The G-Man Random 5 of the Day

One major problem I have with downloading left, right and centre is that the higher the quantity barometer rises the faster the gauge falls quality-wise….

The capacity of my mp3 player was maxed out approximately two years ago and it was only as I began to purchase new albums that it dawned on me : To add my new album to my player I must first remove an old album!

Not exactly the discovery of electricity but it soon became quite clear that the chaotic free-for-all that was adding albums to my player would now need strict quality-control supervision. That rare Oasis B-side that I loved when I was 13 could no longer simply loiter around my music library. Artists and songs would now have to start pulling their weight to remain in contention for listening.

I realise I have rambled on way too long in this introduction but the end is near.

Every week I will place my mp3 player on random and list the first five songs to appear accompanied by whatever thoughts/feelings I may have to share regarding the track in particular. Readers may find this extremely boring but maybe one track per week may catch your fancy.

So here we go…..

The G-Man’s Weekly Random 5

1. Song : Mansions of Los Feliz
Artist : Eels
Album : End Times
Year : 2010

Personally I am delighted that the first song in this series is from a 2010 album as I was worried this could descend into a shabby “Best of the 60s” compilation.

As expected from any Mark Oliver Everett tune, the lyrics in Mansions of Los Feliz are no “Age of Aquarius” :

“Well it’s a pretty bad place outside this door
I could go out there but I don’t see what for”

Still E, only accompanied by simple strummed acoustic guitar, manages to create a positive atmosphere lacking more in sinister than you would think. One of the highlights of End Times and a track/album that is staying on my player for a good while yet.

For some reason or another I keep forgetting that Eels play this years Electric Picnic. I will make every attempt possible to be front-row-centre.

2. Song : Give Peace a Chance
Artist : John Lennon
Album : Single (available on Legend : The Very Best of John Lennon)
Year : 1969

A Lennon classic. Forty years and still they are not listening.

3. Song : Out On The Weekend
Artist : Neil Young
Album : Harvest
Year : 1972

From John “Save the World” Lennon to Neil “Save Me” Young. Both a masterclass in simple-yet-effective songwriting be it from two very different perspectives.

“See the lonely boy, out on the weekend
Trying to make it pay.
Can`t relate to joy, he tries to speak and
Can`t begin to say.”

4. Song : Morning Hollow
Artist : Sparklehorse
Album : Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain
Year : 2006

Shooting forward thirty-plus years to hero of mine who sadly makes songs like this no more.

“Built a fire in the kitchen
Made her bed by a stove
Took a walk to the graveyard
But she didn’t want to go

5. Song : Ordinary Pain
Artist : Stevie Wonder
Album : Songs in the Key of Life
Year : 1976

Thank christ a happy tune! Well…..sort of a happy tune. Actually scratch that. Ordinary Pain is a heartbreaker. Fortunate enough to catch Stevie in The O2 last month. The man still has it.

“Don’t fool yourself
But tell no one else
That it’s more than just
An ordinary pain
In your heart”