Raise Your Voice! to support public broadcasting

170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting is a terrible name for an activist group, but at least it's to the point. It also promotes a cause that's very dear to me. And, courtesy of ANTI- Records, they've assembled a great lineup for a compilation you can get free by signing up for the campaign with your e-mail address, which I encourage you to do.

Raise Your Voice! features Tom Waits, Wilco, Lost in the Trees, Neko Case, Dr. Dog and more. The marquee track in my mind is "Progress" by Booker T. Jones featuring Jim James of My Morning Jacket; the video's embedded above. It's apparently from Booker T.'s album The Road from Memphis, which was released earlier this year. Who knew?

If supporting causes isn't your kind of thing, here's a mariachi band serenading a beluga whale.

Middle Cyclone, Neko Case

My life will never be the same.

Neko Case's new album "Middle Cyclone" dropped March 3rd. If you're new to Neko's music, I beg of you, drop everything and take a listen. This new album is the best yet, hands down.

To be fair, I should let you know that I fell in love with "Middle Cyclone" long before the LP was released. A friend of mine, who has the most amazing music hook-ups ever, forwarded me a making-of video back in December. Watching that video, I knew I was a goner. Neko Case and "Middle Cyclone" took hold of my heart and has yet to let go.

Out of all the amazing components of Neko Case's music, I have to say that my favorite element of "Middle Cyclone" is Neko's open vulnerability. Case in point, in the title track, Middle Cyclone, has a few golden moments of sheer humanity. My heart just about stops in the at minute 2:45 of the song when Neko's voice drops and she almost whispers "...but I choke it back, how much I need love." Lyrically, the song is near perfect.

For those of you who like the more upbeat, this alt-country singer/songwriter has songs for you, as well! Lately, I have been rolling down my windows, cruising at 58 mph (hey, that's fast in a city!) and blaring This Tornado Loves You...it's the perfect song for spring.

Middle Cyclone [mp3] (iTunes)

This Tornado Loves You [mp3] (iTunes)

Wacky Wednesday - Christmas Edition

To make up for the fact that I haven't posted much music lately, I am going to do a Theme Thursday Christmas extravaganza tomorrow. In fact, I'm posting so many songs that I have decided to take some of them (the sillier ones) and post them today so that it's not quite so overwhelming tomorrow. So here you go - some whacky Christmas songs.

Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis [mp3] - Neko Case - "New Coat of Paint: Songs of Tom Waits" (iTunes). This song isn't particularly silly but it has a funny title.

Oi to the World [mp3] - No Doubt (iTunes)

a Christmas medley [mp3] by Flipp (I think). I have no idea what it's called or what album it is from. A friend of mine made a "Christmas Carnage" mix CD one year, and this was on it. I'm not even 100% sure it's Flipp but it sounds like Flipp and my friend was a big Flipp fan. If anyone knows the title, artist and/or album, please feel free to tell me.

This Christmas [mp3] - Louis XIV (iTunes)

Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) [mp3] - The Ramones - "Brain Drain" (iTunes)

share this post on de.licio.us / facebook