Five For Friday

And now, an unthemed mix of music for a Friday.

We’ll start off with a selection from the typically great new Oysterband album. This probably isn’t “the single” for most people, but since I’m getting quite comfortable in my self-selected role of aging and cranky progressive type, it appeals. I saw this live earlier this year…on a cannonball run from Boston to Halifax via St. Catherines, in what was certainly the best show I’ve seen this year. It’s hardly the same, but you can see a live performance of the song online.The Oysters are part of the essential soundtrack of my life ever since I first heard a cover of The Oxford Girl in the Abbey Pub in Chicago years ago–without their music in it, the story would have been different.

And then we move on to a selection from my favourite album from our own Tragically Hip. This, as I have probably mentioned before, is one of those songs that make me drive too fast. All the Canadians will know this one, of course, since we’re all issued new ‘Hip albums, so this is one for the Yanks. (Although my countrymen and women might get a flashback, and a “Hey remember when Gord had hair”, from checking out the video.)

Then, since those first two might not get me any cred with the downtown hipsters, I’ll pick a Bat For Lashes track. This one I like primarily because of how full the sound is on the chorus–I’m often a fan of one voice and one guitar, but I can get behind lush production when it’s done well, as it is here. And hey, melodramatic and catchy, is a good combination too. Ironically I was lead to this artist by the same person who pointed the way to the Oysterband.

And then it’s the tune from MASH that became the theme song of the TV version, as performed by Waterloo jazz man Derek Hines. I really wish I had more recordings of Derek’s jazz stuff–the one 5-track EP I have isn’t really enough. Also, not jazz, but I particularly wish I had a recording of he and Danny doing Suspicious Minds. (Derek’s mostly a man of mystery on the Internets these days, but he was spotted making an appearance as a hooded backup singer in a recent Paul Macleod video.)

And we’ll close off with Laurie Anderson, giving a nod to Old Bill. I could listen to Laurie’s voice all day, and whether her tracks succeed or fail, they’re certainly never boring. It both amazes, and kind of freaks me out, when I think that she’s in her 60s. I kind of wish she had done more than one storytelling recording too, since I love listening to that disc. (Here’s the original version, with the visuals.)