I posted a book review for the site a couple days ago, mentioning how it's tough when people ask you about a book to read...or for that matter band to listen to or movie to watch. These are such personal things, I really have a hard time giving

There's been a lot of talk about this next band and their lead singer... maybe too much talk. This next band isn't just a group of social activists; they're the greatest rock band in the world (aka U2). If those last two sentences confused you, you need to pick up U2's disc "Under a Blood Red Sky" and listen to the live version of Sunday Bloody Sunday.

Last week's post had a lot of words, maybe too many words. So today I'm limiting the words and just linking to a few images and sounds.

On July 7, Live Earth will brodcast The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis from all 7 continents. Get it? 7/7/07 on 7 continents. So if you're in New York, you could see Kanye West and Fall Out Boy among others. If you happen to be in Sydney you could catch Wolfmother and Jack Johnson. If you can't make it in person (London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janerio, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Hamburg are the other venues. The Antarctica location hasn't been advertised just yet.) you can watch the whole deal streaming live at at MSN . So, what to make of Live Earth? Should we be excited or cynical?

OK, stick with me on this one. This week I bumped into this simple little music video for M. Ward's Chinese Translation from the 2006 Post-War album. This video reminded me of the video for Duke Special's Freewheel off of Songs from the Deep Forest, also released in 2006. Why did the video from the guy from Portland remind me of the video of the guy from Belfast? I'm telling you, stick with me on this one.

 

Finally picked up The Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America and I'm mostly sure it will be my summertime-driving-with-the windows-down record of choice. This album is made to be played loud. Pitchfork locates the latest from this Twin City band somewhere between Born to Run and Back in Black. Seems about right.

Living a stone's throw from Chicago makes it easy to hear a lot of great live music. All kinds of live music. Over the past month I watched a raucous Decemberists show at the Riviera and an Arcade Fire show at the Chicago Theatre that left me buzzing for a couple of days. Later this summer I hope to be surprised by some bands I've never heard of at the Pitchfork Music Festival . On Saturday I drove into the city to hear some live music of a different variety.

I’m From Barcelona sings We’re From Barcelona with all of their friends. Can you tell someone is from Sweden by their haircut/style? Before you answer, watch the video…