Guest post: Chris from North Carolina, redux

In August, I wrote about the fabulous reader Chris from NC who took the time to send me five mix CDs and liner notes, and I posted some of the tracks off the first rock-themed collection.

There were four more discs full of goodness that were left shivering outside the blog love, so I wanted to move on to the next offering for your distinct enjoyment.

On this Friday afternoon, I'll share a little mini-mix of five excellent selections from mix disc #2, along with his comments, on today's guest blog. Let me repeat how much I enjoy hearing songs through other people's ears, filtered through their own experience. Dig these fresh tunes:


DO NOT MIX WITH ALCOHOL:
Lots of humble opinions, sad songs, and covers

We Will Become Silhouettes - The Shins
Love the Postal Service, but this one's better

Brilliant Disguise - Elvis Costello
Not so much a fan of Bruce's version, but I love the lyrics and EC's delivery. In easily the most surreal conversation of my life, Westerberg once told me you can call him E, but never Declan (his real name). You've been warned.

I Figured You Out - Mary Lou Lord
An Elliott Smith song that I could never find him doing. I think I really like this song in no small part because I can hear him singing it in my head.

Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Saint Etienne
Imaginative re-working of the old Neil Young song

More Than I Can Do - Steve Earle
Stalker song sometimes mistaken for a love song, along the lines of "Every Breath You Take." Only less played out.

Springsteen tribute show planned at Carnegie Hall

Bruce Springsteen is set to get the tribute treatment from the musical community on April 5 at Carnegie Hall in New York. If you were lucky enough to click on the ticket sale website on January 31, then you may have already snagged yourself a pair of tickets (in what concert producer Michael Dorf is calling a "premature leak." Those are always a bit embarassing). Tickets legitimately went on sale Monday (and seem to be sold out) with the proceeds benefitting the Music For Youth program, as with previous tributes to Dylan & Joni Mitchell.

The benefit show will feature appearances from Badly Drawn Boy, Pete Yorn, Steve Earle, Chris Isaak and Josh Ritter, among others. I can't find any recordings of Isaak ever covering Springsteen (some fan correct me if I am wrong), and same for Ritter (although there is plenty of press likening him to Springsteen's songwriting). But here's some hints of what the night may sound like . . .

Thunder Road - Badly Drawn Boy

Dancing In The Dark --> Murray (live) - Pete Yorn

State Trooper (live) - Steve Earle


And if I may, how awesome would it be to see these humble suggestions added to the lineup?

Hungry Heart - Jesse Malin

For You - The Format

No Surrender (live 9/30/05) - Eddie Vedder
(yeah, I've posted this before, but it's one of my absolute favorites)