Today’s Random Weekend SOTD, ‘Electron Blue,’ is one of the best songs on R.E.M.’s worst album, 204’s Around the Sun. It’s the album’s second track and third single.
‘Electron Blue’ is lead singer Michael Stipe’s favorite track from this album, and one of his favorite R.E.M. songs, period. I like it well enough, and agree that it’s a highlight of an otherwise unforgettable album, but I’m sorry, this doesn’t stand up to the best of R.E.M., not even close.
It’s been six years since we last heard from Jakob Dylan, apart from a few one-off contributions to other people’s work. He released an album with The Wallflowers in 2012 (the band’s first in seven years) but nothing since.
I wasn’t thrilled with that Wallflowers release (Glad All Over) but I love pretty much everything they did in the 90s and 2000s. I also love Dylan’s two solo albums, 2008’s Seeing Things and 2010’s Women + Country, on which today’s SOTD appears.
Today’s Random Weekend selection comes from Brad Paisley’s 2005 album Time Well Wasted, his second of nine straight albums to hit #1 on the country charts (that streak is still going).
I rank Time Well Wasted as Paisley’s third best album, following American Saturday Night and Mud On the Tires.
Ah, the very rare instrumental track on a Random Weekend. This one comes from Ben Folds’ last album, So There, which featured eight songs backed by an orchestra as well as Ben’s ‘Concerto for Piano and Orchestra’ in three movements.
I listened to the full concerto once, after first buying the album, and never again until today. I just don’t find myself reaching for classical or orchestral music, even if I really enjoy it. I find this sort of thing better in the background, whether it’s the background of a movie or everyday life.
It’s hard to go wrong with a Barenaked Ladies song on Random Weekends.
You know the song will be catchy and clever. Nothing loud or discordant. It will feature strong pop vocals by either Ed Robertson or (especially) Steven Page. The musicianship will be solid if not exceptional. It will probably be good for a laugh, or in other instances, could even choke you up a bit.
Meet Me In Montauk 