Michael Henningsen has played in many a band—Bad Touch Uncle, The Strawberry Zots, Young Edward. He now plays in the David Kurtz Band, and will soon reunite with the Ant Farmers for a reunion show at Low Spirits on Dec. 4. Henningsen was also the Alibi’s editor-in-chief and music editor for a million years. As of this month, he’s back writing about scary black metal in a column called Coffin Break (see the second edition in this week’s issue). Below are random selections from his music collection.
Song Roulette
1) “Self-Conscious Spiel” • Actionslacks • One Word “San Francisco power popsters with a serious Boon/Watt fetish that always sounded to me like a precursor to The Hold Steady with a little Poster Children (sans female vocals) tossed in the mix for good measure. A good ‘wake-up’ song if you’re out of Folgers.”
Song Roulette
2) “The Eton Rifles” • The Jam • Snap “Well, if I had to pick one Jam song, ‘The Eton Rifles’ would be it. Paul Weller’s off-kilter melodic gifts are displayed here in their full glory along with teasing organ, machine-gun guitar and two-and-a-half minutes of lyrical brilliance. Thank you, ‘random’ button.”
Song Roulette
3) “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” • Pink Floyd • A Saucerful of Secrets “Again, if you’re only gonna have one song by a band, why not have it be the only one in existence to feature all five members (as in Syd Barrett on minimal guitar along with the rest of the guys)? Plus, this tasty little freak-out from way back in 1967 actually sounds like it was beamed back from the future.”
Song Roulette
4) “Enigma of the Absolute” • Dead Can Dance • A Passage in Time “You have to have a natural affinity for Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard’s cinematic soundscapes, hyperdramatic vocal style and full embrace of early ’90s synth-tech to appreciate DCD; but if you do, almost nothing is more poignantly beautiful or moving. This song in particular.”
Song Roulette
5) “Late Night in Zion” • Matisyahu • Youth “There was actually a time in 2006 after Matisyahu released Youth when I thought I might really get into reggae. It lasted as long as it took to get through the record one-and-a-half times. I haven’t listened to it since. Because it’s just Phish with a better voice, better lyrics and much, much better weed. And I phucking hate Phish.”
