Week of October 29, 2012

1. "Oh Comely"--Neutral Milk Hotel, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea (1998):
Neutral Milk Hotel has a huge cult following, and this album is widely considered their masterpiece.  I have to admit I missed the boat a little with these guys.  Released on my beloved Merge Records, this music should have been on my radar when it came out, but I missed it.  However, I have tried to catch up with it some and definitely am a fan of this album.  I would not say this track is one of the better known songs, but it is solid.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

2. "It's Not My Birthday"--They Might Be Giants, Then: The Earlier Years (Disc 2) (1997):
This 2-disc set of TMBG's songs is more than enough for me.  I always liked the band's singles but never had the stamina to listen to their entire albums.  My guess is that they would be amazingly fun live, but I have never had the pleasure.  Interestingly, since they have lately delved into making kid-friendly music, I have actually really enjoyed those a lot.  Most of the music for kids is too painful to listen to, so I really like listening to TMBG with my kids.  This song is not amazing but solid TMBG. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

3. "Power Supply"--Portastatic, Some Small History (Disc 1) (2008):
Being a huge Superchunk fan puts Mac McCaughan at the top of my list of favorite songwriters.  Whenever Superchunk is on hiatus, Portastatic is Mac's outlet.  There are 6 studio albums and this compilation. He is the sole songwriter and gets other folks to help when he tours as a band.  This compilation, 2-disc set was a longtime coming.  Fans had been clamoring for a compilation of b-sides, covers,  and unreleased demos.  This 2 disc set is it.  This song is an original and is a slower acoustic number.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

4. "I Wanna Know Girls"--Portastatic, Bright Ideas (2005):
Back to back with Mac!  Bright Ideas came out in 2005 and was an important Mac fix for me as it was right in the middle of the huge Superchunk hiatus from 2001 to 2010.  This song was one of my favorites off of this awesome album.  It features the best Public Enemy allusion in its lyrics that I know of:  "Cause love is like an uzi, It weighs a ton." SHUFFLE GOLD!!

5. "Rockin' The Paradise"--Styx, Paradise Theater (1981):
One of the albums that I owned on vinyl back in the day.  I was in middle school when it came out.  The vinyl was way cool with etchings of the band's logo.  Ultimately, this was the only Styx album that I owned, but they were a solid radio band for me.  This song coming up on the shuffle right now is particularly apropos because I am watching the t.v. show "Freaks and Geeks" for the first time (I was out of the country when it originally aired) and am loving it.  The show places music in scenes as well as any show that I have ever seen, and Styx is featured in several episodes.  This song has not shown up yet, but there is a chance since the show is set in the 1980/81 school year, and this album was released in January.  This song is also a great example of the limitations of the mp3 format and the shuffle.  Technically, this song should be preceded by "A.D. 1928," which is the slow lead into this song that is more rock.  On the album they flow into each other seamlessly.  The link above should make it clear. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

Week of October 22, 2012

1. "Our Lips Are Sealed"--Jane Wiedlin, 80's Hits Stripped (2006):
This CD is pretty awesome.  Since I have given him credit for some of the shameful songs, I have to give my friend Mark credit for this good stuff as well.  I was not a huge fan of the Go Gos back in the day, but this song is pretty nice as an acoustic.  This whole album is the original artists doing their "hits" acoustically.  It's good stuff.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

2. "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got"--Sinead O'Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990):
Sinead O'Connor's second album broke her into the spotlight as well as some infamy for her appearance on SNL.  I was a fan of hers from her first album and never minded her politics.  She has an incredible voice.  This title track from the album is an a cappella song that is good within the context of the album. Though not as good standing alone, it is still SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

3. "Silver Lining"--Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight (2007):
If I had to recommend one Rilo Kiley song, this would be it (more credit to Mark for this one as well).  This song is off of their last album--they appear to be either broken up or on indefinite hiatus.  I do not know a ton about this band but know this album pretty well.  Great song. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

4. "Citizens of Tomorrow"--Tokyo Police Club, A Lesson in Crime (2006):
Tokyo Police Club has a similar vibe as The Killers.  This song is one of their songs that got me hooked on them and is one of their best.  I think this EP and their next album, Elephant Shell, are their best. They are one of the more recent bands that I follow and look forward to releasing new material.  SHUFFLE GOLD!!

5. "Going Home"--Luna, Bewitched (1994):
Though I am not a huge fan of Luna, this album is a classic.  Luna is Dean Wareham's band after he left Galaxie 500. Regardless of whether you are fan of his music, Dean Wareham has written one of the best rock music memoirs that I have ever read.  I highly recommend his book Black Postcards: A Memoir for anyone who enjoys reading about musicians, bands, and their lifestyles.  He manages to be both arrogant and humble throughout the book, as he is very self-effacing about his role in these bands and how he interacted with his band mates.  As for this song, it is solid. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

Week of October 15, 2012

1. "Imaginary War"--Jawbreaker, Unfun (1990):
From their first album, this song is solid early Jawbreaker.  I came on board with Jawbreaker a couple of years later with their second album, so I have always been playing catch-up with this album. I know that Jawbreaker is often championed as an early "emo" band or influence on "emo" music, but that was not my world.  I think all of that was put on them after they broke up.  I just thought of them as Bay Area punk rock. Though I don't know this song as well as some of their later music, it is definitely SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

2. "Cakewalk"--Swiz, No Punches Pulled (1993):
Swiz was a D.C. hardcore band that was only around for 3 or so years. They were done by the time I had heard of them.  This album was put out by Jade Tree a few years after the breakup and has all of their songs in one place.  A couple of these guys went on to play in Shudder to Think, Sweetbelly Freakdown, and Bluetip.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

3. "Pissed"--Harlem, Hippies (2010):
Garage rockers from Austin (via Tuscon, AZ), these guys are currently on Matador records.  I have given them a few listens but am not connecting with them much.  I will continue to listen, but at this point just a MEH.

4. "Down"--Stone Temple Pilots, Thank You (2003):
Thank You is a greatest hits compilation, which is exactly how I like my STP.  When they first came out, I wrote them off as an Alice In Chains rip-off and typical grunge band. However, over time, they proved to be solid, and I think their songs have held up better over time than most of their peers.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

5. "Papa Don't Preach"--Madonna, Immaculate Collection (1990):
Again with the greatest hits. While this song has absolutely no business being with this particular set of songs, I will own it.  I am not much of a Madonna fan.  I hated her when all these songs came out, but they serve as nostalgia.  This song is not necessarily one that I like, even for nostalgic purposes.  However, I do like to use the phrase "Papa Don't Preach!" as an exclamation when I am fired up about something. If I were a sports announcer, it would definitely be my signature call.  MILD SHAME.

 

Week of October 8, 2012

1. "Casanova"--Knapsack, Silver Sweepstakes (1995):
Knapsack was a solid, mid-90s, pop punk band that was on Alias Records.  Their songs tend to run together. However, their formula works for me.  This song sounds like the rest, which is not a bad thing.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

2. "Night Creatures"--Superchunk, Tossing Seeds (Singles, 89-91) (1991):
In case I have not made it clear before, Superchunk is my all-time favorite band.  This song is a cover of an 80s punk band, the Flys. I have never heard the original.  This singles compilation is a good mix of Superchunk's early songs plus four covers.  I love Superchunk, but this song is just SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

3. "Broken Face"--Pixies, Surfer Rosa (1988):
I love this song.  I came on board with the Pixies with Doolittle but quickly caught up with Surfer Rosa and the Come On Pilgrim ep.  This album was produced by Steve Albini, and pretty much any song off of it would be SHUFFLE GOLD!!

4. "Don't Talk to Strangers"--Rick Springfield, Rick Springfield: Greatest Hits (1989):
Dammit, Mark!  (my "friend" who I hold responsible for me owning this song) This song is ruining a perfectly good shuffle. 80s cheese "to the max." I have to admit that I owned Working Class Dog on vinyl as a kid, but it is shameful that this song is on my ipod. As catchy as it may be, it is completely inexcusable for this song to follow the Pixies in a shuffle.  SHUFFLE KILLER. 

Week of September 24, 2012

1. "Delirious"--Prince, 1999 (1982):
As a teenager who gravitated mostly toward hard rock, I could not deny the power of Prince when this album came out.  I was fascinated by him.  I eventually saw him live, and he is an amazing live performer.  Not as big as the big singles on this album but still a great song. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

2. "Blank Expression"--Samiam, Samiam (1990):
A pop punk band that was peers with the likes of Green Day, NOFX, et. al., these guys never broke very big.  I love this album. It was their debut record and is solid all the way through.  A good song but not one of the best from the album.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

3. "Chem Trails"--No Age, Everything in Between (2010):
A relatively recent find for me.  I discovered them via Bob Mould. He is a big fan and speaks of them in a lot of his interviews.  He played with them live a few times and always champions their music.  They are a two-piece.  I only own this album and find it to be hit or miss.  This song is one of the better ones. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

4. Rend It-- Fugazi, Fugazi Live Series, Volume 9: Detroit, Michigan, 9-4-93:
I have been on a Fugazi bender the last week, so this song hits the shuffle at the perfect time.  I just re-watched Instrument (for the 5th or 6th time??), the documentary on the band that I had on VHS and recently purchased on DVD.  Still one of the best bands that I have ever seen live.  These live albums capture them well.  SHUFFLE GOLD!!

5. "The Back of Love"--Echo & the Bunnymen, Killing Moon: The Best of Echo & the Bunnymen (2007):
I picked up this awesome, 2-disc set last year in a used bin.  I was never a big enough fan to own any of their albums, but this best of was a perfect find for me.  This song is a good example of one that I wish I had heard originally.  It may have made me a bigger fan.  Great song and SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Week of September 17, 2012

1. "Storm Front"--Billy Joel, Storm Front (1989):
I was pretty much done with Billy Joel by this point.  I saw him live for The Bridge tour, and he was great.  This album had the "We Didn't Start the Fire" single, which was decent but not nearly as strong as early Joel stuff.  This song is not so good but provides no shame. MEH.

2. "Minority"--Green Day, Warning (2000):
From Billy Joel to Billy Joe.  I am a fan of Green Day.  I saw them many times in small venues before they became megastars.  They have a series of new albums coming out in the next few months, and I am looking forward to them.  I do not know this album as well as their others, but this is one of the better songs off of this album.  Definitely SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

3. "The House Wins"--OK Go, Oh No (2005):
Just an okay song off of a great album.  These guys always make great videos (though there is not one for this song--not one of the singles) and had several songs off of this album that were strong.  Though not as awesome as other songs on this album, it is still a pretty solid tune.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

4. "Unchained"--Van Halen, Fair Warning (1981):
I may have to shut the shuffle down for this week after this song.  My Van Halen fanaticism is no secret, and this song is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE VH song of all time.  When I saw them live for the first time--my first concert ever--they opened with this song.  When I got my first tape deck for my car, this was the first song played as loud as possible.  There is not much else to say.  I know that my rules are to only kill the shuffle with a "shuffle shame," but this song is a rule changer.  Nothing can follow this song this week. The ultimate SHUFFLE GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week of September 10, 2012

1. "Return to Dust"--Bob Mould, District Line (2008):
Perfect start to this week's shuffle.  Bob Mould released his first solo album in three years last week.  It is called Silver Age, and I highly recommend it to any Husker Du or Sugar fans.  It is very reminiscent of Sugar's Copper Blue.  As for this particular song, it is one of the best songs on this 2008 release.  The album itself does not hold together as well for me from start to finish, but this song is a great track. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

2. "Conduit for Sale"--Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted (1992):
I never got Pavement.  Most people who like the music I like, really love Pavement, but it never clicked for me.  Ultimately, I guess I need a little more melody or a little more of a pop sensibility.  I cannot quite put my finger on what does not click for me.  MEH.

3. "Slick"--Sugar, Copper Blue (1992):
Weird stuff happening on the shuffle!  Mention this album in number 1 and BOOM, a song comes up.  Plus, there is a crazy 1992 vibe going here.  This album is one of my all-time, deserted island, top 5 albums.  It is excellent from start to finish.  This song is a "deep cut" but still SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Skip: Yo Yo Ma came up playing Bach's "Cello Suite #1 In G, BWV 1007 - 6. Gigue." It is excellent, but the classical music does not really fit the spirit of the blog here.

4. "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby"--The Rolling Stones, Forty Licks (Disc 1) (2002):
An earlier Stones song on this amazing compilation/greatest hits set. I don't know this song very well, but it is solid 60s era Stones.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

5. "Cool Places"--Sparks & Jane Wiedlin, Valley Girl Soundtrack 2 (1994?):
An awesome movie with a pretty solid soundtrack.  This second soundtrack was Rhino Records trying to cash in with more obscure songs.  This song was not on the original soundtrack for a reason.  MILD SHAME.

Week of September 3, 2012

1. "Anyway"--The Lemonheads, Lick (1989):
Lick was the first Lemonheads album that I ever heard.  When I was in college, I DJ'ed at the radio station and played their music there.  This song is a solid track on the album, but I do not think it is one of Evan Dando's songs.  I believe the singer of this song, Ben Deily, left after this album.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

2. "Punchdrunk Lovesick Singalong"--Radiohead, My Iron Lung (1994):
This EP was released before The Bends, which is my favorite Radiohead album.  I do not know this song at all.  I can see how it might be a bridge into that next album but it is not fully realized for me.  MEH.

3. "Communion"--Boy Wonder, Your Progress Our Destruction (1994):
I think this is the first DotZit Records release to make it on the blog.  My two good friends, Todd and Rob, started this label to put out some Texas punk rock.  This album was a 12 inch split vinyl between Boy Wonder and another Texas band called Gut.  Boy Wonder was great live.  I am still in touch with Jud, the singer/guitarist of this three piece.  They played maybe a year or two after this split album came out, and it was great while it lasted.  SHUFFLE GOLD!!

4. "East Harlem"--Beirut, The Rip Tide (2011):
My good friend Chase hooked me up with this band.  They are an indie band from Santa Fe, NM and seem to have gotten a lot of attention in the indie music world when this album came out.  I honestly have not given it enough listens to judge.  In general, it may be background music for me. For now, until I can get some more listens, MEH.

5. "Rock With You"--Michael Jackson, Off The Wall (1979):
I owned this album on 8-track tape when I was a kid.  I believe I still have it somewhere.  I loved this album, which was before the MJ explosion (and weirdness) that happened after Thriller.  I will always love the songs off of this album.  It was a big part of my early, eclectic music collection and sat in my giant 8-track tape carrying case along with AC/DC, Kenny Rogers, and Pink Floyd. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Week of August 27, 2012: Back from Summer Break

1. "Right in Two"--Tool, 10,000 Days (2006):
I am not sure why I have this whole Tool album on my ipod. It is a good example of how I tend to pick up whole albums instead of just singles.  Actually, this is one of their later albums and does not even contain the one song by Tool that I love, which is "Sober."  I appreciate their talent and their love of Bill Hicks.  However, I have never had the patience for their long, brooding songs that have intermittent bursts of rock.  MEH.

2. "Oh, Darling!"--The Beatles, Abbey Road (1969):
I am fairly open about my ambivalence towards the Beatles.  They are, of course, amazing.  However, I consider their music to be from the generation before me.  I understand that without them, most of the music I love would not exist. I own all of their music because I should.  But, ultimately, the Beatles do little for me.  They are a radio band for me.  A good song from a great album, but for me, MEH.

 3. "Bury Me"--Dwight Yoakam, dwightyoakamacoustic.net (2000):
I like Dwight Yoakam as a rule but do not know this album or song too well.  Not doing a lot for me right now.  MEH.

4. "My Drug Buddy"--The Lemonheads, It's A Shame About Ray (1992):
I was a Lemonheads fan before this album came out. I thought that they were broken up and done, and then this album came out.  With the help of a cover of "Mrs. Robinson" that was not on the original pressing of this album, the Lemonheads started getting major attention.  This song features Juliana Hatfield's background vocals.  I still listen to this album often.  It is solid from start to finish and pure SHUFFLE GOLD!!

5. "Rock Me Tonite"--Billy Squier, Absolute Hits (2005):
Billy Squier always takes me back to jr. high.  This song came out later and suffers from the infamous video in which Billy prances around among pastel sheets and scarves.  At least that's how I remember it.  Not really a rockin' video, but I still dig the song.  SHUFFLE GOODNESS.

Week of June 4, 2012

1. "I Touch Roses"--Book of Love, Book of Love:
Woof.  This song is a tough one.  It is not my bag for sure, but I did kind of dig it when I was in high school--kind of a closet, guilty pleasure.  I'm no Dance Randy, but I do have this song on my ipod on purpose.  I'm going to own it but with MILD SHAME.

2. "House of Pain"--Van Halen, Dressed to Kill (Live Bootleg):
Even though this song did not show up on an album until 1984, it is one of Van Halen's oldest songs, as evidenced by its appearance on this 1977 live bootleg.  A lot of the songs on this bootleg recording sound like crap, but this one sounds decent--it still has some sound quality issues but is better than a lot of the others.  This version is definitely more raw than the studio version, in some ways it is much better with a little harder edge to it.  SHUFFLE GOLD!!

3. "A Straighter Line"--Eleven Hundred Springs, Bandwagon:
Eleven Hundred Springs is a country band out of the Dallas area.  They play the older style country, rather than the over-produced Nashville style.  I have not listened to it enough to be a fan, but my friends back in TX say they are legit.  NO SHAME.

4. "Rings On Her Fingers"--The Smithereens, 2011:
The Smithereens put out their first full-length studio album in since 1999 last year.  It's solid Smithereens music with only 1 or 2 standouts.  I really liked the Smithereens first two albums and kind of half followed them after the early 90s.  NO SHAME.

5. "Quiet Night"--The Mother Truckers, Let's All Go To Bed:
For awhile, this was my friend Danny's favorite band in Austin. They play country/rock crossover stuff and are apparently incredible live.  I have three of their albums but have not given them enough attention.  Solid stuff and NO SHAME (Also, check out "Dynamite").

Week of May 28, 2012

1. "Texas 10 West"--Bluetip, Dischord 101:
Awesome!  Bluetip was a Dischord band in the 90s that put out 3 full length albums.  This first album was the best, and this track was probably my second favorite on the album.  SHUFFLE GOLD!!

2. "Angelina"--Crooked Fingers, Survive and Advance, Merge Records Sampler, Volume 3:
If you are an Archers of Loaf fan, this band is Eric Bachmann's current project.  The music is very different than AOL, but I think all of their albums are solid.  This song is off of Red Devil Dawn and included on this Merge Records sampler.  NO SHAME.

3. "New Life in Old Mexico"--Robert Earl Keen, Walking Distance:
I would not classify this song as a classic Robert Earl song, but it is solid.  Robert Earl is going home and/or beer drinking music for me.  I don't think there are any major standouts from this album.  His live albums are great. NO SHAME.

4. "Ishitmayda"--Setora, ??:
Setora was a pop band in Uzbekistan that was pretty big when I was there around Y2K.  They are 3 women who sing pop/dance music.  This song is a bit of a mystery because I don't have all of the  names of their songs programmed in the ipod properly, hence the mystery about the album title.  You can search youtube and find some of their music.  I play this music when I do presentations about my experience working in that country and sometimes for nostalgia.  Beyond that, it is not my kind of music. MILD SHAME.

5. "Freed Pig"--Sebadoh, III:
This song is infamously about Lou Barlow's difficult relationship with J. Mascis. He talks about it as a good example of him venting about being kicked out of Dinosaur and him establishing himself as his own songwriter.  As mentioned before, I am a huge Lou fan. This song really holds up as classic 90s indie rock. At this point, we have the best of all worlds, as Lou plays solo; has reunited Sebadoh and is recording new music with them; and continues to play with Dinosaur Jr. since they reformed with the original 3 in 2005. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Week of May 21, 2012

1. "Same Boy You've Always Known"--The White Stripes, Glastonbury 2005 (live):
My brother-in-law loves Jack White and everything he touches.  Personally, I am not a huge White Stripes fan and typically listen to them in spurts.  As far as live albums go, this one is good.  NO SHAME.

2. "Break a Promise"--Guv'ner, Score! 20 Years of Merge Records, Volume 2: Phil Morrison:
A lesser known band from the 90s days at Merge Records, Guv'ner is a band that I would not know much about except for compilations like this one.  However, I do like this song, a solid 90s sounding indie song.  I have a about 3 or 4 of their songs thanks to different samplers and comps I have picked up. For the record, Phil Morrison is a film director who curated this particular CD for the Merge 20  year anniversary box set.  NO SHAME.

3. "A Magazine Called Sunset"--Wilco, More Like the Moon (EP):
This song is one that they played when I saw them live, and they blew my mind.  I tracked down every song from that setlist since that was the concert that turned me around on Wilco.  Still not a diehard fan but definitely dig and appreciate their songs.  NO SHAME.

4. "One Machine, One Long Fight"--Lou Barlow, Goodnight Unknown:
In the last 10 years, Lou has become one of my favorite songwriters.  Don't get me wrong. I have always loved the early Dinosaur Jr., and Sebadoh's Bakesale is one of my all-time favorite albums.  However, the way he has sustained his career with multiple projects has really impressed me.  This song is from his second "solo" album (solo in that it was released under his name rather than a band or project name).  The solo albums have a lighter touch and are not really about electric guitars. However, they demonstrate his range and solid songwriting.  It may not be his best song, but solid Lou. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

5. "Another Generation"--Fishbone, Fishbone:
Similar to the above, Fishbone, especially early Fishbone, is untouchable.  If you are not familiar with Fishbone, get on it.  Buy Truth and Soul right now, as well as this s/t EP as soon as possible.  Also, watch the recently released (on DVD and Netflix) documentary about the band, Everyday Sunshine.  Fishbone soldiers represent with SHUFFLE GOLD!!
 

Week of May 14, 2012

1. "Still Take You Home"--Arctic Monkeys, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not:
Though I don't know many of the songs by name, I like this album.  I would not say I became a big fan, because I have not listened to anything else these guys have put out except for this first album from 2006.  Solid song and NO SHAME.

2. "Can I Sit Next To You Girl"--AC/DC, High Voltage:
Being a fan of AC/DC has always come down to one question for me, Bon Scott or Brian Johnson?  Even though the first album I  bought by them was Back in Black (on 8-track tape, btw), I have always preferred Bon Scott.  Back in Black was the exception for me. I never really liked much after that album.  That being said, this song appears to be a bit of a deep cut off of one of their earliest albums (the Australia only version was their debut album).  It features Bon Scott, of course, but doesn't do a lot for me.  However, NO SHAME.

3. "Charlie Don't Surf"--The Clash, Sandinista:
I just found this double-cd used about 6 months ago.  It was a hole in the catalog.  I'm a huge Clash fan but found this collection of 36 songs to be pretty hit or miss, which I think is a standard take on this album.  However, this song hits for me.  It's free and easy Clash, and I dig it.  SHUFFLE GOLD!!

4.  "4 Out Of 5"--Soul Coughing, Irresistible Bliss:
As I have stated before, I prefer Mike Doughty's more recent solo work over the Soul Coughing.  Except for a few songs here and there, I find that the Soul Coughing songs just don't hold up over time.  They were distinctive in the 90s with what I call a "looping effect" in their song writing and interesting rhythm section.  Not bad but a little grating if not in the right mood.  MEH.

5. "Senseless"--Pure, Ballard:
Pure was a 3-piece North Carolina band who put out one 7" in 1991 on Merge Records. This is the lead single from that 7".  The song has a textbook early 90s, indie rock sound.  NO SHAME.

Week of May 7, 2012

1. "In Defense of Humans"--Fugazi, State of the Union (compilation):
YES!  Now this is pure Fugazi awesomeness.  Never released on any of their studio albums, this song only appears on this DC compilation.  It is one of their earlier songs and is solid SHUFFLE GOLD!!

2. "Don't Break Me Down"--The Donnas, Gold Medal:
As mentioned before, the Donnas are pretty much straight up rock.  I definitely like their music.  I believe this is one of two albums that I have of theirs.  They tend to run together but are good when they come up on the shuffle. NO SHAME.

3. "Kingpin"--Wilco, Being There (Disc 2):
I was not a huge Wilco fan until seeing them live.  I had Yankee Foxtrot Hotel and liked it; but I was not completely sold until I saw them live.  I live in a pretty small town, and they played a solid 2 hour show here a few years back.  They closed with this song, so I have great memories of it.  I started completing their catalog after seeing them live.  I would not say that I am a diehard fan but definitely dig them.  NO SHAME.

4. "Jump"--Van Halen, Live Right Here Right Now:
Not my favorite version and not my favorite song, but Van Halen is Van Halen.  Hagar managed to convince the band to put out a live album, something they fought for a long time.  It has some high points and is definitely better than a lot of the bootlegs I have heard. I would love for them to put out a live album from their current tour with DLR.  Anyway, you should know by now that this is SHUFFLE GOLD!!

5. "Wrong Number"--The Cure, Galore (The Singles 1987-1997):
I'm still waiting for a Cure song to come up on the shuffle that rocks my world.  I am a fan and saw them a couple of times live.  Robert Smith is awesome live. I do not know this song.  It was the one new song on this compilation of "hits" that included singles from "Just Like Heaven," to "Friday I'm In Love," to "Mint Car."  This song is fine but nowhere the caliber of the others on the compilation. NO SHAME.

Special Beastie Boys Shuffle Gold Edition: RIP MCA

To Honor Adam Yauch (AKA "MCA") and his contributions as a co-founder of the legendary Beastie Boys, I am shuffling only my Beastie Boys catalogue.  Consider all of the following SHUFFLE GOLD!!

1. "Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament"--the Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part 2:
An instrumental track off of the most recent Beastie Boys album.  A good groove to start, but we need some MCA rhymes.

2. "Lee Majors Come Again"--the Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part 2:
Great song off of the newest album.  Best MCA line: "I'll stage a coup and usurp your position
'Cause--'cause like a Mormon, I'm on a mission." I'm ready for some older stuff.  Come on shuffle.

3. "High Plains Drifter"--the Beastie Boys, Paul's Boutique:
The second album from the Beasties and an absolute masterpiece.  I was never a huge fan of the first album but was completely sold with this album and never looked back.  A lot of trading lines back and forth between the three on this song, but the best MCA line is "cool like lemonade."

4. "The New Style"--the Beastie Boys, Ill Communication:
One of the better songs on this album for me.  Best MCA line: "And I got more juice than Picasso got paint."

5. "Time to Build"--the Beastie Boys, To the 5 Boroughs:
A full lyrical contrast from the Ill Communication songs with a political rant against President George W.  with the chorus "It takes a second to wreck it; It takes time to build." Best MCA line: "We've got a president we didn't elect; The Kyoto Treaty he decided to neglect."

Plenty of other songs that I would have preferred but that's the shuffle.
Sad today about MCA's passing but I will have the Beastie Boys on heavy rotation for days to come.  Thanks Adam Yauch (1964-2012).

Week of April 30, 2012

1. "God is in the Radio"--Queens of the Stone Age, Songs for the Deaf:
I discovered Queens of the Stone Age and this album because Dave Grohl was playing drums with them.  It is a solid album that I tend to forget about.  I have never bought any of their previous or later albums.  I think I have one of their later singles.  However, this song is a solid one off of a strong album.  NO SHAME.

2. "All Around the World"--The Jam, Greatest Hits:
The Jam is one of those bands that I should listen to a lot more.  Every time they come up on the shuffle, I dig it.  I have this greatest hits album but have not ever listened to it start to finish.  Good stuff and definitely NO SHAME.

3.  "O Holy Night"--The Carpenters, Christmas Portrait:
I feel like I should get a pass for having the Carpenters for my Christmas music, but even during Christmas time I typically skip their versions of the classics.  In my opinion, it is not a good version of the song and does nothing for me (especially in the spring time).  The Carpenters are nowhere near my personal taste in music and I am feeling the shame!  I am done with this one.  For the second time ever, we have a SHUFFLE KILLER!!

Week of April 23, 2012

1. "When I'm Sixty -Four"--The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band:
As stated before, I am not much of a Beatles fan, but this song is one that I consistently enjoy.  If asked, I would probably say that I prefer John's songs. However, the reality is that I tend to like Paul's songs more, and this song is a great example.  NO SHAME.

2. "You Are the Everything"--R.E.M., Green:
While R.E.M. had some radio play with Life's Rich Pageant, Fables of the Reconstruction, and Document, this album had the breakthrough radio hit with "Stand."  This song is a deeper cut with the mandolin driving the song.  I always liked the lyrics to this song.  I was a huge R.E.M. fan already when this album came out and saw them live twice on this particular tour.  Great stuff.  NO SHAME.

3. "Hypo-Boxing"--Beatnik Filmstars, SCORE! 20 Years of Merge Records, Vol. 11, Kara Walker:
I have mentioned this box set a couple of times here.  I don't know this song and don't care for it.  Still love the box set but MEH.

4. "True to Form"--Knapsack, Silver Sweepstakes:
Very formulaic, pop punk from the mid-90s.  Knapsack was on Alias records, and I have two of their albums.  The songs run together a bit, so I never got a handle on individual songs.  Still sounds great to me.  NO SHAME.

5. "Effect & Cause"--The White Stripes, Icky Thump:
I always liked the idea and the general sound of the White Stripes more than really getting hooked on any specific songs.  I own several of their albums but never feel compelled to listen.  I have listened to one of their albums all the way through maybe a handful of times.  I appreciate Jack White's talent but never fully bought in.  Basically, I don't remember ever hearing this song, but it seems fine.NO SHAME.

Week of April 16, 2012

1. "The Gavial"--Shudder to Think, High Art Soundtrack:
Shudder to Think was a great band in the late 80s and 90s with their best releases on Dischord Records. Craig Wedren, the lead singer, dabbled a bit in scoring movies including this soundtrack for the movie High Art. It was an independent art house film--an Ally Sheedy 90s comeback--and was decent. This song is instrumental music for the movie and doesn't play very well standing alone. Not really what one would typically associate with the band Shudder to Think. MEH.

2. "The Wind Cries Mary"--The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced?
When it comes to 60s rock, this is it for me. I probably don't listen to Jimi enough, but when he comes up on the shuffle, it has to be SHUFFLE GOLD!!

3. "When Love Comes to Town"--U2, Rattle and Hum:
The scene in the movie for Rattle and Hum where Bono is reading his lyrics to BB King marked the end of U2 for me. He was so earnest and impassioned, reading his lyrics with absolutely no humility to one of the true legends of rock music. He took himself so seriously in that scene that I no longer could. MEH.

4. "Personal Property"--Def Leppard, Adrenalize:
As stated in this blog many times before, I loved me some 80s rock. The problem, of course, is that Adrenalize came out in 1992, and I was done with it. I don't really know anything about this album and have never heard this song before. MEH.

5. "Green Fuz (Randy Alvey & Green Fuz)"--The Lemonheads, Varshons:
Evan Dando put out this album of covers in 2009. Some of them came off pretty well. This one doesn't do much for me. I don't know the original and just gave it a quick listen. It is labeled as 60s "garage trash" and has a little bit more of an edge than the cover here, but still not my bag. MEH.

Week of April 9, 2012

1. "Turned Out"--Helmet, Meantime:
I really liked Helmet for about 2 years, starting when this album came out. Whenever I try to listen to this album now, it just doesn't hold my interest the way it used to. I still like a few of the songs, including this one. This song brags the lyric "High Times, Hard Times, Downtown, Julie Brown." The lead singer and guitarist has one of the most awesome rock n roll names, Page Hamilton. He dated Winona Ryder at some point. NO SHAME.

2. "Got Some"--Pearl Jam, Backspacer:
After the second Pearl Jam album, I ignored them for a long time. This album came out a couple of years ago with the lead single "The Fixer," which quickly became one of my favorite PJ songs. This song is strong as well, along with a few others on this album. The most recent Cameron Crowe documentary on the band, Pearl Jam Twenty, demonstrates how the band has really stayed true to their music and thrived even after all the super grunge hype. A good reintroduction to the band and NO SHAME.

3. "Domesticated Lovers"--Josh Rouse, Country Mouse, City House:
This album came out right after I moved to Colorado in 2007. I saw a web interview and performance (linked) by Josh Rouse promoting this album. He played this song and a couple of others off of this album that are great. I like this album and have picked up a couple of his other albums. It's pretty mellow, 70s style singer/songwriter stuff. Solid and definitely NO SHAME.

4. "You Really Got Me"--Van Halen, Pasadena Civic Auditorium (Live Bootleg):
Technically, this is "Eruption" and "You Really Got Me" recorded in the 70s around the time the first album came out. I don't remember where I got this bootleg, but the sound quality is pretty bad. Of course, the songs are awesome but kind of hard to listen to all the way through because of the poor quality. However, the version of "Eruption" alone is worthy of SHUFFLE GOLD!!

5. "Pen and Notebook"--Camera Obscura, Score! 20 Years of Merge Records, Volume 9: David Byrne:
I believe I have mentioned this before, but the Score! box set was the best idea for a box set that I have ever seen. Merge Records chose 12 different people (artists, actors, musicians, etc.) to curate CDs of Merge releases. Each person was given an ipod loaded with the full Merge catalog (I would love to have one of these), and he/she chose songs for a CD. They were originally sold as a subscription, so I received 2 CDs every 2 months throughout the year. Obviously, this song is a Merge release chosen by David Byrne to go on his curated disc. While I am not a huge fan of Camera Obscura, this is a nice song and has Byrne's stamp of approval. NO SHAME.

Week of April 2, 2012

SKIP: From one of those custom kid's casettes with your child's name in all the songs. It was cute when he was 2. He's almost 10, so kind of weird now. Again, I need to get this off of the ipod.

1. "Everything is Everything"--Face to Face, Don't Turn Away:
Taking me all the way back to Spring Break 1993! A group of us took a road trip/pilgrimage to Graceland. This album was on heavy rotation on that trip. Face to Face got a little bit of popularity in the wake of the Green Day/pop punk national explosion. I never really listened to any of their other albums except this one. Nostalgic SHUFFLE GOLD!

2. "Please Please Me"--The Beatles, Please Please Me:
At the risk of alienating the rest of the pop/rock music obsessed world, I have never appreciated the Beatles. They disbanded when I was a kid and were never part of my world. Obviously, the songs are ubiquitous, and I grew up with them on the radio. This song is not one that I know much about but it sounds like an earlier one. A friend passed on all their music to me so that I could have it. Ultimately, I dislike that in any conversation about good music, the Beatles are a conversation killer, as if no band can ever live up to them. No interest but NO SHAME.

3. "Pet Rock"--Small, Chin Music:
Small, AKA Small 23, were a North Carolina band in the early 90s. Eric Bachman of Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers played with them in the very early days. This album was my introduction to them, and I love it. I bought all their albums after hearing this one. I don't know too many other people who know who they are, but I really liked them in the 90s. Good stuff and SHUFFLE GOLD.

4. "Oodles of O's"--De La Soul, De La Soul is Dead:
This song was one of my favorites off of the second De La Soul album. This album reminds me of driving with my friend Chris to our friend's lake house in 1990/1991. Great times and solid De La. NO SHAME.

5. "Palace of the Brine"--Pixies, Trompe Le Mond:
The end of the Pixies. Though they tour like crazy now in reunion mode, they have not put out a studio album since this one. I loved this record, because I loved all things Pixies back then. This song is solid but not the best on the album. NO SHAME.

Week of March 26, 2012

1. "Mountains of Your Head"--Buffalo Tom, Let Me Come Over:
I was a pretty big fan of Buffalo Tom. I discovered them as a d.j. at the college radio station. The song "Birdbrain" received heavy rotation on my show. It was off of their second album, which was produced by J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. They fit in with the other Boston-based rock bands that I was into during college (i.e. the Lemonheads, Dinosaur, the Cavedogs, and Blake Babies). I like this album a lot, and this is a solid cut off of the album. Though not one of their "big" songs, this song in particular and Buffalo Tom in general are worthy of SHUFFLE GOLD!!

2. "Best of Both Worlds"--Van Halen, Live, Right Here Right Now:
There has definitely been a Van Halen revival in my house of late. The new album and tour with DLR have me pretty cranked up. Off of the first album with Hagar, this song was a favorite at the time. This live version reminds me of the 4 or 5 times that I saw them live with Hagar. You know this is SHUFFLE GOLD!!

3. "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker"--Husker Du, The Living End:
Wow! This shuffle is shaping up nicely. I was never a huge Ramones fan, but I know the hits. I love this live cover by Husker Du. This album, in particular, is a great sampling of Husker Du songs and is a good purchase if you need some HD. First time we have had 3 in a row: SHUFFLE GOLD!!

4. "Holding Back the Years"--Simply Red, The Essentials:
Well, that is quite a shift. I did not enjoy the Simply Red when they were relevant or getting any airplay. I have to admit that I have come to appreciate the songs and Mick Hucknall's voice. I do not listen to them much at all, but I do like this song--just kind of a buzz kill after those first 3. NO SHAME.

5. "Driveway to Driveway"--Superchunk, Foolish:
It may be years before this particular shuffle is topped. In case I have not mentioned it before, Superchunk is my absolute favorite band of all time, and I don't think they have made a shuffle appearance yet. VH and Superchunk in one shuffle . . . Needless to say, I am beside myself with joy right now. This song is one of their classics. SHUFFLE GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week of March 19, 2012

1. "The Words"--Lungfish, Necrophones:

Lungfish is a Dischord Records staple. They were very prolific and were great live. The best quote about Lungfish is in the booklet from the Dischord 20-year box set: "Critics have complained that Lungfish seem to only play one song over and over, but those in the know say this: 'yeah, but what an incredible song!'" NO SHAME.

2. "Glueman"--Fugazi, Live Series, Volume 7, Ft. Lauderdale, FL:

The perfect follow up to Lungfish is always Fugazi. Another from the live series. "Glueman" is, without question, SHUFFLE GOLD!!

3. "Fix Up, Look Sharp"--Dizzee Rascal, Matador at 21 [Disc 4]:

I love my box sets, but that means I often get stuff on the ipod that is a complete mystery. Wikipedia tells me this is an English rapper. He is blending lots of different styles here, including a pretty sweet sample of Billy Squier, which I can definitely get on board with. However, the song is mostly annoying. MILD SHAME.

4. "Mod Lang"--Big Star, Live:

I got into Big Star because of the Replacements' song "Alex Chilton." I bought this album since it served as a sort of greatest hits. I like almost all of the songs. When "That 70s Show" became a big deal and were using a Big Star song for the opening credits, I felt pretty cool that I already had some Big Star in the catalog. NO SHAME.

5. "If I Can't Change Your Mind (Solo Mix)"--Sugar, Besides:

A great way to end the shuffle this week. Besides is Sugar's b-sides and previously unreleased album. This solo mix would be familiar to anyone who has ever seen Bob live when he is doing a solo set. This song is originally off of Copper Blue and, like most songs on that album, is SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Week of March 12, 2012

1. "Hailee's Song"--Eminem, The Eminem Show:
I like some Eminem songs but do not listen to his whole albums. I tend to like the "hits," as it were, and confess that I like the movie 8 Mile. However, I have never heard this song before and would typically skip this song in a shuffle. Not sure why I have this full album on my shuffle. MILD SHAME.

2. "Spy of Love"--INXS, Shabooh Shoobah:
INXS was about as "alternative" as I got in high school. I was a hard rock dude and really thought I was exploring some 80s new wave when I cranked the INXS. This album was popular when I was in high school. Some of my classmates had a cover band that played the school dances and always covered "Don't Change." This song is a deep cut on the album and is good. NO SHAME.

3. "It's on the Rocks"--The Donnas, Spend the Night:
The Donnas are an all girl band, following the trail of the Runaways and ripping off AC/DC riffs (in a good way). Making the rock their own and carrying off all the sexual innuendo, they are a great party band. However, you just need one Donnas album. The songs all run together a bit. NO SHAME.

4. "I Miss the Girl"--Soul Coughing, El Oso:
As stated in previous posts, I have come to appreciate Mike Doughty's more recent solo work more than the Soul Coughing. There are a few Soul Coughing songs that stick, but this is not one of them. MEH.

5. "Kracked"--Dinosaur Jr., You're Living All Over Me:
Old school Dinosaur saving this shuffle on the last song! You're Living All Over Me is definitely on my top 1o album list. The greatest thing about Lou Barlow returning to the band is that they played a lot of these songs when I saw them live a few years ago. Anything off of this album is automatic SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Week of March 5, 2012

1. "Hot Hot Hot"--The Cure, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me:
In high school, I was NOT a fan of the Cure. It was too soft and too weird. My freshman year in college I started opening up to different music, and this album was one of my gateways. It had just come out, and "Just Like Heaven" was all over the place. I could not resist that song and bought the cassette. I remember laying on my bed in my dorm and reading the lyrics while listening from start to finish. Even though this song was one of the singles off of the album that received some radio play, it was not one of my favorites. But any song off of this album definitely takes me back to that beginning. NO SHAME.

2. "Sight, Flight"--Wye Oak, The Knot:
Wye Oak has been on my radar for a few years since they are on Merge Records, a label that I follow religiously. However, I did not lock into this duo from Baltimore until last year's album Civilian. The Knot is the previous album and their sophomore release from 2009. I just bought it recently and have only given it a few listens. This song is one of the more familiar, so it must have gotten my attention. Good stuff that will get more listens. NO SHAME.

3. "Free to Go"--Dwight Yoakam, Tomorrow's Sounds Today:
I associate Dwight Yoakam with the last of the old-style country singers. I have a decent amount of his music but don't listen to it very often. I don't know this song or album very well. The next road trip to Texas may require some more Yoakam on heavy rotation. NO SHAME.

4. "Heart Attack Man"--The Beastie Boys, Ill Communication:
Old School hardcore from the Beasties getting back to their roots. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

SKIP: I have GOT to get this Cal Ripken, Jr. book on tape off of my ipod!

5. "Zak and Sara"--Ben Folds, Ben Folds Live:
One of my top 5 favorite Ben Folds songs. Great Folds storytelling and great live version. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Week of February 27, 2012

1. "Eye-5"--Jawbreaker, Unfun:
I was a big Jawbreaker fan. I came on board around the release of Bivouac, which followed this particular album. I like listening to Jawbreaker but don't remember the names of their songs. This is a solid song. I saw them a few times live, and they were great. I have not been as big a fan of Schwartzenbach's other ventures, like Jets to Brazil, though it is fine. Good stuff, but this song is not necessarily gold. NO SHAME.

2. "Whatever"--Ani Difranco, Living In Clip (Live):
I have seen Ani Difranco live 3 times. She is a great performer, and this album captures her at her best. It is two-discs of her best music. If buying just one Ani Difranco album this would be my recommendation. She is extremely prolific. I prefer the earlier releases. That being said, this song is nothing special; it is more of an instrumental (with some moaning/groaning instead of lyrics for filler). NO SHAME.

3. "Invisible"--Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank:
This was the last full-length album from Modest Mouse and was notable because former Smith's guitarist Johnny Marr was a member of the band. This is a good track, though one of the deeper cuts. I'm not sure how having Johnny Marr in the band impacted their sound, but the album holds together pretty well. As far as I know, he has moved on to other things. NO SHAME.

4. "Make Some Noise"--Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two:
This song is the opening track and first single off of the latest Beastie Boys album. It just came out last year and has been in heavy rotation for me. If you did not see it when it came out, the video for this song is a must-see. The full mini-film version is amazing. From Paul's Boutique to present, I have been a huge Beastie Boys fan. I've only seen them live once and have a scar above my eye to prove it. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

5. "You Could Be Happy"--Snow Patrol, Eyes Open:
Another song from this album came up before. This song is decent but kind of blends into the background without much bite. It sounds like a song for a commercial or "Gray's Anatomy" (see previous post). MEH.

Week of February 20, 2012

1. "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights go out on Broadway)"--Billy Joel, Songs in the Attic:
First ever repeat! Check it out here.

2. "The Angels' Share"--Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Shake the Sheets:
Awesome! One of my favorite Ted Leo songs off of my favorite Ted Leo album. This album was recommended by a friend from Peace Corps. After returning stateside, we were sharing music finds with each other, and Ted Leo was the best to come out of that exchange. I have been a huge fan ever since and own most of his catalog at this point. I generally dig his politics as well. I saw him live once, and he was solid. Without a doubt, SHUFFLE GOLD!!

3. "Shut the Door"--Fugazi, Repeater + 3 Songs:
While the other Fugazi songs that have come up on the blog to this point have been good, this song is a bit more representative of my love for the band. I actually borrowed Repeater from my friend Deb when it first came out and gave it a listen. I suppose I wasn't ready for it. I didn't dislike it, but it did not stick at the time. About 2 years later, after the release of Steady Diet of Nothing, I sought out the rest of the Fugazi catalog. A great song, a great album, and definitely SHUFFLE GOLD!!

4. "Katatonic"--Los Dynamite, Greatest Hits:
My friend Rogelio turned me on to Los Dynamite. They have a full-on 80s vibe going on, ala Franz Ferdinand. In particular, the bass lines are awesome. They are from Mexico City and are solid. NO SHAME.

5. "I Wanna Know Girls"--Portastatic, Some Small History:
Portastatic is Mac McCaughan's solo project when he is not the front man for Superchunk. I'm a huge fan of Mac's songwriting and dig most of the Portastatic. This song is off of the album Bright Ideas, but is an acoustic version on this b-side and unreleased 2-disc compilation. It is one of my favorite Portastatic songs and served me well while waiting for a new Superchunk album. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Week of February 13, 2012

1. "Looking For A Way Out"--Uncle Tupelo, Still Feel Gone:
As mentioned before, I liked some Uncle Tupelo. I was never a huge fan. This song is clearly one of Jay Farrar's songs. Even though I have become a fan of Wilco, I always preferred Farrar's voice and songs to Tweedy's. NO SHAME.

2. "2000 Light Years Away"--Green Day, Foot in Mouth (live):
One of the first songs that I heard by Green Day. I love the early stuff and became a fan of theirs before they hit it big. I saw them multiple times in clubs. They were awesome live, and this album captures it pretty well. I am still a fan. A great song, the opener of Kerplunk, and definitely SHUFFLE GOLD!!

3. "Wasteland"--Artificial Peace, 20 Years of Dischord (Disc 1):
I love box sets, and this box set celebrated Dischord Record's 20th birthday. I have no particular memory of this song. It sounds like pretty standard D.C. hardcore. I've read about Artificial Peace but only know their music from compilations like these. MEH.

4. "Sameday"--J. Mascis & The Fog, More Light:
J. Mascis & The Fog was the Mascis vehicle between essentially being Dinosaur Jr. with hired help and reforming the original band with Murph and Lou Barlow. I believe there are a couple of Fog albums, but I only own this one. This album came out while I was overseas, so I was not aware of this venture until he was about done with it. It is pretty standard Mascis fare. I like it, but it is not Dinosaur. NO SHAME.

5. "Boston"--Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend:
I have listened to this album a handful of times. It is hit or miss for me. They kind of have a minimalist ska thing going--kind of ska without any real edge to it. They work in some strings on this song, and he does some pretty singing. I find that I keep coming back for more listens, but can't fully decide if I am a fan. Until I can figure it out, NO SHAME.

Week of February 6, 2012

1. "Best of Both Worlds"--Van Halen, Live Right Here Right Now:
Unbelievable! The week that the first studio album from Van Halen in 14 years is coming out, and we get some VFH. Of course, this is one of the better songs off of the first album featuring Sammy Hagar on vocals. As I've said in the past, I'm not too big into the singer debate, though Cherone was definitely a disaster. I'm excited but realistic about the new album. The old stuff is too deeply imbedded to be overshadowed by this new album. Needless to say, especially this week, this here is SHUFFLE GOLD!!

2. "Fight Like a Brave"--Red Hot Chili Peppers, Uplift Mofo Party Plan:
FINALLY! A solid RHCPs song shows up on the shuffle. This was the first album that I listened to by the RHCPs. A friend put a different song from this album on a mix tape for me, and I was hooked by this album. By the time I came on board, Hillel Slovak had died, and they were releasing Mother's Milk. I saw them live multiple times over the next 3 years. These are the RHCPs that I love and miss. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

SKIP: An "intro" to a Fugazi live album. Just a couple of people introducing the band.

3. "Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights go out on Broadway)"--Billy Joel, Songs in the Attic:
This is the opening song on Billy Joel's first live album. Not sure that I have listened to this all the way through. Based on this opener, I need to. Great sound and solid representation of Joel live. NO SHAME.

4. "Arlandria"--FooFighers, Wasting Light:
This song is one of the strongest on the most recent Foo Fighters albums. This album has been in heavy rotation for me for the better part of the last year--it was released last April. I'm definitely a fan of the Foo Fighters. They are a consistent, solid rock band. I think it is fair to say that Grohl is not known as merely the former drummer of Nirvana. He has made his own name and, in my opinion, surpassed Cobain in many respects. NO SHAME.

5. "The Days of Wine and Roses"--Oranj Symphonette, Plays Mancini:
This song is just under a minute and does very little for me. However, the story behind this band holds a special memory. My wife and I honeymooned in San Francisco. We sought out some live music and found this band. They played all Mancini covers. The band's claim to fame is that they were Tom Waits's band at one point. Dave Brubek's son, Matt, was the bassist/cellist, and Joe Gore, who also played guitar for P.J. Harvey, were two of the bigger names in the band. They were great live, and we bought this CD as a souvenir. NO SHAME.

Week of January 30, 2012

1. "More Cigarettes"--The Replacements, Sorry Ma, I forgot to take out the trash:
Admittedly, I did not get on board with the Replacements until their last 2 albums. However, I became a pretty big fan. One of my live show highlights was seeing Paul Westerberg solo in Austin. He played 30 songs! (half from the Replacements catalog). He did not play this one, but it's a good song from an early Replacements album. NO SHAME.

2. "She's a Jar"--Wilco, Summerteeth:
Wilco was an acquired taste for me. I liked some of the Uncle Tupelo, but basically followed Son Volt after their breakup. My friend Doug forced me to consider the awesomeness of Yankee Fox Trot Hotel, which helped, but I was not fully on board until seeing them live for the Sky Blue Sky tour. They were amazing live. I picked up the rest of their catalog after that. All that being said, I'm not very familiar with this particular album, and this song is not doing a lot for me. Actually, this song is a good example of why it took me so long to get into the band. MEH.

3. "It's all in the Movies"--Merle Haggard, Legendary Hits (disc 1):
I love Merle Haggard insofar as he reminds me of my dad. This was his music when I was growing up. Merle's voice brings that back (along with Waylon and Willie and the boys). Not a huge fan of the country ballad, so MEH.

4. "Shaktar Donetsk"--Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, Global A Go-Go:
With the breakup of the Clash, throughout the late 80s and 90s I listened to more Big Audio Dynamite than any of Strummer's solo stuff. The Mescaleros was one of his later projects, and I have come to it late, but ultimately I think it will hold up better over time than the B.A.D. I have only given this particular album multiple listens and need to pick up the others, but it is solid. NO SHAME.

5. "House of Suffering"--Bad Brains, The Youth Are Getting Restless:
As far as live albums go, this one is a winner. If you need to own some Bad Brains, this live album would serve as an awesome greatest hits. A solid song, but not necessarily a favorite. NO SHAME.

Week of January23, 2012

1. "Who Stole the Soul"--Public Enemy, Fear of a Black Planet:
This album is the last one I really listened to by Public Enemy. They were one of the first rap bands that got my attention. My friend Bill put their first tape in on the way to school back in 1987, so I was actually ahead of the curve for once. While I prefer the first two albums, this one had some strong stuff. This song is not a particular standout for me. However, I should take this opportunity to brag about meeting Chuck D. He was a speaker at my grad school around 2006, and I got the opportunity to meet him. It was just a handshake and a hello, but it was awesome! He is an amazing dude and very down to earth. NO SHAME.

2. "Glamourpuss"--Hoodoo Gurus, Magnum Cum Louder:
I believe this is the second appearance by the Hoodoo Gurus on the blog. I listened to this album a lot when it came out but, except for the single "Come Anytime," the album has not stood the test of time. I find that on each album, the Hoodoo Gurus would have one or two strong singles and the rest of the album would do little for me. MEH.

3. "Perfecting Loneliness"--Jets to Brazil, Perfecting Loneliness:
The title track here is one of the stronger ones on this album. This second album by Blake Schwarzenbach's second band (formerly of Jawbreaker) was less interesting to me. Jets to Brazil's first album was better for me. I was a huge Jawbreaker fan in their day. I saw them live a couple of times, and they never disappointed. Years later I learned that they were considered "emo," which was not a term in my day. Jets to Brazil never lived up to Jawbreaker for me. Recently, Schwarzenbach has had a couple of projects go bust, most recently the forgetters, which recorded an e.p. but apparently broke up before completing a full length album. We'll see. NO SHAME.

4. "The Lie and How We Told It"--Annie Hayden, SCORE! 20 Years of Merge, Volume 4:
I enjoy box sets. SCORE! was a subscription box set the year that Merge Records celebrated its 20th birthday. Every 2 months I received 2 cds in the mail. Each cd in the box set was curated by a "special guest" who selected songs from the Merge catalog to make a mix cd. It was a brilliant idea. Lots of cool people curated. This particular volume was curated by Georgia Hubley, the drummer of Yo La Tengo. All of that being said, no matter how cool the box set, I do not necessarily love all the songs. This one by Annie Hayden just does not do much for me. MEH.

5. "LockDown"--Fugazi, Live Series Volume 16 (Disc 2): New York, NY:
These live series discs are all amazing. I give the link every time a live Fugazi song comes up, so go here if you want to get some live Fugazi, just like their live shows back in the day, only $5 apiece. Great song, great live version. NO SHAME.

Week of January 16, 2012

1. "She's Long Gone"--The Black Keys, Brothers:
These guys seem particularly hot right now. This album brought them to my attention and seems to be the one to get them spots on late night television. They just released a new album and were on SNL, one of the few musical acts on SNL recently that has been watchable. I definitely get the hype and like what they do. I am not completely hooked, but only because the bluesy hooks are only good for me in small doses. IMO, they are kind of a newer and slightly mellower version of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. NO SHAME.

2. "Miner's Prayer"--Dwight Yoakam, Dwight Live:
I definitely dig Dwight Yoakam. I don't listen to him a ton, but he is old school country for me. My friend Danny has kept me into Dwight. To be honest, at least half the reason I love Dwight Yoakam is due to his portrayal of Doyle Hargraves in the movie Sling Blade; he is absolutely brilliant in that movie. I like his live albums as well. NO SHAME.

3. "Don't Stop"--Fleetwood Mac, Rumors:
I suppose my appreciation of Rumors will give away my age to a big degree (not that I haven't already with all of my 80s rock references). It is definitely one of the best albums from the era. Great songwriting and strong beginning to end. I grew up with good ole' album rock radio in the 70s and 80s. Fleetwood Mac was a radio band for me. Later, I bought the full album, as well as their greatest hits. This song is on both and a true Fleetwood Mac staple. NO SHAME.

4. "Little Saint Nick"--The Beach Boys, Now That's What I Call Christmas:
My friend Mark hooked me up with most of the Christmas music that I own. This song pops up about a month too late. I did see the Beach Boys live when they played a post-game show in the Astrodome after an Astros game. I was pretty young. Not a huge Beach Boys fan, but they bring out some nostalgia. Given it is January, this song is a MEH for this shuffle.

5. "Dumb it Down"--Office of Future Plans, S/T:
In contrast to the last song, this song is perfectly timed. I hinted that this album would come out in some of my earliest posts when some Jawbox covers came up. Office of Future Plans is J. Robbins's new band (formerly of Government Issue, Jawbox, Burning Airlines, and Channels). Cellist Gordon Withers, who came up in those two previous shuffles covering Jawbox songs, is in this band as well. The album is a Dischord Records release and has not disappointed. I think it is J.'s best stuff since Jawbox. A new release, on heavy rotation currently, and SHUFFLE GOLD!!

Week of January 9, 2012

1. "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love"--Van Halen, Dressed to Kill (live bootleg):
Considering the first full-length studio album with David Lee Roth on vocals since 1984 will be released in a month, and the first single from that album is coming out tomorrow, this is the perfect opening to this week's blog. "Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" is one of my all time favorite songs by VH. This live version is good but has standard, sub-par, bootleg production. Great song. I can't imagine any of the new songs will live up to this single, but not many have. SHUFFLE GOLD!!

2. "South of Round Rock, Texas"--Dale Watson, Cheatin' Heart Attack:
Not a great song to follow VH, but a great song nonetheless. A very catchy, country dance hall song. My friend took me to see Dale Watson at the Broken Spoke in Austin nearly 10 years ago. He is a proponent of old style country music and often blasts Nashville music as not country. If you are a Waylon and Willie fan, pick up some Dale Watson. By the way, in case you are not familiar with TX, the town just south of Round Rock, TX is Austin. NO SHAME.

3. "Bed for the Scraping"--Fugazi, Live Series Volume 16, in NYC:
As mentioned in a previous post, Fugazi has recently made hundreds of their live shows available digitally through their website. About 10 years ago, they put 30 of those shows on CD and made them available. Those are all out of print now but of course can be purchased digitally. Great live version of this song, one of their later ones, and good Ian banter at the end. NO SHAME.

4. "Make This Go On Forever"--Snow Patrol, Eyes Open:
A friend turned me onto Snow Patrol with their album Final Straw, in 2003. I really liked that album. This album followed in 2006 and received love from the t.v. show "Gray's Anatomy." I suppose I should have seen that as a bad sign, but I did like this album. Since then they have released two other albums. I have heard one but not the most recent. I think they are a good band but I lost some interest over time. Though often compared to Coldplay, I never found that comparison to be terribly significant or legitimate. NO SHAME.

5. "Powerline"--Husker Du, New Day Rising:
The second Bob Mould song in 3 weeks. I am a huge fan of his. Two weeks ago was Sugar; this week we have Husker Du, his first three-piece band. Husker Du was an amazing band in the 80s. I got on the Husker Du train at the very end, essentially as they were breaking up. I came to most of their music later. New Day Rising is one of my favorite albums, but "Powerline" is a deeper cut for me. Solid, but not gold. NO SHAME.