the weary blues

Here are ten of my favorite songs of the year. They’re listed in no particular order with a brief explanation accompanying each track. Follow me on tumblr for more music throughout the year. Enjoy.

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In case you haven’t heard, yet another woman has come forward today detailing inappropriate, sexual advances from Republican Presidential hopeful Herman Cain. What makes this particular allegation more significant is it came with a public appearance from the victim[1] and the fact that the allegation itself sounds more like sexual assault than mere harassment.

I admit when Cain first announced he was running for the Republican nomination, I assumed he’d be a no-name candidate vying for a fraction of a percentage point. His lack of command of the facts and outrageous, often nonexistent policy stances made him appear as someone looking for a regular seat on Fox News than legitimately attempting to be President one day. Six months later, he’s matching presumed frontrunner Mitt Romney in the polls. Unfortunately for him, the new accusations have an opportunity to not only derail his Presidential hopes (which isn’t hard to do), they could also damage his public image enough to repel Fox and other conservative outlets, hurting potentially lucrative post-election opportunities.

Earlier this year, Cain’s unreleased gospel album entitled Sunday Morning[2] leaked online. It was recorded in the 1990s, which is ironically in the same time period as the allegations are said to have taken place. This wouldn’t be the first time a politician’s put forth such a public display of personal spirituality and morality only to couple it with inappropriate, contradicting actions behind the scenes (especially in the ’90s). Included on it is “I Must Tell Jesus” (above, mp3) which features a swaying piano and baseline carrying a baritone Cain singing about being over-burdened and seeking compassion.

I wonder what Cain’s telling Jesus these days. So far, he’s told everyone else conflicting accounts of the alleged events masked in baseless cries of racism. So far, he’s shown no compassion for the burdened victims (or women in general, considering his stances on women’s reproductive rights). Better yet, what did Cain tell Jesus when confronted with an urge to approach the alleged victims? Ironically, Cain left off a verse from the century old song which contained a few lines addressing that very issue:

…What must I do when worldliness calls me? What must I do when tempted to sin?…

If the answer was to put those events behind him and run for President anyway, he should seek better advice.

1. Lots of the victim-blaming thus far stupidly revolves around the anonymity of other accusers. [↩]
2. Album cover designed by me. I was bored. [↩]

Where her debut dabbed (successfully, for the most part) in different sounds, Adele goes for a more consistent route on her sophomore record. Some might say she isn’t taking enough risks. She might counter that she’s looking to perfect what she’s good at. What she’s good at is belting out songs of love lost or found over live instrumentation. This is evident in her cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong,” where she croons a declaration of devotion to her lover over lush acoustic guitar riffs and bouncy percussion. 21‘s Adele sounds more sure of herself, perhaps less sure of her love life, but definitely secure amongst the best of today’s adult contemporary artists.

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