Friday Random 10

More adventures from the CD Cabinet. I still haven't found my MP3 player, so I picked up a new one from Woot, some cheapo RCA ones for only US$44, including shipping, so how bad could it be?

1. Birdsongs of the Mesozoic - "Scenes from A..." (Sonic Geology [1988]) - A local instrumental electronica group, some even call it avant-garde chamber music. This CD is a collection of their first 3 albums. A discussion on the medfordmass mailing list on local musicians reminded of them, as the boyfriend of one of the members of the group is a Medfordite. It's good to hear they are still around. I went to see them probably 15 years ago. This lineup includes Boston rocker legends Roger Miller (no, not that one, silly!) and Martin Swope.
2. Talk Talk - "I Believe In You" (Spirit of Eden [1988]) - hmm, seems like 1988 is the year for this batch of CDs, eh? Talk Talk was an influential art rock group, with this CD an amazing collection of moody, emotional, spare music. Talk Talk is most known for their indie hit It's My Life from their second album of the same title (I have that one too). There's only 6 songs on the entire CD, with the shortest clocking in at over 5 minutes and the longest, the opening track The Rainbow, clocking in at 9:05. Hard to pick just one. I don't think I have their final album, Laughing Stock, released a couple of years later, but given the raves on AllMusic.com, I think I'll have to add this to my Want list.

   Tell me how I fear it
   I buy prejudice for my health
   Is it worth so much when you taste it
   Enough there ain't enough hidden hurt
   A time to sell yourself
   A time for passing

   Spirit

   How long

3. Steroid Maximus - "Life in the Greenhouse Effect" (Quilombo [1991]) - a side project of Aussie JG Thirlwell, better "known" as foetus, with a simply amazing discography. Truly bizarre stuff, lots of noise, feedback but more rhythm here than normal, with a big orchestral sound. This track has some huge drums. I think I heard some of it while watching Kill Bill, Vol. 1 last night, although I don't see it on the IMDB soundtrack listing.
4. Ennio Morricone - "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" (Film Music Volume 1 [1987]) - A collection of the master film music maker's best; some great and memorable songs, including this one. I'll bet most could probably name it in 3 notes, especially if whistled. My high school English teacher, who pushed me as hard as any teacher I ever had, all for my benefit (hi Mr. Densmore!), said this was the best film score of all time, and I find it hard to disagree. Also one of my favorite movies of all time, too. Oddly enough, Kill Bill, Vol. 1 does have an Ennio Morricone song.
5. Morrisey - "Suedehead" (Viva Hate [1988]) - Another '88 release! Morrissey's first, after his breakup with Johny Marr and the dissolution of The Smiths. I only really got into The Smiths by the time of their last album, Strangeways Heres We Come - a wonderfully quirky album, one of my favorites. I love the dichotomy of Morrissey's bleak lyrics and Johnny Marr's poppy guitar. Viva Hate was okay, but not nearly as strong as Strangeways. This song has some nice, petulant, typically Morrissey lyrics:

   Why do you come here
   When you know it makes things hard for me?
   When you know, oh
   Why do you come?

   It was because
   Everything that I did
   I wrote it down
   On the wall

6. Bangles - "Walk Like An Egyptian" (Different Light [1986]) - One of the best female rock groups of the 80s, nearly in the Go-Go's class, albeit in a much lighter vein. Oddly enough, one of the Bangles, Vicki Peterson, filled in as lead singer for the Go-Go's a few years later. Lots of great pop on this CD. I picked this song for my girls, who just love to do the walk. Listening to this CD now reinforces the feeling that it is a true guilty pleasure, with lots of happy, frothy-light tunes, making the feet bounce. Hey, not so bad for a sunny, warming Friday afternoon, right?
7. The Alarm - "Sold Me Down The River" (Change. [1989]) - ooo, more late-80s pop rock! The Alarm's big US hit, this is one great toe-tappin' song! I'm not even sure I've ever listened to any of the other songs. But this one is worth it.
8. George Winston - "" (December [1982]) - back to the instrumental side of things, with this wonderful collection of piano solos, the album that put "new age" music on the map. AllMusic.com calls it "[t]he mother of all solo instrumental albums". I used to be a huge Windam Hill Records fan, although I can't say as I've bought any in quite some time. Just checked the Windham Hill web site, and right there on the front they are talking about "... 24 years after he began to record what is now recognized as his signature style of melodic folk piano", in regards to his latest release, Montana. Other favorite Windham Hill artists included Mark Isham, Janice Ian and Liz Story. Wow, does listening to this bring back memories. I'll bet it hasn't been played in 10 years! Wonder what my girls, budding piano players both, will think of it?
9. AC/DC - "Hell's Bells" (Back in Black [1980]) - nice segue! Hard to tell what order they will come out of the CD cabinet in, but going from George Winston to the Young brothers is quite a shock to the system! This is Brian Johnson's debut effort with this Aussie (yup, my Australia lovin' ways continue...) band, after Bon Scott drank too much and keeled over. Lots of great anthem rock songs, one of the top rock albums of all time, with the best song being "You Shook Me All Night Long", but this is another solid rocker, as is the title track. Heck, listening to this now, man there's lots of great headbangin' goin' on here. All this air guitar is wearing my arms out! I might have to go downstairs and pop this onto the big stereo and see how it feels Real Loud.
10. The Beatles - "Please Please Me" (Please Please Me [1963]) - I am not a huge Beatles fan. I only have a couple of their CDs, like this one and Sgt. Pepper, and have never listened to any of their later albums all the way through. I probably should though. I like their early stuff, for its infectious bounce and effortless simplicity. But I do need to try and expand my horizons a bit, and listen to some of their later work, beginning with Rubber Soul.