Random!

In the last couple of months a couple of readers have suggested we have another game of iPod/iTunes Shuffle.

I've done a couple of posts about this; first looking at shuffling songs, then looking at entire albums being juggled by the invisible hands of the iTunes application: an album by Albert King might be followed by Joe Walsh; then again it might be followed by Albert Collins or The Bangles.

The shuffle settings sure do bring out plenty of random choices - and it is interesting seeing the juxtapositions, the clashes, the complimentary pieces; some are happy collisions, others are just jarring.

I had a nice flow going one time when Elliott Smith's Condor Ave was followed up by Nick Cave's People Ain't No Good. And while it wasn't altogether ruined by Luna's Superfreaky Memories - in fact the mood was fine - it was killed off somewhat by Deep Purple's Cry Free.

But hey, Cry Free is a great song - sure - but this is an example of why so many of us love making playlists, we want to be the DJ that controls the mood. How do you get from Superfreaky Memories to Cry Free? Perhaps you add in The Flaming Lips' Guy Who Got A Headache And Accidentally Saves The World. That might work, right? Ah, but that's a playlist - not shuffle.

It's been a while since I did a post relating to the shuffling of tunes and this is my last day of holiday so it's the perfect way to idle away the last of my near-freedom for the foreseeable future.

Also - I reset my iPod at the start of the holiday, said goodbye to over 40,000 songs and have built it back up to about 17,000 songs, many new (or at least newly renewed from when they were last on myPod about six years ago).

I prefer the term random to shuffle - because of those juxtapositions and collisions I mentioned. Also, I am not ready for my game of iPod-Shuffle to serve up a run of songs like Boz Scaggs' Lido Shuffle and The Rolling Stones' Harlem Shuffle.

So - I've set myPod to shuffle but I am calling this a game of: Random! And in accordance with that word and accompanying exclamation mark I will not do a list of ten or even five selections; this will be eight songs - we'll see if they flow or not; we'll see how random they are.

There could be some duds - some things I'm reviewing, or have reviewed. I should be safe from Tahuna Breaks and Gin Wigmore since I have re-booted the device - this is
myPod 2010.

But you still never know what you'll get.

So I'll write the list - listening as I go to the songs and making some comments about how I came to know them; perhaps I won't even know some of them?

Here goes:

1. Sonic Youth, Becuz: from the album Washing Machine. Definitely one of my favourite albums by Sonic Youth; I'm not sure I could ever pick a favourite but this would possibly be the album I have listened to the most. Becuz (and here's a live version if you prefer?) is a great album opener, Kim Gordon's deadpan vocals encased in the usual scowling howls of guitar and the metronomic drumming of Steve Shelley.

2. Rufus Wainwright, If Love Were All: taken from the recent live album Milwaukee At Last!!! - although this Noel Coward song was first learned by Rufus Wainwright for the Judy Garland set (captured on the Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall live album). He's playing as part of the International Festival of the Arts in Wellington, late February. I'm really looking forward to it. Might not flow on super-well from Becuz but I'm two from two in terms of songs I like - from albums I like.

3. The Blues Brothers, Sweet Home Chicago: I loaded the Blues Brothers soundtrack to the iPod after re-watching the movie last year (and writing a post about it). Of course I would go on to discover the Robert Johnson original and all manner of covers but this was the first time I heard this song. The Blues Brothers was not only an early movie favourite - it was the first soundtrack album I loved in and of itself - when I was about 12 years old I was the DJ at my auntie's wedding I made mix-tapes on C-90 cassettes and The Blues Brothers soundtrack was my main source material. The whole family would get up to dance when this song came on. Three from three.

4. Camera Obscura, James: from the band's My Maudlin Career; technically not my album - it belongs to Katy. I'm looking forward to seeing the band play in Wellington next week; missed them last time they were here. Four down, all good, four to go.

5. Charley Patton, Frankie & Albert: from the superb set The Definitive Charley Patton. This song is also - more commonly - known as Frankie And Johnny; a revenge tale where Frankie finds her man (Albert or Johnny) making love to another woman and shoots him dead. A murder ballad then; a blues ballad - a traditional song with many extant versions. Charley Patton is the man though - so I'm happy to have his version on my list today. Five from five.

6. The Spinners, Working My Way Back To You: from the amazing double-CD compilation, A One Of A Kind Love Affair. That was one of my favourite discoveries of 2009. I had never owned an album by The Spinners until last year but I love so many of their songs like I'll Be Around and It's A Shame - I'm still regularly checking in with A One Of A Kind Love Affair but I can't really call Working My Way Back To You a favourite - too many memories of hearing it on AM radio growing up. Not a total dud to strike for the Random! list but a bit of a lame duck nonetheless.

7. Linton Kwesi Johnson, Reggae Fi Bernard: this version comes from the Live In Paris album - I recommend this double compilation though, absolutely brilliant. I first got in to Linton Kwesi Johnson through his poetry, watching him doing readings and reading some of his printed poems before listening to the recorded music that his poems were set to. Brilliant reggae. If you ever have a BBQ at my house I'll be playing this - not Tahuna f'n Breaks.

8. Erykah Badu, Boogie Nights/All Night Long: from the album that really made me take notice to Erykah Badu. Her debut Baduizm didn't mean a lot to me until I had heard Live - which is almost a live retelling of Baduizm. I love the band on this live set - especially Charles "Poogie" Bell Jr. on drums. Maybe even especially that he is called "Poogie". I think my favourite Erykah Badu album is 2003's Worldwide Underground. Having said that I really liked most of 2008's New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) and silly titles aside I am really looking forward to this year's New Amerykah Part Two: Return of The Ankh - it's as if she's done the album-title equivalent of adding a tacky spoiler to an already rubbish Boyracer-mobile. Still if the music remains good - that's all that matters.

There we go then eight songs - seven I was pleased to be reminded of and one that comes from a great album (and I'm still discovering favourites off that record).

And - since this is Random! - and I'm enjoying this list of artists/albums/songs to go back and play right through...here's one bonus track...let's see what's next...

Andrew Hill's New Monastery.

This is from Andrew Hill's genius Point of Departure album. The band on this album is so slick: Hill's piano is supported by Tony Williams on drums, Richard Davis on bass, Kenny Dorham on trumpet and masters Eric Dolphy and Joe Henderson dazzle and delight, weaving their reeds in and around the sound. Small combo jazz at its finest - a 1964 gem: if you are a jazz fan and haven't already heard this album I'd make it a must-listen...there'll be more of it on YouTube.

So, now - the first eight songs at random (on shuffle) from your mp3 device or computer please...and let's see if you turn yourself - and each other - on to forgotten gems or own up to some dodgy choices.

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Old Drunk Mike   #1   10:05 am Jan 12 2010

Here we go! (Please Ipod don't embarrass me with the sneaky REO Speedwagon tunes hidden in there..)

1.Guns N Roses- Rocket Queen (A promising start, possibly the bands best work in my opinion)

2.Smashing Pumpkins- Zero (Could be worse I guess)

3.The Who- Old Red Wine (Not bad, their tribute to Entwistle after his sordid and untimely demise)

4.Judas Priest- Beyond the Realms of Death (Nice! Gotta love The Priest)

5.The Erotics- Rock N Roll Killing Machine (A rare gem)

6. AC/DC- Rock N Roll Damnation (Hell Yeah!)

7. Judas Priest- Diamonds and Rust (Live version, the old Ipod is loving Priest today!)

8. Mick Jagger-Lonely at the Top (Not a particularly strong finish, but i'm happy with my lot)

Hayley   #2   10:17 am Jan 12 2010

It's quite possible this could be frightening but I'll be honest!

Curtis Mayfield - Junkie Chase Prince - Dear Mr. Man My Chemical Romance - Song 2 (Radio 1 Live Lounge) Pulp - A Little Soul Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel Jolie Holland - Tiny Idyll/Lil Missy Fly my Pretties - Singing in my Soul Nina Simone - Don't Smoke in Bed

Hmm not too bad apart from the My Chemical Romance track which is painful (must remember to delete that one).

Darryl   #3   10:23 am Jan 12 2010

What a train wreck. The Dixie Chicks who make me ill, are NOT my fault. It was one of a bunch of songs my old band wanted to learn and I haven't got around to deleting.

1. Shihad - The General Electric 2. AC/DC - Heatseeker (Live) 3. Dixie Chicks - Landslide 4. Little Feat - Sailin' Shoes 5. The Living End - Roll On 6. Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street 7. The Hollies - The Air That I Breathe 8. Jimi Hendrix - Driving South (BBC Sessions)

Sylvian   #4   10:28 am Jan 12 2010

1.'Caroline No'- Beach Boys 2.'PCP'- Manic Street Preachers 3.'Lee Van Cleef'- the Orphans (UK) 4.'Piggy in the Mirror'- the Cure 5.'Thirty Frames A Second'- Simple Minds 6.'The Bewlay Brothers'- David Bowie 7.'Secret Bird Song'- Betashine 8.'Bring Me Back a Dog'-IAMX ....scarily, no 9 was 'Words' by F R David, remember it? It's quite nice actually....

Spartacus   #5   10:40 am Jan 12 2010

off an 8gig nano....

Dreams Reoccuring - Husker Du Digitalism in Cairo - Digitalism Skynet - The Acacia Strain Sentimental - Porcupine Tree Like A Train Through A Pigeon - The Red Chord Heavy Cross - Gossip Shattered - Pantera Dead Beat - Converge

rhys_m   #6   10:45 am Jan 12 2010

I have a Nano with a paltry 4G but it does the trick... First 8 tunes from this morning's commute were:

Lions - Dire Straits from Live at the BBC Amy - from the Enz' Mental Notes Elevation - Television Back to the Family - Jethro Tull from Stand Up I Think I'm in Love - Spiritualized Teenage Kicks - Undertones Say no to Guns - Achisa (the odd one out in this list I think) NSU - from Live Cream #1

Graeme   #7   10:47 am Jan 12 2010

1) Audioslave - Cochise, 2) Metallica - No Remorse, 3) Alice Cooper - Only Women Bleed, 4) Iron Maiden - Afraid To Shoot Strangers, 5) Metallica - Leper Messiah, 6) Megadeth - Angry Again, 7) Def Leppard - Armageddon It, 8) Airbourne - Diamond in the Rough.

This one is always a fun game. Pretty good selection, I think I'll cycle back and properly listen to those...

MsM   #8   11:05 am Jan 12 2010

1. End It On This - No Doubt (Tragic Kingdom) Well I don't care what anyone says this album is still a big fave of mine. It reminds me of being 12 and probably hadn't yet experienced half the heartache Gwen was singing about.

2. Another Time, Another Place - Abbey Lincoln (Wholly Earth) I have this wierd feeling about Abbey Lincoln, sometimes I love her style, other times I just wish she'd sing a sentance without breaking it up into 10 parts interspersed with huge gaps of nothing but vibraphone.

3. The Lady Don't Mind - Talking Heads (Little Creatures) I think this is my fiance's, and it's quite random in that it's nothing like everything else he listens to...

4. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac (Fleetwood Mac) I love love love this song. The lyrics mean quite a lot to me and I'm a big fan of simple acoustic guitar accompaniment. It's somehow more honest than anything else.

5. Heatseeker - AC/DC (AC/DC Live) Hmm, I don't really listen to this anymore, having moved through my rocker stage and settled down a bit. All their stuff has started to sound very similar but it's still a good tune I guess.

6. The Man I Love - Billie Holiday (one of those stupid compilation jobbies) I was hoping Billie would come up, I know it's probably a big old cliche but man I love her voice.

7. Lebanese Blonde - Thievery Corporation (The Mirror Conspiracy) These guys are a bit samey samey but I like this song and the way it's used in Garden State. So very apt.

8. Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night - The Fratellis (Costello Music) Ack, not the best way to end an otherwise halfway decent list but whatever, it's still catchy and fun.

BONUS TRACK - Ragoo - Kings of Leon (Because of the Times) That's a bit better, before they got uber-famous this album had me hooked. Although if I'm choosing a song off this one I'd go for Charmer rather than Ragoo. This is a little bit too Black Seeds for me...

nick   #9   11:15 am Jan 12 2010

random work suffles

1. carry the zero - built to spill 2. jesus the mexican boy - Iorn and wine 3. I declare a ceasefire- My latest novel 4. Intruder alert- Lupe fiasco 5. fly trapped in a jar- Modest Mouse 6. needles in my eyes- Beta Band 7. changing of times- Underoath (oh high school) and the finally 8. Bubble gum heart- I heart Hiroshima

mmmm music makes work fun

James   #10   11:20 am Jan 12 2010

samson - too close to rock iron maiden - strange world judas priest - metal gods 3 inches of blood - snake fighter send more paramedics - scape goat gaywyre - battleshark snapcase - harrison bergeron wasp - animal (f*ck like a beast)

phew, didnt find anything horrible in the first 8 tracks. wouldve actually enjoyed listening to the whole lot without having to skip any, which is normally why i dont use shuffle. only had time for listening to the first few during my morning tea break then skipped through the rest. might go back and listen later