Shuffle
A random selection of songs, aided by my ipod’s shuffle function, as I get back into the swing of things after two vacations…
As the title indicates, a peace-and-hope offering to one’s own violent self. A Lou Reed-ish lead vocal from M. Gira and great ray-of-sun guitars and vocals in the back from the Akron/Family wildboys.
Shifting gears completely, a nice verbal attack from Mama Said Knock You Out. “I’m like a shark with blood comin’ out the gills.”
What to say…you all know this song, right?
I’ve been catching up with this ‘80s band for the first time lately: great stuff. I have nothing of critical worth to say yet, I’m just enjoying.
Such a gorgeous duet, a contemplative love song considering regrets and failures and hopes from the past. Its most heartbreaking moment: “She’s never liked me that’s for sure / I don’t like me anymore.”
I love the shaky rhythm to this song off Bitter Tea; the offbeatness of it is so fitting for this band that seems out to do whatever the hell they want, all the time.
MMJ’s can rock large and wildly, but at the same time there’s nothing better than Jim James’ voice soaring over a lone guitar. “Tell me I’m wrong / tell me I’m right / tell me there’s nobody else in the world.”
It’s hard for me to separate this moody David Axelrod-produced love ballad from the classic De La Soul song that sampled it heavily – “I Am I Be,” one of the most powerfully introspective hip-hop songs ever. But this song is gorgeous too, with such a seductive atmosphere and a humble, direct lead vocal from Rawls.
“Why can’t we take off tonight / ‘round the world and back by light.” Dean Wells’ eccentric little DIY pop-rock songs can be awfully romantic at times.
A fitting final song for anything, even a meager top 10 list, right?
