More Ipod Fun

I am in the office today by myself. Most of our satellite offices are closed for the holiday. I am in the office by myself. Since most of our other offices are closed, there is not a whole lot going on today in our site in downtown Chicago.

I brought my Ipod with me to keep me company today and since I don’t have much going on, I again will list the next 25 songs that come up on my shuffle option. I realize that I do in fact open myself up to embarrassment but, what the hell. This always seems to kill a little time.

Sister Golden Hair, America – I kid you not. This is the first song that comes up of the nearly 2,000 on my Ipod. I have talked about my love for not only this song but the soft rock styling’s of America. This song is infectious pop tune that is simply irresistible.

Darling Nikki, Prince – Possibly the quintessential Prince tune. It is raunchy, dirty, and a complete jam. My favorite song off of Purple Rain and one that while it got no air play (for obvious reasons) shows off the kinky side of the man from Minnesota.

Hold Me Know, The Thompson Twins – Okay, this is one left over from when my wife and I still shared our Ipod. I like a lame 80’s song as much as the next guy, but this one is pure shit. No excuse for why I left this one on my device and I will be deleting it tonight.

Centerfold, The J. Gelis Band – My Ipod must be stuck in the 80’s. I used to jam to this in 7^th grade and well I guess some things never change. I am more of a Freeze Frame guy from the same LP but, this for a pop 80’s tune doesn’t hurt.

I’ve Been Everywhere, Johnny Cash – This is a great fuckin song. Before it became popular in a TV commercial for some lame travel website, I was rocking to this Cash disc. Unchained is Cash’s best record he did post 1990. He recorded it with the backing of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and it was the freshest thing he had done in eons. Trust me even if you aren’t a country fan, (and I am really not one either) give this record a chance.

Swingtown, Steve Miller Band – It is hard not to like the Steve Miller Band. While I wouldn’t call myself a devotee by any stretch of the imagination, I kind of like the guy. Swingtown is one of those classic rock tunes you have heard a million times and never seem to mind. This is a decent enough jam that does not grate on you.

Alabama Song, The Doors – I would probably list the Doors as my favorite American band of all time. They were definitely the best to come out of the 60’s. In this little ditty I think you have to have a drink in your hand to fully enjoy.

I Alone, Live – Maybe I should get nuked for this one. Still, I will defend it. Live was one of those mid 90’s bands that you landed on one side of the fence on. I landed on the side that dug this record. Sure, it gets ripped on a lot and I kind of understand why. Yet, there is something about it that I hooked into. In my mind, it rocks. Throwing Copper is one of those discs that you never take out and then one day you re-discover and it and realize it was pretty fucking good.

Dark Star, Crosby Stills and Nash – I always relate this song to my Mom who used to jam to it back in the day. I still have a soft spot for it as well. I am a big CS and N guy. This pretty little song is one of my favorite from their catalog. Those 3 guys were just meant to sing together.

Ace of Spades, Motorhead – Could there possibly be a stranger segway from one song to another? Say what you want about this song, but you cannot deny its hard rock appeal. It has everything a hard rock jam needs, a kick ass, fast guitar solo, hard ass drumming and Lemmy.

That’s Life, Frank Sinatra – Here we are beginning to see the dangers of the Ipod shuffle. To go from Motorhead to Sinatra you basically get a case of whiplash. I am Italian. As such it is in my D.N.A to like Sinatra. He is one of my favorite crooners and really how could he not be.

Tire Swing, Kimya Dawson – I believe the last time I tried this exercise I wrote about my enjoyment of the Juno soundtrack. Here is another one from that disc. This song in particular is quirky enough and different.

So Lonely, The Police – Well, what can I say about this one. If you don’t like this song, I really don’t think I want to know you. As much as Stuart Copeland is the shit, this may be my favorite work of his. So much so, that I air drum to this song even at work not caring if I get caught or not. I am Police junkie, have been for over 20 years and I will be to the day I die.

Rock This Town, The Stray Cats – Hey I am a fan of Brian Setzer. As so, I also dig his early work as a member of the Stray Cats. I am getting to become more and more of a rockabilly fan as I get older and have a new appreciation for bands like this. Sure, it is not the most difficult music to perform, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable.

Teenage Lobotomy, The Ramones – Punk icons The Ramones are one of my favorites. This is Joey at his vocal best. Funny, just yesterday I caught the Ramones documentary End of the Century on cable. Sad, that Dee Dee, Johnny and Joey are all gone now.

Man in the Box, Alice in Chains – Back when any band coming out of Seattle that could play two cords was getting signed along came Alice in Chains. Obviously Nirvana was the head of that class. I would put Alice in Chains second of those bands. Poor Layne Staley who like so many before him was never able to conquer his demons.

Follow You Follow me, Genesis – I am a much bigger fan of Genesis during the Peter Gabriel years. Still, some of the Phil Collins era stuff is decent. This is one of those songs that I kind of dig. Tony Banks lays down a catchy enough keyboard track and before the band completely jumped the shark they put out this decent record.

Down by the River, Neil Young – Man I dig this song. Neil Young is one of my favorites, much to the dismay of my wife. To me he has one of the best voices in rock history. Down by the River is one of those songs that is quintessential Neil. Pretty in parts, rocking in others and blended together to tell a story that you can’t help but groove to. This song features some of Young’s best guitar work.

Give a Little Bit, Supertramp – A classic rock standard. At some point if you grew up in the suburbs in the 70’s it was a law that each household must own a copy of Breakfast In America. I know it was in my household and well, I guess I still kind like this record. Call it a guilty pleasure if you must, but I will own to it.

Thunderstruck, AC/DC – Post Back in Black most of the catalog from my favorite Australian rockers is to put it kindly, sporadic at best. The Razor’s Edge was the album they were touting when I saw them live in the early 90’s. This song was an anthem at the time and well, I guess it still kind of is.

Snow, The Red Hot Chili Peppers – Yes, the Chili Peppers duped me again. I was such a huge fan of these guys in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Then I heard Scar Tissue and became disillusioned. So, you are asking why is this song on you Ipod? I really don’t have an answer other then, I bought this cd and felt I had to download a couple of tracks from it to justify my purchase.

Fall Out, The Police – This was very, very early release from the Police. This was when the band was still searching for an identity. This is one of the only songs where you can hear the original Police guitarist Henry Padvoni. About as punk as the Police ever really got.

Baby Got Back, Sir Mix-a-Lot – How can I justify this one? I will try. I listen to this song and it takes me back to my college days. Back when I hung out in Lincoln Park and Bamboo Bernie’s and bars like that, I danced many a times to this song with some anonymous college co-ed. I am not proud of this one but, that is the main reason I have it on my Ipod.

California Sun, The Rivera’s – One of my favorite surf guitar songs. I have an affinity for this type of music even though I have never been on a surf board in my life. This song in particular is catchy and a classic. It is hard not to like this one.

Rudie Can’t Fail, The Clash – I would have been surprised if my Ipod could have gotten through 25 songs without the Clash appearing. This one off of one of my favorite, if not my favorite LP of all time, London Calling finds the Clash rocking the reggae beat like they did from time to time. For 3 guys about as far removed from Jamaica as you could get, it somehow works.