Lyrad's Random 10

As early as recorded music existed in Germany, so did the tango. The style reached great popularity before WWI through Latin artists, but soon German bandleaders (who were likely previously only working with polka) began adapting the music for more German sensibilities. Much of it, as a result, comes across as much polka as tango and, with much of the Latin influence absent, feels very flat. This is not always the case, as evidenced with the album, "Ghetto Tango," that this first track comes from. The recordings are current, but Cooper and Mlotek have dug up and re-recorded a fantastic sampling of tangos from the Jewish theater just previous to and during WWII. Mainly recorded with small orchestras or unaccomanied, the songs display an emotional range (undoubtedly due to the duress they were under) that much of the genre could not touch. While I'm not the biggest fan of show tunes in general, and this most assuredly is that, many of the lyrics here are chilling displays of the lives they lived.

1. Adrienne Cooper & Zalman Mlotek--Fun der Arbet
2. Nirvana--Marigold
3. Guy Klucevsek--Road Runner
4. Virgin Prunes--Pagan Love Song
5. Miles Davis--Bitches Brew
6. Booker T. Laury--You Can Go Your Way
7. Dokken--Breaking the Chains
8. Teddy Wilson--As Time Goes By
9. Mr. Bungle--Retrovertigo
10. Masada Chamber Ensemble--Shamor