10
Oct
2007
Protectionists
claim that free trade is bad for America - that increasing imports
of goods means increasing exports of jobs, thereby gutting our
economy. This notion could only be valid in a zero-sum world with a
fixed number of jobs, where one country's gain would be another's
loss; in fact, though, the number of jobs, both at home and abroad,
is locked into a clear uptrend. New businesses and industries
continually emerge in the never-ending attempt to satisfy humankind's
insatiable wants. We can never run out of jobs.
It's a woman's world in two upcoming CD tribute projects that benefit breast-cancer support and awareness. Later this month New Jersey's Face Down Records will release About a Girl, collecting cover contributions from Philadelphia-area artists taking aim at songs with a woman's name in the title. AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" is found within, covered by Beretta 76, as is the Jukebox Zeroes' spin on The Sonics' "Cinderella" and the Creeping Weeds' hand at Arthur Alexander's "Anna." With proceeds benefiting the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the disc also includes covers of Elvis Costello's "Allison," Weezer's "Suzanne," The Kinks' "Victoria," and the AM-radio nugget by The Looking Glass, "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)."
On
its new album, Silver Storms,
the Philadelphia-based quintet The A-Sides has crafted a striking mix
of ephemeral, elusive pop in the vein of The Shins; meaty,
arena-ready guitar parts; half-speed songs with patient crescendos;
upbeat power pop; and surprising accelerations.
The
newspaper headlines were just what Governor Rod Blagojevich wanted
last week.
Red
Hunter thinks he's pretty good at the music business, which is why
he's doing it all wrong.
Among
the 365 songs written, recorded, and released by Paleo over 365
consecutive days, "This Is the Life" is David Strackany's
favorite. "It resonates with me on a personal level more than the
other songs," he said. "That song seems to speak to me as if it
was written for me."
