Folksy Canadiana for Obama

In anticipation of my visit to Washington DC for next week's Presidential Inauguration, I've put together a little folksy soundtrack of Canadiana for the incoming President to the south.

1)The Band - Acadian Driftwood
-a little history lesson from the greatest band to ever exist
2)Ian & Sylvia - Four Strong Winds
-according to CBC Radio, the greatest Canadian pop song, also one of my favorites.
3)Hank Snow - I'm Movin' On
-Canadians bucking the American style, Canada's own singing ranger
4)The Sadies - Eastern Winds (feat. The Good Family)
-www.thesadies.net (just check these guys out)
5)Redgrass - The Flag Son (feat. Jody Kramer)
-A north west lament using south east style
6)The Creaking Tree String Quartet - Mer & Sadie
-something to help the prez relax at the end of the day. www.creakingtree.com (check it out)
7)The Be Good Tanyas - Rowdy Blues
-Vancouver's own will mellow you down
8)Tamara Nile - Rusty Door Blues
-emerging artist for emerging president (www.tamaranile.com)
9)Harry Manx - Shame Shame Shame
-multiculturalism through music
10)Neil Young - Journey Through the Past
-our own bob dylan, but a better performer.
11)Sam Roberts - The Canadian Dream
-Socialism.....not always a bad thing
12)William Shatner - Common People
-the Shat will help test your dedication to the common people.

dig it.

check out CBC's Obama Playlist and vote (http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/obamasplaylist/)

also, if anyone knows of any Washington DC bands or venues I need to check out let me know.

vinyl makes a comeback or an ode to vinyl records

so apparently vinyl is back in again (http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Vinyl+record+sales+double+2008/1143511/story.html)? having dug out my parents late 70's JVC belt driven turntable as well as a few choice records (The Doors, Willie Nelson, etc) a mere five years ago, I can hardly consider myself old school; however I am both heartened and disheartened by this apparent trend. on the one hand, its nice that vinyl records are re-developing as a medium of disseminating music. their superior sound quality, required stationary set up and tangible but not cheap-feeling nature make them a more involved musical experience. however, increased demand will also equate to a rise in prices for bin hunters such as myself and many of those around me. furthermore, it is not always the record itself that produces the listening experience. of course the music coming into your ears is the motivating force, but a highly polished and digitized recording with sound the same of vinyl as it will on mp3. the depth of feeling created by the expanded range of sound is what one should look at. not only that, but I believe that one can never underestimate the importance of the hiss, crack and pop produced by older (and often analogue recorded) records. this helps to create the experience, lending a nostalgic air to the music, even if its a false or created nostalgia. as always with music it comes down to everyone's own personal flavour, but in my experience some of the most comfortable silences amongst friends are spent mesmerized around a glowing amplifier listening of the fizzle and hiss of a dusty old side. long live vinyl records.