iTunes Randomizer #15

Silver Jews “Federal Dust” (from American Water 1998)

An album I’ve always admired yet never owned (having the MP3s does not constitute ownership, in my book), some of the best SJ songs are on here, but my favorite LP of theirs remains Tanglewood Numbers. Good-to-great song, it’s just that I prefer my Joos a little lighter on the Malkmus.

iTunes Randomizer #14

Michael Head & The Strands “Queen Matilda” (from The Magical World of the Strands 1997)

iTunes Randomizer #13

Christophe “Sunny Road to Salina” (from the La Route De Salina OST 1970)

Also appears on the very highly recommended Dirty French Psychedelics compilation and is used in Kill Bill 2.

iTunes Randomizer #12

Echo & the Bunnymen “Crocodiles” (from Crocodiles 1980)

First LP is my favorite, but their first four are all necessary records, in my opinion.

iTunes Randomizer #12

Thomas Fehlmann “Strahlensatz” (from Honigpumpe 2007)

Don’t really know much about this guy, buy I have this record in my iTunes and it’s pretty awesome.

iTunes Randomizer #11

Rev-Lons “After Last Night” (from the After Last Night 7” 1964)

Group put together by Gary S. Paxton.

iTunes Randomizer #10

Galaxie 500 “Pride” (from Demo Tape 1987)

If there was ever a band whose demo tapes I’d be interested in hearing, Galaxie 500 would be it. This was evidently circulated on cassette prior to their signing to Rough Trade and before the release of On Fire in 1989. As you can see from the tracklist above, there were only three songs, but they circulated a few with some extra tracks of which “Pride” was one. I got my (mp3) copy  from the excellent Doomandgloomfromthetomb tumblr.

iTunes Randomizer #9

Leonard Cohen “Lover Lover Lover” (from New Skin for the Old Ceremony 1974)

Sometimes my favorite Cohen LP (wavers between Songs of Love and Hate and Live Songs), but definitely the one I come back to most often. I guess I really love all of his records (up to and including 1979’s Recent Songs, after that it’s just songs here and there) each in certain ways, but this one has the perfect balance between his seemingly tossed-off profundity and enlightened playfulness that informs all my favorite things he does.

iTunes Randomizer #8

Cardinal “Silver Machines” (from Cardinal 1994)

Loved this record when it first released, and it still sounds great now. It served as an intro to the work of Richard Davies for me and some of his records both solo and as a member of The Moles are favorites of mine now. Never really followed Eric Matthews career post his first solo record but it seems they’ve been working on a follow-up. We’ll see what comes of that but they’ve got a lot to live up to, because Cardinal is a seriously great record.

iTunes Randomizer #7

Paul McCartney “Did We Meet Somewhere Before?” (from the Rock ‘N’ Roll High School OST 1979)

The first time I saw this film I didn’t even really notice this song. Later, during repeated viewings, I noticed and it was jarring. I thought it was a weird choice. Later on soundtracks became more carefully compiled and merchandising and marketing a film became more of an important factor, but back then they must have been super happy just to get an unreleased Paul MCartney song. And remember: it was Cheap Trick, not the Ramones that the film makers wanted for this film initially.

iTunes Randomizer #5

Eddie Kendricks “If You Let Me” (from People…Hold On 1972)

I’d been searching for this on vinyl for quite a while and so I was pleased to find it a Backroom Records for really cheap. Problem was, the reason it was so cheap was because it was badly scratched and scuffed-up, so much so that Warren offered it to me for free. I’m no picky collector - I was happy to take it - but it does sound bad (and makes me fear for my needle), so I’m still keeping an eye out for a better copy. Great record, all-around.

iTunes Randomizer #4

Blue Orchids “Disney Boys” (from the The Flood/Disney Boys 7” 1980)

Sometimes I like these guys even more than the band from whence they came (The Fall), but only their early singles (of which this is the first) and first record -The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain)- from 1982.

iTunes Randomizer #3

Moon Duo “Killing Time” (from the Killing Time EP 2009)

Second release from this Wooden Shjips off-shoot. I liked the Killing Time EP better than their first (Love on the Sea EP, also 2009), which I found way too aimless, but realized that they would probably always hold limited appeal for me so I gave up on them soon after. Still this was a fun release and I’ve returned to it a few times since.  If I’m remembering correctly. 2009 was a pretty good year for music.

iTunes Randomizer #2

Bob Dylan “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go” (from Blood On the Tracks - New York Sessions, recorded 1974)

Probably a record I should spend a little more time with, but I’m not the huge fan everyone else seems to be of the officially released version, so… I mean, I like it, but it’s not in my top 5 (for the record, The Basement Tapes is my favorite BD LP). That said, excellent song and I’m happy this bootleg exists.

iTunes Randomizer #1 

Scott Walker “Cowbells Shakin’” (from Til the Band Comes In 1970)

Nice start to the new series. One of my favorite Scott Engel songs from a pretty great and overlooked record. Covered this one.