<p><img width="170" height="255" align="right" alt="" class="right-img" src="/uploads/billybragg.jpg" />Marrying the folksy populism of Woody Guthrie and early Dylan with the righteous indignation of The Clash, <a href="http://www.billybragg.co.uk">Billy Bragg</a> has been writing and recording songs championing underdogs of various sorts for thirty years now. In the two and a half decades since his debut EP, <em>Life's a Riot with Spy vs. Spy</em>, Bragg has recorded with everyone from <a href="http://www.jmarr.com">Johnny Marr</a> to <a href="http://www.wilcoweb.com">Wilco</a> to <a href="http://www.lessthanjake.com">Less Than Jake</a>, consistently producing music that prods and provokes while it entertains. <em>Mr. Love & Justice</em>, his first release of new material in six years and first for the <a href="http://www.anti.com">Anti</a> label, is set for release on Tuesday, and in many ways the subjects it tackles provide a microcosm of his career catalog, with songs like "O' Freedom," and "Sing Their Souls Back Home," covering the Justice side of things, while "You Make Me Brave," and "If You Ever Leave," take care of the Love. In short, it's Bragg as he's always been, covering human relationships inside and out of the political world.</p>
<p><img width="178" height="242" align="left" alt="" class="left-img" src="/uploads/raconteurs.jpg" />Much to take in this week in the area, including <a href="http://www.theraconteurs.com">The Raconteurs</a> at the Wonder Ballroom on Tuesday night. Fresh off the from-out-of-nowhere release of the classic rock-idolizing <em>Consolers of the Lonely</em>, Jack White, Brendan Benson and Co. return to Portland no doubt buoyed by the positive reception it's received. Let's just hope White doesn't fall prey to that dreaded <em>Rolling Stone</em> cover curse since he's on the <a href="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/0/1/7/9/19969710.jpg">current one</a> alongside Mick and Keef (unless, of course, I'm getting it mixed up with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Illustrated_Cover_Jinx">some other magazine</a> that has about as much to do with music).</p>
<p>Also this week, performances from <a href="http://www.caribou.fm">Caribou</a> (Monday, Doug Fir), <a href="http://www.myspace.com/mgmt ">MGMT</a> (Tuesday, Doug Fir), <a href="http://www.hotchip.co.uk">Hot Chip</a> (Wednesday, Crystal Ballroom), <a href="http://www.myspace.com/cmonmirah">Mirah</a> with <a href="http://www.danbertnobacon.com">Danbert Nobacon</a> and <a href="http://www.lorigoldston.com/spectratone.htm">Spectratone International</a> (Wednesday, Mission Theater), <a href="http://www.daviddondero.net">David Dondero</a> (Thursday, Holocene and Friday, Iovino's in Corvallis), <a href="http://www.minus5.com">The Minus 5</a> with <a href="http://www.thedimes.com">The Dimes</a> and the <a href="http://www.theheavenlystates.com">Heavenly States</a> (Friday, Doug Fir), and more; plus new releases out from <a href="http://www.annaternheim.com">Anna Ternheim</a> (<em>Halfway to Five Points</em>), <a href="http://www.thecatempire.com ">The Cat Empire</a> (<em>So Many Nights</em>), <a href="http://www.myspace.com/conchords">Flight of the Conchords</a> (<em>s/t</em>), <a href="http://www.krisdelmhorst.com">Kris Delmhorst </a>(<em>Shotgun Singer</em>), and more. The thread is open-- what's on your minds?</p>
<p><strong>opbmusic in-studio sessions</strong>: <a href="http://www.opbmusic.org/performances/4--David-Dondero">David Dondero</a>::::::<a href="http://www.opbmusic.org/performances/36-The-Dimes">The Dimes</a></p>
<p><strong>MP3</strong>: Danbert Nobacon with the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, from <em>Library Book of the World</em>- <a href="http://www.chimehosting.com/bsr/danbertnobacon/private/file_xfer/LibraryBook/02StraightTalk%28MeetFrank%29.mp3">"Straight Talk (Meet Frank)"</a></p>
<p><strong>MP3</strong>: Anna Ternheim, from <em>Halfway to Five Points</em>- <a href="http://www.toolshed-media.com/ts/anna-ternheim-to-be-gone.mp3">"To Be Gone"</a></p>
<p><strong>MP3</strong>: The Heavenly States, from <em>Delayer</em>- <a href="http://www.theheavenlystates.com/delayer/audio/The_Race.mp3">"The Race"</a></p>
<p><strong>MP3</strong>: Flight of the Conchords, from <em>Flight of the Conchords</em>- <a href="http://www.subpop.com/assets/audio/4216.mp3">"Ladies of the World"</a></p>
<p><strong>MP3</strong>: MGMT, from <em>Time to Pretend</em>- <a href="http://www.yukonpromotions.com/mp3/MGMT_Time%20To%20Pretend%20EP_03_Destrokk.mp3">"Destrokk"</a></p>
<p> </p>
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2008-05-04T14:11:00-07:00
2008-04-20T13:38:28-07:00
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2008-04-20T14:11:23-07:00
Billy Bragg's new one drops this week, plus performances in the area from The Raconteurs, Hot Chip, Mirah, David Dondero, and more. Join the conversation...
Something to Bragg About
2008-11-12T17:32:12-08:00
2