5 Song Shuffle Vol. 6

My iTunes library, as of September 26, 2010, has 20,686 songs in it. Some are novelty downloads, some i have because i'm a completionist, some i rarely (if have ever) listened to. So, in this new blog segment, i will let shuffle pick out random songs (without personal editing to hide embarrasing and/or lame songs), and i will write about what i think of them, plus any details i an give about how it was procured. At current rate (and if my iTunes never repeats a song...) this will be the sixth in at least a 4,000 part series.

Song #1 - "Wake Up Call" - They Might Be Giants

From their first album intended for children, No!, which Erin and i got at a bingo event at my work. A quasi-instrumental with a nice bass line from the always tasteful Danny Weinkauf. Not much to say - the track is less than 2 minutes long without a B section.

Song #2 - "Tight Black Rubber (solo)" - Black Francis

From the first of two (so far) live shows released on USB drive, Live at the Hotel Utah Saloon. This track starts with a nice little bit of stage banter about the Six Million Dollar Man. I like this version of the song quite a bit, possibly more than the studio version from Bluefinger. In fact, i think this may have been recorded before the studio version was even released - some real nice guitar playing on this version - i wouldn't think that singer + solo distorted electric guitar would be a combination i'd necessarily like, but BF makes it work.

Song #3 - "Humboldt County Massacre" - Frank Black and the Catholics

Again, a double up of Charles Thompson songs. I fucking love this song - a near-perfect 1:43. A song about exactly what the title says - a massacre of the Wiyot Indians by white people in Humboldt County, CA. There is a longer, mellower version that i like even more than this one, but this is such a trim, lean piece of songwriting, it makes my head spin. On the b-sides compilation One More Road for the Hit - the first full album i ever bought off iTunes.

Song #4 - "Demon Seed" - Nine Inch Nails

One of the tracks from The Slip, the free NIN album Trent Reznor put on his website in 2008. NIN is a band that i really respect but rarely play, yet whenever i hear their stuff i always wonder why i don't play it more. This track is no exception - brilliantly interlocking instruments with some near-whispered vocals. One of the few musicians that i'd put in the Prince category of genius - that is to say, he doesn't need anyone but himself to make a masterpiece. This track builds almost exclusively through the voice getting more and more pronounced, and then a distorted guitar/synth (i can't really tell how the sound originated, but i know it has a lot of distortion on it) - it also has a few nice sections where the tension releases, only to be built right back up. The middle/end of the track loses momentum for me a little bit with an extended breakdown that i don't think accomplishes what it sets out to. But the very end of the track (which also ends the album) closes things out nice and abruptly.

Track #5 - "La Puerta Negra" - Tigres de Norte

My friend Denis made a mix called "Soundtrack to Tacos" of traditional Mexican music. This is one of those songs. Not particularly my cup of tea, but it makes nice mood music on Cinco de Mayo. That being said, both Mexican and Italian music makes me want to take the accordion out of my closet and try and actually play it one of these days. I want to be one of those old men who breaks out the accordion at a family party and sings songs from the old country. Of course, by the time i'm an old man, the "old country" would be at least 150 years removed from my family. I don't care though, i'll be rocking out in my guinea-tee, blue jeans and fat guy hat.

'Til next time,
B

Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5