1. "Clampdown"--The Clash, London Calling (1980):
This song is one of my all time favorites by the Clash, from one of my all time favorite albums. No album is better from start to finish than Londong Calling. Since we are so close to Christmas, I will reveal that at the top of my wish list this year is the newest box set from the Clash, Sound System. 100% SHUFFLE GOLD!!
2. "England's Dreaming"--Cornershop, SCORE! 20 Years of Merge Records, Volume 1: Peter Buck (2009):
Albums from this anniversary box set have come up before. This particular album was curated by Peter Buck. I was not familiar with this song or band before I received this CD. They were an indie British band, and Merge records released an album of theirs in 1995, which contained this song. It's a pretty solid tune. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.
3. "Europa and the Pirate Twins"--Thomas Dolby, The Golden Age of Wireless (1982):
This song is off of the same album that gave us one of my favorite 80s tunes, "She Blinded Me with Science." This song, however, does not do much for me. I was shocked that there is a video for this song. I don't remember it as a single. As much as I respect Thomas Dolby as a musician, I like his hit so much better than anything else I have heard from him that it warps my listening of his other work. Anyway, MEH on this one.
4. "Summertime Blues"--The Who, Live at Leeds (1970):
The Who cover the American classic on this live album. This single peaked at 38 on the UK charts and 27 on the US. Personally, I love this version as the Who definitely made it their own. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.
5. "Friend of a Friend"--Foo Fighters, In Your Honor [Disc 2] (2005):
I'm a fan of the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl has done an amazing job of establishing himself as his own artist above and beyond Nirvana. However, this song's acoustic guitar has a Nirvana vibe in the opening. If I remember correctly, this 2nd disc from the double album was mostly "softer" Foo songs. I am not as interested in these tunes. This song is not one that I am clamoring to hear over and over. MEH.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
End of Semester Shuffle
1. "Backward"--Quicksand, Manic Compression (1995):
The opening track on Quicksand's second and final album is awesome. Walter Schreifels is one of my top singer/songwriters with the number of great bands he has fronted (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools, et al). Quicksand has played a couple of reunion shows but there is no sign of them actually recording again. Rival Schools is pretty active, and I highly recommend their music. Like most songs on this album, "Backward" is absolutely SHUFFLE GOLD!!
2. "Desire"--Toad the Wet Sprocket, Coil (1997):
Toad the Wet Sprocket is one of those "I found them first" bands. My friends and I played songs from their album Pale on our college radio shows before they found a commercial audience with the album Fear. This album was a couple of albums later and had one song that received some commercial play, "Come Down." I actually like this album a lot, though I think the band went on hiatus shortly thereafter. As another 90s behind who is still doing the work, the band put out a new album just a couple of months ago, New Constellation. "Desire" is a solid Toad song and one of the stronger tracks on this album, fully SHUFFLE GOODNESS.
3. "Lorelei"--Office of Future Plans, S/T (2011):
J. Robbins's (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels) latest venture, Office of Future Plans is on Dischord Records and is absolutely amazing. This band is under the radar but is my favorite work of J.'s, second only to Jawbox. Gordon Withers plays cello, bringing a different feel to the band's post-punk, D.C. sound. This song is my favorite off of their self-titled album and is sweet, SHUFFLE GOLD!!
4. "Racehorses"--Wild Flag, S/T (2011):
This shuffle is a full 90s revival. Wild Flag is a super group of 90s musicians, most notably Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney, and Mary Timony of Helium. The album is on Merge Records, and the band made the rounds for a couple of years. Weiss just recently stated that the band basically has already run its course. This album is excellent from start to finish, and this song is a solid Brownstein track. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.
5. "For Esme"--Jawbreaker, Live 4/30/96 (1999):
There are not too many better ways to end a 90s revival shuffle than a live Jawbreaker song. I believe this song is one of the non-studio songs that was on this live recording. While often labeled as an Emo band who existed before Emo was a label, I find the label a bit misleading. While Blake's lyrics may lend themselves to that label, I'm not sure the music fits. These guys considered themselves a Bay Area punk band. They were great live, and this song captures that. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.
The opening track on Quicksand's second and final album is awesome. Walter Schreifels is one of my top singer/songwriters with the number of great bands he has fronted (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools, et al). Quicksand has played a couple of reunion shows but there is no sign of them actually recording again. Rival Schools is pretty active, and I highly recommend their music. Like most songs on this album, "Backward" is absolutely SHUFFLE GOLD!!
2. "Desire"--Toad the Wet Sprocket, Coil (1997):
Toad the Wet Sprocket is one of those "I found them first" bands. My friends and I played songs from their album Pale on our college radio shows before they found a commercial audience with the album Fear. This album was a couple of albums later and had one song that received some commercial play, "Come Down." I actually like this album a lot, though I think the band went on hiatus shortly thereafter. As another 90s behind who is still doing the work, the band put out a new album just a couple of months ago, New Constellation. "Desire" is a solid Toad song and one of the stronger tracks on this album, fully SHUFFLE GOODNESS.
3. "Lorelei"--Office of Future Plans, S/T (2011):
J. Robbins's (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels) latest venture, Office of Future Plans is on Dischord Records and is absolutely amazing. This band is under the radar but is my favorite work of J.'s, second only to Jawbox. Gordon Withers plays cello, bringing a different feel to the band's post-punk, D.C. sound. This song is my favorite off of their self-titled album and is sweet, SHUFFLE GOLD!!
4. "Racehorses"--Wild Flag, S/T (2011):
This shuffle is a full 90s revival. Wild Flag is a super group of 90s musicians, most notably Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney, and Mary Timony of Helium. The album is on Merge Records, and the band made the rounds for a couple of years. Weiss just recently stated that the band basically has already run its course. This album is excellent from start to finish, and this song is a solid Brownstein track. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.
5. "For Esme"--Jawbreaker, Live 4/30/96 (1999):
There are not too many better ways to end a 90s revival shuffle than a live Jawbreaker song. I believe this song is one of the non-studio songs that was on this live recording. While often labeled as an Emo band who existed before Emo was a label, I find the label a bit misleading. While Blake's lyrics may lend themselves to that label, I'm not sure the music fits. These guys considered themselves a Bay Area punk band. They were great live, and this song captures that. SHUFFLE GOODNESS.
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