The Playlist: Debate Exposes Doubt

A televised debate demonstrated that the GOP candidates for lieutenant governor are more worried about the primary than the general election, so we kick off this week's playlist with "Debate Exposes Doubt," by Death Cab for Cutie.

The easiest way to enjoy the playlist is to download Spotify, which is a free program. But even without it, you can still follow along. Here are this week's other selections:

The Republican gubernatorial candidate, Attorney General Greg Abbott, and his likely Democratic opponent, state Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to raise large amounts of money for their campaigns, so we've included Peggy Lee's "Big Spender."

Elusive U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, who's running for U.S. Senate, resurfaced on Monday and claimed, as Kenny Loggins did in a song, "I Am Not Hiding." Stockman is one of many people hoping to snatch the seat held by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, so we added "Crowded in the Wings," by The Jayhawks.

Texas A&M University's tuition was increased and restructured this week, so we included Jimmy Smith's "Tuition Blues." It's followed by The Avett Brothers' "Incomplete and Insecure," since a new study found that about half of Texas households are financially insecure. We have Joy Division's "Isolation," since prison officials in Texas are reconsidering death row isolation.

The State Board of Education voted to remove algebra II from high school graduation requirements, prompting the addition of "Your Algebra," by The Shins. Because the Trib's Jim Malewitz wrote about fire departments that have been bolstered in response to nearby oil booms, we added "Fireman Ring the Bell," by R.L. Burnside.

Finally, as a nod to Corrie MacLaggan's piece on women being underrepresented in the Legislature, we close with Big D and the Kids Table singing "Where Did All the Women Go?"

Enjoy!