One of these songs is very much not like the others. #8 is one of those nuggets of hard rock candy that got into my head in high school, and never let go. And #6 is by one of my favorite artists working today.
1. “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive”, Patty Loveless
2. “After the Gold Rush”, Trio (Harris, Parton, Ronstadt)
3. “Fancy Funeral”, Lucinda Williams
4. “Nightswimming”, REM
5. “One Voice”, Wailin’ Jennys
6. “Death Came and Got Me”, Rosie Thomas
7. “The Shape You’re In”, Catherine Feeny
8. “Rock and Roll Party in the Street”, Axe
9. “Something Less than Something”, Caitlin Cary
10. “Visions”, Jennifer Knapp
New and old goodies here. The bonus track is what I’ve been blasting on my iPod all week. #2 and #4 are by artists new to me within the past month or so; thank goodness for Pandora and Sirius satellite radio!
To remind everyone of the rules: random ten is determined by hitting “party shuffle” on the Itunes account. The bonus track is the song that you’ve had on your mind or in your head most in the past week.
1. “Orphan Girl”, Emmylou Harris
2. “Come on Get Higher”, Matt Nathanson
3. “Jesse James”, Bruce Springsteen
4. “Brokedown Palace”, Adrienne Young and Little Sadie
5. “Tonight You’re Gonna Lose Me”, The Lonesome Sisters
6. “Farther On”, Jackson Browne
7. “Dark Come Soon”, Tegan and Sara
8. “Turn Me On”, Norah Jones
9. “Heaven Now”, Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch, Fats Kaplin
10. “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man”, Prince
Bonus Track: “Welfare Music”, John Hiatt
I don’t know about any of you all, but my 403(b) retirement account is down 40% this year. In that spirit, music for cheering us up.
There are a few songs so well-loved that I have at least five different versions on my Ipod. #3 is one of those, joining tracks like “Pancho and Lefty” and “Sin City” as alt.country classics of which it’s almost impossible to produce a bad cover. And Richard Shindell, who does many wonderful covers (check out his “Born in the USA”) nails “Willin’”.
1. “When I Drink I Cheat”, The Way-Goners
2. “Reasons to Be Beautiful”, Hole
3. “Willin’”, Richard Shindell
4. “Paradise”, John Prine
5. “Gillian”, The Waifs
6. “It’s Alright”, Dar Williams
7. “Might as Well Dance”, Patty Larkin
8. “Stupid Nouth Shut”, Hem
9. “Step on my Old Size Nines”, Stereophonics
10. “Short Work”, Kris Delmhorst
Actually, I don’t know if that’s a fair title. I’ve been a fan of traditional folk and country music and its offshoots, like Americana and “alt. country” for years. And here’s what I’ve noticed: fans of bluegrass and Americana tend, for whatever reason, to be farther to the left than fans of more mainstream country music. For example, the Tim McGraw/Faith Hill/Kenny Chesney demographic tends to lean right, and the Del McCoury/Ricky Skaggs/Alison Krauss demographic leans left. That’s based on the bumperstickers I see in the parking lots at these sorts of concerts, as well as on entirely informal observation. I’ve seen all of these in concert a time or nine, and the differences between the two audiences are marked. If mandolins and dobros are involved, you’re gonna have more “blue” voters. If large cowboy hats are in evidence, or if the male artist in question wears a vest without anything else on his torso, you’re gonna have a majority of Palin fans.
I’ve got two recent discoveries on this FRT: the Avett Brothers and Alecia Nugent. Good modern bluegrassy-goodness. #8 has been in my head all week.
1. “God Knows What”, Alecia Nugent
2. “Gold”, Emmylou Harris
3. “With Arms Outstretched”, Rilo Kiley
4. “Oh My Sweet Carolina”, Ryan Adams
5. “Coast”, Eliza Gilkyson
6. “Out of the Rain”, Duhks
7. “From Silver Lake”, Jackson Browne
8. “Ootishenia”, Be Good Tanyas
9. “Pretty Girl from Cedar Lane”, The Avett Brothers
10. “That Don’t Worry Me Now”, Shawn Colvin
Bonus Track: “Must I Paint You a Picture”, Billy Bragg
Lots of old favorites here, and (with #7 and #8) a pair of newer tracks I’ve grown fond of. A note about #2: when I was first doing a little bit of internet dating, back in early 1999 on match.com, I remember listing that track as the one that best described my life. It was not a wise strategy, I came to understand.
Two songs with devil themes, too. What could that mean?
1. “If I Had a Hammer”, Sam Cooke
2. “The Silver-Tongued Devil and I”, Kris Kristofferson
3. “Up to the Mountain (MLK song)”, Patty Griffin
4. “Get Thee Behind Me Satan”, Billy Joe Shaver
5. “The Truth About You”, Rosanne Cash
6. “Your Letter”, Joan Armatrading
7. “The Shape You’re In”, Catherine Feeny
8. “Echo Park”, Joseph Arthur
9. “Alone Again”, Dokken
10. “Versatile Heart”, Linda Thompson
Bonus Track: “If I Had a Rocket Launcher”, Bruce Cockburn
After a couple of months away, the FRT returns. I’m very fond of all of these songs, though how #8 snuck on here, I’m not sure. It’s no doubt one of my wife’s favorites, as it’s not something I ever downloaded.
1. “Another Country”, Tift Merritt
2. “At My Window”, Townes Van Zandt
3. “Wreck of the Day”, Anna Nalick
4. “Both Sides Now”, Joni Mitchell
5. “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”, Del McCoury Band
6. “So Begins the Task”, Stephen Stills
7. “Forever in Blue Jeans”, Neil Diamond
8. “Give a Little Bit”, Goo Goo Dolls
9. “Goodbye”, Steve Earle
10. “Enough to Go By”, Vienna Teng
Bonus Track: “Heaven Tonight”, Hole
I’m ready to take a break from Friday Random Tens for a while. I think my Thursday Short Poems serve a purpose, and I like being an evangelist for verse in general and specific poets in particular. But I’m not entirely sure that everyone needs to know my musical taste, at least as determined by what comes up when I hit the shuffle feature on the iPod.
There may be more FRTs in the future, but not until summer is gone. For now, a valedictory FRT to celebrate, if nothing else, the tenth anniversary (today) of my last drink of alcohol.
#6 is by a dear former student of mine, now an accomplished singer-songwriter.
1. “April Skies”, Jesus and Mary Chain
2. “I Know I Know I Know”, Tegan and Sara
3. “Alleluia”, Dar Williams
4. “Heaven When We’re Home”, Wailin’ Jennys
5. “Mark’s Song”, Eastmountainsouth
6. “Unlike Me”, Meg Baier
7. “The Way We Mend”, Bebo Norman
8. “Love Hurts”, Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris
9. “Massachusetts”, Bee Gees
10. “Attention”, The Waifs
Bonus Track: “For Love”, Robert Earl Keen
All over the place here. Love all these songs and all these artists… even though I’m a teensy bit embarrassed about #4. The bonus, #5 and #8 have been much played this week.
1. “The Sinking of the Reuben James”, Pete Seeger
2. “Silver Stallion”, Cat Power
3. “Don’t Follow”, Alice in Chains
4. “Wisemen”, James Blunt
5. “4th of July”, Shooter Jennings
6. “Farewell, Angelina”, Joan Baez
7. “Kol Ha Olam”, Chesed
8. “Kern River”, Emmylou Harris
9. “Alan Watts Blues”, Van Morrison
10. “Kid Fears”, Indigo Girls
Bonus Track: “Me Enamora”, Juanes
Bonus Track Two: “Swimmer”, Kathryn Williams
My wife is in Rwanda at the moment. Or maybe Uganda. She’s on track for all seven continents in 2008; with luck, I’ll get six.
The big news of the week is that Emmylou Harris has released a new album. My wife and I generally have different musical tastes, but we’re both nearly obsessed with Harris, still making tremendous records in her sixties. We’re off to see Emmylou at the Orange County Fair at the end of July. One track off the album is the bonus this week. And #4 has been my theme song so far this month.
1. “Banks of Marble”, Iris DeMent and Leo Kottke
2. “Alternative Ulster”, Stiff Little Fingers
3. “The Special Two”, Missy Higgins
4. “Soon Love Soon”, Vienna Teng
5. “Power in the Blood”, Shane Barnard, Shane Everett, and the Peasall Sisters
6. “Comfortably Numb”, Dar Williams
7. “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)”, David Allan Coe
8. “Kingdom of the Blind”, The Men they Couldn’t Hang
9. “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”, Warren Zevon
10. “Diamond in the Rough”, Jennifer Knapp
Bonus Track: “All That You Have is Your Soul”, Emmylou Harris
Not much comment on this week’s FRT, save to note that those who know Pure Prairie League only for their one great hit, “Amie”, ought to listen to the rest of the oeuvre. I am really enjoying my new iPhone; having an iPod and a phone rolled into one makes me very happy, and I don’t care if the darned thing is about to be obsolete.
1. “American Daughters”, Sarah Buxton
2. “9 Crimes”, Damien Rice
3. “Elvis Presley and America”, U2
4. “Shroud”, Ani DiFranco
5. “When Ye Go Away”, the Waterboys
6. “She Darked the Sun”, Pure Prairie League
7. “Farther Along”, Trio (Harris, Parton, Ronstadt)
8. “Who Am I to Say”, Justin Townes Earle
9. “Late for the Sky”, Jackson Browne
10. “That’s How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart”, Aimee Mann
Bonus Track One: “I’ll Fly Away”, Jars of Clay
I’m off to Northern California again for the holiday weekend; posting resumes Tuesday. Like 8 gazilion other folks, I fell in love with #8 after hearing it used in the MacAir ad; the lyrics are remarkably, well, kabbalistic. #3 is my favorite Elton John song, #7 a sparkling cover, and the bonus track from one of those artists I found while listening to Sirius satellite radio.
1. “Non je ne regrette rien”, Edith Piaf
2. “Far Away Eyes”, Rolling Stones
3. “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters”, Elton John
4. “My Shirt Looks Good on You”, Catie Curtis
5. “When the Angels Call My Name”, Lonesome Sisters with Rayna Gellert
6. “Small”, Kendall Payne
7. “Love’s Gonna Live Here”, Dwight Yoakam
8. “New Soul”, Yael Naim
9. “Without Love”, Meat Purveyors
10. “Please Read the Letter”, Allison Krauss and Robert Plant
Bonus Track: “If They Could Only See Me Now”, Robbie Fulks
I’m really, really diggin’ the new Volvo that came to live at our place this week. It’s name, of course, is Ingmar. I know two other people with Volvos named Ingmar, and one with a Volvo named Ingrid, but damn it all, it’s just right.
A very busy weekend with family in from various places, and lots of grading and running to do. And I make no apologies for loving #6 on this list. I sang it in my junior high school choir.
1. “Come On, Come On”, Mary Chapin-Carpenter
2. “Malibu”, Hole
3. “I Bid You Goodnight”, Aaron Neville
4. “Over the Hills”, Lucy Kaplansky
5. “Postcards from Mexico”, Girlyman
6. “Annie’s Song”, John Denver
7. “Strong Hand” (for June), Emmylou Harris
8. “Walk Forever by My Side”, The Alarm
9. “Foolish You”, Kate and Anna McGarrigle
10. “Polyester Bride”, Liz Phair
Bonus Track: “Underneath your Clothes”, Shakira
That’s off to Orland, not Orlando. Reasons why on Monday; I’ll be incommunicado for the weekend. #2 and #6 are covers, both of which I confess I often prefer to the originals.
1. “Spectacular Views”, Rilo Kiley
2. “Sin City”, Dwight Yoakam
3. “Your Life is Now”, John Mellencamp
4. “Tangled and Wild”, Oh Susanna
5. “Lost in the Supermarket”, the Clash
6. “Ol’ 55″, Don Campbell
7. “Tonight You’re Gonna Lose Me”, The Lonesome Sisters
8. “Sunny Day”, Deana Carter
9. “Take a Chance with Me”, Roxy Music
10. “Country Comfort”, Elton John
Bonus Track: “Sweet Savannah”, Shooter Jennings
The bonus track is all over America now as a result of its perfect use in the JC Penney ad campaign. #6 is as good a neo-traditional track as you could ask for; #8 is the catchiest thing I’ve heard from Norah Jones. And I first heard #2 playing on an American Airlines flight as I was boarding a few weeks ago. And though my wife likes her Luther Vandross, for my money no one in music today gets longing and desire into a song quite the way Me’Shell Ndegeocello does. She’s indispensable for uh, “mood music.” Here endeth the TMI.
1. “Bitter Love Song”, Kris Delmhorst
2. “Sing Along”, Virginia Coalition
3. “Definite Maybe”, The Kinks
4. “Daughter of Heaven”, Kate Rusby
5. “Before the Deluge”, Jackson Browne
6. “Down by the Quarry”, Oh Susanna
7. “Colors of Your Heart”, Emmylou Harris
8. “Long Way Home”, Norah Jones
9. “Take to the World”, Derek Webb and Dan Haseltine
10. “Bitter”, Me’Shell Ndegeocello
Bonus Track: “Killing the Blues”, Allison Krauss and Robert Plant
The only new artist here is Vienna Teng, another “Pandora discovery.” Posting resumes on Monday.
1. “One More Dollar”, Gillian Welch
2. “Back of Your Hand”, Dwight Yoakam
3. “Cry For Me”, Catherine Feeny
4. “Two Pink Lines”, Eric Church
5. “Forever”, Third Day
6. “City Hall”, Vienna Teng
7. “Bittersweet”, Big Head Todd and the Monsters
8. “Holiday Inn”, Elton John
9. “Gillian”, The Waifs
10. “In Spite of All the Damage”, Be Good Tanyas
Bonus Track One: “Clear as a Bell”, Rosie Thomas
Bonus Track Two: “Billy 4″, Bob Dylan
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