Friday Music

Here we go again:

One of my “get pumped up to work” favorites — and, despite the title, not the Sondheim musical number. Robbie Williams – “Let Me Entertain You.” “Hell is gone and heaven’s here, there’s nothing left for you to fear; Shake your ass, come over here, now scream… I’m the burning effigy of everything I used to be; you’re my rock of empathy my dear — Come on, let me entertain you…”

Devo has a new song! I’d seen the Dell commercial that uses it, but the song was so good that I thought it must have been a little-known album track from the classic Devo era. Nope. Mothersbaugh et. al. are at it again. Woot! (Thanks to for the heads-up!) Devo – “Watch Us Work It.”

Speaking of music from computer commercials — I finally tracked down the addictive brainworm that backed Intel’s Core 2 processor ads (the ones featuring the dancers): New Young Pony Club – “Ice Cream.” “I can give you what you want….”

Gorillaz have a new compilation, D-Sides, which is a collection of remixes and bonus tracks from the Demon Days recording sessions. The bonus tracks are all good — so essentially this is another full Gorillaz album! This track was Damon Albarn’s initial exploration of asian musical instruments and themes, which would eventually lead to his opera, Monkey: Journey to the West. Gorillaz – “Hong Kong.”

One of my favorite tracks from the 80s. Important safety tip: Don’t pick this to cover as your “going to a break” song while in a high-school party band. Your drummer will hate you. Icicle Works – “Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream).”

A lot of folks love Queen — me included. A lot of folks who love Queen, however, aren’t familiar with Freddie Mercury’s solo projects of the 80s. Here is my favorite of his solo songs, a duet with opera diva Montserrat Caballe: Freddie Mercury – “Barcelona.”

Lastly, some Japanese instrumental hip-hop from one of my favorite turntablists, from his 2003 album, The Message At The Depth: DJ Krush – “But The World Moves On (featuring D-Madness & Masato Nakamura)”

Enjoy.