A blind man and woman from Mali get married in 1980, make music together for years and get some recognition internationally after 25+ years of hard work? Better late than never! The recent past has found Amadou and Mariam opening for Coldplay, jamming with David Gilmour, and getting the accolades that you, having now listened to the sizzling hotness that is this track, agree that they completely deserve.

We're not trying to start any lawsuits here, but let's face it; some songs just sound too much like other songs to be a coincidences. Or do they? Music doesn't usually come with footnotes or bibliographies, so on Friday nights we engage in wild speculation about where our favorite songwriters might have owed someone a hat tip. Welcome to Friday Night Ripoffs (?) at the LNMC.

It pains me to pit two of my favorite songwriters against each other, especially ones that I have lifted a riff or three off of for one band or another, but I just can't see any way that Blake Schwarzenbach of 90's melodic punk gods Jawbreaker wasn't bowing directly toward Bob Mould of 80's melodic punk gods Husker Du when he wrote "Ache". Schwarzenbach has always been a gifted and original songwriter, but it's time he fess up to this here theft (and also high time that he release the supposedly finished album by his new band Thorns of Life, come to think of it.) What do your ears say?

What are some other ripoffs (that don't involve Coldplay) that come to mind?

The 2nd annual All Points West festival kicked off today in Jersey City, NJ. The 3 day concert is aiming to become the East's answer to Goldenvoice's other creation, Coachella. Originally slotted for tonight's headliner was the Beastie Boys, who were replaced by Jay-Z after the Beasties canceled their tour due to Adam Yauch aka MCA undergoing surgery for cancer.

Tool headlines tomorrow night, with Coldplay closing out the festival on Sunday.

Ever the peacemaker, Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) forgave Coldplay for their alleged ripoff of his epic "Foreigner Suite" in typically good-natured manner, even inviting them over for tea. I think if they actually came over, it would be a lot like this Seinfeld Episode. Anyway, here's Yusuf:

"I stand by what I said. They did copy my song but I don't think they did it on purpose. I have even copied myself without even knowing I have done it. I'll write down what I think is a good melody and realise it's the same as something I have already done.

"I don't want them to think I am angry with them. I'd love to sit down and have a cup of tea with them and let them know it's okay."

That's very nice of him, but sets a dangerous legal precedent that could affect the outcome of Satriani v. Coldplay.

Yusuf Islam, known to many as Cat Stevens, has joined Joe Satriani and the rest of the chorus claiming that Coldplay stole their music.

Really, guys. Trying to claim that you invented the IV-V-I-vi is like me saying it was my idea to eat tomatoes. I never thought the day would come when I took to the internet to defend Coldplay, but in this listener's opinion, every one of you, Coldplay, Cat Stevens, Joe Satriani, that little teeny band from New York that said Chris Martin saw you, all of you are just ripping off the "if you want to be happy for the rest of your life..." song. Well, probably not -- but trying to collect on the obvious melody that fits in perfect congruence with the most basic and rudimentary of chord changes? Come on.

Also, if I was the judge in Joe Satriani's lawsuit, I would throw the case out on the grounds that no one listens to Joe Satriani.

Anyways, here are the other comparisons. For good measure, I've thrown in the (horribly sexist) "if you want to be happy for the rest of your life" song that I first heard in the film Mermaids for good measure. Jimmy Soul should go sue the pants off all these clowns!

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