Best race for a bard?

[satori01]

You can do the same thing with a Harmonizing weapon (Magic Item Compendium).

A Crystal Echoblade of Harmonizing (Both from Magic Item Compendium) is a bard's ultimate melee weapon. +1/2 bard level to damage every round you are using your bardic music, and the weapon can continue the bardic music for you while you do something else.

True but think of it this way, what is easier to slip into a campaign, a single feat or an entire Weapon Enchantment? Now even if you get the enchantment in, you now have to find someone that knows the enchantment, or take Craft Magic Arms yourself.

Second point would you are tying that very useful ability to a weapon, which can be broken, stolen, or disenchanted.
Bards can already be pretty good in the classic "Slavers" scenario.
However it becomes
This is your bard in Slavelords
This is your bard in Slavelords with Melodic Casting.

I want to see a bard building contest using all the books.
I might have to start that thread.