Freedom Rock

Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac is online every Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET to talk about the latest on the music scene: hip-hop, pop, alternative, country, alt-country, rock, reggae, reggaeton, R and B and whatever it is that Kevin Federline does.

The transcript follows.

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J. Freedom du Lac: Freedom-Rocking around the Christmas tree

At the LiveOnline party hop

Tool posters hung where you can see

Stereo blasting "Show Me What You Got."

Freedom-Rocking around the old oak tree

Let the guitar solo ring

Later we'll spin Justin with T.I.

And we'll do the usual arguing.

You will get a Delightful

feeling when you hear

Voices singing SVB

Deck the halls with boughs of Gnarls Barkley.

Freedom-Rocking around the Festivus tree

Have a happy holiday

Everyone moshing merrily

To Nickleback's "Far Away."

So, what's up? I submitted my Idolator Jackin' Pop ballot yesterday, but I've already changed my Top 10 singles rankings. Of course I did: Fickle's just another word for nothing left to lose.

Speaking of singles, Chris Richards will be hosting a live chat on Wednesday, Jan. 3, to discuss his year-end Singles File megamix. I plan on heckling him mercilessly. You should, as well. Especially since the albums side of his Idolator ballot had the exotic robotic Cassie at No. 1. He crazy.

Fire away.

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Washington, D.C.: Hey J. - Let's give a belated (yesterday) 63rd birthday shout out to the Great Man, the Human Riff, Rock'n'Roll personified- Keith Richards. Everybody grab your controlled substance of choice and raise a toast. Happy Birthday Keef!!

J. Freedom du Lac: You know, you could actually put together a crazy little band with folks celebrating their birthdays this week: Billy Bragg could write the songs. Eddie Vedder could sing them, with Maurice and Robin Gibb handling the harmony vocals. Christina Aguilera could come on in relief to hit the tea-kettle high notes. DMX could bark his way through 16 bars for the requiste rap cameo. Keef and Alvin Lee and the dude from Yellowcard could play guitar. Mike Mills on bass, Peter Criss on drums, and JoJo on lip-sync duties for the MTV video. Instant classic!

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North Pole: J Freedom: What's on your wish list this year for Christmas, Chanukah, Winter Solstice or whatever you celebrate???

J. Freedom du Lac: That Joni Mitchell would call me back already. It's coming on Christmas, and my deadine is approaching. Come on, Joni - stop ducking me!

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20036: It's almost 2007, when will we no longer hear Three Doors Down? And, how did they last this long?

J. Freedom du Lac: Could happen soon, but you're stuck with Hinder for a while, I'm afraid. And brace yourself, cuz Nickleback is tentatively scheduled to release a new album next year.

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Severna Park, Md.: I thought Maurice Gibb was killed by the institutional incompetence of our American Medical Establishment. That's why Barry had to go buy Johnny Cash's house to teach us all a lesson.

J. Freedom du Lac: Oh, right - I got confused by the Justin Timberlake-Jimmy Fallon skit on SNL. In which they played a couple of the brothers Gibb.

Though it had *nothing* on this late entry in the song-of-the-year sweepstakes: http://video.nbc.com/player.html?dlid=51289

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Washington, D.C.:"Washington Post music critic J. Freedom du Lac is online every Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET to talk about the latest on the music scene: hip-hop, pop, alternative, country, alt-country, rock, reggae, reggaeton, R and B and whatever it is that Kevin Federline does."

When are you going to get rid of this intro blurb? Do you think it's funny or something?

J. Freedom du Lac: Producer David was going to dump it at the end of the year. But since it's clearly struck a nerve, I think we'll keep it for the time being. You're welcome to ply PD with plain turkey sandwiches, beer, cigarettes and rare Pavement 7-inches (not necessarily in that order); but I'm telling you, the guy can not be bribed.

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J. Freedom du Lac: So, I was just asked by ABC.com to name my pick for the Most Annoying Song of 2006. I thought about the completely inane "London Bridge." But ultimately, I had to cast my ballot for James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" for reasons previously discussed In This Very Chat. Curious to hear what you would've picked. Advance warning: If you say Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," I'm banning you for the rest of the year.

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Arizona Bay, Ariz.:"J. Freedom du Lac: That Joni Mitchell would call me back already. It's coming on Christmas, and my deadine is approaching. Come on, Joni - stop ducking me! "

You know who's a fan of Joni Mitchell? That's right, one Maynard James Keenan

Also, speaking of Hinder did you see that Rolling Stone piece on them where they basically blew off Nirvana and called them "boring"? My question is, if Nirvana is "boring", than what does that make Hinder?

J. Freedom du Lac: And Manyard also likes wine. Maybe I'll send him a Festivus card, after all.

As for Hinder, here's everything you need to know about those doofuses: Their publicist sent out an email with their Christmas Wish Lists -- you know, in case some poor editor is desperate for holiday copy or whatever -- and, well, here...

Austin Winkler, vocalist, Hinder: 59' Chevy Impala, New Record Player, My own Studio, R.B.I Baseball on the original Nintendo, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation on DVD, and to see....Rocky Balboa as well! And.......however you spell... Keira Knightley

Cody Hanson, drummer, Hinder: I want at least quadruple platinum album and two chicks at the same time.

Mike Rodden, bass, Hinder: 1- a threesome with Jessica Alba and Ashley Simpson, 2- an English Bulldog 3- a BMW M3.

Mark King, guitar, Hinder: I want a Gibson Double Cut Pro Guitar, Jennifer Anniston, a '73 Dodge Charger, Jessica Simpson, Clerks II on DVD, Angelina Jolie, and to watch Rocky Balboa.

Joe "Blower" Garvey, guitar, Hinder: Threesome, Les Paul guitar, Flying V guitar, hair spray, more tattoos, orgy.

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Annoying song?: How about that Fergilicious thing? Lyrically inane and rhythmically dreary.

J. Freedom du Lac: That's definitely in the conversation.

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Damien Rice Concert-ugh: So, I had my first, love the artist, hate the concert experience this weekend, with the Damien Rice show. I love Damien Rice's music and his CDs. I find his music beautiful and moving, and filled with emotion, which I do not think today's current music has enough of. I understand wanting to branch out and not merely play your CD, but Damien's powerful and emotional voice and music were drowned out by overly loud music and screeching (sometimes by Damien himself). I like a loud rock concert as much as the next gal, but as a Damien Rice fan, I was looking forward to hearing his music, not so much shouting. The Post review seemed to like the concert as it seemed a majority of people in the audience, but I am wondering how an artist can be so incredibly different on CD than in person. This is truly the first time I would rather listen to a CD than listen to someone live. Has this happened to you? Did you see Damien Rice this weekend?

thanks for the answer

J. Freedom du Lac: Didn't see him, as I was moored in California. Anybody else go to the show? Agree? Disagree?

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Springfield, Va.: My Top 10 of 2006:

Beck - THE INFORMATION

Calexico - GARDEN RUIN

The Decemberists - THE CRANE WIFE

The Elms - THE CHESS HOTEL

Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - RABBIT FUR COAT

Josh Rouse - SUBTUTILO

Kris Kristofferson - THIS OLD ROAD

Muse - BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS

Pearl Jam - s/t

Ray LaMontagne - TILL THE SUN TURNS BLACK

J. Freedom du Lac: You need to get out more.

Actually, that's a fine list. We have one album in common. And I, too, have a Josh R in my Top 10, but his last name ain't Rouse.

We can discuss/debate/sing harmony vocals together/whatever on Jan. 2, when the Live Onlines come back to life.

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Most Annoying Song....: It's a tie. "You're Beautiful" and "Bad Day." Amazingly, they were the #3 and #1 most downloaded songs from ITunes this year, respectively.

Proof most people have no taste? You be the judge...

J. Freedom du Lac: Daniel Powter's voice doesn't quite have the same nails-on-a-chalkboard quality that James Blunt's does. There's just something about Blunt's timbre that annoys the Boone out of me.

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Washington, D.C.: Have you heard any The Good, the Bad and the Queen? This is a "supergroup" that has been formed by Damon Albarn, who should require no introduction; Simon Jones, who used to be in the Verve; Paul Simonon, formerly of the Clash; and a drummer whose name I can't remember but who I am sure is very good. I have just heard the one song myself ("Herculean") and it is quite promising -- Pitchfork calls it "heady" and "sedated." (P.S. Did you appreciate my use of semicolons to separate the list of band members?)

J. Freedom du Lac: Nice use of semi-colons, indeed. Now, if only we could teach you how to use the search function here since The Good, The Bad and The Queen already came up in The Chat, some eight weeks back. I'm hurt that you don't remember.

To recap: I like Danger Mouse's ambient production on "Herculean," but I'm not in love with Albarn's processed vocal. And the song is for the most part kinda plodding, even if the skittering drum part has its moments.

I'm looking forward to the CD. There's no way they lay an album-length egg.

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Richmond, Va.: Saw a rerun of "Decline of Western Civilization: the Metal Years" on TV last night. Good lord, that's some funny stuff.

J. Freedom du Lac: Metal in general is pretty funny. I was watching VH1 Classic on the flight back from California, and they were broadcasting some sort of metal moments countdown,and I couldn't stop laughing. The thing is, a lot of it was unintentionally hilarious.

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Arlington, Va.: So why don't those guys in Hinder who want a threesome for Xmas just all get together in the spirit of the season? Or do they need to be more specific?

J. Freedom du Lac: You're thinking too much. Hinder doesn't deserve that.

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Washington, D.C.:"Now, if only we could teach you how to use the search function here since The Good, The Bad and The Queen already came up in The Chat, some eight weeks back. I'm hurt that you don't remember."

If I can't even be bothered to look up the drummer's name, do you really think I'd bother to search for something that came up 8 WEEKS ago? Man, 8 weeks -- that was so... 8 weeks ago.

J. Freedom du Lac: All I do is give. Which is why I looked it up for you -- well, that and I'd forgotten what I said the first time around.

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Washington, D.C.:"You're welcome to ply PD with plain turkey sandwiches, beer, cigarettes and rare Pavement 7-inches (not necessarily in that order); but I'm telling you, the guy can not be bribed."

If a Pavement 7-inch is what you're trying to bribe him with, then that's hardly surprising. Why not try something he might like, like a Nickelback album?

J. Freedom du Lac: David, you have the floor.

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21st & M, Washington, D.C.: J. Free,

I know you're going to get bombarded with end of the year best album lists today, so I wanted to pile on a little. Mine might not contain any of the acknowledged best albums of the year, but they meant the most to me. And really, who can really ask for anything more than that? In no particular order, not even alphabetical.

Cracker - Greenland

Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That

Band of Horses - Everything All The Time

Michael Franti and Spearhead - Yell Fire!

Roman Candle - The Wee Hours Revue

Elbow - Leaders Of The Free World

Plus a couple from fall of last year

Nada Surf - The Weight Is A Gift

My Morning Jacket - Z

Thanks for doing what you do.

J. Freedom du Lac: I like the list. Best-ofs, to me, should be all about the albums you wanted to listen to the most throughout the year -- and will continue to listen to down the road. Listening to your own Top 10 shouldn't feel like homework. So, like, I know I'm "supposed" to like that Decemberists album. But I find listening to it to be a tedious process. Thus, it was never in the running for my Top 10. Whereas I love listening to the (much less acclaimed) Be Your Own Pet album, which missed my Top 10 by two slots.

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washingtonpost.com: duh, i already have all the nickelback albums on compact disc AND 180-gram vinyl. i just want those pavement 7-inches because indie rockers have lots of disposable income and i can make a killing off them on ebay.

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Unsung hero album of the year: J. Free: I wouldn't put it in a top 10, although come to think of it, I don't HAVE a top 10, but Cheap Trick's "Rockford" is a really good album. I'm not that big a fan of theirs, but that album hit the spot for me.

J. Freedom du Lac: Huh.

I can't listen to Cheap Trick anymore. It's all downhill after seeing their Live at Budokan 20th anniversary show at the Fillmore, where they recreated the Budokan show -- right down to the stage banter.

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Thanks, D.C.: J. Freedom - Last year you hooked this up for me (much appreciated), and I'm wondering if you'll do me this favor again this year...

I'd like to invite J. Freedom and everyone else to the 7th Annual Joti Rockwell and the Ambalamps Network Television Holiday Extravaganza (a musical revue), where 100% of proceeds fight hunger with DC Central Kitchen. We will ask for a $7 donation at the door. Our show features over 20 holiday selections from Wham!'s Last Christmas to Donny Hathaway's This Christmas, with Grinch, Father Christmas, Christmas in Hollis, Chipmunks, Peanuts, and Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas (I Don't Wanna See My Mama Cry) thrown in.

The show is this Friday, Dec. 22nd at 8pm, at Wonderland in Columbia Heights (1101 Kenyon Street NW - 3 blocks from Columbia Heights Metro, green line), and will raise money for DC Central Kitchen, www.dccentralkitchen.org which serves thousands of meals every day to DC's less fortunate.

J. Freedom du Lac: Donny Hathaway, Run-DMC and John Denver on the same set list?! And all for a good cause? How could I say no to this? Consider yourselves invited, chatters.

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Chicago, Ill.: How can critics continue to love Justin Timberlake while completely ignoring the year's best pop albums from the Junior Boys, Mew and Camera Obscura? "My Love" is a great song but it's nothing compared to "the Zookeeper's Boy."

J. Freedom du Lac: Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken is one of my Top 25 singles. "The Zookeeper's Boy" is somewhere in my Top 100. But I never really did a Top 100, so all that means is that I have the song on my "2006 Singles" playlist but never gave it serious consideration for my Top 25. Nothing personal.

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Anonymous: Do you think Axl is waiting for China to become a democracy before releasing his record?

J. Freedom du Lac: Yes. Or, March 6 -- whichever comes first. That's the date he announced on his web site. Of course, he might not mean 3/6/07.

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Washington, D.C.: Did you see that Pitchfork Media didn't include "Crazy" in their Top 100 tracks, because it was played too much throughout the year? But then they picked Justin Timberlake's My Love as the #1 song of the year. Whaaaatttt?

It boggles the mind.

J. Freedom du Lac: They crazy. Their logic was that they'd heard the great Gnarls track in 2005, so it was therefore ineligible this year. That's such a Pitchfork thing to do.

I prefer to use the Pazz and Jop standards: If a song made its impact this year, then it's eligible. That's why I have a track from Brad Paisley's 2005 album in my Top 25. The thing reached No. 1 on the country chart this year, so it's a 2006 song as far as I'm concerned.

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Arlington, Va.: Didn't MMJ's "Z" come out in 2005? Pretty sure I drove my friends crazy with that one over the holidays last year.

J. Freedom du Lac: Yes, it was a 2005 release. But We At Freedom Rock are lax about our chatters' Top 10s.

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Washington, D.C.: The most annoying song of the year is clearly that "This Is Our Country" thing from that car commercial. Holy %&*#%&!!!!!

J. Freedom du Lac: Clearly the most annoying use of a song in 2006. I hate that commercial.

On the other hand, I dig the Prince/Super Bowl commercial. I forget sometimes that the guy actually has a sense of humor. You can see the spot here: www.3121.com

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Most Annoying Song of Year: I'm confused. Didn't "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes win this award in perpetuity a few years back?

J. Freedom du Lac: No, I believe that was "Who Let the Dogs Out."

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Washington, D.C.: You said, "Their logic was that they'd heard the great Gnarls track in 2005, so it was therefore ineligible this year."

Well then it must be in the their list of Top Songs from 2005? Oh wait, it didn't even make the list.

Just say it. They're idiots.

J. Freedom du Lac: I actually like much of Pitchfork's content. There, I said it.

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Washington, D.C.:"duh, i already have all the nickelback albums on compact disc AND 180-gram vinyl. i just want those pavement 7-inches because indie rockers have lots of disposable income and i can make a killing off them on ebay."

A Nickelback fan producing an online music chat. Isn't that like the Judges and Stewards Commissioner for the International Arabian Horse Association running FEMA?

J. Freedom du Lac: dictionary.reference.com/browse/irony

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Georgetown, Washington, D.C.: So speaking of K. Fed., why hasn't anybody at the Post yet taken note of his special appearance at WWE RAW! at the Verizon Center last night??? C'mon, this one is a gimme!

J. Freedom du Lac: Do I *look* like Amy Argetsinger? (She's our pro wrestling correspondent, for those keeping score at Starbucks.) Please email her about this: reliablesource@washpost.com. She'd actually like to hear from you if you were at the [Insert Telcom Company Name Here] Center for the show or K-Fed's motel for the afterparty.

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NWDC: I hope you were referring to Josh Ritter earlier. What a great album.

J. Freedom du Lac: Why isn't "Girl in the War" up for a Grammy?

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Christmas Songs: How come the truly grating country Christmas songs get played relentlessly (Lee Ann Rimes, Faith Hill) and the cool rock ones are never heard anymore ("Run Run Rudolph" by Chuck Berry, "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" by Springsteen and ESB)? And the Wham! Christmas song deserves serious re-consideration as an 80s classic. Stop this madness, man..

J. Freedom du Lac: Cuz the people in dentist-office waiting rooms who listen to those all-seasonal formats prefer treacle, as it has a pre-numbing effect that makes the novocaine go down easy? Just a guess.

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re: Do I *look* like Amy Argetsinger? : I dunno. Does Amy Armetsinger look like The Rock?

J. Freedom du Lac: Amy Armetsinger might, but Amy Argetsinger doesn't. You really need to lay off the egg nog.

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7/8 Time: Still working up a top 10 for the year. Obviously Gnarls Barkley is on it but i'm having trouble with the rest. I think my number one, though, is Ani DiFranco's album Reprieve. Ani D. really nailed it this time. After hearing the results of her self-produced Educated Guess a couple of years ago, I almost despaired of ever liking another album of hers. Whaddayaknow.

J. Freedom du Lac: Her live album was better than her studio album. I'm just sayin'.

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Boulder, Colo.: Most annoying song of 2006: Sorry but I got to nominate Ziggy Marley's Love is My Religion based purely on it being the cheesiest lyrics EVER.

J. Freedom du Lac: Where does Josh Turner's "Me and God" rank? I loved "Would You Go With Me" (like, Top 25 love) but lordy ... "Me and God." Ack.

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A General Comment: Bill Shatner is a musical genius. And all of you know it but are too yellow to admit it, even to yourselves.

J. Freedom du Lac: That's racist.

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So long 2006, hello 2007: Looking forward to any new releases in '07? Mine would have to include new Wilco, Ted Leo, New Pornographers, and Arcade Fire among others.

J. Freedom du Lac: Besides Nickleback? I can't wait to hear the new Metallica album. Rick Rubin! I believe there's a new Bright Eyes CD coming, as well. I'm also interested in seeing how Lily Allen does once that album comes out stateside. A lot of people have already heard it, but ... a lot haven't. I hope it takes off here. We At The Washington Post are big fans. Curious about the Arcade Fire. And, strangely enough, Britney Spears. Seriously.

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The Most Annoying Song of All Time:"We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun,

But the stars that we'd reach were only starfish on the beach".

- Terry Jacks, "Season in the Sun"

There is no topping this one. Bring it, people.

J. Freedom du Lac: Isn't that a Paris Hilton lyric?

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Re: Chinese democracy: And that goes for all you punks in the press that want to start stuff by printin' lies instead of the things we said. You've been rippin' off the kids while they're payin' their hard earned money to read about the bands they want to know about.... Printin' lies, startin' controversy....

J. Freedom du Lac: You get what you pay for online, my friend.

But seriously: Does the world really need a Guns N Roses album circa 2007?

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Austin, Tex.:"Freedom-Rocking around the Festivus tree"

Sacrilege! It's a Festivus POLE, you heathen!

J. Freedom du Lac: Meanwhile, this just moved over our internal messaging system: "A Yule Log cake is on the giveaway table courtesy of the local CW affiliate WDCW (Channel 50). Why? They are televising the yule log X-Mas morning."

Ain't the holidays great?!

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Annapolis, Md.: At the risk of being made fun of, my favorite 6 albums of the year:

Pearl Jam

Gomez

Timberlake

Beck

Gnarls

Ben Harper

Don't sue me if they aren't all from this year. And I know I need to get out more. And I reserve the right to love my Eddie no matter what, because if he can still rock, then I still have a connection to my younger, skinnier self. Which probably explains all those rabid Stones fans I always laugh at, but too bad.

J. Freedom du Lac: You couldn't find four more to fill out the list? Just put down some of those live PJ albums.

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I AM waiting on Britney Spears' latest: I'm a Women's Studies Ph.D. candidate, and I can't finish my dissertation until I can assess her first post-motherhood album. I'm serious.

J. Freedom du Lac: This is fantastic! Please send a copy of your dissertation to J. Festivus, The Washington Post Department Of Rock, 1150 - 15th St NW, WDC 20071.

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Possible Best-of Candidate: Was the new Belle and Sebastian released in '05 or '06?

J. Freedom du Lac: Yes.

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Glen Ellyn, Ill.: I may get killed here, but I submit that Prince rates with Eric Clapton as the two most overrated artists of our time.

J. Freedom du Lac: You.

Can.

Not.

Be.

Serious.

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Washington, D.C.: Joni Mitchell's busy. I saw her out on the street paving paradise and putting up a parking lot.

J. Freedom du Lac: And you know what's really bizarre? They took all the trees, put em in a tree museum -- and they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see em.

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"You're Yellow": You're right, I remembered its origin a 1/2 second after I hit send. My apologies.

J. Freedom du Lac: Here, study this for the balance of the afternoon: www.angryasianman.com

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Prince is not overrated: Prince is awesome.

He is the Superbowl XLI Halftime Show.

J. Freedom du Lac: There are very few artists who I'd fly across the country to see. Prince is one of them.

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Annapolis, Md.: Top 6 albums of the year. Because my ipod has no juice, and I can't use it to jog my memory.

Give me a break- I did just buy an Ozomatli CD because you keep talking them up. I like it, but I've only listened once.

J. Freedom du Lac: That's the holiday spirit! Be sure to see Ozo live the next time they come through town. You can thank me later.

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Re: Glen Ellyn, Ill.: speaking of lifetime bans from Freedom Rock...

seriously, Prince is amazing. and I don't fall under the category of someone that "should" like Prince. When you look at my cd collection, having Prince cds definitely looks out of place.

but the man is a musical genius. and if you don't like his creative stuff, go find the "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" guitar solo he played at the R&R HOF.

J. Freedom du Lac: The Artist Always Known As Genius. (Well, except for his "Rainbow Children" phase.)

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top of 2006: what about your top live shows of 2006?

J. Freedom du Lac: Bruce Springsteen at Nissan was the clear No. 1. I haven't seen a show that great in years. Jenny Lewis at the Birch was #2. Dolly Parton singing for me in her dressing room and then doing a private show for 100 people at Dollywood was an all-timer. Yung Joc performing at the Eastern High prom was also memorable, but more for the setting than the performance.

Be Your Own Pet, the Flairz and the High Dials were all excellent at SXSW. (I liked the High Dials and BYOP less when they played in DC; though I thought Sonic Youth were great after BYOP's opener.) I rather liked Corinne Bailey Rae at the Birch. Van Hunt in his opening slot at the 9:30. The Who at V-Fest. Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Um, what else was this year?

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Washington, D.C.: Best O' 2006 (give or take):

Gnarls Barkley

Josh Ritter

Solomon Burke--Nashville

Johnny Cash (pick 1)

Joseph Arthur--Nuclear Daydream

Brad Paisley--Time Well Wasted

Persephone's Bees-City of Love

M. Ward--Post War

Eric Church--Sinners Like Me

Ronald Koal and the Trilionaires--self titled (better late than never)

J. Freedom du Lac: Wait, is this my list or yours? Lordy, that looks familiar.

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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: I really liked the 'This Bird Has Flown'album from 2005 - indie artists' take on Rubber Soul. At the time the organizer had in mind to do a similar tribute to Revolver - has anything come of this?

J. Freedom du Lac: Haven't heard any news about the "Revolver" follow-up, but the producer and label seemed keen on doing it when I talked to them last year. I thought the "Rubber Soul" project turned out pretty well and, in fact, just gave it a spin a week ago after listening to the upcoming Band tribute.

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Long Beach, Calif.: PRINCE: There's a video of Prince from 1983 on youtube of him singing Little Red Corvette that could make a Prince fan out of his most rabid enemy. Check it out

It was from a "Solid Gold" TV show.

J. Freedom du Lac: Truedat.

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washingtonpost.com: Stretching 'Rubber Soul': A New Spin on The Tribute CD

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20006:: J - What's your favorite album and concert of the year that folks might have slept on? Mine, the Yayhoos - totally rocking DIY band with some real heavyweights.

J. Freedom du Lac: Album: Besides the ones frequently mentioned here, I'd have to say Sarah Harmer's gorgeous acoustic folk set, "I'm A Mountain." (Now that I mention it, her show at the Birch was one of the best I saw this year.)

Concert: Sam Roberts at Black Cat. I swear there weren't more than 40 people there, and I knew four of them.

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NWDC: what about Sarah Harmer at the Birch?

J. Freedom du Lac: You remember my year better than I do. Would you like to host next week's chat?

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Charleston, S.C.: Haven't settled on a Top 10 yet, but Neko Case's 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood' was definitely my #1 for the year.

J. Freedom du Lac: Several people have also posted about the Neko Case show at the 9:30.

Is Neko-v-Jenny Lewis the Ginger or Mary Ann debate of 2006? Just wonderin'.

It's not either/or for me, as I like Neko. But Jenny Lewis is my girl. (In the artistic sense, anyway.) I have her set list posted on my filing cabinet, for chrissakes.

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Xmas songs: I like the Run Run Rudolph, but I could live 1,000 lifetimes without hearing the Boss and Santa Claus Is Coming to Town again.

J. Freedom du Lac: Personally, I'll be OK if the only St. Nick song I ever hear again is James Brown's fantastic old "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto." If you don't own "James Brown's Funky Christmas," then your music collection is incomplete. It's a geniune classic.

Happy holidays, folks. I hope you all have a Fergalicious Festivus. See you in the new year.

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