Top 6 for March 11, 2014

Sister Marie by Harry Nilsson from Ariel Ballet

A surprisingly edgy tune with heavy beats and guitar effects that stands out from the rest off this otherwise mostly pleasantly poppy album.

Led Zepplin – Irwin with the Hoof and Mouth Sinfonia

From the finale of WFMU's 2013 Fundraising Marathon, this group of middle-aged DJ's play this tribute, originally by the group Carey's Problem, which was delivered from the point of view of a swooning teenage girl (one of series of songs portraying a contrived premature decadence that gets old fast) over a tricky 5/4 groove. I'm intrigued by the absence of any reference to Physical Graffitti, both in the verse that ticks off the Zeppelin albums otherwise in sequence, but also in the list of song titles that makes up the majority of the lyrics.

Top 3 from November 3, 2013

One – Harry Nilsson from Aerial Ballet

Brilliant song, brilliant arrangement. Rhodes piano, double bass, cello, flute, harpsichord. Eventually, the triple tracked lead vocals split apart in counterpoint. From Nilsson's truly genius period. The Aimee Mann / Jon Brion remake is brilliant in it's own way, adding vocal counterpoint and interpolations from elsewhere in Aerial Ballet, but this a true masterwork.

Street Hassle – Lou Reed

From the New York Times' “Music of Lou Reed” page

First heard this song in it's brilliant use in The Squid and the Whale. The string arrangement is fantastic, two each of cello and bass. Lou reaches back to the arty aspects of the Velvet Underground (not exclusively Mr. Cale's domain), which he didn't revisit as much as the rock 'n' roll or the pretty pastoral parts. Kudos to the Times for leaving in all the dirty words (and this song has all the dirty words).