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20 Random Music Picks
One of the cool things about having an portable music player, not just an iPod, but any PMP with a large storage capacity, is the kind of library you can have. If you love a variety of musical genres, these players comes in handy. Sometimes, I like to put my iPod in shuffle mode through the entire library just to see what variety comes up. Good for when you don’t quite know what you’re in the mood for, and also to relive some old memories.
I’m doing this right now as I type. The player will play random picks through 1,702 songs. I’ll write a brief one to three sentence comment on each track. Let’s see what comes of it!
Dokken - Alone Again: One of those heart-wrenching power ballads that 80’s rock groups like Dokken are famous for. Solid lead guitar work by George Lynch!
The Ramones - Teenage Lobotomy: Songs by this punk group are always catchy and amusing! This one’s bouncy, with the group chanting “Lobotomy! Lobotomy!”. Pure stupid fun!
Ratt - Got Me On The Line: Another popular 80’s hard rock group! This song’s about, of course, calling up a date for a night out… or is that in? 
I like the spoken end line “Nobody hangs up on me!”
Chi-A.D. - Myopic Spirit: I also like trance music. This kind of music is great for working out or when you want to have some background music. May be repetitive, but they keep it interesting nonetheless.
Kamelot - Farewell: This is one of my recent favorite prog/power-metal groups. I did a post on them a while back. This track is fast, furious and a scorcher to listen to.
The Cars - Tonight She Comes: Good old 80’s pop rock! An infectious beat and chorus that sticks in your thoughts. The guitarist, Elliot Easton, is seriously underrated!
Danger Danger - Saturday Nite: One of those good time, again 80’s, hard rock groups singing about… what else?… having a good time!
Billy Squier - All Night Long: You know, I really dont have a lot of 80’s music on the iPod, but evidently that’s what keeps popping up. Another feel-good rocker.
Metallica - Sad But True: The title of this song echoes what I think of where Metallica is now in their history. They’re still the metal kings, even though their recent stuff leaves a bad taste in my ears. This song is a good mid-tempo jam to listen to.
The Honeydrippers - Young Boy Blues: From Robert Plant’s side project in the early 80’s. I got hooked on the album when my parents had it on vinyl. Done in a kind of a slow 50’s ballad feel and very good, indeed!
Lita Ford - Shot of Poison: One of the few women that paved the way for more female rockers. This song’s a rocker, but kinda sappy. Some of her other stuff is better, but the ending chorus in this song makes up for the boredom.
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2): Man, this is such a classic! I don’t think I need to explain this song, since everybody in the civilized world should have heard this by now. I like the screaming headmaster at the end!
Steve Vai - Dirty Black Hole: The premier rock instrumentalist/composer and guitar wizard extraordinaire, in a off-beat project starring him and guitarist/vocalist Devin Townsend. This song’s a wild jam!
Pyramaze - Mighty Abyss: More on this group later. This is some serious prog/power metal. Starts off slow, then it just takes off! A real treat for people who love this kind of music.
Neuroticfish - Neurocaine: My wife got me into some of this kind of music. Some cal it goth, but more specifically it’s dark electronica. Very catchy dance beat with clean, dark vocals.
Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer: Another classic! The lyrics are catchy, if not a bit on the weird side. “I wanna be your sledgehammer / Why don’t you call my name?”. Huh?!
The Guess Who - No Time: Classic 70’s rock! This is an excellent jam. ‘Nuff said!
Razed in Black - Blush: More goth/dark electronica music… with some heavily distorted meaty guitar rhythms. Good for some hard-core dancing.
Information Society - What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy): This is very infectious 80’s pop dance music, along the lines of New Order. The lyrics get you thinking about relationships. I like this track and a few others because of the sound samples from “Star Trek” interwoven in the music. (I’m a trekkie!)
Solitary Experiments - Miracle (Omega Attraktor Remix): A hardcore darkwave/goth dance track. My wife absolutely loves this music. I listen to it sometimes for something really different.
Variety is really the spice of life! My point in all of this is: Don’t be afraid to open half an ear to what others listen to. Turn on a strange radio station, give a listen to what other family, friends and co-workers are jamming to… whatever! You may be suprised at what you like! Also, it’s good to revisit some old favorites, even if your tastes have changed. My wife, for the longest time, absolutely hated Dream Theater, one of my absolute favorite groups. She recently shocked, and I mean shocked, me by listening to Dream Theater’s new music and actually liking it!! I returned the favor by having more of her favorites on my iPod and listening to them on occasion. (BTW, hon, is there any chance of giving Rush another try? Pretty please?)
