The Dream Syndicate’s first EP came out March 30, 1982. Here’s a live performance of “That’s What You Always Say” from that era.
China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq
The only four countries that executed more of their citizens than the United States did last year.
The good news is that an increasing number of states are starting to ban the death penalty.
(via jimray)
(via jimray)
Waylon Jennings, Buddy Holly and Tommy Allsup - Jan 31, 1959
Photo courtesy Buddy Holly online
(via countryandwestern)
Hot Club of Cowtown - When the Bloom is On the Sage
Happy Spring (or Fall for you folks below the equator)!
Listen Up!
Man, I just love Rdio. Such a great way to find new music. Here’s what I’ve found over the last couple of weeks that I liked enough to keep listening to.
Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables by Todd Snider
Great. Best record this week. One of America’s great songwriters. A little rough around the edges, by turns funny and reflective.
Metal Moon by Dirty Ghosts
Good, good stuff. Rock music. Not at all typical, but also not weirdly affected or gimmicky. Looking forward to more.
Wish I Was Here by Micatone
Love this. I’d never heard of Micatone; I found them scrolling through Rdio’s new releases. Sort of loungy, a little hint of Morcheeba on some of the songs.
New Multitudes by Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames
Another group takes a stab at writing music for some of Woody Guthrie’s stacks of lyrics. Good stuff. Different enough from the Billy Bragg/Wilco Mermaid records that it’s interesting to compare them. Highlight: Angel’s Blues
Release Me by Lyle Lovett
Lyle is leaving Curb records, where he’s been his whole career. It seems weird to go out on an album of covers (well, there are two originals), but also makes some sense. From what I’ve read he’s thinking about what direction he might want to go, and sinking a bunch of effort into writing might have seemed like a waste of time. It’s okay, though, because he’s *great* at covering songs. Everything on this record is satisfying if not revelatory.
Wrecking Ball by Bruce Springsteen
Mostly good, though very heavily produced. Some odd choices, but overall it feels like Springsteen is trying to figure out where he stands in the landscape of American music and doing some experimenting. I imagine most people who like him in general will like this, and anyone who doesn’t like him won’t think much of it.
Start the Revolution Without Me by the Kaiser Chiefs
Pretty good. I think I like Kaiser Chiefs better when they sound like the Jam than when they sound like the Beatles, but they are good at stretching out a rock song.
Do not get in Hag’s face about microphones.
Saturday afternoon. (Taken with Instagram at Lennon Rehearsal Studio)
Greg Cook hugs his dog Coco after finding her inside his destroyed home in East Limestone, Ala., on March 2. (via Early season tornado outbreak)
Sandra Fluke: The Recent Personal Attacks are an Attempt to Silence the Voices of Women
I thank the thousands of women and men, including members of Congress, Georgetown University students and faculty, and total strangers of all political stripes across the country who have offered kind words and support following recent egregious personal attacks.
We are fortunate to live in a…
