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The Friday Five: September 14, 2012

Michael Parr September 14, 2012 27

The Friday Five

Friday Five : |ˈfrīdā – fīv| : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button in iTunes and share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up the media player of your choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

The Five:

“Cassavetes” by Fugazi (from In on the Kill Taker, 1993)

A recent feature over on Stereogum sent me scrambling to listen to the band’s oveure; if for nothing else than to ensure my memory was correct, and that ’93s In on the Kill Taker deserved to be much higher than number six on a bottom to top ranking of the group’s records. I’ll readily admit that Kill Taker was my introduction to the band, and therefore I’m biased, but it still stands above Red Medicine in my book.

“Pictures in an Exhibition” by Death Cab for Cutie (from Something About Airplanes, 1998)

I pull this record out from time to time to remember why I love Death Cab. This song, in particular, along with “Champagne From a Paper Cup” were my intorduction to the band.

“Rescue Me” by A Taste of Honey (from Summertime, Volume 3, 2012)

Man, this Friday Five is just flying by! We’re three songs in and it’s barely been five minutes.

I’m going to go ahead and assume that you all have downloaded DJ Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie’s latest Summertime mixtape. I particularly love Jeff’s penchant for rocking the sampled track–in this case “Rescue Me” provides the very familiar hook to Positive K’s “I Got a Man”–in and out of the featured cut. Each of these Summertime mixtapes have been a history lesson in Hip-Hop, and are well worth the listen.

Oh, and they are free.

“Tag Team Partners” by Living Colour (from Time’s Up, 1990)

I barely had enough time to type out the title before this one was over. An odd segue from a brilliant record.

“Best Imitation of Myself (demo – 1992)” by Ben Folds (from The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective, 2011)

I’ve said it here before, and I’m saying it again: I’m not much of a Folds fan. I do actually like this tune, though.

What’s on your shuffle today?

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About the author: Michael Parr View all posts by
Husband, Father, Writer, Musical Voyeur, Pop Culture Glutton, Gourmet in Training. I'm the tall guy behind all these short guys. You can find me on the Twitter.


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  • http://www.theseconddisc.com Mike Duquette

    “Best Imitation” is a standout Folds track, Parr. I say that with all the excitement of seeing Ben Folds Five tonight, so take that for what it’s worth. Anyway, FIIIIIIIVE

    1. No Doubt, “Settle Down”: Totally ignored the existence of the new single in its first few weeks. What a mistake! I really dig it. Whatever that second-to-last chord change is in the chorus, it really gets me in a good mood. I got high hopes for the new album now, that’s for sure.

    2. R.E.M., “Perfect Circle”: remember the “five-albums test” The A.V. Club kicked about last year? The alternative theory that you could measure a band’s greatness by their having five consecutive great albums? R.E.M. got that on lock with the I.R.S. albums. The piano lines are entrancing to me.

    3. Ben Folds Five, “Julianne (Original Version)”: hahaha, good one Shuffle! This alternate version of a rollicking track from the band’s first album comes from a scrapped version of that album recorded for EMI (and released in part on the aforementioned “Best Imitation” retrospective). It’s wayyyy more laid back than the familiar album version, with some band-rule-breaking guitar licks and almost alt-country-ish vibe.

    4. Squeeze, “Touching Me, Touching You (Live @ Hammersmith 1980)”: some of the more staid moments on Squeeze’s first two LPs were really fleshed out live. This show, from a deluxe edition of “Argybargy” released a few years back, proves that nicely.

    5. Jody Watley, “Real Love”: take us out, Jody! Have a great weekend, all.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I can’t express enough just how much I love that new No Doubt track. Seriously, that is an instant party starter. As a matter of fact, I’m going to go listen to it now!

  • Rock_dawg

    “Disposable Heroes” – Metallica, Master of Puppets
    My favourite Metallica album and one of the tracks that makes it so damn awesome.

    “She’s So Beautiful” – Cliff Richard, Private Collection 1979-1988
    That was a painful transition… Some pleasant pop fluff.

    “Someday, Someway” – Marshall Crenshaw, Rhino Hi-Five
    One day, if I ever have the time (yeah right), I will put together a list of what I think are the greatest songs of all time. This song will cruise somewhere into the top 40 or even 30. Just a flawless song.

    “Nycteris” – Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard, Batman Begins
    For reasons that are probably obvious, the scores from the Nolan Batman movies have been on my iPod all summer. Wikipedia tells me that the track titles on this album are all breeds of bats.

    “The Right Place To Fade” – Lindsey Buckingham, Gift of Screws
    A great rocker in the spirit of “Second Hand News”. Just saw Lindsey on his solo tour last weekend. As usual he was brilliant, but the show (held at a casino) was way too short and many people (probably comped) left a few songs in. The experience left a bad taste in my mouth and I don’t see myself taking in any casino shows in the near future.

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    So I cheated a little on this Five. Knowing that today was probably going to be a bit too crazy for me to actually listen to the tracks and jot down my thoughts, I decided to do mine last night and simply post it today.

    Soundgarden – “Fell On Black Days” (Superunknown, 1994)
    This is probably one of my favorite Superunknown tracks, as much for the fact that I can actually sing along with Cornell (at least until he hits the “How would I know” and “Sure don’t mind the change” parts) as for any other reason. I never understood why “Black Hole Sun” received so much more attention than this one.

    Them Crooked Vultures – “Bandoliers” (Them Crooked Vultures, 2009)
    “Bandoliers” isn’t my favorite TCV song, but it sure does remind me that I don’t listen to this album nearly enough. Here’s hoping that Grohl finds time to team up again with Josh Homme and John Paul Jones during the Foos’ upcoming break.

    Queen – “In the Lap of the Gods” (Sheer Heart Attack, 1974)Sheer Heart Attack is quite possibly my favorite Queen album front-to-back, containing some of my all-time favorite Queen numbers. And Roy Thomas Baker’s production on it is genius. I have very fond memories of spinning the vinyl in my bedroom as a teenager more than a decade after it was released. I still can’t get over how dynamic it is for and album put out in 19-freakin’-74.

    King’s X – “All the Same” (Live at Cardi’s, Houston bootleg, 1987)
    I wrote a mini synopsis of this live bootleg here on my blog sometime back. Suffice it to say this is early King’s X trying to find the sound that they would eventually introduce on Out of the Silent Planet. This particular track probably comes from the band’s early days as Sneak Preview as it sounds quite a bit like the independently-released eponymous album from that incarnation of the band or the reworked versions of songs from that period that made their way onto King’s X’s Black Like Sunday. That’s a nice way of saying that while the band is an incredibly tight live unit even this early in its career, the song itself is nothing special.

    The Subteens – “Amy Anymore”
    The Subteens was a local Midtown Memphis favorite during the late 90s and early 00s before self-destructing after only two albums. This is a live, raw, barebones unreleased demo of a song that appeared on their debut Burn Your Cardigan. Their bass player also just so happens to be a friend of mine, as well as being former co-worker and my favorite rock ‘n’ roll snob. You can go here to listen to this demo, and if that piques your interest, you can check out Burn Your Cardigan in its entirety here or here.

  • Rock_dawg

    I’ve also avoided the new No Doubt song, but it sounds like I’ll have to check it out.
    Enjoy the BF5 show. I’m going in October when they hit Toronto and can’t wait!

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    “Disposable Heroes”

    Love.

    “Someday, Someway”

    And love. Have I mentioned before how eclectic my musical tastes are?!

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    “Someday, Someway” is damn near a perfect pop song. I don’t remember loving it when I was young as much as I do now, but it definitely ranks in my top 50 tunes.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    “Fell on Black Days” > “Black Hole Sun”

    Seriously, I’ll venture the guess that if “Fell on Black Days” had a trippy video that received half as much air time as “Black Hole Sun” did, it would have been a huge tune for the band.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I didn’t care for it the first time I heard it, but it has turned out to be a real grower for me. Check the live performance on Fallon, that—plus the “oh so typical No Doubt” video—is what changed my mind, and sold me on the tune.

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    Instead we got that awesome black-and-harsh-white real live performance video for “Fell on Black Days.” That stupid trippy video for “Black Hole Sun” is what made me hate the song in the first place.

  • jhallCORE

    1) “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Greatest Hits, 1993).
    2) “God” – Prince (The Hits/The B-Sides, 1993).
    3) “Evil” – Ana Egge (Bad Blood, 2011).
    4) “Longing In Their Hearts” – Bonnie Raitt (Road Tested, 1995).
    5) “I’ve Been To Memphis” – Lyle Lovett (Live In Texas, 1999).

    Enjoy the weekend.

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    Running a little late today, I’ve got things to do, and I’m taking my lunch break to post this Five. That’s as good an introduction as you’ll get.

    1) Monty Python – Cannibalism.

    I’ve got a love of comedy discs, going back to my childhood love of Bill Cosby LPs. I picked up Monty Python’s The Final Rip Off, and it’s been in my rotation ever since. It’s a good way to start off this Five. Just don’t eat the gammy leg.

    2) The Police – Truth Hits Everyone

    I’ll admit, I didn’t know this song before I bought their Definitive Collection, but I do like it. It’s The Police. What’s not to love (except for Don’t Stand So Close to Me ’86)?

    3) Suppe – Light Calvary

    I could use this classical interlude to go out and add the little ‘ above the e, but it’s Friday, and I’m feeling a bit lazy. Oh, I know, at 6:45, I have plenty of time, and Google is my friend, but I’m just not feeling it.

    4) Baja Marimba Band – Flyin’ High

    Collector’s Choice Music, years ago, put out a “best of” of the Baja Marimba Band, and I pre-ordered that sucker as soon as I heard of it. It’s a great collection, and if you like that kinda music, see if you can get your hands on one. Not mine, though. Find your own.

    5) Harry Belafonte – Mama Look a Boo Boo (live)

    Mr. Belafonte is one of the finest performers, ever. This was off his Essential disc that came out a few years ago, and is a good live version. Can’t go wrong when your Five includes someone with this level of talent.

    Okay, my lunch break’s almost over. Have to go back to work in a few. I can finish listening to the five and look forward to the weekend.

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    Oh, and I haven’t downloaded the mixtape…yet. Thanks for the heads-up!

  • http://twitter.com/IrishJava Dennis Corrigan

    In between the office and my son’s birthday party, here’s my Friday Five:

    1. “A Shot of Rhythm and Blues” by The Beatles from Live at the BBC. An interesting collection of tracks recorded live for various BBC shows, including Pop Goes the Beatles in 1963 from which this comes
    2. “Hot Dog” by the Four Shells from the Complete Stax/Volt SIngles: 1959-1968, Vol. 5. On a 9 CD set, there are bound to be a few tracks that are just kind of OK – like this one
    3. “Orphans” by The Gaslight Anthem from American Slang. I’ve like but not loved their past two records
    4. “Poor Fractured Atlas” by Costello & Nieve from Costello & Nieve Disc 1 – Los Angeles. A cool 5 CD live set of just Elvis and long-time Attractions keyboard player Steve Nieve.
    5. “At My Most Beautiful” by R.E.M. from Up. As the years go by, this album gets better and better. This one could have been a Brian Wilson song.

    Hope you hear something great this weekend!

  • http://twitter.com/IrishJava Dennis Corrigan

    R.E.M. never did better than their IRS records

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I respectfully say: hogwash!

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    I can’t tell you the last time I heard “Someday, Someway”. Thank you for reminding me. :)

  • http://www.bastardradio.com steed

    “Unforgiven” by Metallica.
    – One day I will remove this track, as I really never need to hear it again but it’s there because it was once a good tune.

    “Betcha’ll Never Find” by Chantay Savage
    – I had to stop working and sway a little bit to this smooth R&B ditty.

    “Love Is On the Way” by Saigon Kick
    – I just hugged myself.

    “The Long Con” by Human Toilet
    The record is good but I really keep it around because the band is called HUMAN TOILET.

    “Norland” by Bathory
    – One of Viking Metal’s finest moments.

  • http://www.facebook.com/link.crawford Link Crawford

    1) “One More Day” – Chicago, Chicago 18
    An awful ballad off an awful album. Why do I have it? Because I have everything by Chicago.
    2) “Question” – The Moody Blues, some Moody Blues compilation
    3) “Tired of Being Alone” – Al Green, some ’70′s pop compilation
    4) “Bad Blood” – Neil Sedaka, Neil Sedaka’s Greatest Hits
    Great song with a flute and a Bo Diddley beat
    5) “Rock this Town” – The Stray Cats, Built for Speed
    Fine look back at rockabilly.

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    “Love Is On the Way” by Saigon Kick

    I can see it in your eyes…

  • MC_Snocap

    Man of few words today… except I’m liking that I’m learning to identify regular posters from their 5s.

    1) “Dancing with Myself” by Billy Idol
    2) “Being Boring” by Pet Shop Boys
    3) “Light My Fire (Live)” by Massive Attack – A bit of a slog, but it did segue into the next song very nicely …
    4) “Voulez Vous” by Arling & Cameron – Very chilled out. Not an Abba cover.
    5) “Invasion of the Octopus People” by DJ Qbert – Qbert again? “Random” is fakin’.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    “Why do I have it? Because I have everything by Chicago.”

    Clearly, you are among friends.

  • EightE1

    Wynonna Judd, “Tell Me Why”
    Bee Gees, “You Should Be Dancing”
    Dennis Wilson, “Pacific Ocean Blue”
    Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere”
    Frank Sinatra, “Stars Fell on Alabama”

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    Damn, that is a whiplash inducing shuffle.

  • BRock

    The Rolling Stones – “You Got Me Rocking” (Voodoo Lounge)
    Always a great debate as to when the Stones “jumped the shark” and became a nostalgia act. This is definitely a highlight from the “post-shark” period.
    The Seldom Scene – “Wait A Minute” (Old Train)
    Kentucky boys love their bluegrass. Well, any kind of grass, really.
    Joe Strummer – “Cool N Out” (Streetcore)
    Joe’s post-Clash output was sporadic and that was a shame.
    Rage Against The Machine – “Bulls On Parade” (Evil Empire)
    Maybe Paul Ryan was misquoted and his favorite band is actually Insane Clown Posse?
    Dave Edmunds – “I Hear You Knocking” (Collection)
    If only Dave & Nick Lowe could have got along better, we’d have more than one Rockpile record.
    Bonus Track:
    Lucinda Williams – “Joy” (Live @ the Fillmore)
    This f#%king rocks!

  • EightE1

    No shit. My neck hurts.

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    2) The Police – Truth Hits Everyone
    I’ll admit, I didn’t know this song before I bought their Definitive Collection, but I do like it. It’s The Police. What’s not to love (except for Don’t Stand So Close to Me ’86)?

    Love this song. This is the kind of stuff that I wish the Police had continued to put out during their entire career (although I do like their more polished radio-friendly 80s material) — punk-influenced with just enough of the pop they would soon base their sound on. I think this is where Copeland would have liked for the band to stay as well.