Is Music All About Sex? What Do You Think?

A somewhat intriguing article about music showed up in an odd place this past week: The Economist magazine. What do you think? Is music's evolutionary purpose all about sex, including signaling reproductive fitness? Maybe I'm biased, because the man I chose to spend my life with has many talents, of which none involve musical prowess. I think the social bonding and emotional mirroring/regulatory benefits of music (and dancing) are the more essential functionality.

If You Need Another Holiday Gift...

for just about anyone... I *highly* recommend the new dual disc live recording of Buena Vista Social Club's legendary 1998 Carnegie Hall performance. Here's a preview:

Passion Pit

It's a happy bop bop day! Have you heard of Passion Pit yet? I'm a bit late on the trigger lately as we all know, but I just learned of Passion Pit from The Fader, and I'm really digging them. This music - along with Los Campesinos! who I am going to see Feb. 14 at the Bowery Ballroom (yay!) - has my blood moving despite the frigidness going on out there.

p.s. you can download the song in the video here for free.

Asher Roth

Yep, he sounds a lot like the other white rapper. And as a self-respecting female, I can't endorse many of the photos on his myspace page. Still, he's got something. Apparently Akon agrees.



p.s. Thanks to Herman for the inadvertent tip on Facebook!

Happy 40th Anniversary of the White Album

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2008/11/17/segments/115738

Why does John Schaefer keep calling it a mess? Blasphemy!

P.S. McCain Is Not a Bad Guy

I've never thought he was a bad guy. He's an American hero for sure, and I believe he deeply cares about our country. I don't agree with his policies or his choice for VP. Still, Senator John McCain is a good guy. This class act concession speech is a testament to that.

Yes We Did!

I don't think I've ever been more proud to be an American.

I know the hard work truly begins after Obama's inauguration, but I DO believe. I do have hope for a better day. We're seeing the start of it. We DID elect our President not based on the color of his skin, but on the content of his character. And we CAN work together - across all kinds of divides - to pull our country through these most challenging times and make this, yes, a more perfect union.

This speech is brilliant; this man and this new administration have so much potential. I'm committed to doing my part to help them help us move this country forward. YES, we can!



Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come, 1964

It's been a long long time coming, but I know
A change is gonna come, oh yes it will


Barack Obama, Grant Park, Chicago, 2008

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.