Sunday, April 10, 2011

One possible "Desert Island" entry, or a permutation thereof...

We've all heard it. "What are the _______'s that you would take with you if you were stranded on a desert island?" This query has a lot of logistical issues (such as, "If I knew I were going to be stranded, why would I get on the boat?"), but it also has its merits--if we were faced with the possibility of nothing besides these choices, what would these choices be? I am by no means on a desert island (though there is sand here), but I similarly had to prepare to be without my records for a length of time. Knowing that, I had to choose a finite number to bring with me. Knowing, also, how difficult such choices would be, I purposely didn't put much thought into it--otherwise I'd still be in my spare room choosing records. Now I am away from the bulk of them, with only a few to get me through. What did I choose? What kind of gut-level non-thinking went into each decision? The Walkmen - Lisbon :: I chose this record basically because I haven't cracked it yet. I have listened several times, and thoroughly enjoyed it each time, but I still don't have the feeling that I have reached its emotional core. Therefore, maybe some time with it as one of only a few choices will facilitate the breakthrough. Elliot Smith - Roman Candle :: "No Name #2" and "No Name #3". What else could I possibly need to say? Not this album doesn't have other great songs, but these two are the two I always have to repeat every time I hear them. Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak :: This album is so good, whether you want some fist-pumping familiarity ("The Boys are Back in Town"), or some introspective beauty ("Fight or Fall"). One of my favorite 'Classic Rock' albums, hands-down. Descendents - Somery :: This is the musical equivalent of a 5-Hour Energy, but it won't make you feel dirty afterwards, or like the victim of the worst advertising since "Winston tastes good...like a cigarette should!". Besides that, I have a lot of great associations with the music herein. It's a no-brainer for this list. Avi Buffalo - S/T :: Every time I listen to this thing, I feel like I'm missing parts of it--not in the same way as The Walkmen (above), but in the way that new things reveal themselves with each listen. What could be better on a desert island than something that is consistently engaging on an intellectual level? The Good Ones - Kigali Y' Izahabu :: Heart-achingly beautiful, nowhere moreso than on the opener, "Sara". There's something relaxing, almost meditative, about listening to songs when you have no idea what the words are. It's about the closest I get to prayer these days. Tom Waits - Small Change :: This is in case I somehow find a case of rum on my desert island. There is no better music for tying one on... Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road :: I can't think of a more kindred soul for being away from home and somewhat disillusioned by both your old home and your new surroundings than Sir Elton, circa 1973. The better copy is still at home... Paul Simon - Greatest Hits, Etc. :: Even better than the greatest hits here ("Kodachrome", "50 Ways...") is the "Etc."--chiefly "Duncan", which makes my throat tight every time I hear it and doesn't even have a vocal refrain, replacing it with an otherwordly flute melody. This is definitely one I would want if I really were on a desert island. Mimicking Birds - S/T :: Often, I turn on vinyl when I want some layered background music to provide a soundtrack to any extra-musical tasks or conversations that may be going on in the meantime. This is a perfect record for just that purpose. Every once in a while, a melody or lyric will tug at your ear and make you stop short, but mostly it is perfect for relaxing with. Pixies - Come On Pilgrim :: For someone in my age range, with my tastes, this is such a classic that I am pretty sure I don't need to explain it here. The Stranglers - La Folie :: A concept record about love (But...aren't they all?) has never sounded like such a good idea. You get rockers like "Non-stop" and "Pin Up" mixed in with more mellow numbers like "Golden Brown" (one of my all-time favorites) and the title track, which sounds like an overture in a David Lynch-helmed Valentine's Day multimedia project. Pavement - Quarantine the Past :: It's newness aside, if you want a broad swath of Pavement tracks and you have limited space, it's the only way to go. A really decent (expecting more than "decent" is nigh-unreasonable) compilation of one of my favorite band's best songs. So...that's what I have for a while. Bring on the desert island.