Friday Random Five (x2) (#7)

As you may, or may not, have noticed, the Friday Random Five took the week off last week, thus delaying installment #7 until this week. However, no need to feel cheated-- we're making it up to you with a Friday Random Five(x2) this week, which my rudimentary college education suggests equals a random ten. It's truly random, too, as there's stuff from all walks here: new stuff, old stuff, live stuff, etc. So put the water on to boil and watch the leaves come down, the weekend's upon us.

1- If you haven't seen the Clumsy Lovers live, it's only because you didn't go because chances are outstanding that they've been to your town. The Vancouver, BC band plays something like 4,000 shows a year, and they're in Pocatello, ID tonight. "Amen" (MP3) comes from their 2003 release After the Flood.

2- Speaking of live, one of the best live shows around is put on by Calexico. They're currently touring with Iron & Wine in support of the In the Reins EP the two put out together, hitting Salt Lake City on October 24th. This gem version of "Stray" (MP3) was recorded at the Casbah in San Diego.

3- It's Foucault, but it ain't exactly post-modern. No, this is Jeffrey Foucault, a singer-songwriter originally from Wisconsin. The tune "4 and 20 Blues" (MP3) comes from last year's Stripping Cane.

4- Next up, it's a non-album track from Portland, OR-based M.Ward, a personal favorite of mine. "One More Goodbye" (MP3-stream) comes from the Merge Records compilation Old Enough to Know Better.

5- Staying with a Merge artist, Lambchop offers up a spoonful of positivity that's so much easier to swallow on a Friday (though I'd still recommend the song itself for the rest of the week, too). Soothe your people skills with a live version of "Up With People" (MP3-stream).

6- It was announced this week that the one-woman-band that is Chan Marshall's Cat Power will be releasing The Greatest, her follow up to You Are Free, this January 24th. Decidedly more blues and groove based than Marshall's past work, it's being called her "Dusty In Memphis" moment. Here's the title track: "The Greatest" (MP3).

7- Also upcoming is the fifth album from the Silver Jews, entitled Tanglewood Numbers. A formula that includes Stephen Malkmus as a side man, a cast of seemingly thousands and the acerbic song poetry of frontman David Berman, the band is always good for refreshingly offbeat, genre-hopping numbers. "I'm Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You" (MP3) appears on the new album, out October 18th.

8- Rumors of the rotting and subsequent festering ferment of the Apples in Stereo were, thankfully, greatly exaggerated. In fact, they're working on a new album to be released in 2006. "Liza Jane" (MP3) is their contribution to Dimension Mix, a tribute album of sorts to the music of the 5th Dimension, Bruce Haak, and Esther Nelson recently out on Eenie Meenie records.

9- A new tribute album to the music of Elliott Smith by northwest-based artists is being planned for an early 2006 release. This doesn't happen to included on that particular gathering, but in the same spirit is the Robot Ate Me's version of Smith's "Angel In the Snow" (MP3).

10- We close it with a three minute mainline of energy in the form of a non-album track from Nic Armstrong & the Thieves. Hailing from the U.K., the band released their debut full-length The Greatest White Liar earlier this year. "If We Can't Escape My Pretty" (MP3) isn't on it.


enjoy. rinse. repeat.