IPod Shuffle - May 8, 2007

1. Bob Dylan – “Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance”
I haven’t managed a single IPod shuffle without including a Bob Dylan track. My IPod must be a big fan. It’s a good song though. Other than that, there is not much I can say.


2. The Essex Green – “Slope Song”
I downloaded this whole album back when we were writing music reviews on this site, but never wrote about it. Overall, I wasn’t impressed by it… but this song, along with a couple of others, is very good.


3. Enuff Z’Nuff – “Man with a Woman”
Say what you will, and I know Josh will, these guys can write a good little number. Like a lot of their stuff, this reminds me of a cross between Elvis Costello and John Lennon… with a dash of Cheap Trick and Lenny Kravitz.


4. U2 – “Daddy’s Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car”
I remember listening to this song while driving to play rehearsals back in high school… in the middle of winter… sliding around on the iced streets…hoping I didn’t crash the car. Cool song.


5. U2 – “Pride”
I knew early on that this wasn’t going to be a winning shuffle, so I won’t complain about the back-to-back U2 songs. At one point, I disliked “Pride.” Then I saw U2 play it live and it really made me appreciate it. Now, I see why it’s so loved. Rest in peace MLK.


6. Joseph Arthur – “Electrical Storm”
I don’t know much about Joseph Arthur, but was prompted to check him out after hearing his song “Around The Sun” as covered by Michael Stipe. This is a cool track. Not a bad songwriter.


7. Chris Robinson – “Better than the Sun”
I really disliked this album when I first picked it up; save a few songs. To get straight to the point, I found it boring. But like a lot of boring albums, key tracks really standout when placed in a different environment (mixes, shuffles). Not a bad song, Mr. Robinson. Reminds me of something Josh Rouse would write.


8. The Good, The Bad and The Queen – “Herculean”
Leave it to Josh to find and add this song to a mix months before the album saw a proper release. Part of me wants to lecture the kid about ruining surprises, but then he does make some stellar mixes, doesn’t he? Till the day I die, Damon Albarn’s vocals will make me think of The Josh.


9. Dave Matthews Band – “The Dreaming Tree”
My IPod has been favoring this album lately, and interestingly enough I’ve been enjoying everything I’ve heard. On a side note, I used to wonder if the image on this cover was taken from his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia (wherever the hell that was). The answer is no, but the irony is, how did I end up here?


10. The Scorpions – “It All Depends”
If you like 70s rock and 70s metal, you’d like early Scorpions. I’m not being apologetic about it either. It’s good stuff, very much in the vein of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath (minus the occult).


IPod Shuffle - May 1, 2007

1. Kings of Leon – “Soft”
My new favorite band from the past couple of years. A lot of critics like to complain about the sophomoric lyrics behind these songs, but I say, “come on!” Did Jagger write great poetry? No. He wrote about chicks too. Rock on you sweet Kings of Leon!


2. Dave Matthews Band – “The Stone”
This track opens in a very cinematic nature… sounding more like James Horner than Dave and the boys. Definitely one of DMB’s more interesting songs. The strings that close this song are stunning... it then goes into a little bluegrass jam. Good stuff.


3. The Offspring – Damn It, I Changed Again
Wow, interesting transition that actually worked very well. I know these guys don’t have much new or significant to offer the world, but they have a handful of songs that really grab the adolescent in me. This came out when I was in California, so good memories are attached.


4. U2 – “Trip Through Your Wires”
I would put The Joshua Tree on a top 100 albums of all time list. There is a magic in the songs and production. I love how an Irish band was able to make an almost definitive American album. This particular song isn’t the first that comes to mind when discussing The Joshua Tree, but it’s a great country track with superb lyrics.


5. John Mellencamp – “To The River”
This transition works well too. By far my favorite John Mellencamp album. Human Wheels is dark, reflective, and, as with all of his 90s albums, it nicely avoids the Americana sentiments that plague his more popular work. This is the album that got me into him; a back door, if you will, into an artist more diverse than realized.


6. R.E.M. – “I’ll Take The Rain”
Reveal is the last R.E.M. album I purchased (2002?). The lush, syrupy production really turned me off, as did Michael Stipes’ more generic lyrics. When I hear tracks individually, they hold better… as evident here. Still, it’s R.E.M. trying to find itself with the loss of Bill Berry. Had they left these songs stripped and raw, they’d have something grand.


7. John Mellencamp – “Chance Meeting at the Tarantula”
It may be another Mellencamp track, but at least IPod is pulling album highlights rather than singles. This is a great track and I saw the Cougar on this album’s accompanying tour (Red Rocks). Again, I can’t help but be partial to his 90s albums. He really did his own thing and didn’t write to please radio or MTV.


8. Bob Dylan – “Lonesome Day Blues”
The great thing about Bob Dylan, in my opinion, is how relevant he has been throughout his career. Who would have thought that his last three albums would be jewels in a career spanning over forty-years?


9. Foo Fighters – “Next Year”
From the acoustic album, Skin and Bones. Again, the more I hear this live album, the more I really enjoy it. It’s nice to hear the accordion on a Foo Fighters track, really compliments the Mellencamp songs.


10. Neil Young – “Walk On”
Neil, why haven’t you remastered your back catalogue? Your albums from the 70s are masterpieces. One just needs to listen to Decade to hear your brilliance. I love this song, Neil. Keep walking, brotha.


IPod Shuffle - April 24, 2007

1. Concrete Blonde – “Someday?”
One of my favorite post-high school discoveries, Concrete Blonde is essentially an edgier, more gothic version of The Pretenders. “Someday?” is a perfect example of The Pretenders’ influence. A nice little ballad. I highly recommend checking out their album Bloodletting if you are ever interested.


2. Dave Matthews – “Gravedigger”
I lost interest in Dave Matthews when their third album came out. From then on, they didn’t do much for me. Too many of their songs feel like distilled jam sessions. Seldom do they have a really good melody (in my opinion). This track from Dave’s solo album, however, is an exception. I enjoy this one, but still am not a DMB fan (sorry Charlottesville).


3. R.E.M. – “7 Chinese Bros”
From their second album. I don’t have much to say about this particular track, but Reckoning is a great album. I didn’t get into the IRS, “college era” of R.E.M. because I was listening to Europe and White Lion at the time. Plus, I was 12 years old.


4. Radiohead – “Blow Out”
Yes, I’m partial to Pablo Honey, the album most Radiohead fans like to ignore. There is something about this album that really grabs me. It’s raw, honest, and a bit less pretentious, albeit less accomplished, than their latter albums. This song has a fantastic ending.


5. My Chemical Romance – “Thank You For The Venom”
I didn’t bother checking out any of the emo bands because, well, they felt so Hot Topic to me; the darlings of a younger, less mature generation. I decided, however, to be less discriminatory after hearing Welcome To The Black Parade. That album was very well done and I give My Chemical Romance credit where credit is due. This early stuff sounds like harder Blink 182 to me, but I can see why they are popular.


6. Justin Combs – “Porch Song”
Ah, my little brother makes his first IPod shuffle appearance. This is a nice track… guitar and mandolin. One of favorites of Justin’s instrumental compositions.


7. Lashes – “Yesterday Feel Like A Year”
A friend sent me this album. I really liked this track and added it to my 2006 mixes. Fun song.


8. Bob Dylan – “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts”
Wow, Josh and I both scored tracks from Blood on the Tracks. I think I would like to take a road trip across America… with nothing else but Dylan albums to listen to.


9. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – “In Like The Rose”
I’m such a disingenuous fan of these guys. I admire them greatly and really enjoy Howl, but I have invested very little time into really absorbing their work. It’s great stuff, but they often feel like non-essential listening. So, I essentially never listen to them.


10. R.E.M. – “Catapult”
One of my favorite tracks from Murmer. My IPod is loving R.E.M. today. Maybe he’s trying to warm up Josh on the boys from Athens. Someday, Josh will jump through the Michael Stipe window and embrace these guys. ‘Til then, rock that Pavement!


FINAL THOUGHTS: Nothing here embarrasses me, so that is a good thing. Still, not anywhere as good as last week. I wouldn’t revisit this shuffle, so I therefore concede a loss.

IPod Shuffle - April 17, 2007

1. Bob Dylan – “It’s Not Dark Yet”
Simply put, this is probably the most powerful “personal” song in Dylan’s catalogue. It’s thematically similar to “Don’t Think Twice,” only this song finds the character at the end of the day on the brink of despair. Amazing song.


2. Frank Black – “Don’t Cry That Way”
My goodness, this song perfectly follows Dylan’s melancholy musings. Here, Frank, backed by a session of Nashville players, goes country in a remarkable up-tempo ballad.


3. Super Furry Animals – “Psyclone!”
Great transition. Thought this was Bowie at first. I can see why Josh is such a big fan of these guys. Frankly, he won me over by playing Gruff’s solo stuff. It’s high time I really absorb these albums.


4. Stevie Wonder – “Evil”
Another wonderful transition. I’m getting a lot of the same artists from last week, but so far, this is a remarkable set. Good enough to burn to disc (knock on wood).


5. The Soundtrack of Our Lives – “Royal Explosion (Part II)”
Nice!! Great transition. These guys remind me a bit of Super Furry Animals and are from the same scene I believe. I had mixed feelings about this album when it first came out, but it has grown on me quite a bit. Good stuff!


6. Sufjan Stevens – “The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders”
An amazing album that I should really breakdown and purchase. Sufjan has such diversity and his music plays like a motion picture extravaganza (Charlie Brown, Wes Anderson, all wrapped up into one).


7. Bob Dylan – “Mr. Tamborine Man”
Two songs by the same artist can typically kill a mix and/or a shuffle. But Dylan eschews all of the rules. This is seriously playing like an alternative soundtrack to the Wonder Boys. Nicely done IPod!


8. Black Sabbath – “Changes”
My goodness, even Black Sabbath is playing by the rules. Ozzy laments the loss of innocence and the loss of his beloved woman. Great track. Piano, voice, light strings. Not your typical Sabbath, a very welcomed addition to this shuffle.


9. Radiohead – “There, There” (Demo)
Great transition. A demo version to Radiohead’s best song from Hail To The Theif. The melancholy echo of the percussion really makes this song fit nicely in this mix. One more track to go! Could this be my greatest IPod shuffle to date?


10. U2 – “If You Were That Velvet Dress”
Okay, I hereby declare this my most successful shuffle to date. Thematically--in lyric and sound--these songs all fit like a glove. Pop is such a strange album, but each track has it’s own individual merit. This is really unlike anything U2 has done before or since.


IPod Shuffle - April 10, 2007
1. R.E.M. - Underneath The Bunker
From Life's Rich Pageant, this track has a western, surf guitar vibe. Could have been used in a Tarantino film. Fun filler and really different for R.E.M. A fun beginning to this shuffle.

2. The Black Crowes - Better When You're Not Alone
A nice transition takes us to The Crowes! This one is for you Sir Loin! One of my favorite albums from The Black Crowes. I think it's their most Zeppelin-inspired effort, although this particular track comes closer to resembling The Faces (as does most of their stuff).

3. Pixes - Distance Equals Rate Times Time
Not the smoothest transition and not the best Pixies song either. Frank Black (Black Francis) has a vision... and sings about the lack of television. What the hell was he smoking back then? The Pixies rule, but Trompe Le Monde suffers in comparison to their stronger material.

4. Concrete Blonde - God Is A Bullet (live)
"God is a bullet, have mercy on us everyone!" Johnette Napolitano and company sing a protest song about gun violence, dedicating it to the Los Angeles police department. Thanks to guns, we lost John Lennon and Martin Luthor King... but we also get to eat meat.

5. Damone - Out Here All Night
This track reminds me of The Runaways (and Wheatus). I don't know if it's a girl or a guy singing on this song, but it's fun pop metal... a free track from ITunes that I actually like.

6. Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry
These guys were last year's critical darlings, but I haven't really spent much time listening to their work. This track, I will confess, isn't anything new... but it has a nice vibe. They are supposed to be rather diverse, so I'll have to check these guys out further. Final note, great album cover.

7. Stevie Wonder - Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away
A sweet transition (sweet as in light and comforting). Stevie's work is new to me. I wrote him off in part to that horrible song he did with Paul McCartney ("Ebony and Ivory"). I was truly ignorant to the man's greatness and these early albums are well worth checking out. If only this track had followed The Black Crowes on this shuffle, we would have been on to something grand.

8. Motorhead - Under The Gun
Lemmy (the Johnny Cash of heavy metal) blasts Stevie Wonder's peaceful landscape out of the water in this jarring transition. But you can't go from Stevie Wonder to Motorhead without taking casualties... and you can't listen to Motorhead without craving a shot of tequila and a lap dance.

9. Pearl Jam - Life Wasted (reprise)
My favorite version of this track. Eddie Vedder vocals and an organ. And that's it. Simple and pure. "I've tasted a life wasted...I'm never going back again..."

10. Bob Dylan - Standing in the Doorway
Wow, what a great transition. The themes lineup perfectly. This is a great Dylan album. I totally prefer it to his last two efforts. It's more reflective and haunting... more thematically sound. The first Dylan album I ever purchased.

Final thoughts: This is supposed to be Jon's return to form... and a slew of weak transitions on this shuffle puts him in line for an eligible win. Still, there was some good stuff and a stellar comeback is in the works.