New Column: Hey Ladies!

This week's tm3am.com column is all about women.

I haven't done any kind of accurate count, but I'm betting female artists only make up about 20 percent of my music collection. I don't think that's bias on my part. I honestly think women aren't allowed into the game as often as men are. The Internet has done wonders to fix that problem, but not enough. I say we need more women making smart, passionate music.

As proof, I took a look at four albums from female artists. Two of them are from multi-platinum superstars (Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow), and those aren't particularly good. But I found much to like in Liz Phair's surprising (and surprisingly derided) Funstyle, and proclaimed Janelle Monae's The ArchAndroid one of the year's best. In the end, it's like anything else: you have to go digging for the good stuff.

As always, click on over to read the column, and head back here to leave me a comment.

One interesting side note: there's a bit in there where I list off some of my favorite female songwriters. I picked three off the top of my head, and I didn't realize until later that Tori Amos isn't one of them. There was a time, not so long ago, when I wouldn't have believed she'd ever slip from my list of favorites. Ah well.