From time to time, I hear tracks in the course of my day --- usually from my ipod or maybe when in a shop, or on the telly --- which I think are really cool. They don't fit into any of my usual sections: they're not especially random, they couldn't really be always considered earworms, but I want to talk about and feature them. What to do?
Create a whole new section, of course!
So here is where I'll feature tracks I think you should check out, with maybe a little bit of info on each. No theme, no linkage and not even any set format: one time it could be three tracks, another ten, another time maybe just one. See how I'm feeling, what has impressed me on any particular day. I'll just post as I feel, so it could be close to a daily thing, maybe weekly, or two or three weeks could go by without any recommendations and then I could hit you with a dozen in one week. Or one day. As unpredictable and unreliable as Dublin Bus, I kid you not.
So to start us off, here's the Boss, with a great track from his multi-platinum album, “The river”. It's a very low-key song, the vocals at times almost muttered, with none of the usual exuberance associated with many Springsteen songs, but it does demonstrate how his songs very often focus on the little guy, the problems of the working class, and at times, the sheer hopelessness of living a life on the fringes. With cutting lyrics like
"I was going to be your Romeo/ You was going to be my Juliet/ These days you don't wait on Romeos/ You wait on that welfare cheque", you know this ain't gonna be a fun ride! Remove any sharp objects from your reach before listening to this, it has no happy ending...
Point blank (Bruce Springsteen) from “The River” on Columbia
And in total contrast, though she may be someone most rockers would scoff at (but you would, wouldn't you? Well, if you're a guy. Although, even if you weren't... cough cough splutter!) you have to admit that Kylie writes some pretty damn fine songs. Okay, most of her stuff can be dance tosh, as I recently found out when I reviewed “Aphrodite”, but this is sultry, sexy, and that body --- er, I mean, voice! Excuse me for just a moment....
Slow (Kylie Minogue) from “Body language” on Parlophone
Now, before you get too sweaty and have to go have a lie down (like me), have a listen to this one. I love this just for the happy, up feeling it gives me. It's not a classic, but I like it a lot.
Empire State (Fleetwood Mac) from “Mirage” on Warner Bros
I love this one, although I'm not a huge fan of his, from John Cougar Mellencamp. This is “Check it out”, so do as the man says!
Check it out (John Cougar Mellencamp) from “The lonesome jubilee” on Mercury
Just love this one from Aerosmith!
Livin' on the edge (Aerosmith) from “Get a grip” on Geffen
And though not a big fan of the Eurythmics, I do like some of their stuff. This is the title track from one of the two albums of theirs I own. Love it.
Savage (Eurythmics) from “Savage” on RCA
Finally, more renowned for their love songs like “If” and “Baby I'm a-want you”, this is Bread with one of their boppier numbers, “Took the last train”. Till I feel like doing this again, then....
Took the last train (Bread) from “Retrospective” on Elektra