I want to talk for a few minutes about the current presidential election, and compare it with the record of some previous executives. History, I believe, can enrich the conversation here.

Let me admit my bias: I am for Obama. I firmly believe that he is the best candidate to lead America forward, and to begin extracting the American state and nation from the morass that is the eight disastrous years of the Bush presidency. Obama is my man, and I follow his campaign closely. This does not mean that I am an acolyte, and barring a brief bout of Obamania in February, I try to be harder on him than with the other candidates. Nevertheless, he emerges again and again as my overwhelming choice.

Here's some non-politics to wind down a loooooong week. (please don't flame if you don't like a non-political diary, just ignore.)
These are some of my new favorite bands that don't get ANY radioplay (ok, maybe on pirate stations) and won't ever be famous. But they make great music that more people should hear. Wanna hearit? Hereit goes...(If you like this , be sure to tune in next Saturday late nite for more "bands that need to be heard" here on GBCW's late-nite musicvid digest ;)

Fired up and ready to go!

New video from Seattle musicians... Pearl Jam Musicians and Pat Wright and the Total Experience Choir...

http://myspacetv.com/...

Rock On !!

It was at about this time last year that I read a 'Best CDs of 2006' story in the Boston Globe, and that led me on a fairly productive chase.

It was because of that that I found Regina Spektor's "Begin To Hope", and it's why I went ahead and got The Raconteurs' fine self-titled album.  I would have gotten my beloved Neko Case's "Fox Confessor Brings The Flood" anyway, but I was glad to see that included as well.

Legendary singer and songwriter, Dan Fogelberg, passed away in his Maine home today at the age of 56 following his heroic battle against prostate cancer. Dan is survived by his wife, Jean..  Anna Loynes of the Solters & Digney public relations agency announced Dan’s passing today and it was posted on his website.

http://www.danfogelberg.com/...

"Sunday, December 16
Dear friends,

Dan left us this morning at 6:00am . He fought a brave battle with cancer and died peacefully at home in Maine with his wife Jean at his side. His strength, dignity, and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him."

More after the fold.

I know this is a political forum, not a musical one.  But I think every liberal/progressive/moderate and any sane Republicans left should go out and get a copy of John Fogerty's new CD, "Revival" (available Oct. 2). It's a politically significant piece of work, and here's why.

I've complained bitterly about the Daughtry concert being held in my neighborhood. And I had time of it getting in my door after work as the line was in front of it. However my apartment complex's secured parking lot affords a perfect view of the stage and is insulated from the masses of the general populace. So I take it back. The throng seems to be in a good mood. More to come below for those not interested in Rockin' an open thread. In the words of Jack Black/Dewey Finn/Mr. S "Let's Get rockin'" Simulcast at waitingforvizzini update ok a local radio station is playing the same 5 songs over and over again. LAME What? could'nt find a local indie group(s)? Where's the love?!!! update Ok now there's some kick ass little kid wailing on the drums ok Athenaeum is playing. Athenaeum is really good

New X-Patriate: More and More Like a Civil War. From the upcoming release "The Cost" (2007).

Great song and timely commentary, with music that combines world influences with the Police and Paul Simon.

Intelligent, ironic and thoughtful music and video.

The mirror effect is great! It evokes the sharp dividing line yet of the "two sides" of the civil war--as well as the "talking out of two sides of the mouth" and double talk of the political process.

Filmed entirely on location in Washington, DC. Again, Lipman wrote the music and lyrics, plays all of the instruments. And he directed the video.

Watch and Listen:

http://www.youtube.com/...

Used with permission
Copyright 2006
Alan J. Lipman/X-Patriate Music
All Rights Reserved

More:

www.myspace.com/xpatriatemusic

Rock the Vote!

       A special fundraiser for Steve Harrison
       Starring The Phoneys

       Featuring former members of Crispy Brown,
       The Jesse Malin Band and The Intruders

       8:00pm, Thursday, October 19th
       Kopperfields, 8910 5th Ave, Bay Ridge Brooklyn

Homepage: http://www.harrison06.com/...
Donate:   http://www.harrison06.com/...

Go or Call to Volunteer:
544 Bay Ridge Parkway, Brooklyn 718-836-0760
370-A Forest Avenue, Staten Island, 718-720-VOTE (8683)

...and come out for the THIRD debate (yes Republican incumbent had to agree to four debate!):

       Oct. 20 at 7:00pm
       American Legion - Kell-Grennie - Post No. 316
       2750 Amboy Road, Staten Island, New York

Rock the Vote!

       A special fundraiser for Steve Harrison
       Starring The Phoneys

       Featuring former members of Crispy Brown,
       The Jesse Malin Band and The Intruders

       8:00pm, Thursday, October 19th
       Kopperfields, 8910 5th Ave, Bay Ridge Brooklyn

Homepage: http://www.harrison06.com/...
Donate:   http://www.harrison06.com/...

The right-wing National Review Online has its list of "50 greatest conservative rock songs," so I figured I'd give a shot at the 50 greatest Progressive (as in, politically not musically "progressive") rock songs.  Here they are, in no particular order. Please suggest others.  Thanks!

1) "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" (Bruce Cockburn)
I don't believe in guarded borders and I don't believe in hate
I don't believe in generals or their stinking torture states
And when I talk with the survivors of things too sickening to relate
If I had a rocket launcher...I would retaliate

Last night I did a poll on who was the best guitarist of the new school rock bands (i.e. post-nirvana). But a lot of things didn't go quite right. For example, some people didn't understand that Eric Clapton is not a new school guitarist. I also got a huge amount of flack for not having the best list to choose from. So I've decided to re-do the poll. I've made some pretty big changes to the list as well as make the instructions much more clearer.

Conservatism's cultural arbiter National Review features an article covering the fifty best "conservative rock songs."  Now given that rock has its roots in revolution and subversion, it may suprise you that that a conservative magazine would name any tunes you'd want to listen to.

Fool me once, shame on -- shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again.  Drums and distortion guitars didn't put off John J. Miller to these classic songs.  Too bad the artists' intent got distorted once Miller got ahold of them.  (You've got to understand the nature of the regime we're dealing with.)

Join me after the opening riff as we examine The Fifty Greatest Conservative Rock Songs and why NRO got fooled again.

Remember the delightful (just 'cause it is not so important and can help remember our own good old days) kerfuful last week over the conservatives favorite rock songs:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

http://mimuspauly.blogspot.com/...

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/...

http://pandagon.net/...

...wherein it was proven that they have not sense of irony or history?

While looking for ways to misspend a warm, lazy Saturday, I ran across "Rocking the Right" a list of the top 50 "conservative rock songs" selected by John J. Miller of the National Review with the help of NR readers.

What makes a great conservative rock song? According to Miller:

The lyrics must convey a conservative idea or sentiment, such as skepticism of government or support for traditional values. And, to be sure, it must be a great rock song.

Which, of course explains why a song by the certifiably mediocre Paul Revere and the Raiders made the cut.

The National Review's list of the Top 50 Conservative Rock Songs (New York Times article) shows that they really don't get irony. [via]

It's all about the media consolidation...and because of that, this very funny animated short by Robert Smigel and the JJ Sedelmaier studio has been languishing in the NBC vaults since March 14th, 1998. The information is somewhat dated now (there has been more, not less media consolidation) but it's still really good and should be seen. Link below the fold.

I realize that topics like this are maybe a bit OT around here but hey, it's Sunday, it's U2 and it's about some progressive christianity happening out there. Especially with the definition of "christian" being so dominated by clowns like these guys these daze I think it's good to throw a little different perspective and better frame out there whenever one can....

Anyone who has ever witnessed the rock band U2 perform knows about the incredible sonic and spiritual power they can generate. Personally I think they could easily be considered the best rock band to have EVER combined those two forces... music and spirit.... so well. It's now really great to see some of the more progressive mainline traditional churches, particularly the Episcopalians starting to experiment with incorporating that spiritual power and energy of U2 into their services.