The 17 (September 24)

The 17

Tuesday, September 24, 2013


Bus Stop (The Hollies): Nice, upbeat start to the playlist this week. Love story on a bus stop. It's one of two songs in my collection mentioning a bus stop (Don't Stand So Close To Me by The Police being the other).
http://youtu.be/It75wQ0JypA



Cabaret (Louis Armstrong): I'm seeing many movies in the next couple of weeks at the Milwaukee Film Festival. The films are a great escape, which Armstrong encourages in this song.


Abacab (Genesis): I've started liking this song again, particularly the last few minutes.


Man (Neko Case): From her latest, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You. Case is a singer that I can usually handle for a few songs, but her voice grates on me after a while. I like the rebellious tone in this one, though.

Introspection (MGMT): Another new song, this one from MGMT's self-titled latest. I listened to the entire CD, and there's very few catchy hooks, but this one reminded me of an early 70s song.

Kids (MGMT): This one has a very unique music video, and it's probably MGMT's second catchiest song (after "Electric Feel")

http://youtu.be/It75wQ0JypA



The Orchids (Califone): The only Califone song that I like, it's a song about appreciating what's around.

http://youtu.be/4e1jgqX0Y8g



Out of Touch (Hall And Oates): To the 80s! My favorite Hall & Oates song.

It's The End of The World As We Know It (REM): Speaking of singers I can only take in small doses, this is my favorite REM song.

My top 5 REM songs:

1. It's The End Of The World As We Know It

2. Drive

3. Bang And Blame

4. I Don't Sleep, I Dream

5. The One I Love

The Great Divide (The Mowglis): I think this might be the last time on the playlist for this song. I liked it the first couple times, but it's a little too shouty.

Fragments of Time (Daft Punk): There's just something about this song off Random Access Memories that I really love. It's kind of retro and chill.

Perfect World (Huey Lewis And The News): My favorite Huey Lewis song, and I like me some Huey Lewis.

http://youtu.be/7NltTUWU-y4


You Don't Know Me (The Polyphonic Spree): Unlike "The Great Divide", this one has grown on me.

Get Back (The Beatles): Time for some classics with some whoopin' Paul.

You've Got To HIde Your Love Away (The Beatles): Probably my favorite song from the movie Help!. It's a forlorn song from John, but a heartfelt one.

Ants Marching (Dave Matthews Band): I'm probably not going to any more Dave Matthews Band shows (I just haven't like what I've heard of them on live recordings since LeRoi Moore passed away and Tim Reynolds joined the live lineup), so it's a shame that I didn't get to hear this one in my four shows.

California Dreamin' (The Mamas And The Papas): When I put this playlist together, a little autumn chill was in the air. Man, did it change again. It won't be long before we're dreaming of the summer weather again.

The 17 (September 10)

The 17

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

 

Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (Paul Simon):  I had this song from Graceland in my head after seeing a very interesting 25^th anniversary special.

 http://youtu.be/uf4YyXVoWeA

 

You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon): This was the first Paul Simon song I ever liked.  Couldn’t hear it enough as a kid, and glad it’s in my collection.

 http://youtu.be/uf4YyXVoWeA

 

Go Insane (Lindsey Buckingham):  This is from the Bass Performance Hall live CD.  It’s almost cheesy near the end, but still OK.

 

 

Mad World (Tears For Fears):  I hadn’t heard this in a while, but this may be one of my favorite TFF songs.

 http://youtu.be/3gFl2OXySs8

 

Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey (John Mayer):  Ah, Born and Raised.  Maybe whiskey, whiskey, whiskey can make me forget about Paradise Valley.

 http://youtu.be/zM1SWzYNzzM

 

Ghost Story (Sting):  This song and Big Lie, Small World are two underrated songs off Brand New Day.

 http://youtu.be/zM1SWzYNzzM

 

Golden Years (David Bowie):  My  favorite song right now.

http://youtu.be/HRD0ghlFSgk

 

 

 

She Blinded Me With Science (Thomas Dolby):  I never got into this song before, but I love everything about it right now.  SCIENCE! 

http://youtu.be/nMWGXt979yg

 

 

Some Days Are Diamonds (Amos Lee):  Love this cover of a John Denver song.

 

 

 

Ice Storming (Aloha):  A nice mood song, even if the mood is kind of bleak.

 http://youtu.be/V4TPPmKlA8M

 

Natural Blues (Moby):  Play is a great album, and this is my favorite song from it.

 

 

Linus And Lucy (David Benoit):  After a few more somber songs, time for a classic, and David Benoit’s version is solid.

 

 

I’m So Afraid (Fleetwood Mac):  Back to somber.  I had never heard the studio version of one of my favorite Fleetwood Mac live songs.

 http://youtu.be/nN5Wx9YR0oc

 

World Turning (Fleetwood Mac):  My dad’s favorite Fleetwood Mac song.

http://youtu.be/nN5Wx9YR0oc

 

 

Reggatta De Blanc (The Police): 

 

 

 

Bring On The Night (The Police):  Two solid Police songs

 

 

 

The Afterlife (Paul Simon):  Paul Simon’s version of the afterlife?  It starts like a visit to the DMV:  fill out a form first, and then wait in a line.

 

http://youtu.be/1y6j593KJHc (live on Jimmy Fallon)

The World's End

It was a dark and stormy afternoon.  Well, maybe not the entire afternoon, but the clouds did gather early Saturday afternoon and the rain poured down just as I left for the Times Cinema.  I arrived at quarter to one and found my seat smack dab in the middle of the theater.  I was the first to arrive, and as the thunder rumbled and the minutes passed and the previews showed, I found myself still alone.  Someone will come, I thought to myself (although I could have said it aloud, as there was no one there).

The theater darkened completely, and for the first time in my life, I was seeing a movie completely alone.  It's a strange feeling, sort of like having your own private showing, and it was kind of a shame.  Kind of a shame because The World's End is one of the best moviegoing experiences of the year and would have been a blast with a huge crowd. 

The World's End is directed by Edgar Wright and features Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.  Pegg plays Gary King, a man who never really grew up.  Many years ago, Gary and his friends set out on an epic pub crawl.  Their goal was to drink a pint at all 12 pubs in town, all within walking distance of each other.  They never finished, and for Gary, it's served as a lifelong regret, so he decides to try to get the friends all back together.  None of them really wants to, as they've all moved on to successful, safe lives, but Gary cons all of them into trying again.   I'm going to stop with the plot summary there, as there are twists and turns that I don't want to give away.

Wright, Pegg, and Frost have constructed a masterpiece.  The World's End is the most fun I've had in the theater since The Avengers.  This is a tale about reliving the past and the hazards of doing so, the passage of time and what happens to those who choose not to change as time goes by.  It's so successful because at no time does it come off corny or maudlin (and there are many chances for it to go in those directions), and the action and suspense keep coming.   Finally, despite some rough language, it's not gory or obscene. 

Go now and see it.  Don't let the theaters be empty for such a great film!

 

The 17 (August 30)

Wow, today is September 1.  Good luck to those who will learn, to those who will teach, and those parents who might use parts of their brains they haven't used in a while.  My parents still flinch at the word diorama, and I don't think think dioramas were the hardest things they helped me with.  Anyway, happy September!

On to the songs for this week!

Hocus Pocus (Focus): http://youtu.be/MV0F_XiR48Q

Red Red Wine (UB40): I had "Hocus Pocus" in my head and tried to think of a song totally unlike it, so after some yodel-rock, why not some reggae-rap?

Angel Dance (Robert Plant): I was never a big Zeppelin guy, but I do love Raising Sand, Plant's duets album with Alison Krauss, and Band Of Joy (featuring this song) is pretty solid as well.
http://youtu.be/9dPwd9JgbT0



Mysterious Ways (U2): I remember that I couldn't hear this song enough when it first came out. Still holds up just as well today.



Outside (The Fixx): This is from 1011 Woodland, and it's just a nice spaced-out jam.
 http://youtu.be/yB341J0kM4g



First And Last Waltz (Nickel Creek): The instrumental interlude is back this week. It slots in well after "Outside", and provides a great bridge to..
 http://youtu.be/_UCyvyZa92o

Stairway To Heaven (Rodrigo Y Gabriela): Again, not a big Zeppelin fan, but I love this version. I've really enjoyed just about all of Rodrigo Y Gabriela's work. Their latest, Area 52, finds them working with a 13-piece Cuban orchestra and reworking some of their originals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEk8wTB7UfU



The Storm (Tedeschi Trucks Band): This is a fierce, grooving jam with great guitar and driving vocals by Susan Tedeschi. One of my favorites off their latest.



After The Storm (Mumford And Sons): I don't usually like to put songs together just because they have similar titles, but this one fit well after "The Storm". It's my favorite Mumford and Sons song. (They're in Milwaukee on Tuesday.  I saw them at The Riverside, and now they're playing the Marcus Amphitheater).
 http://youtu.be/EMsTSdHIJds



Spirits In The Material World (Paco Banton and Sting): From Reggatta Mondatta, which is a reggae tribute to Sting and The Police. Haven't listened to this version in a while, and it comes off a little cheesy, but a good alternate version.

Tea In The Sahara (The Police): Some of my favorite songs set a mood really well. The opening notes make you feel like you might be in the desert, and the lyrics are haunting.

Here Comes The Rain Again (Eurythmics): We're still in the eighties with my favorite Eurythmics song.

Woman In Chains (Tears For Fears): I was excited to find my copy of The Seeds of Love. Another song I haven't heard in a while, this song about the injustice of oppressing women features a greatvocal by Oleta Adams and drums by Phil Collins.

Running For Cover (Ivan and Alyosha): This may be one of my favorite songs of the year. I love the vocals.
 http://youtu.be/jJN1A_DHtsM

Summer Lawn (Aloha): Summer is fading, so here's a sprawling song about the passage of time.
http://youtu.be/9ArrN0wOWZg



The Sound of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel): My favorite S & G song.



Gentle On My Mind (Glen Campbell): I think this is my favorite song that I heard for the first time this year. So poetic and beautiful.
 http://youtu.be/cFIRTtn_ZSE



I Still Care For You (Ray LaMontagne): A great song from Gossip In The Grain. I love the drumming in this song.
 http://youtu.be/JODKEqp4nYI

Tedeschi Trucks Band/The 17

Before we get to this week's playlist, I'd like to recommend Made Up Mind, the latest release by Tedeschi Trucks Band. I'd never listened to a second of Susan Tedeschi or Derek Trucks, but was very pleasantly surprised to find a soulful and adventurous set of songs. "Idle Wind" prominently features the flute, "The Storm" is a rocking blues-rock jam, "Sweet and Low" sounds like it came out of the sixties, and in many places, Made Up Mind gets the toes tapping. Three songs from this week's 17 come from Made Up Mind, but there are a few more that merit a listen.

Now, for the playlist this week, there were no instrumentals and no electronic songs, no songs about possibly being a king, no songs from Sting... this was a pretty low-key set, especially near the end, but after last week, a less noisy group was called for. 


Lying In The Hands of God (Dave Matthews Band): DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore passed away on August 19, 2008, so this selection was a bit of a tribute. From the album Big Whiskey and The Groogrux King (and Moore was the Groogrux King), this is DMB's most beautiful song.

　
http://youtu.be/xLEgio0C-Xs


Substitute (The Who): There's a couple lyrics in this song that I've never managed to de-code, but still one of my favorite tracks from The Who.

Santa Monica (Everclear): Got this one free from the Google Play Store. I never got into Everclear, and vaguely remembered this song. Some very cheery lyrics: We can live beside the ocean/Leave the fire behind/Swim out past the breakers/Watch the world die

Oh Dear (Brandi Carlile): Just a haunting song from Giving Up The Ghost.

http://youtu.be/GLwSw3YMuOQ (live version)


That Year (Brandi Carlile): Another song from Giving Up The Ghost, this one has Carlile remembering a friend from high school. Heartbreaking song, really, but Carlile's good at that.

I Found You (The Fixx): An early Fixx song from Shuttered Room, which I think is one of their best.

Idle Wind (Tedeschi Trucks Band): The flute jam!

Something To Talk About (Bonnie Raitt): Hearing Tedeschi's voice reminded me of Raitt.

Mandolin Rain (Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs): I think this is a much better version than the original, and I like the original. Bluegrassy version. These two are on tour with Skaggs' band Kentucky Thunder.

Mellow Yellow (Donovan): Quite right, slick.

Being For The Benefit of Mr.Kite (The Beatles): After the slightly odd "Mellow Yellow", I went for more odd, waltzing horses and all.

Misunderstood (Tedeschi Trucks Band): Another solid groove from Made Up Mind, which is an altogether determined set of songs. Determined to rock, determined soul, and I'm determined to listen again.

Sonnet (The Verve): Ah, yes. An old favorite. Even as the other songs from the Verve have kind of faded in my mind, this one's good for a listen every once in a while.

http://youtu.be/1WmGMdaxQLk

Sweet And Low (Tedeschi Trucks Band): I love songs that sound like they came out decades ago.

Waiting On The Day (John Mayer): One of the few songs that I dug on Paradise Valley, John Mayer channels David Gray pretty effectively.

http://youtu.be/AeatEpPzi-0



Back In Your Arms Again (The Mavericks): The first track from In Time, which right now is my pick for favorite new album in 2013.

http://youtu.be/ypJ3dP7qCpE

　

 

John Mayer- Paradise Valley

John Mayer released Paradise Valley on Tuesday, a little more than a year after releasing Born And Raised, and to me the  difference between the two could not be more stark.

It look me a little time to get to really like Born and Raised, but once I did, I really appreciated the mood that Mayer was trying to set.  The songs really breathe and give a wide open feeling. It's a nice, mellow listen that has some stories ("Walt Grace's Submarine Test, 1967") and contemplative tracks ("Shadow Days", "Born and Raised").  It's probably my favorite in the Mayer catalog for these reasons, and knowing that Mayer is capable of a such a complete set of songs makes Paradise Valley ultimately disappointing.

There are a few tunes worth mentioning on Paradise Valley.  The opener, "Wildfire", is a summery romp.  "Waiting On The Day" reminded me so much of a David Gray song that I can hear David Gray singing it, but that's not a bad thing. I also enjoyed "You're No One 'Til Someone Lets You Down", which is about how a broken heart or broken promise makes one grow in the long run.  Some of the other songs left a bad taste, and as a collection, the set leaves the impression that Paradise Valley is almost a collection of "B" sides.  "Dear Marie" needed a few more bars before launching into the "whoh" section of the song, so the abrupt transition is a little jarring. The second "Wildfire" is under 90 seconds long, features Frank Ocean on vocals, and rhymes "suicidal and Eiffel".  And I know that Mayer is fond of covers (he covered "Crossroads" on Battle Studies), but on such a short release (40 minutes), it would have been nice to hear a Mayer-written song instead of "Call Me The Breeze", which ends abruptly, but at least doesn't end with Mayer and Katy Perry laughing like the excruciatingly repetitive and self-indulgent duet "Who You Love".

Ultimately, there are a few bright spots, but Paradise Valley isn't a memorable or very replayable set of songs.

The 17 (August 15)

The 17 this week brings a noisy middle of the set (a little too noisy, if I'm being honest) and a mellow finish.


Golden Years (David Bowie):  This is turning into my favorite Bowie song.  It's funky, catchy, and just fun. 

This Must Be Love (Phil Collins):  I love Phil Collins' lesser known songs much more than his hits, and this love song from Face Value is one of my favorites.

I Could Be A King (The Dunwells):  The Dunwells are back, and there's something kind of '80s about this track that I like.

Dear Lord (Give Me The Strength) (Preservation Hall Jazz Band):  I dig this gospel tune quite a bit.

Mylo Xyloto (Coldplay):  Sometimes I like me a little short instrumental intro.

Two Step (Bear Mountain):  It's not a cover of the Dave Matthews Band song, but a poppy electronic song. 

You Don't Know Me (Polyphonic Spree):  Another new song, and another bouncy one.

Color Of My Soul (Pretty Lights):  Still like this one that I first heard last week.

Home Life (John Mayer): Mr. Mayer sings about wanting to be domestic and lays down a funky sound.

Bring On The Night (The Police):  Sting always used the first couple verses as an intro to "When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around" in concert, but I like the whole song.

Dance On A Volcano (Genesis):  Once again with Phil Collins, the obscure stuff rules, although the end is a little wacky to me.

Electric Feel (MGMT):  I was introduced to this very danceable song by my brother a couple of years ago, and the excellent music video features the animatronic band from Showbiz Pizza.

Gentle On My Mind (Glen Campbell):  Going in the complete opposite direction, this was the first time I heard this ballad.  Beautiful song.

Long Black Veil (Johnny Cash):  One of my all time favorite songs.  Very haunting.

Heaven On A Sunday (Paul McCartney):  Such a mellow, blissful mood created on this tune.

Under The Skin (Lindsey Buckingham):  For the second straight week, a relaxing song near the end.  This one's a good one for a "chill out" playlist.

It Beats 4 U (My Morning Jacket):  I have an interesting relationship with My Morning Jacket.  I don't get into many of their songs, really, but I love the ones that do reel me in, like this one, "First Light", or "Off The Record"