Friday, August 19, 2005

Doin' the Friday Shuffle

Catorce!

1. "I Don't Hear the Ocean" - Michael John LaChiusa - Marie Christine (Original Broadway Cast)
Stirring romantic song from this beautiful score, a retelling of Medea in New Orleans, as the husband parallel seduces the Medea character after they've first met.

2. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - U2 - Rattle & Hum
This is a stunning live version of the song, with the gospel group The New Voices of Freedom singing along with the band in an artfully done arrangement that gives the gospel singers full rain and brings out the real gospel nature of the song in a completely organic way.

3. "(Pal Joey Suite) Happy Hunting Horn" - Mandy Patinkin - Dress Casual
Patinkin does a nicely condensed run through of the whole score in this medley.

4. "Beaten to the Punch" - Elvis Costello - Get Happy!!
Elvis channels his look-alike, Buddy Holly, in this peppy rock number.

5. "The Kiss" - Philip Glass - The Hours (Soundtrack)
One of my favorite scores. This track is an uneasy, pensive bit of melancholy driven by soft piano.

6. "Heebie Jeebies" - Louis Armstrong - The Essential Louis Armstrong
Very early Louis in an old, scratchy recording. The voice isn't as deep as it'll get, but the gravel is there and well-formed.

7. "Magic Bus" - The Who - Live at Leeds
Long version of the classic song, from what's of considered one of the greatest live albums ever produced.

8. "Sunrise Letter" - Stephen Sondheim - Passion
Marin Mazzie singing to her distant lover, and already sensing she's about to lose him. Gorgeous piece of music.

9. "Dissolve" - Elvis Costello - When I Was Cruel
One of Elvis' harder rockers, all feedback and fuzz, with some funky horn work on top.

10. "New Life (Reprise)" - Pete Townsend - The Iron Man
One of Townsend's post-Who attempts at musical theater-style concept albums. This is a little treacly; you can almost see the Disney cartoon in your head.

Until Whenever

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