Random 10 for June 28, 2007
1. The Go Find, “Dictionary.”
2. The Flaming Lips, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Almost too pointillistically accurate until it gets into the “Beshmillah!” section, then it will remind you of those uber-demonic vocal arrangements Dave Fridmann and the boys put together during the Priest-Driven Ambulance period.
3. Hot Chip, “Colours.”
4. Saint Etienne, “Sun in My Morning.”
5. Dustin O’Halloran, “Opus 23.”
6. Patton Oswalt, “Wackity Schmackity Doo!” Our sick troll friend could peel the happy off the Wiggles with the ferocity of his brilliantly nasty standup. He never goes where you expect, and Werewolves and Lollipops is a worthy follow-up to 2004′s Feelin’ Kinda Patton. He is my favorite current comedian, and I’d listen to him in the car if I weren’t either afraid of plowing into the divider or turning my son into a complete sicko ahead of his time. On Werewolves, he takes down a heckler with such merciless rancor that the guy’s probably either still crying or turned monastic, or both.
7. The Fratellis, “Whistle For the Choir.”
8. Papercuts, “Dear Employee.”
9. Dios, “Starting Five.”
10. Shuggie Otis, “Happy House.” Everyone who hears Inspiration Information is an instant convert. For those who don’t know the story, Shuggie is the son of Johnny Otis and recorded only one unreleased disc in the early ’70s before disappearing. Earlier this decade, David Byrne and Luaka Bop unearthed the disc and re-released it, and it still sounds remarkably fresh. It also includes his 1969 original version of “Strawberry Letter 23,” later recorded by the Brothers Johnson at the request of Quincy Jones. Shuggie is known to show up and play at bars around the Bay Area, but it seems no amount of adoration can get the man into a studio again.
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Comments
Its not an ipod mix but I am really liking the Live Glastonbury CD in the current Q mag. All Live Tracks recorded at Glastonbury.
1 The Killers, The Mr Brightside
2 Franz Ferdinand, Matinée
3 Kaiser Chiefs, Everyday I Love You Less And Less
4 Echo & The Bunnymen, Rescue
5 Stereophonics, A Thousand Trees
6 Bloc Party, Helicopter
7 PJ Harvey, Down By The Water
8 Doves, There Goes The Fear
9 Athlete, Wires
10 Keane, Somewhere Only We Know
11 Zero 7, Get Thy Bearings
12 Mercury Rev, Holes
13 Pet Shop Boys, Young Offender
14 Orbital, The Box
I love your blog! I must say, though, that “For those who don’t know the story, Shuggie is the son of Johnny Otis and recorded only one unreleased disc in the early ’70s before disappearing.” makes it sound like Shuggie only recorded one album. In reality, Shuggie released several very cool albums on Columbia in the late-60′s and early-70′s, including a great “Kooper Session” one with Al Kooper. Two of these are available on a two-fer from Austalia’s Raven Records. Thank you, though, for helping spread the word about Shuggie. Maybe people will seek out the other albums. FYI…Strawberry Letter 23 was originally on “Freedom Flight”. Here is the story from Artist Direct (I believe this version is correct, as far as it being the Brothers Johnson suggesting the song to Quincy, as opposed to the other way around): George Johnson of the Brothers Johnson was dating one of Otis’ cousins and gave Johnson a copy of Freedom Flight. Immediately, he liked “Ice Cold Daydream” and “Strawberry Letter 23.” The latter song was played at his brother Louis Johnson’s wedding during the wedding march. Louis suggested the song to their producer Quincy Jones for an album track. The track’s complex guitar solo was played by Lee Ritenour. The Brothers Johnson version is quite close to Otis’ original version.
1. The Who, One Life’s Enough
2. They Might Be Giants, Employee of the Month
3. Ira Glass (This American Life episode), Throwing the First Punch
4. Barenaked Ladies, Same Thing
5. The Pixies, Santo
6. Jem, Maybe I’m Amazed
7. Fountains of Wayne, Can’t Get It Out of My Head
8. Bright Eyes, Theme from Pinata
9. Radiohead, The Gloaming
10. They Might Be Giants, I’ve Got a Match
Also, it’s good to have you back in a non-spam infested place.