By Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff
As part of their Tuesday residency this month at the Lizard Lounge, the fun, fearless, and funky Chandler Travis Philharmonic will be including a “Music Appreciation” segment in which the CTP and its special guest play what Chandler Travis calls “Great Records” and discuss what makes them work. The inspiration for the segment? “Mostly just wanting to turn people on to better music than they’re listening to,” says the prolific Boston institution, who is celebrating the early 2011 release of the group’s latest album, “The CTP Blows.”
We asked Travis to enumerate five songs he’ll be appreciating. The band hits the Lizard stage for the three remaining May Tuesdays. On tap for special guest status: Jennifer Kimball on May 17, P.J. O’Connell on May 24,, and CTP offshoot the Catbirds on May 31.
1. “Just Another Sucker on the Vine,” Tom Waits “It’s just short, peculiar, and lovely.”
2. “Let’s Do the Boston Monkey,” Les Cooper “You hear this beat and you can’t figure out what the hell they’re trying to do. It’s very frenetic and just totally out there.”
3. “Start Me Up,” the Folksmen (from the film “A Mighty Wind”) “I’m a huge Christopher Guest fan.”
4. “Carinhoso,” Paulo Moura y Os Batutas “I’ve got a real jones for Brazilian music lately, the last 10 or 20 years or so. The thing that really sets it apart is there’s a large chorus that comes in the room gradually. They’re not really miked right, but it’s very otherworldly.”
5. “From Your Girl,” the Muffs “They’re my wife’s favorite band.”
SARAH RODMAN