Hey, it's Mike again, you know the friend of Sarah's from way back who occaisionally fulfills her need for a list of albums because she spends 90,000 hours agonizing over her own. (Do I really like this Andrew Bird album more than this other Andew Bird album?) Ha. I keed. So I did this thing last year, and since I mentioned Paper Route, and Gavin (Paper Route's drummer) tweeted a link to the site, I gave Sarah a bunch of traffic, so she owes me, and that's why you get the:

Happy Andrew Bird week! It's pretty obvious to even the casual observer where I'll be Wednesday through Friday. Sorry, warm, cozy apartment, I've got three dates with Mr. Bird.

I was introduced to Sarah Siskind's music for the first time last night, when she opened for Over the Rhine at the Old Town School of Folk Music. I'll write more about her later on, once I write my review for that show, but until then, I want to introduce you to her, in hopes that you'll fall in love with her, too.

A little bit of a slow week for music that catches my eye (and/or ear). There are plenty of shows going on, but these are the ones I'd recommend.

I've featured April Smith on here before, and I continue to be in love with her music. This track from her most recent album, Songs for a Sinking Ship, is no exception.

Welcome back to your regularly scheduled blogging! If you're around this weekend, check out the three-day Chicago Bluegrass and Blues festival, with shows at the Double Door, the Congress Theatre, and Lincoln Hall.

All because it's Thanksgiving doesn't mean that the music stops.I'll be at the Frames show on Tuesday, along with probably most of the Chicago people I know on Twitter. Irish rock tweet-up!