Random Sample

Another Random Sample for your random plays on your iPod — or whatever mp3 player you have. Before we get started, I wanted to do some big pimpin’ for my Popdose buddies:

1. Dw. Dunphy on the end of the album.
2. Jon Cummings on torture in the political culture.
3. Scott Malchus on Pete Townshend, teenage angst and friendship.

In between work emails, co-workers talking about their weekend plans, and trying to figure out how to make a quick getaway from work today, I hope you’ll clicky click the links for some really great posts.

Okay, on with the show!

“Old Joe’s Place,” The Folksmen (Download) The movie, while funny at times, didn’t reach This is Spinal Tap levels of comedy. But this song — like many of the songs Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer pen — are equal parts parody and homage.

Journey, “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love)” (Download) Steve Perry’s reputation as a douchebag was pretty much solidified with his statement on VH1’s “Behind the Music” that he never really felt like he was part of the band. Huh? Nevertheless, this cut from their 1981 tour in support of their album, Escape, shows the band in top form. What I love about this song is that in the context of a pop song, Steve Smith (on drums) weaves in a sophisticated beat that shows that he’s more than just a “four on the floor” kind of drummer — which, of course, he is. Plus, we get to hear Steve Perry saying stupid things like “I’m gonna par-tay like a party” prior to the formal start of the song. Ah, the good old days.

Suzanne Vega, “Unbound” (Download) In the ’80s and early ’90s I had a big Suzanne Vega music crush. I really enjoyed her mix of pop, literary allusions, and dreamy arrangements. For this new album she returns to her “classic” form for most of the album, but this song shows her dabbling in electronica.