I've taken a couple days off to get away from the blogosphere and focus on writing and chores, but when I sat down tonight to do another Top 10 list, I realized that there was pretty much nothing on mainstream radio -- right this second -- worth mentioning.

So, even if I were to put a list together, it really wouldn't be any different than two weeks ago, when I last compiled a list. There is one song that has me intrigued, and it's categorized as a country hit.

It's "It Ain't No Crime" from Joe Nichols. A very unique structure, musically, for a supposed country song, Nichols' effort more closely resembles what I'd call adult contemporary rock Americana.

Sure, there's a steel guitar in there. And, yes, I think I hear Allison Krauss in the background, but this song could have just as easily been done by somebody like a Bryan Adams 20 years ago. I like it quite a bit.

However, the music industry has failed to grasp the power of YouTube. Country is probably the biggest offender, as most of its artists have only a small presence on the video site -- and none of them allow embedding from the label or artist channels.

But, country music isn't the only offender. Perhaps the best new album I've heard in 2008 thus far is Joe Jackson's "Rain", which is a pared down version of his eariler work, aged like fine wine.

Not only have I been a lifelong fan of Jackson's music, I'm a fan of him. He's an outspoken advocate of civil liberties on any number of fronts, and he's a genuinely likeable rebel, if you will, decades after the height of his popularity in the 1980s.

Nevertheless, I couldn't brag on songs like "Invisible Man" from his new album, by embedding a video here, because Jackson's YouTube channel doesn't allow for embedding.

Now, believe me, I understand. Management wants Web traffic to go directly to their page, where the message can be controlled.

I seriously doubt Jackson has much to do with this, although I'd bet his approach is pretty laissez-faire when it comes to these things. He seems like the type of cat who would much prefer the music side of the equation to the business end.

However, it's still short-sighted. The vast majority of folks who would embed a Joe Jackson video are fans, people who would talk up the new album. And, I'll still do that.

But instead of getting to hear a tune for yourself, you'll just have to take my word for it because to link you to his YouTube page would pretty much be me givin' in to the Man.

And I'm just ornery enough to refuse to do it.