CHIRP: The Chicago Independent Radio Project

Michael Bennett writes

Friday iPod/MP3 Shuffle -- Happy Birthday Thomas Dolby Edition

Let’s say a happy birthday to a man who was in town just last week. Thomas Dolby got his start playing in Bruce Wooley and the Camera Club, writing songs with Lena Lovich and playing sessions with Foreigner (that’s him playing keyboards on “Waiting for a Girl Like You”). He eventually went out on his own, debuting with the terrific Golden Age Of Wireless album. His mix of electronics with regular instrumentation was creative and he had ample songwriting chops. He then hit with “She Blinded Me With Science”. From there, Dolby experimented with various approaches and when his career stalled, he went on to work on various aspects of instruments and sound. He still tours and entertains to this day. So in Dolby’s honor, please get out your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and share the first 10 songs that come up.

1. The Who — 5:15 (Quadrophenia): I think Quadrophenia is probably my second favorite Who album, right behind The Who Sell Out. I think Pete Townshend’s arena sized music was as creative as ever, with so many songs reaching dramatic high points. This song is no exception, a driving horn fueled track with a great Roger Daltrey vocal and a nifty bridge into the chorus. Keith Moon manages to stay in control just enough, but still unleashes some great fills when given the chance.
2. Midnight Oil — Outside World (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1): I think that Midnight Oil’s fourth and fifth albums (this one and the following Red Sails In The Sunset) are the closest any ’80s band came to replicating The Who’s ’70s mix of artiness and hard rock. This is the lead track off this album, with Peter Garrett singing over a mix of sequencers and pretty keyboard parts, with Rob Hirst occasionally making his presence felt on drums and bit of guitar. This song is all about tension, which is released often on this classic album.
3. Lupe Fiasco — Free Chilly (Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool): I think Fiasco’s second album is my favorite of his. It’s a nice mix of some really intense rhyming and more melodic and accessible songs. This is a short between cuts interlude that sounds like it had the makings of a nice pop song. Wish he had fleshed it out.
4. Bonzo Dog Band — I’m The Urban Spaceman (The Best of the Bonzo Dog Band): This British comedy rock act managed a left field Top 40 hit in the U.K. with this jocular number composed by Paul McCartney. While the Bonzos came up with their fair share of melodic pop tunes, none were as straightforward as this song, that was a bit in the vein of Mungo Jerry and The Lovin’ Spoonful, still rendered in the music hall/vaudeville vibe of a lot of the Bonzos best. And the kazoo solo is really good.
5. Gary Numan — Night Talk (Dance): On Numan’s third solo album, he charted a new direction, moving into moodier, ambient territory, closer to the music of bands like Japan. This was only somewhat successful, but when it worked, as it did on this track, it was pretty cool. The verses are moody with funky bass and lots of keyboard sounds, but he still finds a way to insert a forceful memorable chorus.
6. LCD Soundsystem —- New York, I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down (Sound of Silver): This track from the second LCD Soundsystem album was certainly a surprise, as James Murphy sings a very sincere paean to his home city. This is a straightforward piano ballad, with Murphy’s normal guy vocals adding to the song.
7. The Velvet Underground — I’m Set Free (Closet Mix)(Peel Slowly and See): A pretty number from the Velvets, with underpinnings of both R & B and folk rock. Lou Reed shows off a greater vocal range than we’re used to. Other than Moe Tucker’s distnictive drumming as the song heads to the chorus, this song is very traditional compared to a lot of Velvet Undergound material. Great song, by the way.
8. The Minutemen — On Trial (Post Mersh, Vol. 3): This is a brief live track from The Minutemen. a typical quick burst with D. Boon’s passionate vocal over a herky-jerky rhtythm with a couple of bursts of dynamics. A lot takes place in just about a minute.
9. Game Theory — Shark Pretty (Distortion): This is the song that made me a Game Theory fan for life, from their second EP. This song has a floating yet driving melody and a strong drum beat with multiple hooks, from Scott Miller’s strong guitar lines to the chorus which only comes in at the end. The song is simply a breathless rush with just enough twists and turns and everyone in the band gives an electric performance. This song never ceases to invigorate me.
10. Gil Scott-Heron — Where Did The Night Go (I’m New Here): Scott-Heron’s final album married his lyrics, on many tracks, to chilly electronic backing. On some songs, Scott-Heron narrated in the style we’re familiar with, declamatory and authoritative. Most of the tracks are poems and ruminations, little snippets that work very well. This is one of those snippets, as Gil’s story of wasting away the night works so well with the throbbing vibe beneath him.