does this song need any more explanations? Maybe it’s still best described by Yorke himself, before the first time it was performed live: “If you can have sex to this one, you’re fucking weird.”.

9. Tool – Flood (Undertow, 1993) [singlepic id=311 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Wow, the android perfectly fades into the guitar intro of this song. Subsequently the snoring bass tunes in and the drums brutally smash the song into your face. Penultimate song on this debut album, on my version at least, as most North American versions feature closing song ‘Disgustipated’ as track 69, after 58 silent 1”-tracks (you gotta love them).

10. [singlepic id=308 w=80 h=50 float=left] The Olivia Tremor Control – Paranormal Echoes (Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One, 1999)

And one more nineties track to close with. Just like last time, the Tremor Control makes it to the shuffle just on time, but with their second album this time. Love it or hate it.

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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.