The G-Man Random 5
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.
The G-Man’s Random 5
1. Song : Silence is the Question
Artist : The Bad Plus
Album : These Are the Vistas
Year : 2003
My jazz knowledge is extremely limited so The Bad Plus may provide a doorway into the genre. So far I am pretty safe if an earthquake hits as I have been unable to even dip a toe inside but for the moment. The Bad Plus may be well-known for their interesting versions of famous tracks such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana) and “Heart of Glass” (Blondie) but this Ethan Iverson-penned, piano-driven penultimate track on 2003s These Are The Vistas is nothing short of spectacular by the songs climax.
The fourth edition of The G-Man Random 5 and Youtube fails me for the first time. I could stick up another Bad Plus track but it would be such a cop out.
2. Song : Every Single Line Means Something
Artist : Marnie Stern
Album : In Advance of the Broken Arm
Year : 2007
The catchiest track on Marnie’s debut. Stern’s guitar playing is never in question but this track shows she can both pen and arrange a tune for the songs benefit rather than shredding for the sake of it.
3. Song : Valkyrie in the Roller Disco
Artist : The New Pornographers
Album : Together
Year : 2010
One of the few ballads on this years release from the Canadians sees banjo and piano mix well. The mostly shared vocal line from Neko Case and Carl Newman adds a nice touch to one of the best tracks on the record, dedicated to Kathryn Calders’ (piano) mother.
4. Song : Political Science
Artist : Randy Newman
Album : Sail Away
Year : 1972
Humour and music is possibly the most volatile concoction that an artist can try to mix as it is a thin line between satire, wit and cheese. This is a definite highlight from a long, successful career in funny, extremely-well crafted tunes containing a ferocious bite veiled in a pop melody.
“Let’s drop the big one and see what happens”
5. Song : Cutting Ice To Snow
Artist : Efterklang
Album : Parades
Year : 2007
The last track on Parades, an album I consider to border on a masterpiece. If you listen to one song today I recommend listening to this one.
