Seeing as I am kind of obsessed with podcasts and subscribe to a ridiculous amount, I had a lot to listen to, from a fun and fascinating podcast  about the Muppets, to a live music session with the Cold War Kids, to an interview with Rosanne Cash done by NPR’s Terry Gross.   They were  all really fun and entertaining, but it was the Rosanne Cash interview that really stood out among the pack.  At the time of the interview, Rosanne had recently released her newest album, The List.  This record is a collection of cover songs that she selected and recorded from a list that her father, the legendary Johnny Cash, had given to her when she was just 18.  He recognized that his daughter was missing out on a good majority of the music that had influenced him, so he made a list of the ’100 essential country songs’ and gave it to her as a both a gift and a bit of a homework assignment.  What an incredible gift.

The rest of the afternoon,I found myself of how much I would have loved to receive a gift like that and how excited I am be able to pass on a list like that to my own children someday. Then I started thinking through what my list would be called and what songs I would put on it.  But then I thought back to a question that Gross had asked during the interview.  Terry pointed out the fact that the past several years had been rough on Rosanne, with the death of both of her parents and her stepmother June Carter and then she lost her voice for three years then to top it all off had to go through brain surgery.  “It’s been a rough period. And when people go through a rough time, I mean some people turn to religion, some people turn to drugs or alcohol, some people have nothing to turn to, some people are lost, some people find this inner strength…there were times in your father’s life when he turned to drugs or pills and, but through all his life, I think he had a sense of Jesus in his life….So what about you? (What) have you had that has kept you through all this?” To which Rosanne responds “I adhere to the religion of art and music and small children.”

Yeah it’s pretty awesome that Johnny was able to have such a great musical influence on his daughter.  The List is an incredible album.  I highly recommend it. Her cover of Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country” is incredible and the duet she does with Springsteen on “Sea of Heartbreak” is breathtaking.   But unfortunately it won’t last.  As wonderful and powerful as music is, if she keeps looking to it alone for healing and comfort, she will eventually be let down.  I am still thrilled about that day that I get to pour hours into making the perfect Beach Boys mixtape for little boy or little girl to listen to while they go to bed.  But I am even more excited about the opportunity to spend every day sharing with my kids the love that Jesus has given to me.  And it is my hope that  rather than getting focused on grooming my child’s musical tastes that I will be able to pass on something much greater. So what kind of an impact are you going to have on your children?  And are you being intentional with what you pass on to them?

It’s plastic synthesizers, neon pinks and greens and all things huge and tasteless. The decade of decadence is governing our culture, music especially, selling nostalgia to the middle-aged and novelty to their children.

The death of Michael Jackson, no doubt the most affecting music story of the year, has created an outpour of covers, tributes and endless video montages, not to mention an ungodly number of CD sales. But while the King of Pop’s death may have supplemented the resurgence of the 1980s, the era’s influence reappeared long before June 25.

Observe two of pop’s biggest stars of the moment: Kanye West and Lady GaGa. With his shutter shades and self-professed Star status, West is the figurehead of the revival. Lady GaGa’s career thus far has been aping that of Madonna’s, though, like West, she’s found success in the rhythms and pastel synths of the 1980s.

But the era’s influence on the world of pop is not so recent, as 80s stars have laid claim to concert ticket sales for the latter half of the decade. Before last year was half over, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and Van Halen had grossed $133.9 million in concert tours alone, according to Pollstar.

Barbra Streisand struck concert gold in 2006 and Tina Turner, another 80s icon, grossed $83.5 million from January through July of 2009. Bands from The Police to U2 (well, obviously) recently enjoyed a lucrative reunion tour, according to the trade magazine.

Consumers continue to pour out money for concert tickets to win back a piece of their romanticized youth, to relive corners of their lives that have long been darkened. But it’s bigger than that.

At the moment, the U.S. is on the brink: of forfeiting our decadent way of life, of joining the ranks of the unemployed, of losing ourselves in political correctness. Everything is exaggerated and merged. As in the 1980s, huge change is coming quickly and, as in the 1980s, pop is filled with big, loud character.

Perhaps artists like West and GaGa aren’t as proactive as they think they are, since they’re essentially reacting to the world around them. They aren’t producing culture as much as transmitting it. The message here is underscored by its means of delivery: LOUD is back.

Apparently Johnny noticed that his daughter had become obsessed with The Beatles and Southern California rock and pop music, and felt that she didn’t have a proper knowledge or understanding of country music.  So he gave her a list of “100 Essential Country Songs”  and told her as a part of her education she needed to learn them.  Fortunately for us, the list stuck with her and made an impact, and now she is sharing a piece of that list with us through this great album.

Don’t be mistaken, just because this songs she is covering on this album are country songs doesn’t necessarily mean that The List should be categorized as in the genre of country.   These songs really are that great and I feel like in the same way that they are able to transcend time, they are able to transcend genre.   Not to mention, Cash has four stellar guest performers on this album, none of which are country artists (Rufus Wainwright, Bruce Springsteen, Jeff Tweedy, and Elvis Costello).  You can listen to one of the tracks off of the new album here.

The List (Oct. 6th)

1. Miss the Mississippi and You
2. Motherless Children
3. Sea of Heartbreak (w/ Bruce Springsteen)
4. Take These Chains From My Heart
5. I’m Movin’ On
6. She’s Got You
7. Heartaches by the Number (w/ Elvis Costello)
8. 500 Miles
9. Long Black Veil (w/ Jeff Tweedy)
10. Silver Wings (w/ Rufus Wainwright)
11. Girl From the North Country
12. Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow

Lies for Dark Times – 5/?

For those of you who haven’t heard, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals have parted ways for now and he has started a new band that he is calling Relentless7.  Ben says it is a name that he has been tossing around in his mind for a while now and has just been waiting for the chance to attach it to a group of musicians.  The new album White Lies for Dark Times is due out in May on Virgin Records.  The new outfit features Harper playing slide guitar and backed by guitarist Jason Mozersky, drummer Jordan Richardson and bassist Jesse Ingalls, the latter two of the Los Angeles band Oliver Future.  These guys first recorded with Harper on the track “Serve Your Soul,” off of the 2006 double-disc album, Both Sides of the Gun.  If you head on over to their myspace page, you can hear the album version of that song along with a rockin’ cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” and a surprisingly great rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”  I am thinking this might be a good change for Harper.

Oliver Future – The Reclamation

15.  Bruce Springsteen

Working On A Dream – 1/27

This is a big year for the Boss.  Not only did he just win a Golden Globe for Best Original Song with his song “The Wrestler” that he wrote for the film of the same name,  but he is releasing his 15th studio album later this month and is then playing the half-time show for the most viewed sporting event of the year just five days later.  Which by the way, it is stinkin’ awesome that for several years in a row now they have actually chosen artists with some talent to perform the half-time show.  I haven’t had the chance to preview the whole album, but the few tracks I have heard are pretty great.  I mean it’s one thing for an artist to have a year like this, but to turn sixty during the same year is quite an accomplishment.  He is just proving to us that he is and always will be worthy of being referred to as “The Boss.”

Bruce Springsteen – The Wrestler

Here is the official video for the 2nd track off of Working on a Dream, “My Lucky Day.” Head over here to pre-order the album.

14.  A.C. Newman

Get Guilty – 1/20

The front man for one of my favorite indie pop acts, The New Pornographers, A.C. Newman releases his second solo effort today.  Their last several albums have each just blown me away.  Newman has written some of the best pop songs of 21st century.  If it weren’t for Sufjan Stevens, “Sing Me Spanish Techno” probably would’ve been my favorite track of 2005, it might still be (the jury is still out).  And the more I listen to Challengers, the more I love it.  This is all to say that I am excited to hear what Newman has for us yet.  Now I can’t image that it will be as good without Neko and the rest of the band backing him, but it will still be good.  Listen and see that I’m right.

A.C. Newman – Submarines of Stockholm

A.C. Newman – There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve

13.  Morrissey

Years of Refusal – 2/16

Not much info is out right now regarding the new Morrissey album. I have this bizarre cover art and I know that the oddly titled Years of Refusal is out 2/16 via Lost Highway.  And I’ve managed to scrounge up a few tracks that are all fairly enjoyable.  And then most of you have probably heard “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” for it can be found streaming on several web-sites including Stereogum.  Now I really like this cheerfully depressing tune upon first listen.  But then the video almost ruined it for me.  I mean seriously? What is up with all the cheesy parading around the room?  And the tambourine catch?  And why are there little dogs walking through the screen at random moments. Maybe I am being unrealistic in what I expect from Morrissey, you tell me.  Regardless, I think I’ve given you plenty of reason to look forward to this album.

Morrissey – Something Is Squeezing My Skull

Morrissey – Mama Lay Softly On the Riverbed

Most Anticipated Albums of 2009 – Part 1