The Friday Five: July 17, 2015

Friday Five : |ˈfrÄ«dā – fÄ«v| : 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:

“A Trick With No Sleeve” by Alain Johannes, Dave Grohl & Josh Homme (from Sound City – Real to Reel, 2013)

This record has lost a good bit of its shine in the years since its release, and this tune didn’t do too much for me in the first place. Next!

“Everybody Learns From Disaster” by Dashboard Confessional (from After the Ending, 2009)

There are records in my library that, upon shuffling up, demand further inspection—this is not always a good thing. In recent months I’ve noticed a shift from the hoarding mentality that I’ve spent most of my music-loving career embodying, to crafting a more carefully curated collection of records that truly spark my emotions. This particular Dashboard Confessional record doesn’t stir much of anything, so it is being relegated to my newest playlist, titled “Last Chance CafÁ©.”

“Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” by The Smithereens (from The Big ’80s Christmas, 2001)

No. Nope, not yet.

…and then a funny thing happened, I found myself listening. I do not believe in the whole “Christmas in July” thing. I blanched at the sight of the local Hallmark store putting up their Christmas ornament displays (seriously, it’s July, it is too early.) However, The Smithereens deliver a such a non-holiday version of this tune that I couldn’t help but listen.

“The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)” by The Decemberists (from The Hazards of Love, 2009)

My admiration for Colin Meloy and his merry band of chamber pop stalwarts has only grown, exponentially, with each new record the group releases.

“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor (from Billboard Top Hits: 1979, 1991)

From certified disco smash, to gay anthem, to the hymn of too-tipsy white girls all over the world; Gloria Gaynor might just might have the most successful “one-hit wonder” of all time.

What’s on your shuffle today?