Monday Music Roundup

Start the week off right with some satire, courtesy of The Onion in their article History of Rock Written By The Losers:

“BOSTON—Fifty years after its inception, rock ‘n’ roll music remains popular due to the ardor of its fans and the hard work of musicians, producers, and concert promoters. But in the vast universe of popular music, there exists an oft-overlooked group of dedicated individuals who devote their ample free time to collecting, debating, and publishing the minutiae of the rock genre. They are the losers who write rock’s rich and storied history.” [full article here]

Well come on. Someone has to do it.

Here’s some of the music that I am listening to this week, avoiding sunlight, hunched over my laptop (wait, it’s currently zero degrees here, so what else am I to do?!):

Goodbye
The Swimmers
A delightful jaunt from this new indie-pop group from Philadelphia, off their upcoming album Fighting Trees. Friend Tom passed this along with the highest recommendation, calling it the first truly important release of 2007. Those rock-nerd trivialists may know singer Steve Yutzy-Burkey’s first band One Star Hotel, but this new incarnation in music remains relatively unknown outside Philly and strays (appealingly) from the previous alt-country sound. You can stream the entire album on their minimalistic website, or peruse their MySpace. The album Fighting Trees comes out this Spring – refreshing, lithe, insanely catchy pop.

Headache
Frank Black
I almost did backflips when I listened to this yesterday for the first time since high school. From the cascading opening drumbeats, this is a perfect pop song that I had completely, utterly forgotten until I read Ben Kweller’s Celebrity Playlist and suddenly it all came flooding back to me. Playing it loud, I effortlessly sang along from the deep recesses of my memory. From (former Pixie) Frank Black‘s 1994 album Teenager Of The Year.

Money To Burn
(acoustic on BBC Radio One)
Richard Ashcroft
A great song from Ashcroft‘s 2000 album Alone With Everybody, I love the urgency and blissful romantic short-sightedness in this song: “You light my fire, I want to burn all night, I want to burn on through. I got one short life, I want to spend it on you. Oh we got one last dance, I want to dance with you — Come on now.” Download the other two songs in this ace mini-set from the BBC on Sweet Oblivion while you can.

Ruby
Kaiser Chiefs
A stomping new one out of Leeds from Kaiser Chiefs, who were basically hailed as the second coming of The Jam or The Clash for awhile there in 2005 when they invaded the States and taught all the indie kids that it’s okay to pogo a bit during their ferocious live shows. A fine (if slightly nonsensical) ode to a classy dame named Ruby (like my Grammy was), this is from the upcoming Yours Truly, Angry Mob, due in late February on B-Unique Records.

I Have A Dream
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Not a song, but still an mp3 that’ll do you good to listen to. Anyone who has ever taken a public speaking class likely knows the genius of the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. From the cadence and the repetition, to the alliteration, the biblical metaphors . . . dude had it all — and used it to get under your skin in a (thankfully) unforgettable way. Although he had dozens of superb speeches, this one is his most famous and also the one that still makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It’s got a lot more to it than the parts you hear quoted most often, and is worth a re-read. This was delivered August 28, 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. You can also read and listen to excerpts of other great speeches by MLK Jr here.

A splash of Southern Comfort with M. Ward

The freezing walk to the mailbox was all made worth it yesterday afternoon by the discovery of a very cool flat package containing a 7″ limited-run vinyl from FADER Magazine/blog in a partnership with Southern Comfort. Part of a new series this whole year to release “up-and-coming” artists on limited edition vinyl, the first in the lineup contains:

Side A: Magic Trick (Kansas City Remix) (Thanks Kevin!!)
M. Ward with Jim James

Side B: Soap
Ladyhawk

Post-War (from whence comes the lovely harmonies of “Magic Trick”) is an album that sounds all rich and scratchy and warm –an effect which is doubled on a record player– and I derived great joy from sitting in front of my stereo listening to this small gem. The remix takes out the drums and remixes the vocals a bit more distinctly so the harmonies don’t mesh as seamlessly. It also brings forward the bittersweet harmonica line, giving the overall effect of a Kansas City backporch BBQ. You can win your own copy here. Oh, and check the solo M. Ward shows added. San Francisco gets all the fun. Come to Denver, “M.”!

Jeff Buckley covers Bob Dylan for a musician’s village in New Orleans

A few weeks ago I posted a fantastic recording of Jeff Buckley singing Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” over the phone for WMFU radio, with the help of some friends. One of those friends of Jeff’s was Michelle Kinney, who sang and played the accordion in the studio that day. Through a series of events, we’ve been corresponding by email – and she’s let me know of a great new project she’s working to develop, using a cleaned-up version of that arresting and blissful recording.

Michelle writes, “Being in Jeff’s company whether he was singing or not was transcendent (most of the time). You could feel him coming from blocks away.” Her husband was also a friend of Jeff’s, and played guitar on that recording of “I Shall Be Released” (as well as backing Jeff at the St. Ann’s tribute for Tim Buckley in 1991). Michelle has developed an artist’s record label called Sugarfoot Music which has received permission from Jeff’s estate to officially release that incredible recording on a compilation CD benefitting a musicians’ village in New Orleans.

Jeff’s song will join 30 other artists on this album to help raise funds to build homes for musicians displaced by the hurricanes in 2005. The idea of a Musicians’ Village was conceived by Harry Connick Jr. & Branford Marsalis, and will house musicians and families whose lives were devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. With the support of others, including a $1.5 million challenge grant by musician Dave Matthews, Habitat for Humanity has already begun rebuilding a neighborhood of music players and music lovers.

Among the contributors: Dan Wilson (of Semisonic), Natalie Merchant, Indigo Girls, Marshall Crenshaw, Gary Louris & The Jayhawks, and more. Sugarfoot Music’s benefit CD includes a 36-page booklet featuring a photo and a thought on New Orleans from each artist; I love liner notes that possess thought and depth — it’s like getting a great book along with the CD and adds so much to the experience.

In thinking back to the day that the song with Jeff was recorded, Michelle remembers; “We were all goofing around in a very low-key kind of way, and Jeff was so far from being a star. Aside from the pure joy of playing with Jeff over the phone, no one knew that this would become a special thing. On the CD, we edited out most of the other remarks — the preference of the show’s producer, Nick Hill. It’s mostly just the song, with Jeff’s comments at the end.” When Jeff lets out an ebullient laugh and thanks everyone as the song ends, what sticks with me (and always makes me break into a huge smile) is the refreshed elation in his voice, the untarnished joy of being involved in such a beautiful singalong.

It will be great to have this version in my collection, and to support a worthy cause. You can order the CD on the Sugarfoot Music website. In the short time I’ve had that amazing song in my collection, it’s become my absolute favorite cover that Jeff ever recorded, and is a fitting and affirming addition to the theme of this album.

And as Michelle says, “I know that Jeff would have been down there hammering nails himself.”

I Shall Be Released (over the phone, WFMU) – Jeff Buckley and Friends
(the singing starts at 4:15)

Buy the cleaned-up/non radio-rip version for a good cause here.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls = Rad

This is pretty much one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen: New York City’s Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls provides instruction for girls aged 8-18 on how to be a kickass female rocker. Girls come from all over to learn how to play musical instruments, write songs, perform, learn about different types of music, and generally “rock out” in a way that too often eludes the fairer sex. I can only imagine the wonders that that does for their self-confidence. I know how invincible I felt the first time I let loose on the drums in front of an audience.

The camp is named after Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, a blues and rock performer / songwriter who was one of the first women to play the music that came to be known as rock n’ roll. She did “Hound Dog” with a lot more pathos and growl before Elvis swiveled his hips to it. The camp grew out of the Portland, Oregon-based program Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls, which was founded in 2000.

During the summer camp, each day consists of instrument instruction (drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals, DJ/turntables), band practice, and workshops on a variety of topics, from sound engineering and songwriting to self-defense. Games and crafting activities (including making band t-shirts and buttons) are interspersed throughout the day.

Take a look at some of the bands that were formed during the 2005 Girls’ Camp: everything from Coco Chanel & The Zeppelinettes, to Hellish Relish, to The Pink Kitties. Fantastic.

There is a benefit concert in New York on January 23rd for this amazing project, headlined by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, which will take the stage along with bands formed by former campers — Tiny Masters of Today, Kimya Dawson, Magnolia, Alice Smith, and Tamar-kali. It’s at the Bowery Ballroom and tickets are available here. Since it’s a fundraiser, tickets range from $50 to $250 and up.

Hound Dog – Big Mama Thornton

Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Oh, and they have a version of Rock Camp for grown-up girls too (!!) of all levels of musical experience, a weekend program that helps to raise funds for the girls camp. Oh yes, I want to go in a huuuge, gaping, all-consuming way. That has now been officially added to my list of things that I will do before I die, and hopefully I will get to do it soon. How revolutionary.

Volcano Girls – Veruca Salt

New Noise Pop Festival confirmations & NEW Contest

The 15th annual Noise Pop Festival takes over the city by the bay (San Francisco) February 27 to March 4th. They’ve just announced some new confirmations to an already stellar lineup, bringing the current list of performers to:

Roky Erickson and The Explosives
The Ponys
The Dandy Warhols
Jolie Holland
The Donnas
Sebadoh
Ted Leo And The Pharmacists
Josh Ritter
Autolux
Richard Swift
Earlimart
Ghostland Observatory
Midlake
Hella
Vic Chesnutt
Lyrics Born
John Vanderslice
Spinto Band
Clinic

FULL SCHEDULE HERE

I am hoping to possibly come out for Noise Pop: My sister just got a job at Stanford and will surely need some help unpacking and getting settled and what better way to get settled than to see a bunch of awesome shows! Logical.

I wrote about Peter Ellenby’s new book of rock photography, Every Day Is Saturday. I got the book for Christmas and I can categorically say that is awesome, one of the most interesting books I’ve read in a while.

The photographs open new ways of seeing bands I thought I knew, give insight into the artists pictured, and illuminate the vibrant music scene that comes from and passes through the San Francisco area.

The commentary accompanying the photographs, by author Christopher Slater, is top notch — taking you behind the scenes of the pictures in the book in a very engaging fashion, and filling in the reader on the music world in San Francisco for the last 15 years. The segments documenting the rise of the Noise Pop festival, and Peter Ellenby’s role as un/official Noise Pop photographer, are required reading. Here’s an excerpt:

Noise Pop and the success of Ellenby’s photographs opened up a much larger world for him, both professionally and personally:

“I really met a whole lot of people. We had so much fun doing this thing [the early Noise Pop festivals]. I mean, it was totally exhausting, but it was the catalyst. I realized, this is exactly what I want to be doing. Going to the shows, seeing amazing bands, finding new amazing bands, meeting new amazing people, meeting my wife. It’s not just about music and photography — it’s about friendship and all this other stuff.

And it all started that weekend. I think it was four days. You know, like when you hear a song and say, ‘I’ve been waiting for this song forever.’ Or when you meet your soulmate, it’s like, ‘This is what I love.’ It’s so great to finally find that.”

That beautiful passion comes through in this book, and frankly made me want to pick up a camera and learn how the heck to use it.

After seeing the faces of all these bands that I somehow missed and never heard, I also found myself curious about their music — then I remembered that the book comes with a sampler CD of just that, tucked in the back. Fantastic soundtrack for a second reading.

If you’d like to check it out yourself, I have one extra copy of the book and CD to give away, thanks to a shipping snafu from Amazon. I don’t usually run two contests at once, but since I am closing up that Lucinda contest on Friday (great entries, folks), I figured we’d start this one up.

CONTEST:
To win the Peter Ellenby photography book, leave me a comment with a link to view your favorite concert photo on the web. Doesn’t have to be one you took, but you can upload your own if that’s your choice. For example, mine would be this.

A little tricky of a contest, I know, but I hope to get some good visual responses. Also make sure I have a way to contact you if you want to win. I’ll run this through next Thursday (Jan 18). Oh, and since I have to pay for shipping this one myself, only US peeps can win. Sorry, my lovely and respected international brethren.

Ryan Adams –> Jesse Malin –> Butch Walker –> Ben Kweller

I have a couple of odds & ends to share, and the only obvious connection that I see is a version of Six Degrees of Ryan Adams:

1. Jesse Malin (pal) kicks off 2007 with an exuberant & rocking version of Cheap Trick’s “Surrender” – cannot help but feel happy inside seeing this kind of visceral concert experience, Jesse throwing the glittery confetti at the stroke of midnight:

Direct link here if that embed isn’t working (veoh? what’s veoh?)

Oh, and speaking of glitter: prepare to be floored by Jesse Malin’s new album, Glitter In The Gutter (which Ryan Adams guests on, as well as Bruce Springsteen and Jakob Dylan, and more). It is hands down the best thing I’ve heard in a good while – comes out in late February and start planning now how you are going to buy it as soon as it is available.

2. Butch Walker covering “Come Pick Me Up” (Ryan Adams song) with some girl I don’t know at a recent Hotel Cafe show. I’ve been enjoying the party-hearty sounds of several tracks on his The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and The Let’s-Go-Out-Tonites album, so the sensitive strummy take on this video surprised me. Also, the crowd seems titillated by the self-destructive nature of the lyrics; perhaps they’ve never heard the song before?

3. Ryan Adams and Ben Kweller are going to be appearing together January 16th (Tuesday) on Letterman with America (the band) to perform a version of the revamped “Ride On” from the new America CD.

Stream “Ride On” featuring Ryan Adams, Ben Kweller and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne):
Windows Media * Real * Quicktime

Also stream America’s take on the My Morning Jacket song “Golden”, featuring Ben Kweller and MMJ’s Jim James & Patrick Hallahan.
Windows Media * Real * Quicktime

4. Finally, two great Ryan Adams shows that I’ve been listening to via the Live Music Archive:

The full first night at Town Hall (NYC) on December 4, 2006

An ace 2001 show from the legendary Fillmore (San Francisco) on 11/14/01

Brand new Pearl Jam (!!): “Love Reign O’er Me”

Just over a half hour ago, the formidable KISW in Seattle aired the new Pearl Jam song (Who cover) “Love Reign O’er Me” in their, um, Nine O’Clock Cock Fight, which pits two songs against each other. Thanks to Oxypoet, who knows I am as big of a Pearl Jam fan as he is, I have the full audio for you.

As previously mentioned here, this brooding song was recorded for the new Adam Sandler/Don Cheadle movie Reign Over Me, and contains lush orchestration — and several of the most skin-tingling Vedder screams in many moons.

According to the KISW DJ, this won’t actually be on the Reign Over Me soundtrack, only in the movie. That leaves it as fair fodder for the Christmas single?

Waaahooo!

Love Reign O’er Me (Who cover) – Pearl Jam

Update from the Pearl Jam Ten Club:
ANNUAL SINGLE NEWS
01.10.07
Many of you have been asking about the holiday single release…Is it out yet? When will it be released? Well…Not yet, but the songs have been selected, so we can at least give you something to curb your appetite until it lands on your doorstep. Artwork is waiting approval and will be posted soon, as well.

The 2006 Annual Single will include:
Side A- Love Reign O’er Me
written by Pete Towshend, performed by Pearl Jam from the upcoming Sony Motion Picture Reign Over Me.
Side B- Rockin in the Free World
written by Neil Young, performed by Pearl Jam, featuring Bono and The Edge from U2 from the Make Poverty History concert in Melbourne, Australia.

Ohhh, the internet. How you change things.

Monday Music Roundup

A crystalline and lovely dream last night involving me slow-waltzing with Ryan Adams in a high school gym with paper streamers all about (yeah, have no idea where that one came from but I ain’t complainin’) reminded me of an interesting effort I read about called The Dream Project.

It involves people calling in and leaving scratchy, half-coherent messages on a dedicated voicemail line (often right after waking), and then a cadre of artists works to visually represent those dreams as part of a larger project. The only catch is that they ask for dreams with “a strong narrative flow and clear landmarks so that others may follow the trail.” So that summarily eliminates me, unfortunately. My midnight brain is too random to make most of my sojourns followable by anyone else except me.

And actually, this project also reminds me of one of my favorite Dilbert comic strips.

. . . Here are five songs on my playlists this week that you may enjoy.

Deep Water
Ryan Auffenberg
This new demo song from San Francisco’s Ryan Auffenberg (“One To Watch“) is first in the lineup this week because it reminds me of a soundtrack to a dream, from the opening lyrics about some moments staying with you, to the soporific feel of the chorus, “deep water grows cold the further down you swim.” Perfect. Ryan’s put this new song up on his MySpace page, he’s got a few tour dates this month on the West coast and was recently picked up for a little featurette on San Francisco’s KFOG. I still recommend checking out all of his work, and think we’ll be hearing good things from him in the future.

Is That The Thanks I Get
(live on Conan)
Wilco
Ahhh, Wilco. You Tweedy fans are a passionate bunch, and trying so hard to convert me. I am only not a hardcore fan yet because of benign neglect. Reader Chuck recently sent me a 10-song “Wilco Starter Kit” to try, once again, to transform me into a rabid fan, and so far he has been fairly successful. I recently came across this new song, a fantastic soulful Memphis piano romp performed several months ago on Conan. This (and other new songs) are potential inclusions on the upcoming Wilco album (May 2007, Nonesuch Records), and I like what I hear so far.

I Will Wander
The Features
Tennessee’s The Features are guys that I love to root for; you may recall a mention a few months back on this blog about how they were dropped from their label for refusing to cover a Beatles song for a credit card commercial? Well, the same sound that drew me to madly adore their 2004 track “Blow It Out” is still alive and kicking on their recent Contrast EP. I am digging the marching cadence of this song — the feel reminds me of a sort of Modest-Mouse-meets-Devo.

Children of December
The SLIP
Been listening to The SLIP‘s Eisenhower CD (on Bar/None Records) for a few months now and always meant to write something but somehow it kept getting passed over — but no longer. This is simply a fantastic song from the opening vibrating notes. I think the first thing I read about Boston’s The SLIP came from a quote I read from Jim James of My Morning Jacket who raved about them, saying, “‘Children of December’ is the song that hit me hardest – the way the guitar and the melody interlace, it’s incredible…It could even appeal to some kid who really likes punk rock. It’s really challenging.” Their Eisenhower album sounds fresh to these ears, and was co-produced by the band and Matthew Ellard (Elliott Smith, Billy Bragg & Wilco, Morphine).

After The War
Sleep Station
Here’s a random tune that popped into my inbox after my recent Cotton Mather post. Reader Barry from NYC writes, “I suspect you’re a big power pop fan who loves those pronounced Beatles influences with jangly guitars, close harmonies, all the good stuff. Seeing that’s the case, I thought I would attach a song by a band you may not know called Sleep Station. I love this song, and the album it comes from, After the War (their strongest record), generally sounds like a cross between the Beatles and Pink Floyd. Good stuff.” I agree and think I am going to get this CD for further listening (an $8 bargain!). I find this particular tune to be a pleasant modern-day update on “Golden Slumbers.” Thanks, Barry!

Oh, and if perchance you are looking for some good books for 2007, Scatter O’ Light is doing a great series on music-related reading, and yours truly just scribbled together a few suggestions off the top of my head for her part 3 (part 1 on U2-related tomes is here and part 2 on best rock bios is here). Happy reading!

The Office’s John Krasinski (love. him.) interviews The Shins

Filter Magazine became my new heroes this weekend when I finally got a few minutes to sit down and read the feature they ran in the Holiday 2006 issue where the too-fantastic-for-words John Krasinski (Jim Halpert! From The Office! Who made Pam cry last week but don’t get me started) gets to play uber-fanboy and interview The Shins, whom he has clearly loved fiercely and deeply for some time now. It is a wonderful and insightful piece which made me wonder if John would consent to being my new pen pal.

Equal parts discussion of The Shins and The Office (a mutual admiration society), it was a great unstructured conversation to listen in on. Here’s a snippet where John talks to them about their new album Wincing The Night Away, which sees the official light of day on January 23rd, but that all the cool kids have had, like, forever. Cha.

EXCERPT: JOHN KRASINSKI WITH THE SHINS
Filter Magazine, Holiday 2006

JOHN: Another song I listened to a lot [on the new album] was “Red Rabbits.” That’s an awesome daydreaming song.

(keyboardist/guitarist) MARTY (Crandall): It’s relaxed, but not quite soothing.

(bassist) DAVE (Hernandez): Like a spooky relaxation.

JOHN: It’s like the ’80s are looking back at the ’50s and waving. The album’s very aquatic and fairy tale-y. It felt like Pink Floyd meets Morrissey meets some Beatles and Beach Boys. “Sea Legs” definitely has a hip-hop feel but it’s so Smiths-y. [Everyone nods in agreement]

DAVE: That’s the second time we’ve heard that.

(frontman) JAMES (Mercer): We thought about that while we were doing it.

JOHN: Oh good, I thought you were about the punch me in the nose. “We hate Morrissey!”

DAVE: No, it’s good that people are picking up on that. It’s like if Morrissey sang for the Beta Band.

JAMES: That beat started out as a smashed plastic bag. That’s actually the bass sound, the kick . . .

MARTY: Whoosh!

JAMES: Just once, then we sampled it. And the other sounds are bottlecaps on the amp . . .

MARTY: And a guitar pick on the teeth!

(drummer) JESSE (Sandoval): Chick-a chick-a chick-a . . .

JAMES: We sampled and cut them up to create the beat, and then I used an 808 sample to beef it up once the song kicks in.

JOHN: Get out!

JESSE: There’s actually an ’80s synth drumbeat under it. That’s probably where the ’80s feel came from.

JAMES: And it’s kinda new wave sounding at the same time. When I recorded that, it had this weird texture: you heard it pop, and then pulling away you’d hear the krinkle.

JESSE: It’s a weird, natural krinkling. It sounds like the speakers are breaking.

************************

SHINS ON TOUR
Feb 08: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Feb 09: Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
Feb 10: Chicago, IL @ Congress Theater
Feb 11: St. Louis, MO @ Pageant
Feb 12: Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
Feb 13: Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
Feb 15: Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
Feb 16: Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Feb 17: Boise, ID @ Egyptian Theatre
Feb 20: Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater
Feb 21: Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
(you can buy tix here if you’re in one of those cool cities)

They’ll also be on SNL this next weekend, and maybe they’re good enough sports to do a Garden State spoof. After changing everyone’s life, it’s the least they can do, really.

Oh, and I am loving this:

Split Needles (alternate version) – The Shins
from the Phantom Limb single

Quadruple giveaway: Lucinda Williams, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road (re-release)

Although Lucinda Williams is quite a bit twangier than my usual listening fare, her music is resilient, burnished, and strong. No precious “awwwww” lyrics, no Jesus Take The Wheel or Beaches of Cheyenne here, this is just solid backporch bluegrass country that always makes me feel a little bit fiercer when I listen to it.

Her 1998 album Car Wheels On A Gravel Road was her masterpiece, a Grammy-award winner for Best Contemporary Folk Album that needs to be listened to on the open road as the title would imply. It’s a thoughtful (but rollicking, and sometimes bitter) collection that traverses the grounds of loss, lust, and stories from a thousand little roadside bars across America.

Her best just got better recently with the re-release of Car Wheels On A Gravel Road as a remastered double disc with 3 previously unreleased songs added to the main album, and a second disc of live performances from WXPN Radio in Philly.

Thanks my pal Bruce from Some Velvet Blog (via Aquarium Drunkard), there’s a little info on that second set to share. Bruce says, “Here’s a cool back story. The live concert was from a WXPN summer festival that I booked back when Lu toured on that album. What happened was the A&R guy who did the re-issue wanted to do something cool and they were going through the vaults and found a box with these tapes in them and all the box said was Lucinda-WXPN. So, they threw it on, and it was this concert. There was no label, nothing. So the A&R guy asked around about WXPN which led to a call to me. We did the multi-track recording of the show, but never actually did anything and it sat on a shelf until I said they could go for it and use it.” Glad you did, Bruce. What a find.

Now, I have 4 of these double CDs to give away if you wanted to check out the re-release, or if you’ve never heard her but always meant to. To enter to win one, here’s the gauntlet:

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road is an album to be listened to on the highway, preferably a dusty one across a desert somewhere, with the windows down (and I would definitely recommend with no air conditioning). Leave a comment to tell me one song that you personally like to listen to out on the wide open road.

Winners for this one will be chosen at random from all coherent, contactable entrants.

Check out this jumpin’ blues song, one of the unreleased tracks from the main disc:

Down The Big Road Blues – Lucinda Williams

And I just flat-out love this song. As I wrote about it last year, “There is some *delicious* slide guitar throughout in the vein of Ben Harper, and a leg-slappin’, toe-tappin’ beat. Stand up and listen to this and if you can be still throughout, then I think your rhythm-appreciator-thingie is broken.”

Can’t Let Go – Lucinda Williams

And a sample of the great live set from WXPN (Bruce is just rolling in the good music over there in the vaults); I’ve thought before that the title of this song and the way it’s written may make it sound cornier and more cliched than the song itself deserves. The lyrics of this song are so dang evocative and sad and give me the chills. Junebug vs. hurricane indeed.

2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten – Lucinda Williams

PS – Lucinda has a new album coming out on Lost Highway on 2/13/2007. Called West, you can stream audio over on the Lost Highway site.