Return of the Random Ten

Okay, that last plot was evil (it was post #666 since I started this hubristic endeavour), so we'll go back to the standard random top ten...

Today's random ten from iTunes...

Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

One of the most beautiful, haunting songs of the 80's...gorgeous guitar over a heart-wrenching, amazingly effective story...the drums sound a bit high in the mix when they kick in, but it's still nearly perfect

Loch Lomond by Richard Thompson Band

From the six-disk boxed set RT...interesting cover of the classic Scottish tune...odd to hear with saxaphone but still enjoyable

Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World by U2

Another haunting tune...this from U2's Achtung Baby - the first part of which is wonderful...the last third - meh...

Kentucky Mandolin by Yonder Mountain String Band

Entertaining instrumental from one of the best bluegrass/jam bands playing today...if they'd start playing smoke-free venues (or at least ones with some ventelation), I'd be seeing them more often and enjoying their amazing live shows again

One by U2 with Brian Eno and Pavorati

From the bootleg Duets, this live track brings out more of the feeling than the album version did

Stay (Faraway, So Close!) by U2

Another from an unofficial U2 release - this from Jesus was a Cool Guy...the sounds's not great, so I'd stick with the album version this time

The Shining by Badly Drawn Boy

Excellent, dragging melody played on chello and french horn (I think) bringing in a wonderfully slow song that's in high rotation...love lost, one of the finest realms for any artist to plumb

A Man in Need by Richard Thompson

Not the finest live version he's done - I think I prefer his solo lives to his band concerts - Thompson here goes back into the catalog for a song that he did better with his wife...her voice is missed on this one

Colours by Donovan

Sap...pure, simple sap...pretty sap, though...Donovan was a decent artist but certainly not the next Bob Dylan as Dylan pointed out in Don't Look Back...Colours isn't his finest work, but it's good enough to not let him be forgotten

Happy Together by the Turtles

Ah, sunshiny 60's pop...goota love the Southern Cal music of this era...the Mamas, the Papas, the Airplane, the Dead...Happy Together sums the whole thing up for me...a lovely song