With My Lightning Hands

From dub to post-rock, let’s take a listen to this week’s Shuffle.






“Devil Dead” (Live), Lee “Scratch” Perry
A little ditty about legalizing pot. It’s pretty hard to overstate the impact of The Upsetter. He’s one of the kings of dub, influencing artists within reggae (Peter Tosh, Keith Hudson) and outside of it (the Clash, the Beastie Boys). This is a live track from a concert recorded in San Francisco in 2006.

“(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes,” Elvis Costello
“Oh, oh!” Early in his career, the speed with which Elvis churned out pop gems was the stuff of legend. He reportedly tossed off “Red Shoes” in ten minutes!

“Bad Houses,” Big Black
Steve Albini is the self-loathing narrator on this track from the excellent Atomizer (1986). I have mixed feelings about Albini. On the one hand, he’s produced some of the greatest rock records of all time. On the other, his casual misogyny has tarnished his reputation. The question is: Does and should it matter when the quality of the product is first rate? And, as a champion of DIY, he’s second to none.

“Spanish Eyes,” U2
One of the greatest B-sides ever recorded.

“Along the Banks of Rivers,” Tortoise
Just a beautifully meandering tune from Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1996). It’s elegant, with a touch of noir. This album is a must-have for any musichead’s library.