Album of the Year Nominee: The Lonely Forest, "We Sing the Body Electric"

h/t to Indie Rock Cafe for this gem of a discovery, a complicated and exciting rock record. At this stage in my odyssey of musical exploration and investment, The Lonely Forest's "We Sing the Body Electric" is a shot in the arm.

Hear the whole record here, and see if the harmonies don't pull you under.

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Douglas Rushkoff Life Inc., Dispatch VI

"If you want a really free market, then we should be able to have not just one government-mandated currency."

Life Inc. Dispatch 06: Why Corporations Hate the Free Market from Douglas Rushkoff on Vimeo.

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Douglas Rushkoff Life Inc., Dispatch V

"Even the spiritual people among us talk about 'self actualization' as if that's the highest thing a person can attain."

"If people are cooperating and collaborating, it's not good for the economy. People who are sharing stuff buy less stuff. If people buy less stuff, that's bad for the GNP."

Life Inc. Dispatch 05: Markets Love Selfish People from Douglas Rushkoff on Vimeo.

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Album of the Year Nominee: The Low Anthem, "Oh My God, Charlie Darwin"

This is a new discovery for me, a Brown University-educated folk outfit that moves effortlessly between dulcet and demonstrative (take that, Ivy League!).

First, the dulcet:

To Ohio - The Low Anthem

And then the demonstrative:

Champion Angel - The Low Anthe...

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Douglas Rushkoff on WNYC with Brian Lehrer

This is apropo, because one of the founding anecdotes of Life, Inc. is Rushkoff's mugging in 2007. When he started getting pushback for talking about it from his neighbors concerned about their property values, he went on Lehrer's show.

Here's that interview, from January of 2007.

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Douglas Rushkoff Life Inc., Dispatch IV

Life Inc. Dispatch 04: It's Just Little Brown People Over There, Somewhere from Douglas Rushkoff on Vimeo.

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IdolCritics: Follow Up

Iraheta has a record deal. With 19 Entertainment. Just like Kris Allen. And Adam Lambert. And David Archuleta. And Jordin Sparks.

Iraheta grew to be my favorite this season, and the pop music recording landscape will be better for her company. But my expectations are modest; it is, after all, 19.

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