music

Does anyone else organize their iTunes by season? Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell is the artist that got me started doing it, as no single album reminds me more of summer than her 2010 folk opera Hadestown. It's drenched in sunlight, warm voices, young love, and, as Kristin mentioned in her Preacher's Daughter series, a feminist perspective on Greek tragedy. Her latest album, Young Man in America, is spring; all births and unfoldings and discoveries, and an occasional dip back into winter dark. Point being, Mitchell is a songwriter for all seasons, one of young American folk music's best, and she's getting better and better.

Over the next eight weeks, I will explore both progressive and problematic depictions of bisexuality in order to see how far we’ve come and how much progress still needs to be made. Together, we will look at examples in film, television, music, celebrity culture, and new media. And, with any luck, we will be able to start a discussion about what the media could be doing to increase realistic and positive depictions of bisexual identities and, by extension, advance bisexual acceptance.

The crux of my confusion lies in the way that people who agree on the basic premise that social inequality exists and needs to be addressed sometimes fracture themselves by fighting about how to accomplish this goal, while the seeming majority blithely naturalizes inequalities, perpetuates systemic prejudices, and authorizes the erasure of difference—all while throwing out phrases like "that's gay" with impunity. As an activist, I’m not really sure where I fit into all this, or what my purpose is.

Anyone else have perspectives on these tensions? I have so many more questions than answers.

Do you like the idea of free, feminist concerts? This radical world music and trans and queer SXSW showcase are two crowd-funded projects you'll want to check out!

The lessons shared in Free to Be... You and Me are not only timeless, they are also incredibly essential to remember in today’s world. When we have young boys being targeted by Fox News writers for wearing pink toenail polish, and large companies that continue to push gender stereotypes, I think it’s time for a little refresher course in what it truly means to be free. With that in mind, I present to you five lessons I have learned, and continue to hold dear, from Free to Be... You and Me.

I've always hated Top Ten of the Year Lists. I just feel like there is some sort of intrinsic hubris involved that comes with definitively declaring "The Best" of anything. Also, who wants to encourage this kind of feedback? But because I've been so busy re-discovering 2011's great catalog, I did want to share some gems that didn't get the radio play Adele did this year. Here's a selection of songs that might have slipped under your radar over the past 12 months (Okay, so maybe Beyoncé's "Countdown" didn't get by you, it's just that I f*king love that song). You know the drill—check out the track list after the jump, and leave your favorite 2011 jams in the comments!

If you're still in the market for music gifts after Bitch in a Box: Music Lover's Edition, Part I, here's Part II with even more albums from 2011 that'll make great gifts!

With all the great music that came out this year, there's no excuse for not knowing what to get the music fan in your life. Here are some suggestions, with more to come!

Happy Thanksgiving Leftovers Day! If you, like me, spent the morning deciding between pie and mashed potatoes for breakfast, you might need some songs about food to provide a soundtrack to your day. Here are two past BitchTapes, republished with your gustatory needs in mind. Betcha can't eat listen to just one! Who's Hungry? Part I



Track list and Who's Hungry? Part II after the jump!

If I wasn't already a big fan of French/Portlander musician Tender Forever (I was), I would be after seeing her "Congratulations" tour last week. Currently traveling down the West Coast, "Congratulations" is an all-ages tour that combines Tender Forever's amazing stage presence and music with a bunch of weirder-than-life YouTube videos. It's like going to an awkward house party with no booze and finding out that your friend's sister's friend is playing and she's the best electro pop performer ever. It rules.