Friday Morning Listen: A Substitute Mix
Published May 19, 2006
Next up is some pleasant jazz; an instrumental called "Highway Blues" by New Stories from the Speakin' Out CD. Now this is my kind of writing music. Not too jumpy, and no distracting lyrics. My only problem is, I have no idea how this ended up in my player library. It must have been the music elves and fairies that play around in the house at night.
Oh awesome, nothing better than getting' the Led out, with the timeless "Kashmir." It's sexy, soothing and stirring at the same time. Strangely, the lyrics don't distract here. I barely acknowledge them, instead getting lost in the relentless bass and percussion.
From the classics to the new - my player shuffles right to Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Stadium Arcadium." Me likey.
Here's another Napoleon Dynamite favorite - I'm kind of a sucker for certain 80s tunes like this. Strangely, during Holy Week, I found a deeper meaning in the simple but profound lyrics of "The Promise" by When in Rome:
When you need a friend, don't look to a stranger,
You know in the end, I'll always be there.
But when you're in doubt, and when you're in danger,
Take a look all around, and I'll be there
Works for me!
The beauty of this media player is that I can combine my son's play list with my own. Otherwise I wouldn't have developed an appreciation for the likes of Nirvana and Creed, evidenced my not shuffling away from the currently playing "Come as You Are" by Nirvana.
Oh yeah, let's get jiggy! Will Smith you think? Not that I don't like the Fresh Prince and all, but take that phrase back a decade, and you'll surely feel jiggy listening to Van Halen's "Everybody Wants Some." I defy anyone with a pulse to sit still during this incredible mix of driving beat and wild shredding. OK so I don't write so well with this stuff, but man, can I clean house or what!
I could let the title of my last selection, "Are You Experienced?" the Hendrix cover performed by Eric Johnson, taunt me. The song represents my half crazed efforts to bone up on the music of Johnson and Joe Satriani to prepare for my review of their Boston show last month. Experienced, I was not. I had never done a concert review before, and wasn't extremely familiar with either musician's material. But I knew what I liked, and tried to do justice to their work while driving myself slightly insane in the process.
And now, I will leave you in the much more experienced hands of Mark Saleski as he returns next week for another Friday Morning Listen.
Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. On his best day, he hopes to channel the ghosts of Lester Bangs and Jack Kerouac. He spends the hours of 9:32PM to 1:37AM carving out music reviews and essays for Jazz.com, Blogcritics.org and other publications.
- Friday Morning Listen: A Substitute Mix
- Published: May 19, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Soundtracks, Music: Rock, Music: Progressive Rock, Music: Jazz, Music: Adult Alternative
- Part of a feature: Friday Morning Listen
- Writer: Mark Saleski
- Mark Saleski's BC Writer page
- Mark Saleski's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I'm all about the diversity Connie - and thank you!
Well done, Sir Mary. Well done indeed.
Now, just go back to your Windows Media Player, delete all the Creed songs, and you will be back on the road to salvation in no time.
It's a pity my Creed/Scott Stapp segment never made it to the DJRadiohead Podcast Experience. It made TWTWIAM laugh.
Thankyou Sir DJ -
Why the distaste for Creed? After all, 'What's This Life For?' : )~
Scott Stapp is Budweiser but he thinks he's the Dalai. There is no zen in Budweiser but he doesn't know that.
And the riffs were better when Jerry Cantrell wrote them.
I'm being snarky now.
Very cute Sir Mary. Maybe you can do your own weekly music shuffle!
Now as for the Babyshambles stuff... "Fuck Forever" is the anthem of 2006.
Nice beard Mary. Nah, nevermind.
Great job filling in, but I must agree on the Creed issue. Delete, burn, smash, whatever, just destroy by what means available to you.
Thank you Sirs!
Had minor stresses preparing for this, but got into the groove (pun intended) eventually (thanks Sir DJ).
However I don't see the problem with Creed. I mean, not like I'm their promoter or anything, but what's the harm?
Sir Mary, wonderous, this was! and you had Babyshambles in there! and Bollywood To Battersea, no less! Hardcore, that's the deal with Sir Mary, case anyone wonders.
i'd love to read more of these kindsa pieces from you, although i realise that 24 is chompin at your time. soon as the seasons over, i request a Mary-centric music series.
great job. Mark who???
(just jokin is all, Sir S)
(but you were all sortsa glorious)
Duke dear,
I thank you so much. I do want to write more, not less, and I will have a little bit more time when Jack Bauer saves the world one more time. I don't know about the music thing though - you all are better suited for the music thing, because you just know more about music!
(I do know what i like though)
Mary, I feel the same way when I hear Andrea Bocelli sing almost anything. He reaches in and touches your heart with his beautiful voice.
Oh he is pretty damn amazing Bobbi. I love Sogno, not just for his voice, but for the beautiful orchestral arrangement as well.
lovely!
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Mary -- Nice job filling in. You're MP3 player sounds like it contains an even more diverse collection of music than mine.