A Bunch of Fives (New Challenge Thread)

[Flex]

Nice. And I'm ON IT this week.

TV Smith - Immortal Rich
Good pick. Really enjoy the venom in the vocal delivery. It's a protest song, which I enjoy. Feels of a kind with, say, Bob Dylan's 60s protest music, which I mean as a compliment. I really like the Adverts but only have heard a few TV Smith solo tracks, I should check out a little more of his solo stuff. 8.5/10

Eddie Floyd - Big Bird
You know, it's funny because I obviously must have heard the Jam version at some point but as a not-huge-Jam guy it doesn't really register. On the other hand, I LOVE Eddie Floyd and this song in this version. That driving bass and the soulful vocals (dig those backing vocals too, man). Just fucking brilliant music, a great pick. 10/10

David Rovics - The Draft Is Coming
More protest music, and obviously even more inspired by the folkie lineage. I'm never not going to enjoy this: and it does what good topical songs should do, which is transcend the specific moment of protest to resonate even after that particular moment has passed. Even if the names are slightly different than when this was recorded, the sentiments and outrages remain. 7.5/10

Richard Thompson - Dad's Gonna Kill Me
I think Maj posted some Richard Thompson a round or two ago and I thought to myself "I should get over the fact that I think he wears a stupid hat as an old guy and listen to more of his work" and this affirms I really should. This one does a good job of feeling a bit more poetic than the other protest selections here while still obviously mining a sense of outrage and sadness. Nice guitar work too in the middle. 8/10

Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band - Apache
Oh fuck yeah, this grooves like hell. The original is great and its given an awesome workout here as well. I just went on Discogs to snatch up a copy of Bongo Rock, I love this sound so much. 10/10

Awesome picks, Marky.

[Heston]

I should get back up to speed tonight, looking forward to it.

Go easy on that speed.

I've got itchy teeth just thinking about the 'orrible stuff. The high was never worth the low with that stuff. i'll stick with me ganja!

[Marky Dread]

I should get back up to speed tonight, looking forward to it.

Go easy on that speed.

I've got itchy teeth just thinking about the 'orrible stuff. The high was never worth the low with that stuff. i'll stick with me ganja!

I'm not a smoker. But yeah a spliff over speed. Stuff nearly did me in during those punk days.

[Marky Dread]

Nice. And I'm ON IT this week.

TV Smith - Immortal Rich
Good pick. Really enjoy the venom in the vocal delivery. It's a protest song, which I enjoy. Feels of a kind with, say, Bob Dylan's 60s protest music, which I mean as a compliment. I really like the Adverts but only have heard a few TV Smith solo tracks, I should check out a little more of his solo stuff. 8.5/10

Eddie Floyd - Big Bird
You know, it's funny because I obviously must have heard the Jam version at some point but as a not-huge-Jam guy it doesn't really register. On the other hand, I LOVE Eddie Floyd and this song in this version. That driving bass and the soulful vocals (dig those backing vocals too, man). Just fucking brilliant music, a great pick. 10/10

David Rovics - The Draft Is Coming
More protest music, and obviously even more inspired by the folkie lineage. I'm never not going to enjoy this: and it does what good topical songs should do, which is transcend the specific moment of protest to resonate even after that particular moment has passed. Even if the names are slightly different than when this was recorded, the sentiments and outrages remain. 7.5/10

Richard Thompson - Dad's Gonna Kill Me
I think Maj posted some Richard Thompson a round or two ago and I thought to myself "I should get over the fact that I think he wears a stupid hat as an old guy and listen to more of his work" and this affirms I really should. This one does a good job of feeling a bit more poetic than the other protest selections here while still obviously mining a sense of outrage and sadness. Nice guitar work too in the middle. 8/10

Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band - Apache
Oh fuck yeah, this grooves like hell. The original is great and its given an awesome workout here as well. I just went on Discogs to snatch up a copy of Bongo Rock, I love this sound so much. 10/10

Awesome picks, Marky.

Nice one Flex real glad you found stuff to enjoy. Thanks for the cool reviews.

[revbob]

Dave Rovics. Haven't heard that name in ages. He used to play around here pretty regularly and we had his music at the old radio station that we (well some of us) would play.

[Heston]

ROBOT

Lesibu Grand
Yeah, really enjoyed this. Nice riff and a bit chaotic but melodic. 8/10

Viagra Boys
Not a big fan of this. Short on melody and too aggressive for my tastes. 5/10

Bad Cop/Bad Cop
This isn't bad. Not the kind of thing I would usually listen to but decent enough. 6.5/10

Jaya the Cat
This is more up my street. Good melody and strong chord sequence. 8/10

Bad Waitress
The chorus was a bit inane but I suppose that's the point. Otherwise pretty good. 6.5/10

[Flex]

Lesibu Grand
Yeah, really enjoyed this. Nice riff and a bit chaotic but melodic. 8/10

Ha, glad you liked this one. I had you in the back of my head when I was trying to think of something with enough melody that may bring you along with a bit of a more chaotic sound than is your usual taste.

[Heston]

Lesibu Grand
Yeah, really enjoyed this. Nice riff and a bit chaotic but melodic. 8/10

Ha, glad you liked this one. I had you in the back of my head when I was trying to think of something with enough melody that may bring you along with a bit of a more chaotic sound than is your usual taste.

That and Jaya the Cat went straight to my currently playing list. I always like a bit of melody to sweeten the pill.

[Heston]

TV Smith - Immortal Rich
Wasn't that keen on first listen but started really enjoying it as the lyrics revealed themselves. Then the tune grew on me. Really good stuff. 8/10

Eddie Floyd - Big Bird
I originally discovered this because of the Jam cover and it is simply magnificent. The playing, production and singing are all from the very top drawer of recorded music. 10/10

David Rovics - The Draft Is Coming
Great message but the vocal doesn't quite convince me. I guess I've been listening to too much Dylan recently. 6/10

Richard Thompson - Dad's Gonna Kill Me
Now here's a convincing vocal. I'm quite digging this, had never really checked out his work before. Catchy refrain and intelligent lyric. Takes off in the right places as well. Maybe a minute too long though. 8/10

Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band - Apache
Great stuff. That drum groove at the start is ripe for sampling. Incredible brass, percussion and Hammond work. 9/10

[Marky Dread]

TV Smith - Immortal Rich
Wasn't that keen on first listen but started really enjoying it as the lyrics revealed themselves. Then the tune grew on me. Really good stuff. 8/10

Eddie Floyd - Big Bird
I originally discovered this because of the Jam cover and it is simply magnificent. The playing, production and singing are all from the very top drawer of recorded music. 10/10

David Rovics - The Draft Is Coming
Great message but the vocal doesn't quite convince me. I guess I've been listening to too much Dylan recently. 6/10

Richard Thompson - Dad's Gonna Kill Me
Now here's a convincing vocal. I'm quite digging this, had never really checked out his work before. Catchy refrain and intelligent lyric. Takes off in the right places as well. Maybe a minute too long though. 8/10

Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band - Apache
Great stuff. That drum groove at the start is ripe for sampling. Incredible brass, percussion and Hammond work. 9/10

Cheers John. Glad you enjoyed them.

[Silent Majority]

Nice. And I'm ON IT this week.

TV Smith - Immortal Rich
Good pick. Really enjoy the venom in the vocal delivery. It's a protest song, which I enjoy. Feels of a kind with, say, Bob Dylan's 60s protest music, which I mean as a compliment. I really like the Adverts but only have heard a few TV Smith solo tracks, I should check out a little more of his solo stuff. 8.5/10

Eddie Floyd - Big Bird
You know, it's funny because I obviously must have heard the Jam version at some point but as a not-huge-Jam guy it doesn't really register. On the other hand, I LOVE Eddie Floyd and this song in this version. That driving bass and the soulful vocals (dig those backing vocals too, man). Just fucking brilliant music, a great pick. 10/10

David Rovics - The Draft Is Coming
More protest music, and obviously even more inspired by the folkie lineage. I'm never not going to enjoy this: and it does what good topical songs should do, which is transcend the specific moment of protest to resonate even after that particular moment has passed. Even if the names are slightly different than when this was recorded, the sentiments and outrages remain. 7.5/10

Richard Thompson - Dad's Gonna Kill Me
I think Maj posted some Richard Thompson a round or two ago and I thought to myself "I should get over the fact that I think he wears a stupid hat as an old guy and listen to more of his work" and this affirms I really should. This one does a good job of feeling a bit more poetic than the other protest selections here while still obviously mining a sense of outrage and sadness. Nice guitar work too in the middle. 8/10

Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band - Apache
Oh fuck yeah, this grooves like hell. The original is great and its given an awesome workout here as well. I just went on Discogs to snatch up a copy of Bongo Rock, I love this sound so much. 10/10

Awesome picks, Marky.

Yeah, man, I am deep in the Richard Thompson rabbit hole. It's good down here.

[Dr. Medulla]

TV Smith, “Immortal Rich”
Nothing like venom aimed at the wealthy. The voice really sell it. It makes obvious the common thread of the folk tradition—someday, fuckers, you’re gonna get yours. Weird how folk has this reputation for peace and flowers when it’s actually got that righteous revenge quality baked into it.

Eddie Floyd, “Big Bird”
Completely uplifting music. The lyrics could be about murdering puppies and kittens, and yet it’d still seem like fuck yeah. Why the hell don’t 60s movies use soundtracks like this instead of the predictable Buffalo Springfield and Turtles dreck?

David Rovics, “The Draft Is Coming”
See my above comment—the subtext is that someday the powerful are going to swing from their necks. But first you have to realize that they are villains, not leaders.

Richard Thompson, “Dad's Gonna Kill Me”
No real observations here, I’m afraid. Just doesn’t catch my interest. I blame dad.

Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band, “Apache”
Yeah, groo-vay as fuck. Has a been of a cinematic feel to it, too. It’s got a shit-ton of possibility for sampling and reworking. Fun fact: The granny playing later joined the Fall.

[oliver]

I've had three of these recommended to me before (TV Smith, David Rovics, Richard Thompson - the protest ones - so what does that say about me?) and if I've heard anything by them before I couldn't tell you what it was... so it's an interesting choice for me to get listening to. FWIW, I was aware of Eddie Floyd but if someone said they'd made up the name 'Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band' I wouldn't have argued.

TV Smith
Musically I like it a lot and enjoy the anger in the lyric delivery. Can't help but think the studio version has sanitized the final product a teeny bit though and a live version could be more raucous and powerful.

Eddie Floyd
The others will do well to top this. Stax is an odd one for me. I played my Dads Stax Greatest Hits 68-74 (I think) to death but never felt the need to go further. Objectively, this song is fantastic... the drums, the vocals, the horns - I love it and I'm happy with leaving it at that.

David Rovics
Some powerful lyrics and imagery here but I find the guitar a little pedestrian. Not that I dislike it but it needs the lyric to keep me interested. If he was singing about something trite it would almost be throwaway... but he's not so I kind of like it.

Richard Thompson
There's something funny about an 'older' man singing about how his Dad's gonna kill him but this is good stuff. TBH, I found it a little hard to make out all the lyrics but I did realise he was singing in character so it's all good. Great energy to this one. I definitely want to listen again (and again) to get all the words before I resort to genius.com

Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band
"Some of the busiest rhymes ever made by man
Are going into this mic, written by this hand
Are coming out of this mouth, made by this tongue
I'll tell you now my name, my name is Young"

I dread to think how many songs have sampled this but the one that hit me with a hammer was Know How by Young MC. Nice to hear the origins of a song I played to death as a kid. I hope he got paid for it all. I enjoy it more as an exercise in recognizing what has been sampled but that's because the 'sample' era of rap was what I grew up on. Nothing to dislike in the actual song though - I'd much rather this one than The Shadows.

[matedog]

hey it's Hoy.

I can smell a tv show.

Here's tonight's host Dr. Medulla!!!

We've almost got enough to launch a network: That Mr. Heston, Kory in the City, and Hey, It's Hoy.

I know Hes has his own show, but weren't we going to pair him up with eumaas? They can discuss food, free jazz, and the concept of rhythmic "swing."

[Dr. Medulla]

hey it's Hoy.

I can smell a tv show.

Here's tonight's host Dr. Medulla!!!

We've almost got enough to launch a network: That Mr. Heston, Kory in the City, and Hey, It's Hoy.

I know Hes has his own show, but weren't we going to pair him up with eumaas? They can discuss food, free jazz, and the concept of rhythmic "swing."

Like a Crossfire kind of show? I like it. "The Killvan with eumaas and Heston."