Dave Heaton’s Top Ten — August 5

by Dave Heaton
5 August 2007

Random

The old stand-by: 10 songs at random, from my ipod on shuffle

1. My Morning Jacket – “Xmas Time Is Here Again”

   Christmas in August? Why not? “Bring out the joy / light up the tree.”

2. The Velvelettes – “Needle in a Haystack”

   From that great Girl Group Sounds Lost and Found box set, the one in a hat box.

3. Boyish Charms – “The Inarticulate Monk”

   Don’t know much about this band, except they have a new CD out on Asaurus. This song is soft and bittersweet, very nice.

4. Pernice Brothers – “Automation”

   Great song off Live a Little (their best album? Maybe, though I’m still partial to the debut).

5. Mick Moloney – “Danny by My Side”

   From an interesting album, McNally’s Row of Flats, of traditional Irish musician Moloney singing rarely-heard songs from turn-of-the-century New York, songs written in broad Irish strokes to make immigrants remember their home country.

6. Raekwon – “Ice Water”

   Abrupt transition into classic hip-hop. Off Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, of course.

7. Dusty Springfield – “Silly, Silly Fool”

   Off the box set The Philly Sound.

8. Masta Ace – “Saturday Night Live (LA Jay Remix)

   Perennially underrated MC (by me as much as anybody). Memorable lines: “I’ve got the mad knife / I’m mad mean / I kill mad crews / I read Mad magazine!”

9. LL Cool J – “Fast Peg”

   Quick story interlude/tragedy from Walking With a Panther.

10. Ratatat – “Wildcat”

    Hip-hop-inspired indie electronic funk whatchamacallit. Nice stuff.