Madison’s protests meet Women’s History Month, but how could I resist Paul Robeson’s version of “Joe Hill”, too? Damn: that one gives me shivers.

Still, folk singers of two generations: : Joan Baez’s “Joe Hill” was a huge deal at Woodstock, and Michelle Shocked performed at the Madison protests a couple of weekends ago. Here’s her “Quality of Mercy” (and you can read the lyrics here).

Honestly, I almost choked when I saw the images of Joe Hill at the first rally I went to; seeing his image was like going backwards & forwards in time at the same time.

It IS Women’s History Month, so we’ll be hearing only from the ladies this month. That said, I’m not sure Ms. Faithfull would want to be called a lady, either.

Still, “Working Class Hero” is a classic (and hereby dedicated to the ongoing protests in Madison). It’s been covered by Green Day, too.

And then there’s “Why’d Ya Do It?” which is probably the angriest song ever: “why’d you betray my little oyster for such a low bid” is one of the nastiest, most poetic accusations ever put to music.

Yikes. Barbed Wire Pussy, indeed.

Uh oh. New Devotchka!

& Here’s some old Devotchka, if you missed them somehow.

In honor of his new one, People’s Keys (which you can hear over at NPR), here’s two tracks by Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst both quiet & loud:

Wow do I hate their name, but I heard this “wicked” track on the radio the other day & thought they had an interesting thing going on. I can’t make up my mind where it’s coming from: I alternately think of Aerosmith, early Beck, the Pistols (there’s some John Lydon in his voice) & Nirvana.

Hugely derivative, yet still entertaining.

I’m loving this list of NPR listener-chosen albums of 2010, and even more the tracks off those albums. And while I can’t help but laugh when I hear Cee Lo Green’s “Fuck You” – ain’t that some shit? – my heart (and feet) go to Janelle Monae who is just fucking fantastic in her black & whites, tuxedos, & pompadour:

“Tightrope” is, hands down, my favorite song to dance around my apt to (not that I ever do that).

AND, because I live in this neck of the woods now, here is a list of the best albums to come out of Milwaukee this year. Kings Go Forth are like Philly soul all over again (though I haven’t seen them live yet), and I suspect Eric & Magill will hit bigger than they have so far. Fans of Rasputina / Dresden Dolls / Squirrel Nut Zippers absolutely need to check out Scarring Party.

I got to hear her newest track “Madame Trudeaux” over at NPR, & it’s so lovely, like old school glam. Suzi Quatro would be proud.

Two gender-y tracks from Joe Jackson.

I got to see & hear Luciana Souza this past Friday night at Lawrence, and she really blew me away. Like most gringas, my intro to this kind of music was “The Girl from Ipanema” — I’ve got a few versions of it, including that lovely disco one that was on Red Hot + Rio a million years ago — but I’d forgotten how sensual and melancholy a samba can be.

There’s very little good available on either YouTube or Playlist.com of hers, so instead I’ve put up this promo clip from her most recent CD:

And here’s a link to some samples from the CD. Since I can’t stand translated music – I’d rather have no idea what the lyrics are about, or read them – so I’d recommend checking out the “Adeus America & Eu Quero Un Samba.” & here’s Amazon’s mp3 samples, for more.

Hey, it’s Halloween week: a grrrl’s got to let her goth out sometimes.

Groovy, no?
Nice to hear the echoes of T.Rex in the Smith Westerns’ track.