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Michael Bennett writes

iPod/MP3 Friday Shuffle — Happy Birthday Sam Cooke Edition

Chicago has such a rich musical history and one of the greatest talents to come out of our fair city was Sam Cooke. He bridged gospel roots with an urban sensibility — it’s like he found the midpoint between Ray Charles and Nat King Cole, capable of being as smooth as silk or gritty and down home. On top of that, he was a ridiculously talented songwriter, penning hit after hit and influencing so many of the great soul singers who followed him. What a wonderful world this would be if you would get your iPod/MP3 player, hit shuffle and share the first 10 tunes that come up! (NOTE: the 11th tune on my shuffle this morning was Cooke’s “Sugar Dumpling”).

  1. Gaza Strippers — D Is For Dead (Laced Candy): The Strippers were Rick Sims’ band after Didjits. At one level, they weren’t much different than Didjits — more fast punky songs with Sims’ fingers flying on the fretboard making sounds like a mess of pissed off hornets leaving the nest and lots of lyrics about being a badass. But the Strippers had a bit more of metal orientation that both tied them a bit to the ’70s and even moreso to ’90s contemporaries like Hellacopters. As a result, I preferred Didjits, but still dug the Strippers, and this is one the better songs off of the band’s debut.
  2. The Streets — Has It Come To This (Original Pirate Material): Gosh, remember how exciting that first Streets record was? A lot of songs about not doing much more than being lazy and getting high over grime and hip-hop beats. Mike Skinner yobbed his way through his insightful lyrics and someone would sing the hook. I wish Skinner would go back to doing that.
  3. The Replacements — Androgynous (Let It Be): I like but don’t love The Replacements. The major label part of their career was more craftsman-like than inspired, in my (decidedly minority) opinion. Their inspiration peaked on Let It Be. Legendary Village Voice music critic Robert Christgau explained that on Let It Be, the ‘mats simply played the music they liked, whether is was loping rockabilly-ish pop (“I Will Dare”), Kiss (the cover of “Black Diamond”), or this tender exploration of folks who like to wear clothing of the opposite sex. Not the deepest treatment of the subject, but it’s not exploitative and is rather affecting.
  4. Velvet Crush — Gentle Breeze (A Single Odessey): The duo of Ric Menck and Paul Chastain made plenty of classic power pop in the ’90s. This singles collection is a great place to start if you want to find out more. This might be my favorite Velvet Crush tune, a pure jangle fest that is steeped in The Byrds and Big Star (they even reference Big Star’s “Way Out West” in the chorus).
  5. Channels — New Logo (Waiting for The Next End Of The World): Both of J. Robbins’ post-Jawbox projects haven’t really deviated from the style he perfected on Jawbox’s For Your Own Special Sweetheart. Jagged guitars, an ultra-tight rhythm section with surprisingly strong melodies. Channels is perhaps a hair less powerful than Jawbox or Burning Airlines and a touch more melodic. And Robbins is still articulately angry, as this song varies from clangorous roar to delicate middle eights.
  6. The House Of Love — Sulphur (1986-88: The Creation Years): A British indie guitar rock band that wasn’t really a shoegazer band but meshed well with that style, House Of Love put out two terrific albums before getting lost trying to figure out its next move. This is from that early period, when they could really do no wrong. Lead singer Guy Chadwick had this interesting low key vocal style that exerted an all-knowing and comforting presence. Meanwhile, there were always lots of great guitar work on top of the sturdy compositions, like this one.
  7. Polara — Allay (Polara): This Minneapolis band was lead by Ed Ackerson, who had previously fronted The 27 Various. Both bands played power poppish indie rock. On Polara’s 1995 debut, Ackerson created a really cool wall of sound, augmenting the guitars with an array of keyboards and percussion sounds, giving Polara a special texture that rocked out enough to hold its own in the alt-rock ’90s. Ackerson also had a voice that sounded a fair amount like Scott Miller of Game Theory and The Loud Family. The debut is great, as is this song, but on subsequent albums, the band got slicker, and less interesting.
  8. Tommy Keene — Love Is The Only Thing That Matters (The Real Underground): Keene is a revered cult figure both in and out of power pop circles. For nearly 30 years, he’s been reliably churning out melancholy pop songs, supported by his wistful, reedy voice and his excellent guitar playing. Keene, who has collaborated with Robert Pollard of Guided By Voices in The Keene Brothers (Tommy’s tunes with Robert’s words) and has been Paul Westerberg’s touring guitarist, is skilled in Big Star style jangle, but also can produce riffs that are catchy and tinged with bittersweet emotion. This is more of a jangly tune.
  9. Northern State — Trinity (Dying In Stereo): Three gals doing old school rap that calls to mind the Beastie Boys? Sure, they’re not as good as the Beasties, but there were some really good songs on their debut. Neither the music nor the lyrics reach the heights of their inspiration, but the bar was set pretty high. More importantly, they have loads of personality, making this a fun listen.
  10. Shoes — Your Imagination (Present Tense/Tongue Twister): This is a pretty power poppy shuffle, and Shoes are also legends if you are into the style. The Zion, Illinois band graduated to Elektra Records after one classic DIY record, and managed to retain their low fi charm with bigger budgets. Shoes boiled down pop songwriting to its basics, drawing from everyone from Buddy Holly to The Beatles to The Raspberries and their best songs have two or three hooks and usually get right to the point. Kind of like a wussier Buzzcocks. This song fits that formula to a T.

Posted on January 22, 2010 • Permalink • 12 Comments

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What They're Saying

sjmick, on Jan 22, 01:22 PM, wrote:

1. Roxy Music – Love is the Drug – (Siren)
2. The Church – Spark (Acoustic) – (Starfish: Remastered)
3. Placebo – 36 Degrees – (Placebo)
4. Morrissey – Everyday is Like Sunday – (Viva Hate)
5. Brian Eno & David Byrne – Moonlight in Glory – (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts)
6. Bryan Ferry – Which Way to Turn – (Mamouna)
7. Fleet Foxes – Heard Them Stirring – (Fleet Foxes)
8. Experimental Aircraft – Electric Surgery – (Thank You for That Perfect Day)
9. Interpol – PDA – (Interpol EP)
10. Magnapop – Get it Right – (Hot Boxing)

Erin V, on Jan 22, 01:52 PM, wrote:

1. Deer Tick “The Ghost” (Born on Flag Day)
2. Hopewell “Hello Radio” (The Birds of Appetite)
3. Bill Callahan “Sycamore” (Woke On a Whaleheart)
4. Iron & Wine “Peng!” (Around the Well)
5. Andrew Bird “Spinney” (Useless Creatures)
6. The Ravonettes “Little Animal” (Chain Gang of Love)
7. Yim Yames “Long, Long, Long” (Tribute To)
8. Art Brut “Am I Normal?” (Art Brut vs. Satan)
9. Langhorne Slim “Sunday By The Sea” (Be Set Free)
10. Wussy “Dreadfully Sorry” (Wussy)

bobby, on Jan 22, 01:52 PM, wrote:

If you’re interested: Colin Meloy, singer of The Decemberists, has a tour only EP entitled Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke that my friend susan described as pretty, but without soul. For Colin’s part, “Summertime” is a little haunting and a little lovely.

Mike Scales, on Jan 22, 02:06 PM, wrote:

1. Soundgarden – 4th Of July (Superunknown)
2. Cali Agents – Banger (Head Of The State)
3. Bad Brains – Natty Dreadlocks ‘pon The Mountain Top (Build A Nation)
4. Dosh – Bury The Ghost (Wolves And Wishes)
5. Soundgarden – Rhinosaur (Down On The Upside)
6. G. Love & Special Sauce – Coming Home (Coast To Coast Motel)
7. Helmet – Biscuits For Smut (Betty)
8. Brother Ali – Walking Away (The Undisputed Truth)
9. Beck – Infero (Odelay)
10. Busdriver – Scoliosis Jones (Jhelli Beam)

Good Stuff! It’s weird though when you get a couple songs from a band you barely ever listen to but still have on your iPod. But what can I say? I still love grunge :)

Kumar McMillan, on Jan 22, 02:18 PM, wrote:

Great one today:

1. Tortoise — Autumn Sweater
2. Jimmie “Bo” Horne — On The Street Corner
3. Gescom — Cut begin
4. Springwell — Come Fill Your Cup
5. Roy Ayers Ubiquity — Ain’t Got Time
6. Phil Manzanera — Frontera
7. The Status Quo — Little Miss Nothing (Singles
8. Animals — Boom Boom
9. Stevie Wonder — Boogie on Reggae Woman
10. The Cure — The 13th
11. Joyce — Aldeia De Ogum

Seth A, on Jan 22, 02:34 PM, wrote:

Luna- Fuzzy Wuzzy (Pup Tent)
Wells, Junior- So Tired (Junior Wells 1957-1963: University Rock)
Lennon, John- Born in a Prison (Some Time In New York City)
Iguanas, The- Flame On (Plastic Silver 9-Volt Heart)
Monk, Thelonious- Eronel (The Complete Blue Note Recordings)
Watson, Doc- Brown’s Ferry Blues (The Vanguard Years)
Beastie Boys- Do It (Ill Communication)
Malathini and the Mahotella Queens- Thokozile (Thokozile)
R.E.M.- I Don’t Sleep, I Dream (Monster)
Deadstring Brothers- Where Are All My Friends? (For A Decade Of Sin: 11 Years Of Bloodshot Records)

beepee, on Jan 22, 02:41 PM, wrote:

1. Swim Team – Baby Teeth (The Simp)
2. White Lies – Nils Lofgren (Nils Lofgren Band Live)
3. Lunchbox/Odd Sox – Paul McCartney (Parlaphone 45, 1980)
4. The Red Shoes – Kate Bush (The Red Shoes)
5. Don’t Listen to the Radio – The Vines
6. Beauty of a Dream – Thomas Dolby (Astronauts & Heretics)
7. Store Bought Bones _ The Raconteurs
8. A Girl Like You – Rascals (Time Peace)
9. A Summer Song – Chad & Jeremy (Rushmore Soundtrack)
10. Delta Lady – Leon Russell

Billy Kalb, on Jan 22, 02:48 PM, wrote:

1. Clinic – Country Mile (Winchester Cathedral): Clinic kind of makes the same record over and over again. I’m okay with that, it being Clinic and all.
2. Yo La Tengo – The Crying of Lot G (And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out): No one fumbles around the question of “are we having a fight?” better than Ira Kaplan.
3. Bjork – You’ve Been Flirting Again (Post): Bjork knows when you’ve been flirting. Bjork knows a lot of things.
4. Animal Collective – Mouth Wooed Her (Sung Tongs): This record was my first exposure to Animal Collective, who at the time I did not get whatsoever. The past 5 years and that Panda Bear record helped a lot.
5. Ted Leo/Pharmacists – Bomb. Repeat. Bomb. (Living With the Living): Well, my iPod is going straight-up indie rock essentials today. I swear, I have some less obvious artists on here somewhere…
6. Mariah Carey – Forever (Greatest Hits): Well, that’s not exactly what I had in mind.
7. Philip Glass – Subterraneans (Low Symphony): Philip Glass reworking Bowie. Redeemed!
8. Justice – D.A.N.C.E. (†): Wow, what happened to these kids?
9. Gang of Four – Love Like Anthrax (No Thanks! The ’70s Punk Rock Rebellion): The noisier single version of the most acidic love song of all.
10. Big Black – Ergot (Songs About Fucking): And we wrap it up with a local classic. iPod shuffle, you’re taking me back to my listening habits circa 2006. What’s the deal?

bobby, on Jan 22, 03:01 PM, wrote:

1. Sam Cooke – Send Me (thought it appropriate to start here, since one must start somewhere.)
2. I Nine – Same In Any Language
3. Marla Hansen – New Zealand (live, from A Take Away Show video blog, obviously check out this blog if you haven’t www.blogotheque.net/-Concerts-a-emporter
4. Camera Obscura – French Navy
5. Rainer Maria – Arificial Light (remember those guys?)
6. The Cure – Lovesong (weird, I was just talking to Emily A. about The Cure)
7. Harvey Danger – Pity and Fear (most under-appreciated band of the 2000’s)
8. Okkervil River – Listening to Otis Redding at Christmas
9. The Thermals – Forward

Erin W, on Jan 22, 04:00 PM, wrote:

1. Trail of Dead- Aged Dolls (Madonna)
2. David Cross- My Child is Enthralling… (It’s Not Funny)
3. Beastie Boys- Something’s Got to Give (Check Your Head)
4. The Cure- Love Song (Disintegration)
5. Dosh- Fireball (Triple Rock)
6. Ariel Pink- Helen (Haunted Graffiti)
7. The Specials- Nite Klub (Specials)
8. Ben Folds Five- Ultimate Sacrifice (Naked Baby Photos)
9. Talking Heads- Take me to the River (Sand in the Vaseline)
10. Sigur Ros- Untitled 7 (Parentheses)

duder, on Jan 22, 05:05 PM, wrote:

1. Complicated Game – Poster Children
2. Acid Tongue – Jenny Lewis
3. Sweet Jane – Cowboy Junkies
4. I’m So Tired – The Beatles
5. Nothing Left To Say – Cage
6. Aria mit 30 Veränderungen, BWV 988 “Goldberg Variations” – Var. 1 a 1 Clav. – Andras Schiff
7. Infra Estrutura – Nelson Sargent
8. No Surprises – Radiohead
9. La Pistola y El Corazon – Los Lobos
10. The Chase – RZA

m.ardaiolo, on Jan 23, 03:48 AM, wrote:

1. Black Wyrm Seed – Walls of Sodom (Black Wyrm Seed): Damn right, slow-burning Chicago psych. Straight from the Plustapes collection, Sabbath-infused, stoner-friendly, hyphen-friendly and a little better every time I listen.

2. Frank Black – Calistan (Teenager of the Year): My boys over at Reckless Records swear by this record. It’s no Pixies album, but it does get my head nodding every time. Simply solid alternative rock.

3. Slum Village – Tell Me feat. D’Angelo (Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 2): Man, it’s too bad this pairing didn’t happen more often. Dilla just knows the exact degree of stutter to make a groovy keyboard sample bounce. It’s post-modern soul.

4. Steve Reid – Nova (Nova): I’m glad drummer Steve Reid has had such a successful resurgence. His 70s records, like Nova, are kaleidoscopes of funky outside jazz. The arrangements are insane, but they always find a groove.

5. Lee Hazlewood – The Night Before (Cowboy in Sweden): Thank god for Lee Hazlewood. Tracks like this one, a somber mix of psychedelia, soul, country and baroque pop, are timeless and primed for almost any mood I’m in.

6. MILF meets Minorscene – Constans (White Jack Dub) (Connections): Off a rad (and free!) compilation from ~scape Records, two micro-techno artists collaborate for a slightly predictable but enjoyable track. I dig a little ambient dub now and again.

7. Lacy Gibson – The Sky is Crying (The Singles): Backstreet Chicago blues and midnight R&B, not exactly what you’d expect from Sun Ra’s label Saturn. But here it is, compiled nicely on a 2-disc set of 45s from the experimental imprint.

8. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Foxy Lady (Monterey International Pop Festival): Jimi at his peak point, burning guitar, self-explanatory.

9. EPMD – Jane II (Unfinished Business): EPMD’s Unfinished Business two weeks in a row! Every time I hear this record, I’m amazed how bad ass EPMD was despite Erick and Parrish being only so-so rappers.

10. He Zemin and Huang Peiying – Big Idiot Buys a Pig (Victrola Favorites): Apparently 30s Hong Kong music is fucking amazing and ridiculous. God bless Dust-to-Digital for bringing these sounds into my life.

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