Few things are as enjoyable as a long plane ride with an iPod on Shuffle mode. [1] Here's some of what I heard during my flight yesterday.
The Go-Betweens, "Clouds" (from 16 Lovers Lane)
This is the version from 16 Lovers Lane, but last weekend I bought the new Go-Betweens live DVD/CD, That Striped Sunlight Sound, and I actually watched the DVD. I don't generally watch concert performances, because I don't find them all that interesting to watch from home. But this show is just so amazing, & warm, & fun, that I watched it, and loved it.
The Fiery Furnaces, "Black-hearted Boy" (from Bitter Tea)
Now that almost all of Bitter Tea has leaked, I'm just even more excited than ever about the new album. This is a fairly typical song from what I've heard of the album—quite poppy, but still with some crazy keyboard action. And backwards-singing.
Guns 'n' Roses, "Mr. Brownstone" (from Appetite for Destruction)
Listening to this all I can think of is just how much the Manic Street Preachers' Generation Terrorists sounds like Guns 'n' Roses. It's really quite amazing: it's the exact same guitar sound, which I suppose is exactly what the Manics were going for.
Busted, "Thunderbirds" (from Thunderbirds / 3AM)
I can't easily explain why I like Busted. Under many other circumstances, I just really can't stand their brand of aggressively sterile post-punk. But this song is just so fun!
Kelley Stoltz, "Ever Thought of Coming Back" (from Below the Branches)
I love this song. Love love love it, & in all of its Beach Boys-sounding self. [2]
Clay Aiken, "Solitaire" (from The Way / Solitaire)
Oh dear, oh dear. I've written about this before, I'm quite ashamed to say. And I still love it. [3]
Celebration, "Diamonds" (from Celebration)
Celebration sounds like a scary carnival ride, with howling, and wild animals, and creepy keyboard-playing carnies, and drunks lurching towards you out of shadows.
But in a good way!
Dusty Springfield, "Breakfast in Bed" (from Dusty in Memphis)
I think this may be one of my favorite songs of all time. "She's hurt you again, I can tell—oh, I know that look so well."—you can almost hear a sly grin on Dusty's face.
[1] Not to mention that plane flights just make me so productive—in part, it's the fact that I have my computer, but I don't have a network connection, so I can actually get things done without getting swamped and/or overwhelmed with incoming email.
[2] And, since I now appreciate Pet Sounds, I'm equipped to make that judgment.
[3] BTW, I am just so fucking sad that Bobby Bennett was voted out this week! His "Copacabana" made me so happy. He was just so awesome.
