And, now for today’s ten…
- “Save Me” – Aimee Mann – KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 11
- “Country Death Song” – Violent Femmes – Hallowed Ground
- “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise” – Miles Davis – In Person: Saturday Night at the Blackhawk
- “Charles III” – Charles Earland – Funk Fantastique
- “Lose Control” – Missy Elliott – The Cookbook
- “Groover” – Funki Porcini – Triphop & Jazz Vol. 3
- “El Condor Pasa (If I Could)” – Simon & Garfunkel – Greatest Hits
- “Seven Skies” – Erik Truffaz – The Walk of the Giant Turtle
- “Desert Song” – Stanley Clarke – School Days
- “Changer” – Stereolab – ABC Music-Radio 1 Sessions
I love “Save Me,” and this version is wonderful. It’s jarring leading into that Femmes tune, though, about a guy who kills his young daughter in the spooky “Country Death Song.”
I used see the Violent Femmes pretty regularly when I was in college. Great shows. It was a fascinating thing to hear Gordon Gano imploring the crowd to go to church before launching into this or “Add It Up,” on which he usually let the audience sing the “fuck”‘s. And then they’d play “Jesus Walking on the Water.”
Everyone always bought and knew the first album, but Hallowed Ground was a fascinating look at one man’s love/hate relationship with religion, or perhaps I should describe it as the diference between religion and faith. And then, of course, there’s that crazy jam in the middle of “Black Girls.”
From there, the set, while good, kind of drifts off into the world of long jams and improv. “Charles III,” though is pretty smokin’, but I wasn’t really paying attention as I was looking forward to putting on Hallowed Ground after not having listened to it in ages. Those reminders are the magic of the ipod.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
Man, I love the Femmes too. They put on a fantastic show. Coincidentally, “Country Death Song” was very popular in my group of friends when I lived in Texas, not so much elsewhere. Tells you something, doesn’t it?
James,
I dig this Aimee Mann song, too.
It’s a hoot to see the likes of Aimee, the Femmes, Miles, Paul & Art, and Missy Elliott in one playlist. I have eclectic tastes, too.
BTW: thanks for the plug to my Transitions blog for the Tufted Titmouse. The web is a wild place…i had to wonder all day, how on earth did you find my pic? Such is the WWW.
Laura, It’s funny to see how eclectic my tastes are. Listing 10 songs every Friday really reminds me of that.
I found your picture just by using Google’s blogsearch find “tufted titmouse” and it was my favorite of the ones that came up.