Random Friday – Whatcha Drinkin edition

Random iTunes shuffle today yielded:

1. Hüsker Dü– Whatcha Drinkin’?
   New Day Rising

   one minute and thirty three seconds of punk-y bliss. The lyrics, in total:  

   I don’t care what you say, I don’t care what you’re drinking today. I don’t care what they say, I’ll be drinking today. I try not to drink anymore, I try not to drink anymore, and try not to think anymore.

2. Boozoo Chavis– Goin To The Zydeco
   Hey Do Right!

   and now for something completely different…some dance music, with accordion.

3. McDowell, Fred– Gravel Road Blues
   Good Morning, Little School Girl

   sometimes called “Mississippi Fred McDowell”, but since he allegedly hated that, I stripped Mississippi from his name. Bottle neck guitar master, with a harsh, country voice. Powerful, hypnotic stuff. Actually, this is dance music too, the insistent beat is there to be heard, and acted upon if you want.

4. Marley, Bob & The Wailers– Somewhere To Lay My Head
   One Love at Studio One

   From a collection of ska and proto-reggae tracks recorded between 1964 and 1966, really a Wailers joint, not just Bob Marley. Dance music!

5. Monk, Thelonious– Ruby, My Dear
   Monk’s Music

   A classic tune. Thelonious Monk liked to dance around in his idiosyncratic style during other musicians solos.

6. R.E.M.– Lightnin’ Hopkins
   Document

   As far as my ears can tell, this song has absolutely nothing to do with the blues musician, Lightnin’ Hopkins. Still love it.

7. Kočani Orkestar– Goodbye Macedonia
   Alone At My Wedding

   Balkan brass ensemble, with some Middle Eastern influences. I really like this album, but I don’t if it is representative of their other work or not.

   

8. Yo La Tengo– Demons
   Genius + Love = Yo La Tengo

   Yo La Tengo used to be a favorite band of mine, but their later albums have not moved me. This album is a collection of singles, mostly cover versions, including this so-so swirling tune which was featured in the film I Shot Andy Warhol.

9. Paddy Beades– My Darlin’ Coleen Bawn
   From Galway To Dublin

   Extremely traditional Irish music from an early era. Mournful vocal and mournful fiddle.

10. Costa, Gal– Divino Maravilhoso
    Tropicalia Essentials

    Weird Brazilian pop music with some nice fuzz guitar that sounds like an over-amplified bee, weaving in and out of the melody. I’m partial to it, but not to everyone’s taste, I’ll readily admit.

11. Dylan, Bob– Alberta #4
    Self Portrait

    Universally, critics seem to hate this album, but there are a few good songs on it. This is almost an easy listening tempo, swings nicely.

12. Remains, The– Don’t Look Back
    Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era

    Garage rock! I am a big fan of the genre, and this song doesn’t disappoint. Best played loudly.

13. The Jam– I Got By In Time
    Collection

    Originally from The Jam’s first album, In The City, , a good closing tune for today’s randomness. Not really punk, not really British R&B, not quite New Wave, somewhere straddling all three genres…