WGLT? Presents: the Best of 2005
25. Stephen Malkmus - Post-Paint Boy
Stephen Malkmus, famous for being in the group Pavement, made a kick-ass record this year. I'm putting this song down here at 25 because there's a second Malkmus song, a much different one, that I wanted to rank. Look out for that one.
24. Public Enemy - Hell No We Ain't All Right
Chuck D has said that hip-hop is the headline news of the ghetto. And if thats the case then Chuck is hip-hop's Ted Koppel. And if Chuck is Ted Koppel then that makes Flava Geraldo. Y'know, kind of exciting to watch but mostly just embarrassing. Stretched analogies aside, here's Public Enemy's latest 'ripped-from-the-headlines' epic.
23. Petra Haden - Sings The Who Sell Out
Here in the 'so stupid its genius' category we have Petra Haden. Her regular gig is playing violin, but here we have her covering the entirety of The Who's 1967 album 'Sell Out,' a cappella. That means just singin', kids. I love this idea for two reasons: 1. The Who Sell Out is a much underheard and unappreciated album. 2. A cappella is a much underheard and unappreciated style. Haden's performance is goofy and a bit tossed off but that's the charm of it and of the original album as well. Mark my words, ladies and gentlemen, there's going to be a resurgence of a cappella music and vocal harmony groups in reaction to all that slick overproduced hip-hop and dance music that top the charts. Haden's album might serve as a rough draft of things to come.
22. The Rolling Stones - Laugh, I Nearly Died
Sir Mick Jagger?
I'm with Keith on that. He never should have taken the knighthood. That's not what the Stones are about, by golly. This song however... this is what the Stones are about.
21. Frank Black - I Burn Today
I wonder if Frank Black is the only guy to play Austin City Limits with his eyebrows shaved off.
Like always, these tracks are available online, if you know where to look.
(Hint: look at www.geoffreystone.com/songs)