March 2006

Godzilla's Random 20+5
All Shuffled Up

1. Song For My Father - Horace Silver
The baseline from this song is best know from Steely Dan's "Rikki, Don't Lose That Number". Horace did it first. And he plays piano.

2. Party Time, Part 2 - The Upsetters
Oh boy, this song is a treat. I think it is, actually, the ultimate party song. Well, to be precise, I have a theory that this is really the second part of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up, Part 1," which Mr. Joshua and I refer to as "the Marvin Gaye party song". If you were to play these back to back at a party, it would explode in happy dancing interspersed with moments of joyous yet casual laughter. Applies to both cocktail and beer parties. I am not going to describe this song any further than that, as I'm not sure how to describe this song other than "musical perfection". The Upsetters are my favorite old Jamaican band of late. Go Lee Perry!

3. Gravity Rides Everything - Modest Mouse
I don't care that this was used in a minivan commercial two years ago, I still love it. Soeaking of cars, this song makes me miss my old convertible.

4. Neon Tetra - David Grisman
Nice work, Robox (this is what I call my MP3 Player). This goes to show that my Creative Jukebox loves me. Way to follow that Modest Mouse song with this piece of sweet, jazzy bluegrass. I never would have thought to listen to those songs back to back.

5. Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - Paul Simon
Man, this so reminds me of 1986. In a good way.

6. Sleeping In - The Postal Service
I'm not sure, but I think I might be tired of The Postal Service.

7. Ask Me A Question About The Atom - Ancient Greeks
Catchy!

8. Dry & Heavy - Burning Spear
Yes, I have a Jamaican music problem, as I'm sure will be borne out in this list. I'd say an older boy (Duckfat) told me to do it, but it's really my fault just as much as it is his. We share this addiction and are members of a support group that sits around on his porch binging on Ska, Reggae, Dub, and Red Stripe.

9. Fresh - Daft Punk
I think this is my favorite Daft Punk song.

10. Haiti - The Arcade Fire
Yes, I am cool.

11. Good Luck Shore - United Future Organization
UFO is one of the premier producers of what was once referred to as Acid Jazz. This Japanese act is totally jazzed-up and funky. Take that, Pizzicato 5!

12. O.R.F. Pt 1 & 2 - Organized Raw Funk
Oh shit! THIS is funk. Lazy, slow, and deep. Kind of like your mother.

13. Fame - David Bowie
I'm not even a little bit gay, but I'd still make out with David Bowie if he asked me to.

14. Marcus Garvey - Burning Spear
A truly classic reggae song.

15. Get Up (I Like Being A) Sex Machine - James Brown
Everyone knows this one.

16. Little League - Capn Jazz
Not so much on the jazz tip. More like serious rocking. This song has quality yelling. I think the dude might be in an argument with his guitar.

17. Troubles - The Beta Band
The Beta Band never made an album as good as their utterly brilliant debut, The Three EPs. But Sometimes they record a song that really reminds you of why they are so awesome and what they once did. "Troubles" is one of those songs.

18. Good Night - The Beatles
This would have been a perfect ending to this randomized playlist. If only it had played two tracks later!

19. So What'cha Want - Beastie Boys
I think Check Your Head may have been the apex of the Beastie Boys.

20. A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
OK, this is a much better way of ending this random playlist. Thank you Robox. I shouldn't question your wisdom.

BONUS ROUND
Robox, my Creative Zen Jukebox Xtra, clearly felt that it could not be upstaged by Grandpa's and kept pumping out the jams. Here are the next five songs after my official "Random 20" concluded (brilliantly, at that).

21. So Here We Are - Bloc Party
Bloc Party doesn't meet the recent hype, I don't think, but this song is great. Probably the best on their first album, "Silent Alarm" It forced me keep writing this list. What am I going to do, turn off an awesome song?

22. Black Rhythm Happening - Eddie Gale
My music collection goes to obscure depths that you couldn't possibly comprehend.

23. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
No explanation required.

24. Blackbird - The Beatles
No explanation required.

25. Barock-Plastik - Stereolab
Ah, perfect. Not my favorite Stereolab song, but this list would have been incomplete without at least one. I would have had to have had a little chat with Robox. Oh, I should also mention that my awesome girlfriend took me to see Stereolab at the 9:30 Club for my birthday. I'd write it up, but I'm kind of lazy. Needless to say, it was awesome. It's amazing how tight these guys are live. And loud. I needed that.