something good on the radio!

Last week the Paste blog gave me the heads up that Wilco was playing on the live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion. Yep it's true, Garrison Keillor and crew are still broadcasting from Saint Paul, Minnesota with their old-timey live radio show, complete with the chronicles of Guy Noir private eye, the news from Lake Wobegone, silly commercials read by the host, and all the goofs and stumbles of doing it all live. You can check out the list of local stations that broadcast the show or stream it online from the website, saturdays at 5pm Central.
Wilco was good, but they played all new stuff which i haven't really gotton into yet. The bluegrass/country singer Patty Loveless was on the show too. She was great and did a Don Williams tune with some lines i particularly enjoyed:

Hand fulls of dust, hand fulls of dust
Sums up the richest and poorest of us
True love makes priceless the worthless
Whenever its added to a hand full of dust

Throughout the show, from music to comedy, they kept bringing the little jabs of truth to keep you thinking. And it's all wrapped up in a nearly forgotten art from- the live radio show. Tune in next week for special guest Neko Case!

don't miss the boat...like it did

So i know i'm getting to this a little late, but my listing is largely consumed by the Jon Foreman seasons EPs right now. If you didn't know, the Switchfoot singer made a 6 song EP for each of the 4 seasons. I knew they were out there but until recently had only heard a couple tracks, and since they didn't come to emusic (basically my only music source this year) i hadn't picked them up. Anyway, they're fanTAStic! Really fantastic. If you don't have them already, go get them! they're all on itunes. it's easy. Now, you may be thinking, 'marc, 4 EPs is kind of a big commitment...' But it's ok. just buy Fall today and after you see how marvelous it is you can pick up the others as their seasons come...if you can wait that long!
On Fall The songwriting is brisk, smart, and stirring. The instrumentation is driven by a beautiful, natural, clear, acoustic guitar; with lots of chamber orchestra sounds giving the mixes body. The percussion is simple and unique, driving where needed without being overbearing.
Each EP is equally good, and each fits its title season faithfully. They're magic. Go buy them.