Work It, Make It, Do It, Makes Us

“Got No Shorty,” Sean Kingston
I like to believe I’m an open-minded dad. Minnie’s taste in music runs the gamut: she likes hipster stuff and she likes Top 40, too. She’s a well-rounded girl. I’ve even come around on some of her ultra-popular faves. I dig me some Rihanna every now and then, but Sean Kingston has got to go! It’s a cover of a cover, and I think that’s what bugs me about it. Sean nicks David Lee Roth’s silly-ass version of a medley popularized by Louie Prima. The sad thing is, Sean Kingston probably has no idea who in hell Louie Prima is.

“Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” Daft Punk
All right, back to the good stuff. How about an electronic hand-jive? This is the track that serves as the basis for Kanye West’s Grammy-winning hit, “Stronger.” Daft Punk, in turn, sampled Edwin Birdsong’s “Cola Bottle Baby” for their song. The circle of life…

“Stick With Me Baby,” Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
What a great collaboration Raising Sand is! He actually sings in a way that he never really did with Zeppelin. No bombast. No shouting. Not that there was anything wrong with that. But, this is just sweet music with one of country’s best artists.

“The High Party,” Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Brief conversation after “The High Party” pops up on Shuffle:
Laura: Oh! Is this Ted Leo?
Me: Yeah.
Laura: God, I hate Ted Leo!

“I Hear a Symphony,” Diana Ross & The Supremes
A Holland-Dozier-Holland production.

Music's Got Me Feelin' So Free

Let’s see what The Shuffler came up with this week.

“One More Time,” Daft Punk
It seems like the right way to look forward to the weekend! The French duo enlist the aid of soul singer Romanthony on this track from 2001’s Discovery. The album is also incorporated into an anime film called Interstella 5555. Daft Punk’s live show would certainly make George Clinton proud.

“Country Boy,” Johnny Cash
A song about the good life: you know, hunting and fishing. But, I’m a city boy. What do I know? I just love how this song rollicks. I can get to that! Here's Johnny and Willy doing the song together. On a side note, Snoop Dogg wants to cover a Cash tune. He apparently feels some kind of “gangsta” kinship with The Man in Black. It makes a certain kind of sense. But what song? I could see him do an urban take on “The Ballad of Boot Hill.”

The way these next three songs work together is one of those amazing random moments.

“Sudden Stars,” Stereolab
Stereolab are one of my favorite headphone bands. They have just been so consistently good over the years.

“Walk Away Renee,” The Left Banke
This is one of the great songs of unrequited love. The Left Banke were an American pop quintet from the late 60’s known for its orchestral sensibility. This was their most popular song. You can trace a line from the Left Banke to an artist like Jens Lekman.

“Moral Kiosk,” R.E.M.
R.E.M. released a live album in October and are working on a new record, reportedly to be released next spring. On top of that, rumors had been swirling recently that Bill Berry was going to rejoin the band and tour with them in 2008. Alas, it is not to be. But we still have vintage R.E.M. to look back on. The quality of the video isn’t very good, but it reminds you that seeing them in a club beat seeing them in an arena.