 Wainwright began writing songs for the album following the inauguration of Barack Obama in January 2009 . The album features ten original songs and two cover versions of songs originally written and recorded during the Great Depression . Lyrical references throughout 10 Songs include economists Alan Greenspan , John Maynard Keynes and Paul Krugman , President Barack Obama , and the government program Car Allowance Rebate System ( more commonly known as " cash for clunkers " ) . Overall , critical reception of the album was positive . 10 Songs reached peak positions of number thirty @-@ eight on the United Kingdom 's Top Independent Albums chart and number twelve on the Top 40 Independent Albums Breakers chart . 
