Song Sifter

#19: “Desert Song”: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros: Up From Below

While I love the hits off this album, my favorite track by Edward Sharpe is this striking number. Starting off with a beating soundscape of wind, guitar, and drums, it soon erupts and soars far beyond after the chorus. The lyrics and the feel fit almost perfectly with the beginning of The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King, or just about any western. Check them out!

Long days and pleasant nights.

#18: “High Voltage”: AC/DC: High Voltage, 1976

Have a rockin’ weekend!

#17: “I’ll Believe I’ll Dust My Broom”: Robert Johnson: single: 1937

A classic standard by the King of the Delta Blues: Robert Johnson, renowned in blues lore for selling his soul to the devil for his guitar skill. One of the founding members of the 27 Club, including Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain, among other musicians who died tragically at that age.

#16: “I Write the B-Sides”: Eels: Rotten World Blues EP, 2001

I have a lot of material by Eels, but I am only familiar with the latest album, “Tomorrow Morning”, which I would definitely recommend. I was pleasantly surprised when this tune showed up from a decade earlier. If anyone likes any other of his songs, let me know! It might show up here sooner or later.

#15: “Venus in Furs”: The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground & Nico, 1967

I found this number early in my shuffle-search, but bring it up now in honor of the new Irene Adler interpretation in the BBC series “Sherlock”. Like her character, the song explores themes of bondage, referencing a dominatrix in a book of the same name. On a more musical note, Lou Reed uses his famous “Ostrich Guitar” on this piece, where all the strings are tuned to the same note.

#14: “Coyote”: Joni Mitchell: Hejira, 1976

Hejira was one of the few older albums I did manage to work completely through last year, but I keep coming back to the first track about a one-night stand. Keep an ear on the bass riffs in the background, played by expert jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius.

#13: “Lover”: Devendra Banhart: Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Mountain, 2007

#12: “New Speedway Boogie” The Grateful Dead: Workingman’s Dead, 1970

“I’m not going to jail.”

#11: “Effington”: Ben Folds: Way to Normal, 2008

“If there’s a God, he is laughing at us, and our football team.” Have a good (if not normal) weekend!

#10: “Spires”: Mose Allison: Autumn Song, 1959

Early in his career, Mose Allison was known more for his piano skills than vocals. This is a nice original little jazz instrumental, one of many from his fifth album. I’m new to his work, and if anyone would like to suggest other Allison songs/albums, I’m always willing to find new stuff, and he has a lot of material out there.