Sitting Here In Limbo: Ghosts of Wayne Fontes
Jul 18th, 2007 by Brinson
That’s right, kids. We’re back with another edition of “Sitting Here in Limbo”. Originally our plan had been to run one of these a week every Wednesday until Lost comes back on. We’re still down with that, especially with the good feedback we’ve received. We’ve also got some pretty cool guests lined up already, so we’re going to do our best to mix the Brahsome regulars with some cameos. If you’ve got someone whose picks you’d like to see, hit us up at blog@brahsome.com and we’ll see what we can pull off. I mean, we have tons of quasi-celebrity and blogosphere pull and all, but no promises, m’kay?
Anyway, to [briefly] recap the rules:
1. Select 10 albums to take with you on a desert island and why.
2.No compilations or greatest hits.
3. Live is okay as long as it was specifically studio produced.
4. Double albums are only one pick.
5. No soundtracks.
Got it? Fantastic. Well, without much further ado, let’s get down to business. This week Brahsome.com is ecstatic to welcome Rupert Entwistle and Stan Gable of Ghosts of Wayne Fontes as he runs down his desert island picks. The Ghosts seem to back some of the same stuff we do (Phish, Hunter S. Thompson and Taco Bell to name a few) and really caught our ear, so to speak, when they started busting out celebrity iPod choices, notablyBrady Quinn, as well as their Friday Mix Tape features; we would, of course, be completely remiss if we didn’t mention that they are also doing work at the brand new blogucopia (perhaps you would prefer blogpourri?) that is Epic Carnival. Rupert and Stan make their picks after the jump.
Care To Get Nice?
Velvet Underground – Loaded: Well, technically I first discovered this album from Phish. It wasn’t until years after Phish played the album (top to bottom) live that I actually bought the Velvet Underground recording. If this were the last album I could ever hear, my life would have been fulfilled. For me the crowning aspect of this album are the lyrics of Lou Reed. This is not to sell any of the music short, but all it takes is a good listen to discover the strength of the songwriting. I always associate this album with Phish, for obvious reasons, but the original recording stands on its own merits.
Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense: I will begin this really simple, if you don’t appreciate the Talking Heads, you are liar. If you don’t think David Byrne is a genius, you may want to stop reading now. I’ve always thought of this album as a potent whip-it that doesn’t end after 45 seconds, it just keeps going and going. For me, once I hear the opening beat to “Psycho Killer”…I’m hooked. After that, the ever moving “Heaven” and at that point, you know there is no turning back. I forget what it is I’m doing, where I am and who the hell the band I’m listening to is. That’s just how deep, funky and diverse this concert really is throughout. Is this the Talking Heads or James Brown? Who the fuck cares…it’s freaking brilliant.
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue: I like Jazz a lot. And if I’m packing one essential Jazz album, as cliché of a Miles record as it may be, this is my choice. It’s soft, it’s soothing and yup, that sounded really gay.
Pink Floyd – Animals: Probably isn’t the best Floyd album on the market. And to be honest sometimes I am “hot/cold” with Floyd, but not “Animals.” If the “Final Cut” marked the final straw for Waters and Gilmour, it’s because they peeked during “Animals.” Where else could they go? Don’t get me wrong…I could just as easily swap this out for an album like “Meddle” or “Obscured by Clouds”, but for the sake of argument…held at gun point, I want this album with me.
Notorious B.I.G – Ready to Die: I’ve got to carry along a little bit of hip-hop in tote. When this album came out I was hooked. Shit, how long has it been and this album is still holding up mighty fine. People always used to say Biggie was ahead of his time and fuck they were right. This one brings me back to high school, but I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.
Phish - A Live One: I’m sure you saw this one coming. If I was stuck on a desert island without a Harry Hood, I might as well drink saltwater until I bloat myself to death. Truth be told, this is the album that made me realize how much I loved Hood, but it’s also the one I massacred by over listening. Nevertheless, I think this I my only legal option to get the live Phish fix to the island according to the Brahsome rules, so I’ll take what I can get. There are definitely a few other real gems on here too, such as the Gumbo, and I believe the Chalkdust was played at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, MI - my old stomping grounds.
Jurassic 5 - Quality Control: This a newer fascination, so it serves a great purpose on the island as one of the albums I know I love, but I don’t actually know it all that well yet. The title track is incredible and puts a little swagger in my step every time. To put it in perspective, I went to see a live comedy act the other weekend and the MC was going around heckling the crowd a little. When he got to me, he said “Oh my god. That is the whitest man alive. Is that not the whitest guy you have ever seen?” Well, it’s true. It’s pretty bad. So, a hip hop that can make even the whitest guy in the world feel cool has got to be pretty good, right? Plus, the song the Game is probably the only sports related song I have ever heard that you can instantly tell these guys know a shitload about sports. They even throw in a “He’s heating up” reference from NBA Jam.
Sam Bush - Howl at the Moon: No real story to tell here. I just wouldn’t want to be stranded without a bluegrass album and this is probably my favorite of all time. It really spans the gamut. It has some burning fast pickin songs, epic instrumentals, some hillbilly sing-along songs, and a remarkably good “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” cover. I suspect if you’re stuck outside, this is the kind of music that will keep you sane, because ever third song is about a river. I’m hoping it’ll help me embrace the outdoors a little.
Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream: Um, not to be weird or anything, but I always sort of figured I’d crack one of those Virgin Mary dolls open if I was stuck on the island. I mean, the H bomb is a terrible drug and I would never condone it, but the under the circumstances, let’s be serious. I think Siamese Dream would be the obvious album of choice in that scenario. This album is rock solid from end to end and really encapsulates the Smashing Pumpkins’ signature sound. I love the mellow droning sound from Billy Corgan’s distorted guitar. I have a little personal attachment to this as well, because this was the album I was obsessed with when I first got a guitar, so the opening nine or so notes to “Today” were the first thing I ever learned to play.
Bob Dylan – Live at Budokan: Choosing a single album from Dylan’s endless repertoire was too daunting a task, so I’m going with this oft bitched about live album. I find Live at Budokan to be a rollicking, upbeat sampler of Bob Dylan’s classic tunes. Personally, I love the full band and improvisation added to the arsenal of Bob Dylan songs. I never really understand why people get so bent out of shape when he transforms the songs a little bit. Let’s face it; everyone gets bored playing the same songs over and over, so it is fun to tinker with them a little. This is a great display of just that. Plus, I figured I might as well take advantage of the two disc rule at least once on the Desert Island list.
Am I “pretty cool” or are you talking about other people?
Yeah, you’re covered by the ‘pretty cool’ umbrella…but just barely.
congrats Sir Entwistle!
the beatles- white album…clearly a classic for the times, transitory, raw, and experimental sounds that continue to shape music in inexplicable ways..
sublime- 40oz to freedom…just a killer groove of music, clearly a hit for chilling with friends, yet still worthy of listening to solo because of his unique robust voice and creative lyrics.
outkast- aquemini…the most creative show in hiphop period. adding the melodic to the hip-hop scene, andre 3k and big boi always have a apple to slice on the mike
pink floyd- darkside…have you ever found yourself driving down a highway at about 90mph w/the dashlights turned off, headlights off, full moon, and darkside killing it through the dash? scary shit.
bob marley- natty dread..if i could go back in time to catch one show live- clearly bob would top it all- just the spirituality of it i think might set me free..
the beatles- abby road…yeah, that’s right, i did just pick them twice, subjectively and objectively for anyone with an eardrum in tune…polished, performed, and pure ingenuity, this album solidifies how groups should always go out- on top.
dayton family- flint town…wait how did this get on here? oh wait, this single/album is the shit, and clearly gets any party amped up to national championship levels..
tupac- all eyez on me…hmm…shot five times- check…incarcerated for 6 months- check…new home out in LA- check…get out of jail and record arguably the best rap double album to date in under a week purely accapella? talent.
oasis- definately maybe- the album that brought the rejuvination back to rock n’ roll in the 90s
the roots- things fall apart- best live performance i have seen to date.
I saw Oasis in concert in high school. They were so fucking cheeky.
Elliott that’s an interesting list.
Doubling up on a band is ballsy (even if it is the Beatles).
Including an Oasis album is very surprising…I backed them originally, but I’m afraid stranded on an island with them, I might question that pick later.
And putting on an album that “gets any party amped up to national championship levels” while stranded on an island alone fucking hilarious…but who’s to say you won’t meet some natives living in a cave on the island that like to blow it out on some heady, intoxicating root or something?
I respect the shit out of your creativity. Thanks for adding your list.
The Dayton Family is pretty sweet. I used to have a friend with the token super-white-guy-bass-booster sound system in his car and we listened to that all the time.