Showing posts with label Taylor Swift. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taylor Swift. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

I Want My Music Television: 3/19/13



There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


Whisper in the Dark – Mumford and Sons


Mumford and Sons shot four videos for their latest single, but why release them separately when you can combine then into one? The lower left is my favorite.


22 - Taylor Swift


Taylor Swift with cat ears is way more attractive than it should be.


Radioactive - Imagine Dragons


I really have not put much thought into Imagine Dragons, they are good at what they do: soundtrack for movie trailers, nothing more and nothing less. And I really did not give much thought to them unless the latest sci-fi trailer is released. But I am a bit disappointed that I am just learning that their music video features a killer Care Bear, Lou Diamond Philips, and Adam Braverman’s hot assistant.


By Crooked Steps - Soundgarden


Who knew Soundgarden had a sense of humor? Though I have a feeling the thirteen year old version of myself would have hated Soundgarden doing basically a Foo Fighters type video (this was directed by Dave Grohl).

Monday, February 11, 2013

We On Award Tour: 2013 Grammy Awards



The Grammy Awards are always the best award shows of the year just because of all the great performances even if it is an off year for music. But a funny thing happened at this year’s Grammy, it was almost as if I programmed it. I loved almost all the performances (who invited Justin Timberlake, I hate when people who are not nominated get to perform unless they are a legacy artist; plus I do not see Suit and Tie getting nominated for anything next year) and it is almost as if I did the nominating. Sure I could nitpick that Call Me Maybe was nominated for a songwriting award or how Norah Jones was shut out despite releases her best single of her career, Happy Pills. But for the first time I actually endorse every nominee in the most prestigious category, each made my list of The Best Albums of 2012 (or 2011 thanks to the Grammy’s wonky eligibility rule). Usually one (or four) stinkers sneak in, somehow Lady Gaga was that past three years. Since it seemed like this year’s Grammys were geared specially towards me, I have a feeling the ratings will be way down and they will be back to nominating unworthy artists next year (maybe Suit and Tie will get a nod... or five), but I definitely enjoyed this year. Here are some thoughts on last night’s festivities.

Taylor Swift goes big
- We may be witnessing the downfall of Taylor Swift, her performer, the carnival meets Wonderland meets Marionettes meets Marie Antoinette was way too much. Hopefully Red is her Pop and she will go back to basics with her next album like U2 did with All That You Can't Leave Behind.

- Of course Adele won the first award, after the great ratings of last year, the show want to continue that even if a live performance off a DVD is a bit cheap way to get nominated. But then again it was not like there was much competition in that category.

- When Fun. performed at the nomination special I figured they would not get invited to the big show because they already burned off their best song. But they did get to perform and we were stuck listening to the fifth best song off their album (same goes for Maroon 5).

- I think the suits Miguel and Wiz Khalifa were wearing broke my HD. And of course they went on to announce the Best Country Solo Performance.

Do not stare directly at these suits


- A couple weeks ago someone pointed out to me that We Are Young is a song about domestic abuse ("My seat's been taken by some sunglasses asking 'bout a scar, I know I gave it to you months ago") I it is weird listening to it ever since. Even weirder is a song that may be about domestic abuse won a songwriting award.

- It was jarring seeing Mumford & Sons perform with an electric bass instead of their trademark stand-up bass. And what was with three of them being clean shaven?

- Alicia Keys playing the drums = awesome.

- Should I know who Micky Echo is?

- Best acceptance speech of the night, maybe ever: "I would like to thank the swap meet for his hat." - Jay-Z.

- I really like the aesthetic of the two The Black Keys, but I would like them to make a full band album at some point, preferably with Danger Mouse producing.

Carrie Underwood lights up... literally
- After every review mentioned The Police, of course Bruno Mars had to bring in Sting for his performance. But I wish the Bob Marley part was much longer.

- I am not sure if there is such a thing as male groupies, but if there are, I am thinking about becoming one for the chick from the The Lumineers.

- Do someone slip me some acid or was Carrie Underwood's dress changing shapes and colors?

- How do you invite Prince to an award show and not get him to perform? This may have been the best awards in recent memory, but not getting Prince to sing was an epic fail.

- I guess it should go down as a successful Grammy awards because Chris Brown made it through an entire night without punching anyone.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

The 100 Best Songs of 2012



1. Happy Pills - Norah Jones

2. Don't Leave Me (Ne me quitte pas) - Regina Spektor

3. Ho Hey - The Lumineers

4. Little Black Submarines - The Black Keys

5. Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye featuring Kimbra

6. "45" - The Gaslight Anthem

7. Thinkin Bout You - Frank Ocean

8. Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men

9. Stars - Grace Potter and The Nocturnals

10. Safe and Sound - Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars

11. Everybody Talks - Neon Trees

12. No Church in the Wild - Jay-Z and Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean

13. Warrior – Kimbra, A-Trak, and Mark Foster

14. Stubborn Love - The Lumineers

15. I Will Wait - Mumford and Sons

16. Bottom of the River - Delta Rae

17. Tongue Tied - Grouplove

18. We Are Young - Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe

19. The Baddest Man Alive - The Black Keys featuring RZA

20. Mercy.1 - Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz

21. Ain't Messin 'Round - Gary Clark Jr.

22. Get Burned - Sleeper Agent

23. If Only - Dave Matthews Band

24. The Devil Takes Care of His Own - Band Of Skulls

25. Live and Die - The Avett Brothers

26. Adorn - Miguel

27. Leave the Lights On - Meiko

28. Roll Me Up - Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson

29. Emmylou - First Aid Kit

30. Hold On - Alabama Shakes

31. The Don - Nas

32. Begin Again - Taylor Swift

33. Oh Love - Green Day

34. Brendan's Death Song - Red Hot Chili Peppers

35. Brand New Me - Alicia Keys

36. Stuck On You - Meiko

37. Sweet Life - Frank Ocean

38. Sense - Amanda Mair

39. Duquesne Whistle - Bob Dylan

40. Princess of China - Coldplay and Rihanna

41. Every Single Night - Fiona Apple

42. Man On Fire - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

43. Settle Down - Kimbra

44. The Day You Die - Lindi Ortega

45. Pyramids - Frank Ocean

46. Handwritten - The Gaslight Anthem

47. Gold On the Ceiling - The Black Keys

48. Modern Love - Matt Nathanson

49. Some Nights - Fun.

50. Heaven - Emeli Sandé

51. Walk Away - Dia Frampton

52. Girl On Fire - Alicia Keys

53. Runaways - The Killers

54. How - Regina Spektor

55. Even If It Breaks Your Heart - Eli Young Band

56. Gimme a Kiss - Madi Diaz

57. Never Go Back - Grace Potter and The Nocturnals

58. Home Again - Michael Kiwanuka

59. Let Yourself Go - Green Day

60. Run Away - Sarah Jarosz

61. Too Close - Alex Clare

62. Queen of California - John Mayer

63. Ships in the Night - Mat Kearney

64. Mercy - Dave Matthews Band

65. Let's Go - Madi Diaz

66. Simple Song - The Shins

67. Shadow Days - John Mayer

68. Favorite Song - Colbie Caillat featuring Common

69. When I Was Young - Nada Surf

70. Payphone - Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa

71. Hurts Like Heaven - Coldplay

72. All the Rowboats - Regina Spektor

73. Ruin - Cat Power

74. Free - Graffiti6

75. Lover of the Light - Mumford and Sons

76. The House That Heaven Built - Japandroids

77. Concrete Wall - Zee Avi

78. Good Intent - Kimbra

79. Burn it Down - Linkin Park

80. The Lion's Roar - First Aid Kit

81. Eyes Open - Taylor Swift

82. Nothing's Real But Love - Rebecca Ferguson

83. Blue - First Aid Kit

84. Stay - Sara Bareilles

85. Anna Sun - Walk the Moon

86. The a Team - Ed Sheeran

87. Runaway - Grace Potter and The Nocturnals

88. Heartbeat - JJAMZ

89. No Light, No Light - Florence + the Machine

90. Locked Out of Heaven - Bruno Mars

91. Goodbye In Her Eyes - Zac Brown Band

92. Good Girl - Carrie Underwood

93. Sweeter - Gavin DeGraw

94. House - Amanda Mair

95. Here Comes My Man - The Gaslight Anthem

96. Charlie Brown - Coldplay

97. Chains of Love - Ryan Adams

98. Cherokee - Cat Power

99. Ray Charles - Chiddy Bang

100. Hurry Hurry - Jessie Baylin

Saturday, December 22, 2012

The 25 Best Live Performances of 2012



I have embedded the first couple, after that, the link will take you to YouTube, usually for some crappy rip that will be taken down at some point (one of these days content suppliers will realize they should put everything on the internet, montinize it, because people are just going to upload it anyway).



1. Losing My Religion – Michael Stipe and Chris Martin (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief) Losing My Religion (feat. Michael Stipe) [Live] - 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief



2. Ronan – Taylor Swift (Stand Up 2 Cancer)



3. Cut Me Some Slack – Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief)



4. Hallelujah – The Cast of the Voice



5. Gold on the Ceiling / Lonely Boy – The Black Keys with Johnny Depp (2012 MTV Movie Awards)

6. We Found Love / Princess of China / Paradise – Coldplay and Rihanna (2012 Grammy Awards)

7. Beastie Boys Tribute – The Roots, Kid Rock, and Travie McCoy (2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony)

8. Call Me Maybe – The Roots, Jimmy Fallon, and Carley Rae Jepsen (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon)

9. Higher Ground – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ron Wood, Slash, Billy Joe Armstrong, and George Clinton (2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony)

10. Rolling in the Deep – Adele (2012 Grammy Awards)

11. Dream On – Amanda Brown (The Voice)

12. Let Yourself Go – Green Day (2012 MTV Video Music Awards)

13. Surfer Girl / Wouldn’t it Be Nice / Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys, Maroon 5, and Foster the People (2012 Grammy Awards)

14. Criminal – Melanie Martinez and Nicholas David (The Voice)

15. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) – Billy Joel (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief) Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out On Broadway) [Live] - 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief

16. Crazy – Daryl Hall and Cee-Lo Green (Live From Daryl’s House)

17. Crossroads – Eric Clapton (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief) Crossroads (Live) - 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief

18. Say Aah – Lindsey Pavao (The Voice)

19. We Are Young – Fun. (2012 MTV Movie Awards)

20. Thinkin’ Bbout You – Frank Ocean (2012 MTV Video Music Awards)

21. Not Even the King – Alicia Keys (Stand Up 2 Cancer)

22. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief)

23. I’m Yours – Daryl Hall and Jason Mraz (Live From Daryl’s House)

24. Over You – Cassadee Pope (The Voice)

25. Comfortably Numb – Roger Waters and Eddie Vedder (12-12-12 Concert for Hurricane Sandy Relief) Comfortably Numb (feat. Eddie Vedder) [Live] - 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

I Want My Music Television - 12/19/12


There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


I Knew You Were Trouble - Taylor Swift


As theatrical as Taylor Swift has been, it is a bit surprising that this is the first music video with an overblown two minute monologue that is not part of the original song to start a video. And of course it is presented in widescreen. But I am not sure we needed the Taylor Swift version of Trainspotting, she should go back to making rom-com style videos.


Brand New Me – Alicia Keys


Speaking of unnecessary intros, Alicia Keys has to deal with some skeevy director in her new video. Maybe he was the one who forced her to wear that horrible Barbara Streisand / A Star Is Born wig. She was right to rip it off.


Miss Atomic Bomb - The Killers


I did not even realize that was supposed to be an animated version of Brandon Flowers until I saw him with the rest of the animated The Killers. I am still not completely sure that is supposed to be him. And if that is not confusing enough, apparently the old dude is the old Brandon. Then to make it even more confusing Eric Roberts shows, which I guess this makes it a sequel to Mr. Brightside? Does that make Mr. Brightside and Miss Atomic Bomb a couple? The band must have felt very reminiscent this week because they also released their second Tim Burton directed video (but not stop motion animated but just as weird as Bones) for Here with Me. The video makes me wonder when Hollywood is going to get around to a Mannequin remake.


C'mon Let Me Ride - Skylar Grey featuring Eminem


I liked Skylar Grey when she was a moody indie chick, but this, oh goodness no. This song is horrible even if it is supposed to be semi-ironic, which I am not even sure it is supposed to be.

Thursday, December 06, 2012

We On Award Tour: 2013 Grammy Nominations


The Grammy’s hit primetime again to announce next year’s nominations, or at least to the categories that anyone cares about (you will have to hit the internet to see if you were nominated for Best Hawaiian Album) with some performances by artists not good enough to perform on the actual show (sorry Ne-Yo, no major nominations for you). Oddly one of the big four (Song of the Year) was relegated to search the internet. The big news this year is they unsegregated the categories by genre which did not favor male pop performers (all chicks), RnB or country chicks (only one nominated in each). Here are the categories that were televised:


Pop Vocal Album
Stronger – Kelly Clarkson
Ceremonials – Florence + the Machine
Some Nights – Fun.
Overexposed – Maroon 5
The Truth About Love – P!nk

Should Win: Some Nights
Will Win: Stronger
Should Have Been Nominate: Little Broken Hearts - Norah Jones – Norah Jones

Kind of a boring category, but pop has been boring lately so I guess it is apropos because I had a hard time think something else that deserve to be nominated, maybe Norah Jones who I do not think qualifies as pop anymore, or possibly Kimbra, but she did not have much success except for singing with Gotye.


Record of the Year
Lonely Boy – The Black Keys
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson
We Are Young – Fun featuring Janelle Monáe
Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye featuring Kimbra
Thinkin Bout You – Frank Ocean
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift

Should Win: Lonely Boy
Will Win: Somebody That I Used to Know
Should Have Been Nominated: Ho Hey – The Lumineers

Just throw out Clarkson and Swift for being extremely cheesy and the final four is extremely competitive category, any of which are deserving of winning. The only way they could have made it tougher had they added the much deserved Ho Hey or Norah Jones Happy Pills.


Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

Should Win: The Lumineers
Will Win: Frank Ocean
Should Have Been Nominated: Gotye

Best New Artist is the only category that seems to have quotas so Hunter Hayes took the token country spot that should have gone to the more deserving Gotye who got the shaft because Fun. took the token pop slot probably because they were able to score a second hit (sorry teen girls, no love for the crappy Carly Rae Jepsen and / or One Direction). The big surprise was the inclusion on Alabama Shake who put out a good album but it was little listened to outside of rock critics. And since this is always the most shocking category, do not count them out.


Best Country Solo Performance
Home – Dierks Bentley
Springsteen – Eric Church
Cost of Livin' - Ronnie Dunn
Wanted – Hunter Hayes
Over – Blake Shelton
Blown Away – Carrie Underwood

Eh, do not care.


Album of the Year
El Camino – The Back Keys
Some Nights – Fun.
Babel – Mumford and Sons
Channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean
Blunderbuss – Jack White

Should Win: El Camino
Will Win: Babel
Should Have Been Nominated: Handwritten – The Gaslight Anthem

Over the last couple years the Grammy’s usually likes to throw in some crappy pop artist to make them seem cool (see Katy Perry) so it was shocking that they actually nominated five really good albums. Really any of them deserve to win, I think Mumford and Sons have a slight edge because they are the biggest artist right now not named Adele. But aparently rock is not dead with three of the five come from that genre, four if you count Fun. because they do play their own intraments.


If you go through all 100 plus categories, six artists tied with six nominees each: Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys (he also got nominated for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical along with all his band’s nominations), Frank Ocean, Fun, Mumford and Sons, while Jay-Z and Kanye West racked up all theirs in the not cool enough for prime time. You will have to head over to Grammy.com for the full list, but here is the other big catergory that was missing from the live telecast.


Song of the Year
The a Team - Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
Adorn - Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
Call Me Maybe - Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
We Are Young - Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)

Should Win: We Are Young
Will Win: Stronger
Should Have Been Nominated: Anything but Call Me Maybe

I now understand why they did not televise this category: Call Me Maybe was nominated. Keep in mind this is a songwriter’s award. “I just met you, and this is crazy, so here's my number, call me maybe.” Seriously. You know there is something wrong when Kelly Clarkson quoting Nietzsche is not the most absurb nomintion for a songwriting award.

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Find Your Peace of Mind with Some Indie Record Much Cooler Than Mind


Red - Taylr Swift

Over her first three albums, Taylor Swift has made country pop that moved closer and closer to the latter genre. But earlier this year she recorded a song for The Hunger Games Soundtrack with The Civil Wars. Safe and Sound was dark and moody and the second best song in her career (I still contend that Our Song is the second finest pop song written over the past decade). The song really got me excited for her next album as I was hoping Safe and Sound was the direction she was heading in her career. Then she released We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, a song so sugary it makes Call Me Maybe sound like Radiohead in comparison. Ugg.

The song was the latest ear candy from the teen pop svengali Max Martin who produced three songs on Red. The other notable song Martin contributed to is the “dub-step” I Knew You Were Trouble that really does not drop the bass like the DJ’s that make the subgenre famous and just comes off across a watered down version of dub-step. It really is just a novelty for Swift because is you listen to the acoustic version of the song it is much better. The other Martin enhance song is the forgettable 22 where Swift makes fun of hipsters, echoing her slam of indie records during We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.

Aside from Max Martin, Taylor brings in a few more collaborators for the new album. Dan Wilson, who co-wrote Someone Like You, co-wrote Treacherous with Swift but just does not hit the heights of the Adele monster hit or even his work on the last Dixie Chicks record. The Last Time features Gary Lightbody and comes across more like a Snow Patrol castoff than a Taylor Swift song. She alaso duets with Ed Sheeran on Everything Has Changed and the acoustic ballad sound more like something you would find on his album. Of court that may be the point of these duets because Safe and Sound sounded much more like a song by The Civil Wars.

But Red is at its best when Swift goes back to writing by herself. The best song on the album is actually stuck at the end. Begin Again is a sweet ballad where Swift is ready to move on with a James Taylor fan. As the second single it is a great yin to We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’s yang. Really Swift should stick to writing by herself or work just with The Civil Wars and T-Bone Burnett for now on.

Song to Download – Begin Again

Red gets a Terror Alert Level: Elevated [YELLOW] on my Terror Alert Scale.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

I Want My Music Television - 10/30/12


There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.

Begin Again - Taylor Swift


Begin Again may just overtake Mine as the most Taylor Swift-y video Taylor has ever made. And I know women do not like wearin the same clothes more than once, but Taylor, it is perfectly okay if you wear that purple dress again and frequently. Actually come to think aqbout it, she may have already reused it because it kind of looks like the Speak Now cover dress.


Here Comes My Man - The Gaslight Anthem


It is clear that Elisha Cuthbert found the role of her career on Happy Endings where she plays a half wit whose charm is that she cannot take a joke because trying act serious again in the new Gaslight Anthem is not working.


Stubborn Love – The Lumineeers


Ho Hey is a great song, but a bit of a novelty because it cribs its chorus from Naughty by Nature (or so I assume), Stubborn Love shows that The Lumineers can still write a great song without novelty, just awesomeness. Also, “The opposite of love is indifference” may be the best lyric of 2012.


Let’s Go – Matt and Kim


When Matt and Kim released their first music video for Let Go, I was a bit disappointed because they always release creative videos and it only featured a dude dribbling a basketball. The new video is much more entertaining featuring ever cheesy family portrait that may or may not be taken by Ross Geller.

Sunday, September 09, 2012

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 9/9/12


Quote of the Week: Ask Osama bin Laden if he is better off than he was four years ago. (John Kerry, The Democratic National Convention)

Song of the Week: Ronan – Taylor Swift (Stand Up 2 Cancer; proceeds of the song go to cancer research)

Big News of the Week: The Democratic National Convention: It is weird to hear every talk about how great a president Bill Clinton was, even may conservative talking heads considering the guy was so toxic back in 2000 Democratic nominee Al Gore treated his boss like, well, like Mitt Romney treated George W. Bush at his convention. Seriously people, if you have forgotten, go Google Monica Lewinski, Paula Jones, Vince Foster, and / or Marc Rich.

I have a longstanding voting strategy to never vote for incumbents because the longer politicians stay in office, the more corrupt they become. But I would have totally voted for Barack Obama had his convention speech just been him walking up to the front of the stage, say, “I shot Osama bin Laden in the face.” Drop the mic and watch off the stage while Bob Marley’s I Shot the Sheriff played in the background.

Preview Picture of the Week:

Switched at Birth wedding

Switched at Birth: I actually thought they were going to have Bay forgive Emmitt in less than one episode. That should be unforgiveable, especially for a teenage and ABC Family is not known for its eaklthy relationships (*cough*Aria/Ezra*cough*) so thankfully they have Bay a backbone (for at least one episode). But speaking of unhealthy relationship, that cannot possibly have Daphne hook up with her boss (who I swear is the Kennish’s lawyer with a haircut) can they? Ew.

Grimm: The episode featured a zombie virus that makes you horny. Awesome.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Grimm on iTunes.

MTV Video Music Awards: This year has to rival the painfully bad Vegas year (the one where Britney Spears laughably started the show) as the worst VMA’s ever. Really the only thing worth talking about is how the botched the MCA tribute. C’mon, last year Amy Winehouse gets a ten minute tribute including a performance even though she released just one great album and no memorable videos and never received a VMA or even performed on the show. But the Beastie Boys were one of the top five video artists ever (arguable number two behind Michael Jackson), gave one of the most memorable VMA performances ever with Sabotage, and was one of only a handful of artists to win the Video Vanguard Award. But all MCA gets is about five seconds of No Sleep to Brooklyn played over the loud speaker. MTV should be ashamed.


Free Download of the Week: Everything Is Embarrassing – Sky Ferreira (Rcrd Lbl)

Deal of the Week: Big DVD and Blu Ray Sale: The Big Bang Theory, New Jack City, Gremlins 2

New Album Release of the Week: Away From The World (Super Deluxe Limited Edition CD/DVD) - Dave Matthews Band

New DVD Release of the Week: The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fifth Season

Video of the Week: It seems like every couple months a new movie trailer pops up that makes me go, that has to be a fake Funny or Die trailer because no way anyone would actually make that. When I saw the title Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters I assumed it would be a trailer parody of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, but then Jeremy Renner pops up and I realize this is an actually serious movie. Alrighty.


Next Week Pick of the Week: Parenthood, Tuesday at 10:00: NBC’s staggered start of the fall season with the debut of its Monday and Tuesday lineups (sans Revolution which gets its premiere next week so they can air The New Normal and Go On pilots which are both currently online if you cannot wait; same with Revolution and Animal Practice). And the best show premiering this week is easily Parenthood. If my memory is correct Crosby and Jasmine got married, Julia and Joel got a kid (but sadly they did not adopt the coffee girl and her baby like I hoped), and Adam thankfully did not fire the absurdly hot secretary even though she kissed him. I am most interested in which Friday Night Lights alum pops up this season following in the footsteps of Lyla Garrity and Vince Howard. What is Becky Sproles up to these days?


Wednesday, September 05, 2012

I Want My Music Television - 9/5/12


There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Taylor Swift


In a story I broke last week, Taylor Swift’s new single is painfully bad in a how was someone able to record a song more annoying than Call Me Maybe kind of way. Altthough after its too cheesy for its own good music video, the song is slowly moving into annoyingly cute territory. And for those playing the Who’s Is Taylor Singing About home edition, the video is shot in one take much like the recent music video from former beau John Mayer while the suitor kind of looks like former paramour Jake Gyllenhaal (well someone who looks like Jake and Adam Levine somehow had a grown kid together). Note to self: start cyber-stalking Taylor’s fiddler. Another note to self: make sure you delete the previous “note to self” before posting.


Little Black Submarine – The Black Keys


The Black Keys make some of the most entertaining music videos it is a bit disappointing whenever they do just a straight forward performance based video. Although I have a feeling it would have been epic to have been in the crowd here at a Nashville dive bar.


Lost in the Echo – Linkin Park


As you can see above, the new Linkin Park is very Linkin Park-y with its epic end the world feel to it like many of their previous efforts. If you want a more interesting version of this video (with you as the star) head to lostintheecho.com and link the site up with your Facebook page so you can see overtly happy pictures of your friends in this otherwise creepy video.


She Said OK - Big Boi featuring Theophilus London & Tre Luce


The first two lines of this song are so absurd I could not stop laughing. But seriously, Outkast split so Big Boi could record songs like this?

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

The Five Most Anticipated Albums of Fall 2012


Back in April I was surprised in how much good music was released that month and hoped that it was a sign of things to come. It was not because good music was few and far in-between of the summer month. But with Christmas just around the corner, record companies are lining up their big guns for release. Here are some I am looking forward to. Click the artist name to be taking to their iTunes page, and the name of the album to pre-order it on Amazon. Release dates are subject to change.

1. Babel – Mumford & Sons (September 25): The band may not have kickstarted the folk rock revival of recent years (that may go to the second band on this list), but the put it into high gear. The managed to outsell almost everyone else in that time not named Adele and now they look to shake the sophomore slump. They said that they have not changed their sound from their debut and first single I Will Wait backs up their charge which had fans of their first album dusting off their air banjos.

2. The Carpenter – The Avett Brothers (September 11): If there is such a thing as folk-punk, The Avett Brothers are it. The Carpenter is the group’s second album produced by Rick Rubin who was behind the board for their breakthrough I and Love and You and lives up to the greatness of its predecessor. Cannot wait a week to give the album a listen? You are in luck because npr.com is streaming The Carpenter in its entirety.

3. Away from the World – Dave Matthews Band (September 11): The big news about Dave and the boys eighth studio album is it their first in over a decade with producer Steve Lilywhite who produced their first three albums (and the aborted fourth album that got leaked to the internet under the moniker The Lilywhite Session before getting a proper released that Stephan Harris finished producing under the appropriately titled Busted Stuff). First single Mercy is a bit sleepy, but for some reason their first singles off their albums are never the best (my guess is the reason is their best songs are over the radio friendly five minutes long).

4. Battle Born – The Killers (September 18): I have a love / hate relationship with the band. I loved their dance rock debut / hated their pretentious we want to be Springsteen follow up. By the time their third album came around I was ready to reluctantly accept their absurdity. After hearing the first single off their four album Runaways, it sounds like the Vegas boys are still looking for that elusive last chance power drive. And still coming up short.

5. Red – Taylor Swift (October 22): Okay, first single We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together is painfully bad (although the cute one take accompanying music video almost makes it listenable, almost) but I will admit I am an unabashed fan of her first three albums. Last time around, Swift wrote and co-produced every song on Speak Now and for better or worse she is bring in a bunch of collaborators including pop maestro Max Martin (which would be part of the “worst” considering he is responsible for Never Ever). The only other confirmed collaborator is English songwriter Ed Sheeran.


Today
SunCat Power
NorthMatchbox Twenty
MagicSmash Mouth

September 11
Tempest – Bob Dylan
La FuturaZZ Top
UndisputedDMX
CoexistThe xx

September 18
Mirage RockBand of Horses
The Sound Of The Life Of The MindBen Folds Five
Hallelujah! I'm a BumLocal H
TomorrowlandRyan Bingham
Kanye West Presents Good Music Cruel Summer
CharmerAimee Mann
I Bet On SkyDinosaur Jr.
The Spirit IndestructibleNelly Furtado
KissCarly Rae Jepsen

September 25
Cedar + Gold – Tristan Prettyman
Food & Liquor II: The Great American RapLupe Fiasco
UnoGreen Day
Mystic PinballJohn Hiatt
Push And ShoveNo Doubt

October 2
Glad All OverThe Wallflowers
Traveling AloneTift Merritt
The 2nd LawMuse
Born To Sing: No Plan BVan Morrison

October 9
Wrote a Song for Everyone – John Fogerty
PinesA Fine Frenzy
Songs for the End of the WorldRick Springfield
Monster - KISS

October 16
Former Lives – Ben Gibbard
Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary

October 23
The Haunted Man – Bat for Lashes
Man With the Iron Fists
TBD – Gary Clark Jr.

October 30
Merry Christmas, BabyRod Stewart

November 6
Music From Another DimensionAerosmith

November 13
Dos – Green Day
TBD – Soundgarden
Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors – Big Boi

November 27
Girl on Fire – Alicia Keys
The Art of War III – Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

January 15
Tre – Green Day

TBD
James River – D'Angelo
Watch the Throne 2 – Kanye West and Jay-Z
Psychedelic Pill – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Matangi – M.I.A.
Indicud – Kid Cudi
The Evil Empire of Everything – Public Enemy
Rooted – Scarface
Alice In Chains
Christina Aguilera
The Bird and the Bee

And let’s not forget the obligatory this may be the year that Dr. Dre releases Detox. Of course if he does, that may mean the Mayans were right.