The Josh starts the shuffle this week, enjoy!
Since it seems my iPod is shitting the bed once again, I'm using my mediocre work iTunes library. Here goes my craptastic shuffle:
1. Busta Rhymes - Together
This song is weak. Really generic Swizz Beats production, Busta is alright on it, but this song is tough to even listen to really. And terrible R&B Ho singing on the chorus. What a piece of crap, way to let me down Busta.
2. The Hold Steady - First Night
This is a cool song, I need to give this album more spin. I love the really full piano to this song, and the lead singer's vocals have a cool sound. Really cool song, but one I'm not super familiar with, so not that much to say about it. The song really builds though, a lot of good rockers on this album.
3. Chopin - Nocturne No. 2 In E-Flat
I love every Piano piece I've heard from Chopin pretty much. It's very hushed beautiful stuff. I ripped a 6 CD set Joel ordered from TV of all the great Classical songs on one set for really cheap, and it actually kind of kicks ass, because as well as some obscure stuff it also has all those songs that were on the Looney Tunes cartoons, and when one of those comes up I can always see Chriz smile over at his desk.
4. Paul McCartney - Silly Love Songs
I heart this song. It's cheesy as all get out, but man does it make you wanna shake your hips Disco-style. And I love the little industrial intro. Pmac at his most sentimental, and part of why he's my hero. Pmac for President!
5. Pavement - Best Friend's Arm
Do I really need to profess my love for Pavement again? Off the fantastic Wowee Zowee album. The song bursts at you like a Punk jam and ends with a singalong. Wowee zowee indeed.
6. Blockhead - Quiet Storm
Blockhead is a diverse Hip-Hop producer. He does a lot of Aesop Rock's beats and had some stuff on the most recent Cage album. This is his second solo album, instrumental beats, really cool stuff. Not that familiar with this track, but I like the sound of it. All his solo stuff is very melancholy sounding, and I can get with that. Some nice little organ that go into horns, and some filtered drums. I like it. And about 4 minutes in the track kicks in to some heavy bombastic drums. Nicely done, Blockhead.
7. None More Black - You Suck! But Your Peanut Butter Is OK
I have no idea where I got this from, but it sucks. And so does its' peanut butter. Cookie cutter NOFX type punker pop. This is getting deleted.
8. A.C. Newman - Better Than Most
Love this song, love this album. The main man from The New Pornographers, AC Newman. This is off of his incredibly underrated solo album which came out two or three years ago. Great stomping little song, cool vocal effects and really snarling guitar stabs and smashing drums. Reminds me of George Harrison solo material for some reason.
9. Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Trust Us(Take 9)
A bonus track off of the Safe As Milk remaster. Meandering a little, but really cool little guitar line, and they kick into a nice little shuffle eventually. Love me some Beefheart. This one sounds drug-influenced...
10. Raphael Saadiq - Faithful
I like Saadiq, talented dude. But this is bullshit. I'm not even saying anything about this, it's just generic.
What a pretty suckass shuffle. Please have better ones than I did.
Crusader Shuffle • 02/13/2007 • El Chriz
1. The Rolling Stones - Neighbors
From Tattoo You, a decent latter-day Stones album... and by latter-day, we are meaning early 80s. That makes this album over 25 years old. Is that still latter-day? I don't know. Cool little song though.
2. Metallica - St. Anger
This is the first proper Metallica album I had bought since 1991's "Black Album." I didn't dig the Load-era stuff but was intrigued by the new direction St. Anger promised. A lot of people hate this album. I think it's worthy and appreciate the fact that the Metallica boys tried something different. Plus, I love Lar's tight snare. Sounds like he's wailing on a frying pan.
3. Kings of Leon - The Bucket
Possibly one of my favorite new bands of the past few years. And guess who turned me onto these guys? That's right. It was The Josh. This track, along with nearly ever track from Aha Shake Heartbreak just kicks ass. And how about them vocals? Great stuff. I love it. Love it, I say!
4. Pete Yorn - Closet
This is from Yorn's first album Music For The Morning After. Honeslty, I don't recognize this track, though I maintain that it comes from a solid album. One of the great things about the IPod shuffle... old stuff becomes new... and skipped tracks take a front seat.
5. The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Love)
There is nothing I can say about this song that hasn't been said before. It's gorgeous and this particular version is even more haunting than the original. I actually like the missing piano. The focus here is on Harrison. George Martin and son add some new strings that really make this weeper. Plus, I love the additional lyrics from this take.
6. Queens of the Stone Age - Gonna Leave You
Wow, both The Josh and I thought this was Elastica at first. I first heard this album at Wildstorm and thought it sucked (what the fuck!?). True story. I think it was being played on a shitty stereo, on a shitty day, and I couldn't really get into it. The Josh again brought this album to my attention and I've gone a full 180 degress.
7. Great White - Angel Song
I never liked this song.
8. U2 - Please
From Pop. Atmospheric and depressing. For a short time, U2 wasn't afraid to explore the darker side of life. This is a cool track that would do well in a Michael Mann film.
9. Frank Black - Calistan
From Teenager of the Year, my favorite Frank Black album. 22 tracks and not a single stinker. This came out before the luxury of the internet. I wasn't sure if Frank Black was Black Francis from The Pixies... so I spent $16.00 on a correct guess. The album is really the bridge between The Pixies and Frank's solo work. Highly recommended.
10. Pearl Jam - Off He Goes
This is my favorite track for No Code and possibly my favorite Pearl Jam ballad. I believe Vedder wrote this song about a friend who is living on the edge of life... and is headed for a crash. A touching song with some very nice acoustic guitar work.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Mostly average tracks by strong contenders. Great White brings this down a point, as does, Metallica. Let's hope Jon's is stronger.
