Others are far far wiser than I on all things Mekon, erin, but as a newbie to them myself, I recommend Fear and Whiskey it's a first-time-listen, love-the-whole-thing, oh-this-is-why-everyone-talks-about-them kind of album.

But like I said, others here know better than I.

Speaking of emusic - this morning I downloaded this new Danny Barnes album because it showed up as an editor's pick for both bluegrass and indie pop and I was intrigued. Darn good. He's a banjo player and fine lyricist.

Allmusic sez:

A graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in audio engineering, Barnes dedicated himself to traditional bluegrass playing, picking up the banjo, and seeing where the instrument would lead him. In Barnes' case, the banjo led him to the Bad Livers

Hey! I know the Bad Livers...

The album is called Get Myself Together and their verdict is

you've got a bona fide down-home classic, not to mention a frontrunner for the Americana album of 2005.

It is very good on first listen.

Mekons are now on eMusic! What do I really, really need?

Corwood & Misha are the Mekons fanatics, and Jon & David far more knowledgeable than I am about whichever genre into which they're likely to be lumped, but I think the consensus pick is Fear and Whiskey. Corwood lists Original Sin and Mekons Rock n' Roll on his desert island discs lists (I don't think he'd care if I linked but I'll let him do it). The latter isn't on emusic, and the former is Fear and Whiskey plus some tracks from subsequent EPs. Christgau agrees on the selections, although I can't say whether their reasons are the same.

There's a lot of bad Mekons on there -- avoid Pussy, King of the Pirates and United.

I prefer The Edge of the World to Fear & Whiskey, just because I love Sally, but i'd give a sample-listen to each and see what you think. After that, I'd go for I [heart] Mekons and So Good It Hurts, from the eMusic choices. And, yes, find Rock & Roll.

Try "Hard to Be Human Again" from Fear and "Oblivion" from Edge if you want to do a one-song sample set.

avoid Pussy

But my wife really wants kids. "Sorry, dear, we'll have to adopt. Blame Misha."

Your wife capitalizes hers? No wonder you proposed.

Hey wise folk: Mekons are now on eMusic! What do I really, really need? Have been wanting to check them out for a while, where do I start?

Dude, they got more reviews in Lost in The Grooves than anybody excepting the Beach Boys. Look 'em up, Lexi.

Aside from the ones already mentioned, I am personally very fond of The Mekons Rock and Roll (which has the great "Memphis Egypt" on it) and also deeply love So Good It Hurts with my favorite "Ghosts of American Astronauts" and the excellent "(Sometimes I Feel Like) Fletcher Christian." (AMG wrongly gives this spanking great and very listenable album a middling review. I think it's one of their most listenable, where they perfected their distinctive mix of country music and punk lashed with carribean rhythms).

What David said. But then, I like the rock.

Rock and Roll is not on eMusic, which only has the Quartstick stuff.

I'm pretty sure my shiny new iPod has made my work day at least 50% more tolerable. David, I downloaded your Halloween playlist and listened to it on the way in to work today, driving through the low, thick fog. I think "The Green Slime" is my favorite track. Thanks!

Does anyone have recommendations for good mp3 blogs? I'm not sure where to start looking.