Beck’s current means for intellectual and creative stimulation is to bring together like-minded musicians to record cover versions of entire albums in a single day–no rehearsals, no arrangements. The most recent undertaking was an homage to Leonard Cohen’s Songs of Leonard Cohen with a group including Devendra Banhart, as well as members of MGMT, Wolfmother, and Little Joy. Will the results put you in mind of Jeff Buckley’s take on “Hallelujah”? No. But there’s something refreshing and downright spunky about the lo-fi approach. One track per week is posted each week at Beck’s Record Club site.

Cool piece last night on The News Hour about the 35th anniversary of Austin City Limits, now the longest running live music show in television history. This piece includes interviews and live footage with Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Johnny Cash and Carolyn Wonderland as well an interview with executive producer Terry Lickona. Weirdly wonderful.

All next year, NPR will be doing features on 50 of the greatest voices of recorded history. Right now, they’re asking for input from listeners and experts on who they should feature, and why. I’m nominating Stevie Wonder. You can make a case for your favorite singer by leaving a comment at their site, or emailing GreatVoices@npr.org.

The noise from radical bloviators is sometimes so loud that we imagine them to be as influential as they’d have us think they are. New York Times conservative columnist, David Brooks, offers a very thoughtful examination of their actual effect in the ballot box.

But if we have to vote for our favorite bloviator, Stephen Colbert wins hands down. This is one if his best rants ever!

Our old friend, Jessie Scott, has collaborated with several former XM executives to create a wonderful (mostly) roots music blog where you’ll see and hear great new and established artists perform their craft in a perfectly engineered studio setting. She still has great ears. Check it out.