Filibustering Until the Muckrakers Carpetbag

In this time of heightened political tensions, and economic uncertainty we must hold tight with our favorite tunes, and maybe now consider the haircut as an artform. The high-top fade as cubist expression, the mullet as surrealism, the bob art deco. Will knowing the origins of creation be able to help our future? As the world toils over fossil fuels we squander life's greatest, most important commodity. Clean Water.

Grant St. Convention Albums:

1. The Late Great Daniel Johnston/ Smotherd & Covered: If you have not seen the documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnston", it is a really insightful look into the DIY ethic, and psychosis. His tapes are OOP, but here you get some of his best tracks, and a disc of covers by such notables as TV on the Radio, Beck, and Tom Waits.

2. Buddy & Julie Miller/ Buddy & Julie Miller: Nice tight husband/ wife roots rock. Interwoven through some terrific originals are Utah Phillips, Bob Dylan, and Richard Thompson covers.

3. King Crimson/ 40th Anniversary Tour Box: A collector's disc with the storied "King Crimson Big Band" performing 21st Century Schizoid Man. (Supposedly all the members of K.C. playingg all at the same time. Almost.) Some classic promo material, and a few choice improvs from'83 & '74. I was lucky enough to score this at the, show in Times Square, NY (8.16.08). Amazing.

4. Fripp & Eno/ Equatorial Stars: Scored this at the show as well. Robert Fripp's picking of wonderful melodies wrapped in Brian Eno's atomosheric architecture. This albume lulls you in, then picks up the tempo for the bottom half.

5. Leftover Salmon/ Live: Nobody, and I mean noboby can rip up a John Hartford tune like these guys. In this live disc Steam Powered Aeroplane gets the essential oils. In all, a gripping set of floppin' on the dock Salmon . Good enough to get any fire stokin'.