Fuzzy Five: October 9, 2005

Editor's Note: To make up for the lack of updates recently, I decided to present two Fuzzy Fives this week. As my schedule begins to finally subside as far as workload is concerned, I'll be able to provide more regular updates.

Fuzzy Five: Five Songs That You Should Listen To
Like most music freaks, I find that during any given week I'm addicted to at least five different songs that I listen to repeatedly (or at least a lot more than others). In honor of that, for those of you that are like me, I give you five songs (divided up by genre), that you should listen to and/or buy, and if you are really ambitious you can take these and make them into your own Fuzzy Mix. Some of them are older, while some are relatively new, and none of these songs are ranked, so no song is rated more highly than another. Enjoy!

Rock
Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk
Rufus Wainwright
Poses
2001

From the beginning of the track, you realize that there's something very special about this song. A song dedicated to each one of our vices, for better or for worse, Rufus Wainwright playfully muses while using metaphors to describe his own particular cravings, as he sings "Everything it seems I like is a little bit stronger, a little bit thicker, a little bit harmful for me." As the song develops it becomes increasingly musical, until by the very end it develops into a sweeping melodic and theatrical piece as Wainwright pleads "So please be kind, if I'm a mess." An overtly honest, wonderfully engaging and confessional piece, it's hard not to listen to this song just once.

Sister Jack
Spoon
Gimme Fiction
2005

I reviewed this album a little while ago, and I still find myself completely enamored with this song. While not groundbreaking, the incredibly infectious guitar matched with an upbeat tempo complete with handclaps makes this an exceptionally fun 3:30 minute piece. Another interesting twist is thrown in with the continuous key changes at the end of the song. Definitely worth checking out.

Baby Britain
Elliott Smith
XO
2002

Easily one of the best songwriters of the past 15 years, this song is pretty much as close as Elliott Smith ever got to making a "pop" song. While often compared to the Beatles' "Getting Better," there are still the typical dark undertones lingering as Smith sings "For someone half as smart/You'd be a work of art/You put yourself a part/And I can't help until you start," and the more carefully you listen to the lyrics you connect with Smith's story of self-destruction and struggling to realize that they're perhaps something more than what they see. Very beautifully crafted and an excellent introduction to anyone who isn't familiar with Smith's work.

Kate
Ben Folds Five
Whatever And Ever Amen
1997

Probably one of the lesser known (but just as good) Ben Folds songs, this song is done ever so sweetly that you'd be hard pressed to listen to it without smiling. Including clever and characteristically offbeat lyrics, such as "Everyday she wears the same thing/I think she smokes pot," Ben Folds also provides an excellent piano solo to boot. Funny, clever, and insanely appealing, this song is definitely a good one to play to brighten up those dreary fall/winter days.

Beautiful (I Guess)
Erin McKeown
We Will Become Like Birds
2005

With the dynamic drum loop and gentle guitar, this sounds like a female take on a David Gray song. Erin McKeown's beautifully hushed vocals allows the piece to develop wonderfully on its own in this bittersweet story of a struggling relationship. The lyrics are great in the way that they are both figurative and literal, not giving away every detail of the story, but giving you enough direction to feel a connection to the story as the chorus goes "We are such a lovely mess/hearts have left a wreck/it's beautiful I guess." Very touching song that's just one of many from this outstanding album.

Hip Hop/R&B
Seen It All Before
Amos Lee
Amos Lee
2005

One of the hidden gems on this solid debut album from folk/soul singer Amos Lee, this is one of the best tracks because it combines the talent displayed on all of the other tracks in his ability to create thoughtful lyrics and his knack for creating powerful compositions, but on this track in particular there's a heavier influence of classic soul, which makes for a very welcome surprise. The highlight of the track is the final minute of the song, as the layered vocals matched with the fading instrumentals almost send chills through the body.

Ooh Wee (feat. Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg, Trife & Saigon)
Mark Ronson
Here Comes The Fuzz
2005

Mark Ronson is one of the better DJs around, and while this album wasn't necessarily the best showcase of those talents, on the track "Ooh Wee," Ronson provides a great disco-funk foundation for Ghostface Killah, Trife, and Saigon (who should be a lot more popular than he is right now) who add on relatively good lines with Nate Dogg's vocals to match. All in all, this is a great party song, and surprisingly underrated.

Starchild
Jamiroquai
Dynamite
2005

Simply put, this is Jamiroquai at their best. From the infectiously funky guitar riffs and baselines to Jay Kay's soulful vocals, the band has an incredible understanding for the 70's funk/soul movement. This is one of the few songs in Jamiroquai's history that also doesn't rely so heavily on disco (except for it's rhythmic pattern), but rather has more pure funk and rock foundations, in the same vein as Earth, Wind & Fire. Another very fun, solid, party song.

Saliva
MF Doom (Viktor Vaughn)
Vaudeville Villain
2003

Featuring RJD2 who provides exceptional production to one of the highlights on this critcally acclaimed album, MF Doom makes the most of this relatively short (it clocks in at a mere 2:30) track. For those that don't know much about MF Doom, this gives you a great look at his lyrical talent, as his humor and wit make his lyrical ability one of the best around right now.

Dust
Van Hunt
Van Hunt
2004

From the beginning of the song, with it's infectious groove, you can tell that this isn't any ordinary R&B song. Van Hunt, a relative newcomer, tackles the genre from a different angle than many of his contemporaries, who tend to integrate more of a hip-hop sound into their songs. Instead, Van Hunt sound is more of a contemporary take on Stevie Wonder's earlier work, and more directly on this song, there seems to be a slight Commodores influence. The best thing about Van Hunt, and particularly with this song, is the crossover appeal, as this is easily a song that can be liked by anyone no matter where your musical tastes lie. Give it a listen!

Electronica/Dance
Eple
Röyksopp
Melody A.M.
2001

A great downtepo track, Eple glides along with its beautiful baseline and easy-going guitar that hides behind a high-pitched synth piano. Breezy and fun, after one listen, it's easy to see how this single would be the one to exemplify Röyksopp's career. A definitive must listen.

I Wish
Benjamin Diamond
Out of Myself
2005

For those of you that aren't familiar with Benjamin Diamond, he is the vocalist who guest apperead on the hit single "Music Sounds Better With You" from Stardust back in 1998. As this song should prove, he's got some great pop sense of his own, with the beautifully flowing, though repetitive, chorus of "I wish I could be much better." With the schoolboy charm exemplified on Daft Punk's "Digital Love" and the urgent pop-smarts often exemplified in Phoenix's singles, "I Wish" is a song that despite its certain cheesiness is still very listenable.

Michelle
DJ Logic
Project Anomaly
2001

DJ Logic, who is often associated with Medeski, Martin & Wood (they often collaborate with one another), is one of the best when it comes to integrating jazz and dance music. Using guest musicians (including MMW) to add their skills to DJ Logic's beats and compositoins, it's very difficult to tell which aspect of the song is being looped and what's being played by the guest musicians. "Michelle" is no exception, with its exceptionally funky bass and jazz flute rollicking along as Logic playfully scratches alongside. A great introduction to DJ Logic's unique musical talents (it's nothing like listening to St. Germain), this is worth checking out.

Changes
Nostalgia 77
The Garden
2005

Much like DJ Logic, Nostalgia 77 is the work of producer Ben Landin who has an eight-piece band backing him up. The benifit of having a band is that especially when compared to artists such as St. Germain or the previously mentioned DJ Logic, there's a much fuller and engrossing sound. The horn section soothingly carries over the meticulous drum loop and heavy (and at times bloated) bass, and features a great solo half-way through the song.

Hands of Time
Groove Armada
Lovebox
2003

Featuring Richie Havens as guest vocalist, this song was vastly underrated until it appeared on the soundtrack of Collateral, which caused a second wave of popularity. This incredibly mellow and bittersweet song feels like a forgotten 70's soul song, rather than a collaborative effort by an Electronica duo, but the effect is spellbinding nonetheless.

Remixes & Covers
She Don't Use Jelly
Ben Folds Five
Whatever and Ever Amen (Re-Issue with Bonus Tracks)
2005

While this is originally from the Lounge-A-Palooza compilation CD, it was also just recently added to the aforementioned re-issue of Whatever and Ever Amen, which was Ben Folds Five's breakthrough album. A cover of the popular Flaming Lips song, this is a great take on the original as it fits perfectly within the lounge setting, with its expansive orchestration and synchopated rhythms. It's also appropriate for a quirky group like Ben Folds Five to perform a cover by an equally quirky group, as they really inject the same fun energy that was in the original, and just dropped the punk-like guitars in favor of the lounge theme. Definitely check this out, particularly if you're a fan of the original.

Lay Lady Lay
Magnet
On Your Side
2004

Featuring Gemma Hayes on vocals, this cover, while adding little to the original version done by Bob Dylan, is a very sweet rendition. This is particularly true with the arrangement of horns and strings that do a great job in complementing the piece. The song also benefits from having Gemma Hayes voice to offset the somewhat harsh vocals of Magnet lead singer Even Johansen. This song, which also appeared on the Mr. and Mrs. Smith soundtrack, is a dreamy song that makes for a great listen.

Public Pervert (Carlos D Remix)
Interpol
C'Mere EP
2005

Interpol has some of the best remixes for their songs in recent memory, and this outstanding remix by Carlos D proves as a prime example. Though lengthy (it clocks in at an epic 8:08), it's never repetitive and actually with its exaggerated industrialized drums and looped snythesizers it's in some ways more intriguing than the original version. The full version of the originating song doesn't really kick in until half-way through the song, so it's hardly just a rehash of the original. Very highly recommended.

I Want You Back (DJ Z-Trip Remix)
Jackson 5
Motown Remixed
2005

The only redeeming track in an otherwise awful remix album, DJ Z-Trip's remix of "I Want You Back" succeeds in that it remains true to the original, as it starts out with the famous guitar and bass lines before counting off into the song, making it feel as if you're in the studio listening to one of their takes. Z-Trip does just enough to make things interesting as he takes out much of the filler, and simply adds additional beats, making it almost impossible to dislike, as it doesn't feel as if the original has been shredded and plagued by overproduction. Sometimes the best remixes are the simplest ones, and that's truly the case with this amazing remix done by Z-Trip.

This Charming Man
Stars
Nightsongs
2001

This cover of the Smiths' song works well for the most part because of Amy Millan's wonderful vocals, and to make it that much better, the instrumentals are superb as well. The overall subdued sound is pristine, and this is just one of many songs where Stars is among their best. Very fun and catchy cover song that's highly recommended.