Another week, another Mercury music section to read while you count your blessings for not growing up goth in England. That is fucked up.

It only took seven years of lobbying, but I finally convinced the powers that be here at Merc HQ to put Bruce Springsteen on the cover. In case you have not noticed, it’s our sorta annual music issue this week, and the paper features all sorts of great stuff on the topic of religion and music. Finally, this rag is God approved, well, maybe with the exception of those hard working ladies in the back of the paper.

But it’s not all bible thumpin’ and guitar pickin’, we actually wrote about some upcoming shows as well. Included in this is Jim White, who coincidentally is right at home in an issue about religious imagery and music.
MP3: Jim White - A Town Called Amen

What’s more punk thank an entire album of Crass covers? Performing them as simple folk songs. Indie-savant Jeffrey Lewis does just that with 12 Crass Songs, which, like all his recordings, is both frustrating and brilliant.
MP3: Jeffrey Lewis - Banned From The Roxy

Meshuggah (or משוגע as they are known in Isreal) are Sweden’s finest metal export. But you’d be angry too if you lived in a country with amazing health care, low crime rates, and an average of 7 weeks paid vacation.
MP3: Meshuggah - Combustion

Everyone in the pool! It’s time for some good Summertime vibes courtesy of New Zealand’s the Ruby Suns. No running by the pool, and for god’s sake, cut out that horseplay!
MP3: The Ruby Suns - Kenya Dig It?