Finally Friday: Labor Day Weekend

It's finally Friday, and in the U.S. it's the beginning of a three-day weekend too! The weekend is typically the last summer blow-out before school starts, and heralds the beginning of the fall/winter holiday season, although here in SoCal the hot, muggy weather is making brisk fall days seem far, far away.

Big congratulations to Lonesome Music Blog for passing their 4th anniversary earlier this month! Don't miss the gorgeous songs by Donna Beasley and Beachwood Sparks in their two latest posts.

Contrast Podcast #126 is one of the very special and much-anticipated Musicians Introduce Their Own Songs episodes. You won't regret taking the time to discover the artists who contributed to this set, which begins with the lovely and haunting voice of Devon Sproule.

Check out the album review of Jr. Juggernaut at Can You See the Sunset, plus volumes 31, 32, and 33 of cool tunes from the 90's.

Two weeks ago You Ain't No Picasso gave us Six New Songs By the Decemberists. I know we heard Colin Meloy sing one of these when we saw him at the Henry Fonda Theater in April (review).

Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good provides an analysis of the nearly six-minute new release by Of Montreal.

MP3Hugger is blissed out about going to the 3-day Electric Picnic Festival that starts today in Ireland.

Visit Thanks, Captain Obvious to watch a video of Bon Iver's Justin Vernon playing an Okkervill River cover, and don't miss the previous post with the two songs by Ribbonpigeon. LOVE that fiddle! Gotta look up more of those guys.

To make up for our spending too much time celebrating (Happy August!) and not blogging, here is a Labor Day mix for everyone who is getting some time off this weekend. Enjoy!

Pizza!: Time Off Work from Bound By a Love EP
The Pinker Tones: Working Bees from Wild Animals (2008)
The Mekons: Work All Week from The Secret Life of Things (2004)
Murder Mystery: Cold, Hard Workin' Man
from Are You Ready for the Heartache Cause Here it Comes (2007)
Cuff the Duke: Ballad of a Lonely Construction Worker
from Life Stories For Minimum Wage (2002)
Dramarama: Work For Food from The Best of Dramarama (1996)
Morning Runner: Work from Wilderness Is Paradise Now (2006)