It’s Friday, which means it’s the day I skip out on writing anything substantive (although I haven’t actually written anything substantive in weeks) and instead post my Friday Random Ten set. You know the rules, but here they are anyway. Grab your iPod or other (less cool) digital music devise and set it to shuffle/random. Report back the first ten (or 11 songs) it spits back, without deviating, omitting, excusing or justifying the music that shows up. You made your bed, and now you have to lay in it.

1. My Lover’s Gone, Dido (No Angel)
2. Am I Born to Die?, Tim Eriksen (Cold Mountain)
3. 83, John Mayer (Any Given Thursday)
4. Dracula Moon, Joan Osborne (Relish)
5. Scampering Away, Mason Darling (The Secret of Roan Inish)
6. St. Claire’s Defeat, Gibson and Camp (Gibson and Camp at the Gate of Horn)
7. Headstrong, 10,000 Maniacs (Blind Man’s Zoo)
8. The Mind of Love, k.d. lang (Ingenue)
9. Tune Up #2, Original Broadway Cast (Rent)
10. Resist, Melissa Etheridge (Yes I Am)

First Thoughts: There are an awful lot of soundtracks in the set today (well, if three makes a lot). The transition from St. Claire’s Defeat to Headstrong is totally jarring and almost unpleasant, despite the fact that I really like both those songs. They just don’t go together.

Favorite Song: Dracula Moon by Joan Osborne. I like the way the harmonica, the piano and the mellow, throaty guitars come together for the introduction, before she even starts singing.

Favorite Album: The Secret of Roan Inish by Mason Darling. Last year when I was home in Portland, I stumbled across this disc, sitting in a stack of other caseless cds in my parents living room. Before I even listened to it, I had ripped it to my computer, because I had such fond memories of the movie. For those of you who haven’t seen it, I recommend that you check it out (if you like lovely, quiet little stories that seemlessly merge magic with reality on a tiny island in Ireland).

Personal Connections: The Camp half of Gibson and Camp was a friend of my parents until he died last fall. I’ve written about Bob Hamid Hamilton Camp a couple times over the last eight or so months, but I can’t remember when, so no linking for you.

If you need a couple more spoonfuls of Randon Friday sets, check out these folks:
Andrea
Ashley
Ben
Brian
Coffee Girl
Dodi
Ellen
Erin
Fred
Howard
Jill
J-Me
Luna
Mac
Mark
Matthew
Sherri

If you’ve got a list up and would like a little link love, let me know!