Random Musings 2011

Is it really only a year since we last did this? Oh. Yes it is.

For the fourth year running I'm putting my reputation at risk with the random music challenge. And this is the Internet, folks, where four years=forever.

Don't know what I'm talking about? It's easy. Get your iPod or other digital musical doohickey. Hit the 'Random' button. Write down the first five songs - put them in the comments below if you like. And no skipping the embarrassing ones. If you've got the collected works of the Goombay Dance Band lurking on there then, well, you're just going to have to suck it up, sunshine.

Here we go then:

1 - The Pogues - The Broad Majestic Shannon

Off to a good start, this was recorded live at the Brixton Academy. Shane Macgowan is almost easy to understand on this one - it must have been early on in the gig - although there's a bit of a slur in the chorus. Normal service restored.

2 - Eric Clapton - Lead Me On

Hmm. I have a lot of time for Eric Clapton. With the Bluesbreakers he was Godlike. In recent years he's revisited the Blues and, lo, it Has Been Good. But there's a whole bunch of stuff in between that gets a bit too saccharine-sweet. Like this one. Putting a nice solo in the middle of an average over-produced R&B ballad number does not improve it, Eric. Sorry.

3 - The Proclaimers - Make My Heart Fly

I love this. I hated the Proclaimers when they first came out; I didn't get them at all. Then I heard their song Sunshine on Leith and had a blokey 'going for a brisk walk around the block, no I'm fine it's just something in my eye' moment. Excellent.

4 - Rush - Middletown Dreams

Because no-one's record collection is complete without Canadian progressive power-rock three-pieces, is it? This one's on 'Power Windows', from 19-hundred-and-frozen-to-death. I have fond memories of driving a rust-covered Ford Escort and having a proto-mullet, listening to this at full blast. I wonder why I remained single for so much of my early twenties?

5 - Midlake - Head Home

From the wonderfully titled album, 'The Trials of Van Occupanther'. I heard this song on the radio and waited for the announcer to name the band. Next stop - record store. It's that good.

Right. That's me. Now it's your turn - let's see what you've got.