Friday Random Five (#13)

Oh, we've got the good stuff this week, chiseled out of solid ice so you know it's fresh (high temps hovering in the single digits all week, get it?). Speaking of cool, the list of musicians in this week's line-up reads like an indie honor-roll, outside of the band I'd never heard of before yesterday. Easy on the nog and nutmeg this weekend...

1- As previously promised, the Decemberists resume their month-long residency in the Random Five this week with a B-side we've chosen for its thick irony: from the Decemberists in the month of December, we offer "Sunshine" (MP3).

2- Only BRAND NEW M. Ward is next. I saw him do this live last spring and thought he was kidding around-- which, perhaps he was. Nevertheless, he's recorded a new version of CCR's "Green River" (MP3) and released it as a single.

3- Speaking of Mr. Ward, he had a hand in overseeing the upcoming I Am the Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey release, out early in 2006 on Vanguard. The line-up features the likes of Ward, Devendra Banhart, Calexico, and the Fruit Bats, among others, as well as this typically titled contribution from Sufjan Stevens: "Variation On 'Commemorative Transfiguration & Communion at Magruder Park'" (MP3).

4- In case you missed the 3,000 other blogs pointing this out, John Vanderslice has recently posted the entirety of his November 5th show at the Independent in San Francisco on his website. All 22 songs on the setlist are available as high resolution mp3s right here. Alternately, here's that night's version of "Pale Horse" (LIVE) (MP3).

5- As for the band I'd never heard of before yesterday, Chicago's Riviera has released the second album on the Glorious Noise imprint. At the End of the American Century is also the band's second release, "Your American Past" (MP3) is from it.

enjoy. rinse (scrape). repeat.