I missed it while it was going on, and am just catching up now, but back in November NPR did a series of blog entries about the last decade in music. So many of the entries are fascinating. One in particular caught my attention, first for the provocative title, but then for the informative essay on how changes in the way music is recorded (Protools, autotune, compression) which are meant to improve the quality of music is actually having adverse effects. Please check it out and let me know what you think.

You can browse the entire list of topics they covered, and choose one that seems more interesting to you. The list includes American Idol, how indie folk beards are effecting rock music, downloading music, and the decades most important recordings.

Certainly, many of us are preoccupied with the news of the earthquake in Haiti this week. Some of my friends have been blogging about it lately, and there are a few links that they pointed to (thanks David and Byron) that I thought were worth sharing.

Regine Chassagne is a member of the band The Arcade Fire (a band you should know about). Her parents are from Haiti, though she grew up in Montreal. The band has a song titled “Haiti” which is about the Duvalier dictatorship in Haiti, and her relationship to a country where she has lost family members, but which she had never visited. Someone put together a nice montage of images of Haiti set to the music here. The lyrics to the song are here. Finally, check out the live version of the song to see the energy The Arcade Fire bring to the stage.

Since writing the song, Regine has visited Haiti, accompanied by Paul Farmer to learn about the work of Partners in Health. She has written an eloquent piece about Haiti’s history, her relationship to the country, and her visit and impression of Paul Farmer. I recommend it.

Please consider what you can give to the relief efforts in Haiti. There are of course many ways to give. SAB will be collecting donations at B-Sides on January 20, and at Coffeehouse on January 24.