That's right: It's damn hot, but Penguins? Live in Texas? Yes indeed! Of course, that's the nominal, not the verbal use of "live." Or: live with a long i. If it's still not clear, see the link for song 5. But in any case, on this triple-digit-temperature day in Austin, I heard the following songs -- 3, 5, and 10 of which are quintessentially Texan.

1. 'Blue Chicago Moon,' Songs: Ohia
2. 'Black Swan,' Thom Yorke [See bonus below]
3. 'The Pilgrim: Chapter 33,' Kris Kristofferson
4. 'Twilight,' Elliott Smith
5. 'Penguins,' Lyle Lovett
6. 'Lipstick Vogue,' Elvis Costello [Not the best song off EC's best album.]
7. 'John Henry,' Bruce Springsteen [Perhaps the best song of a really good album.]
8. 'Promising Light,' Iron & Wine
9. 'Let's Impeach the President,' Neil Young [Question: How effective or ineffective a piece of rhetoric is this?]
10. 'Pancho & Lefty,' Townes Van Zandt [Perhaps the best recording of this terrific song. Houston's Old Quarter, 1977. Which reminds me: Steve Earle tells a great story about being in his teens and playing at the Old Quarter when Townes himself walked in, generally paying no attention to the green performer on stage, except to heckle him for not knowing the classic "Wabash Cannonball." The only thing Steve could think to do -- to basically shut him up -- was to play Townes's "Mr. Gold and Mr. Mud," which, as Steve says, has like a million words. It seems to have worked.]

And also, Bonus Photo Juxtaposition Blogging:

And also (too), note the bonus within the bonus: juxtaposition of black swan and turtle.