Friday Random Five: It’s all a bit 80’s in here

Every week I say that I am not a throwback. I keep up with things. I bought something from Kimya Dawson just today, so you know, I keep hoping that things like that will come up when I hit the Refresh button. But it goes all 80’s on me and it’s Pseudo Echo or something. Maybe next week my up-to-date-ness will come up on the Five, but for now it’s time to examine the past.

Groove Is in the Heart by Deee-lite Album: World Clique
An amusing trifle from Deee-Lite (note the three ‘e’s). They must have been the first concept band of the 90’s, combining psychedelia, sampling, groovy beats, and wacky wardrobe. I had the chance to see Deee-lite live in concert. Enjoyable for a while, though the gig was not ‘going off’ as had been hoped. One of the key members was missing (the gentleman at left), and the concert seemed overlong. This song still works though. Deee-lite perpetuates a long-held fallacy — that the heart is the seat of groove, as was supposed by ancient philosophers. Modern science has found that groove is actually in the cerebellum.

Good Times Roll by The Cars Album: The Cars Greatest Hits
I still like the Cars’ first album, having heard it on the radio in my early pre-teens. The production is really interesting. All the guitar and synth effects are presented sharp and clear, right up front, and the vocals are compressed to within an inch of their lives. Question: What is rock-and-roll hair, and is there a special way to brush it?

Jamming by Bob Marley & the Wailers Album: Legend
It’s kind of strange that so many people have this album. I think my mom might even have a copy, and she usually goes no more recent than the Carpenters. It delves a bit into the philosophy of Rastafarianism, but the feel-good nature of reggae keeps it accessible.

Evening Skye by The Kilted Generation Album: Music for a Kilted Generation
Kind of a strange band from Perth. Imagine guitar, drums, and bagpipes rocking out. At least, that’s the way it seems from the photos on their (now-defunct) blog. This song isn’t one of the rocking-out ones. It’s more contemplative, like looking out over the ocean, and the sound grows throughout. Unexpectedly lovely actually.

Queen of Las Vegas (Mesopotamia Outtake Version) by The B-52’s Album: Nude on the Moon
I love the B’s, though I never feel like listening to them anymore. I suppose this is the fate of a band that has a strong sound and defines the style. In the early 80’s, they were New Wave. Them and Devo. I never feel like listening to them either. When I do listen to the first two B-52’s albums these days (yellow and red), the thing that stands out for me is the really great guitars. The surf rock aspect is prominent in a way that I didn’t notice when I first heard these songs at parties and things.

This song comes from the less-inspired ‘Whammy’ period. It’s quite a bit different from the album version, more interesting for the B-52’s completist, if there is such a thing. Having said that, Nude on the Moon is a great compilation if you’re looking for B-things.