The side of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art bears a large white rectangle with a single, black, horizontal line, and under it, a line that reads, “HAVE YOU SEEN THE HORIZON LATELY?” and under that, “YOKO ONO 2017.” It’s one of two Ono pieces up in New Orleans during Prospect.

“Happy Xmas (War is Over)” has traditionally been one of the few holiday songs that gets love from people who otherwise have no use for Christmas songs. John Lennon’s name and voice help, as does Phil Spector’s wall-of-voices production, but its parenthetical assertion and lack of Christian piety—“Xmas” not “Christmas”—separate it from the songs written by the previous generation’s finest songwriters. It’s not sentimental, and it’s not hearkening back to some fondly remembered yesteryear.  

This week's Freshly Spilt Milk playlist includes new music from Autograf, Titus Andronicus, Deep Sea Diver, and Prince Rama, all of whom are coming to town.

The Flaming Lips release their collaboration album and hustle through the South in search of additional fwends.