Much has been made of the poor track record for the Grammy’s Best New Artist winners, but the award has also been handed out to such artists as Tom Jones, Carly Simon, Mariah Carey, and a little band out of Liverpool, England, called The Beatles. So don’t write off last year’s winner John Legend just yet. Plus it’s not like Best New Artist was the only golden gramophone that Legend took home that night as he also nabbed two other awards that night. Fun Best New Artist fact, Bob Newhart is also a winner. Yes that Bob Newhart.
On the Best R&B Album of last year Get Lifted, Legend effortless blended classic rhythm and blues with modern day hip-hop thanks to guest producers Kanye West, who also provided a verse, and will.i.am as well as a memorable spot from Snoop Dogg. But even though West and i.am are back behind the boards on the follow up Once Again, gone are the guest rappers as well as any resemblance to a hip-hop beat. Instead the album is inspired by some of his favorite singers. You can hear Tony Bennett’s influence, whom Legend recently did a duet with, on the opener Save Room where Legend croons over some mellow organs. Then on Show Me, Legend channels Jeff Buckley and puts it over some soul music. While Slow Dance sounds like classic Temptations had John Mayer played guitar for them.
There are times on the album where it sound like Legend is trying to recreate past hits like with Stereo, a song about a golddigger whose “favorite colors are platinum and gold” that might as well be called Used to Love U II. Thanks to the sparse instrumentation aside from the piano and lyrics dealing with relationships, Again could also go by Ordinary People Again. Although the diversity on the rest of the album makes it worth picking up and you might as well start engraving Legend’s name on the Best R&B Album Grammy for the second straight year.
But when it comes down to it, fore those who are missing great baby making albums that seemed to have disappeared along with Babyface’s career this is the album for you. If can’t get things done with songs like Slow Dance or PDA (We Just Don’t Care), where Legend encourages his companion to hook up whenever, wherever, it may be time to look into joining your local monastery. If fact if there are token hot chicks that are (or will be) in the Cleveland-metro area and would like to test out the baby-making ability of this album shout me a holla. (Scooter’s Note: This will only be a test so no actual baby will be made in the test run, just the act of baby making)
Earlier this year, KT Tunstall released one of the best pop albums in recent memory with Eye to the Telescope even garnering a rare Severe rating on my Terror Alert Scale (see: Her Face Is the Map of the World). A couple months after that album, Tunstall released Acoustic Extravaganza, a collection of songs that was recorded in one day, through her website. But now it’s getting a proper release along with an accompanying DVD which includes a making of the album documentary. Don’t expect an acoustic rendering of the big hit Black Horse and the Cherry Tree or even the follow up single Suddenly I See.
Instead, the album is comprises mostly of material that didn’t make the first album and work as acoustics songs instead of converting her hits like a poor version of MTV Unplugged. The last three tracks though are from the album, Miniature Disaster, Universe & U, as well as Throw Me a Rope, which was on the British release of the album but got cut from the Yankee release. But the newer tracks are the real gems most notably the opening track Ashes that bounces along like a country track and is also the song that gets the album its Parental Advisory sticker so be warned. Then One Day could have fit perfectly somewhere on her first album is polished up a little.
As Eye to the Telescope was close to pop perfection, Acoustic Extravaganza fall short of its predecessor thanks in part to the theme of the album. Acoustic songs lend themselves to be mellower than there plugged in counterparts which lead to a lull of too many mellow songs in the middle of the album. Add to that the holdovers from the first album just are not as good as the originals. But with that said, had this had been album that was released first; it would be up there as one of the best of the year.
Back in 2003, in a time when Jack Black was still funny, he made a movie called School of Rock where Black played a long term substitute teacher at a private school who taught his class how to rock so he could enter a battle of the bands. This then spun off a reality show where Gene Simmons of Kiss did basically the same thing, but with the private school’s approval that naturally appeared on VH1. VH1 is now taking the same concept but with rap and the original gangsta himself, Ice-T as the educator in the appropriately titled Ice-T’s Rap School. Iceberg now has a couple weeks to school the Middle Schoolers in all that is hip-hop before the final exam which is opening up for Public Enemy. Of course it’s Public Enemy because VH1 much fill their minimum requirement to feature Favor Flav on their channel.
But the stars of the show are the students that have no clue how to rap and weren’t even born when Ice recorded New Jack Hustler. The standout is Sophia who complained after Ice announced they were taking a field trip to the South Bronx that she would be shot, murdered, and raped. Then later she endured herself less to Ice when she said that sunglasses he handpicked for her to were “Ghetto.” If Sophia moved out to the west coast in two or three years she could easily be the new star of Laguna Beach. Then there is Dodge who wears pinstripe suits over his prep school uniform and listens to old school music. And by old school I’m not referring to Ice-T, no even older like stuff from the forties.
The cast is rounded out by a student with a stutter, your token kid with a bad case of attention deficit disorder, the stock market playing kid, the uber-shy fat chick, the poor girl who attends the school on scholarship, and another token mean girl that is Sophia’s running mate. The very British headmaster may be showing up quite often as Ice got called to the principal’s office in his first week complaining that he was dressing the kids up like little gangstas. Apparently Mr. Headmaster didn’t do his homework before letting Ice-T supervise his students. Not to mention I don’t think Ice is Highly Qualified under the No Child Behind Act.
Verdict: For a guy who made his living on very aggressive lyrics, Ice surprising is very good around the kids (maybe it’s all those years seeing the bad side of adults and how they treat children with his tenure on Law and Order). Ice-T’s Rap School is a show that is actually something for the whole family, which is rare on television these days. New episodes of Ice-T’s Rap School airs Fridays at 9:00 on VH1 (of course the episodes will be repeated constantly) and you can check out deleted and extended scenes on VH1’s broadband channel VSPOT.
There are very few artists that would open up their album with another artist’s song, but not even VH1 loves the eighties more than Diddy, seriously, this guy even sampled Christopher Cross. So at the start of Diddy’s latest album Press Play, the first sounds you hear are those of Tears for Fears. But surprisingly this is the only eighties sample on the album. What’s more surpising is that as a guy who came up as a producer, Diddy handed over the production reigns for the majority of the album to those that have surpassed him in recent years like Kanye West, the Neptunes, will.i.am and the underappreciated Rich Harrison who has brought us such club bangers as Crazy in Love and 1 Thing.
The artist formally known as Puff Daddy claims the name of the album Press Play comes from what the album would make you do, sit down and press play without having to skip any tracks. Granted that concept was thrown out of the window with the release of the first single Come to Me featuring the only Pussycat Doll that I think actually sings. What exactly are the other Dolls there for, to stay in the background and do things that embarrass their daddies? But anyways. This really hasn’t been a good year for artists who over hype their albums (see Angels and Airwaves, The Killers, and Ludacris). Who would have thought that Paris Hilton would be the marketing mastermind who set the bar so low that even though her album was by far the worst released of the year, possibly ever, people actually thought it was good compaired to what they expected.
Much like his previous ones, this album is guest appearance heavy. On almost every song, Diddy brings in someone to sing his hooks ranging to big names like Mary J Blige to lesser known artist such as Keri Hilson. The best though is Christina Aguilera who shows up on the Just Blaze produced Tell Me. Unlike previous album, Diddy doesn’t push down his Bad Boy rappers down our throat, in fact there are very few guest rappers on the album as side from Big Boi of Outkast, Twista, and Nas who shows up on the Kanye West produced Everything I Love. Naturally when you throw together Nas and Kanye with Cee-Lo, one half of Gnarls Barkley, singing the hook over some great horns that sound like they are from the Late Registration sessions, you got a hot track.
Unfortunately Diddy didn’t have Kanye and Nas to save the rest of the album. The Neptunes fall from grace continues with another bland track in the album closer Partners for Life featuring the past expiration date Jamie Foxx. The back to back Though the Pain (She Told Me) and Thought You Said blend together making one extremely long ten minute song that will make you look at you watch wondering when it will end. Puffy does try out different styles which is a novel idea. The Future is his attempt at hard core militant sound in a track produced by Havoc from Mobb Deep who was also behind the boards for the grimy Hold Up. Continuing his futuristic techno from Justin Timberlake’s latest album, Timbaland adds that same sound to Diddy Rock. But it doesn’t say much about the song when it’s a leftover beat from an already poor album. But Diddy is back to loving the eighties on the will.i.am produced Special Feeling that sounds like classic Prince. Well that’s if you take out the charismatic Prince singing and replace it with the anemic rapping of Diddy.
Scooter Note: To make this review hopefully more entertaining than it already is, a prize to the first person who correctly counts to the amount of Chris Hansen references throughout the review. And by prize I mean a pat on the back. And by pat on the back I mean a virtual pat on the back. Good luck.
There really isn’t anything more annoying than thirteen year old white girls who act black, yet JoJo’s debut single Leave (Get Out), Ebonics and all (You was just a waste of time), was disturbingly good in a Chris Hansen will be waiting for you in your kitchen kind of way. After taking a break from music to make a couple movies that I avoided to see for fear that Chris Hansen would jump out from behind the concession stand with a bunch o cameras. Now the former reality show loser (remember America’s Most Talented Kids hosted by reality star in his own right Mario Lopez? No? Oh never mind) is back much to the delight to underage girls who love Ebonics with the release of The High Road.
Also thanks to the release undoubtedly Chris Hansen has been busy especially with the rain drenched first video of the album Too Little, Too Late topping iTunes most downloaded video for most of the past month. The song is yet another kiss off to a bad boyfriend. Wow this girl has had her heart broken more times before she’s gotten a driving license than I’ve had in my entire life. Well that would be wrongly assuming that JoJo actually writes her own song. In fact there were nineteen people with writing credits on the album. For those keeping track at home, there are only twelve songs on the album. And with titles such as The Way You Do Me and How to Touch a Girl, some of those songwriters should be expecting a visit from Chris Hansen sometime soon.
And now the top 10 lyrics from JoJo’s The High Road that if you hear spoken in the kitchen of a girl you met on the internet there’s a good chance Chris Hansen will be surprising you:
10. We can go the distance homie. (Good Ol’)
9. The morning in, I know you wanted to. Come on let’s go, you know just what to do. (Like That)
8. Yo I don't know what you do when you do what you do boy. (Anything)
7. Don’t be in a rush to end mid night, feel something happening. (How to Touch a Girl)
6. I’m ready to, make this thing official cause I don’t want to lose you. (Like That)
5. Promise me when I see you, you’ll do me like that. (Like That)
4. This time I’m gonna let you take it where it should be this time I wont say no. (This Time)
3. Cause every time that we rendezvous I don't wanna go back home. (Anything)
2. We can get it poppin even thump in the parkin lot. (Good Ol’)
1. Boy the way you do me. Why you gotta be so good when you give it to me? (The Way You Do Me)
What is really disturbing is after forty minutes of all these double (and sometimes single) entendres, the album concludes with a Note to God where JoJo does just that by asking all the hate to go away and all the other things you would here from Beauty Queen contestants after they just got done strutting around in a bikini in a room full of dirty old man. Mmm, that ended up being a better comparison than I expected.
The album starts off with This Time which sounds like a lost track from the Cassie album, which isn’t a good thing (check out my review: It’s Not That Deep). You need more reasons to hate the song? Well it was produced by Scott Storch, the guy responsible for Paris Hilton and Brooke Hogan. Then in the middle of the album it was as if someone switched the dial on the radio to an eighties station as Toto start singing Africa in mono, then the beat comes only for JoJo to start singing over the song which she calls Anything.. Even though he isn’t credited I have a sinking suspicion that Puff Daddy was involved. But let’s hope that the lead singer of Toto doesn’t get a visit from Chris Hansen as a result of the song.
It looks like three isn’t a charm as both Veronica Mars and Lost took a step back for the third episodes in there third season. But keep in mind Veronica Mars is like the U2 of television, even their worse stuff (i.e. Pop) is still better than ninety percent than everything else out there. As for Lost, this past episode was still more entertaining than most from season two. With no clear cut winner, let’s go to the Toss Up to see which one was better:
Grows the Sticky-Icky-Icky Lost: John’s buddies grows mass amounts for reasons unknown Veronica Mars: The sorority grows mass amounts to ease the den mother’s chemo sessions Winner: Veronica Mars
Back for the First Time Lost: Hurley, Desmond, Eko, Locke, Charlie, and Claire Veronica Mars: Weevil Winner: Lost
Flashbacks Lost: Once again we don’t learn why Locke’s in the wheelchair complete with someone abusing his trust again Veronica Mars: We revisit the linebacker’s night in slow motion complete with Guitar Hero Winner: Veronica Mars
Apologies Lost: Locke apologies to Eko for being wrong about the numbers Veronica Mars: Veronica and Logan both apologize for not compromising in their relationship Winner: Lost
Last Seen Lost: We get a (very small) glimpse of new Lost cast member who was last seen on Related Veronica Mars: Veronica’s new dean was last seen on Arrested Development without any eyebrows Winner: Veronica Mars
Turn On Lost: The FBI dude uses Locke to catch the drug ring Veronica Mars: Trish stole her boyfriend’s playbook Winner: Lost
New job Lost: New Locke flashback, new job for John adding commune farmer to box company worker, toy store employee, and realtor Veronica Mars: In the course of one episode Weevil works at the carwash (which wasn’t as fun as the song would have you believe), for Keith, and for the Dean Winner: Veronica Mars
Music T-Shirt Lost: Random dude at the commune was wearing a Geronimo Jackson t-shirt Veronica Mars: The dean’s son wears a Transplants t-shirt in the family photo Winner: Veronica Mars
MIA Lost: Juliet is the only one that doesn’t make an appearance in Locke’s drug inspired dream Veronica Mars: Parker, who apparently didn’t go back home with her parents, and Mac were at the gym for the whole episode Winner: Lost
Treated Like Meat Lost: Eko by the polar bear Veronica Mars: The linebacker by his position coach Winner: Lost
Streaking Lost: This week Desmond Veronica Mars: Last week Logan Winner: All the female viewers (and Ducky)
The Next Miss Cleo Lost: Desmond talks about Locke’s speech before he actually gave it Veronica Mars: The Heart Lampoon said they’d rape the blond in the middle who ended up being raped Winner: Lost
In another squeaker, Lost makes it two wins in a row even though any Locke-centric episode that doesn’t tell us how he got in the wheelchair is a worthless episode. Instead in the flashback we again see a fully mobile Locke who looks to be hanging out with others with daddy issues. The only thing we really learn in the flashback that we didn’t already know is how Locke learned how to make the hallucinogen that he used on Boone during the first season.
Speaking of Boone, the big news of the episode was his return when John used the stuff on himself. This then lead to a dream sequence and really there is nothing I hate more than dream sequences. I never know what I’m supposed to get from it. Was this really what the island wanted Locke to know? Was this just what was in Locke’s subconscious all along? I really hate when television show to this as it’s the worst cliché up there with amnesia and when dudes bet that they can take the ugly chick and make her cool, even though the ugly chick that is chosen is actually kind of attractive even before the makeover.
Back in reality, we finally learn the worst kept secret on television that Locke, Eko and Desmond all survive the implosion. Apparently a side effect of it was that somehow Desmond traded his cloths for being able to see the future, how very Heroes of him. Turn in next week to find out if Eko quickly heals from his bear attack and Locke begins to fly. Then there was Hurley’s reaction who gave the most overdramatic look ever.
Then on Veronica Mars there was the rare misstep. Maybe it was too heavy in the Veronica/Logan relationship which I hope ends sooner than later. Then there was the poor linebacker storyline that turned out to be the least buyable suspect the girlfriend who was last seen on Supernatual as the extremely hot Death. I definitely would follow her into the dark. But anyways. Maybe she will stick around as Piz’s boss. But the big news of the episode though was the Madison Sinclair reference. Maybe she’s stuck around Neptune to continue being on the Lamb and will see her sooner than later.
But to pinpoint the problem it most likely has to do with Ronnie almost dropping the whole rape case. Last episode she was ready to find the guilty party and publicly hang them but didn’t do anything with that case with Parker being completely missing in action this episode. And while Ronnie was sitting on her butt yet another girl got raped although we didn’t learn the status of her hairdo. But we were introduced to a couple new suspects in the editors of the Hearst Lampoon and the sport betting guy. We were also introduced to the dean of Heart who certainly is no Van Clemmons.
In other Veronica Mars news, click the name to subscribe to the new official Veronica Mars Podcast. You can find interviews, commentary from the writers and even a video version of a tour of the set. And of course you can also check out the official Lost Podcast as well.
In a story I broke yesterday, VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors were last night and for three straight years it failed to disappointed putting the yearly event right up there with the Grammy’s and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Oddly enough for a show that celebrates hip-hop, the show started off with a bunch of people. But the Law and Order skit was hilarious with Ice-T’s cast members from SVU talking about there favorite honorees and T showing up late to ceremony only to be replaced by Mike B. Keep in mind Mike B could just be your next president. (See the end of the post for the video of the skit) As for the show, VH1 were really smart making ?uestlove of The Roots the musical director and should bring him in every year. Here are some thoughts on this year’s honorees and performances:
- The Beastie Boys kick thing off and surprisingly Tracy Morgan was actually funny intriguing them. Q-Tip, the recently bullet-ridden Fabolous, and Diddy come up in full B-Boy get up and spit probably the most recognizable Beastie verse with the start of Paul Revere but not surprisingly they cut off the song before they got to the part about the whiffle ball bat. Then the Beastie themselves came out to a rousing version of So Whatchcha Want, even switching the beat to the one from Fabolous’ Breathe.
- Now I’ve long held onto the belief that chicks shouldn’t rap, but I have to admit if I were to make a mix tape that represents 1996 for me MC Lyte’s Cold Rock a Party would be on it because no party during that summer didn’t feel right if it didn’t feature that song.
- Whenever you see a list of the greatest MC’s you will most likely see Biggie or 2-Pac, but whenever you see a list that is complied by rappers themselves, it would be Rakim that would be on top. Naturally one of the best lyricists of today, Common came out to introduce him. The tribute featuring Black Thought and Talib Kweli. Really there is no better way to start off a house party that something that features the bassline from Paid in Full. And hopefully the long delayed Rakim album comes out soon because the new track was tight especially with the Roots backing him. The horns were off the hook.
- When I first got into N.W.A. it was around the album that I can’t reprint here because my censors won’t allow it. But this was right after Ice Cube left the group and like many rap feuds back then you had to pick your side, do for years I refused to listen to Cube until he did that song with Dr. Dre. The dude from Pimp My Ride did a good job at Check Yo Self. Who knew he would rap?
- Russell Simmons gets the only non- music induction this year deservedly. Hip-Hop doesn’t reach the masses if it weren’t for Def Jam. But where was the love for his running mate at the label Rick Rubin? Nice mix of songs played during his tribute.
- With Eazy-E and Ice Cube being honored kind of makes you wonder why not honor N.W.A. as a whole? No surprise my favorite Eazy-E song, Gimmie Dat Nutt doesn’t make the tribute. Oh well. But my homies from just a couple miles north of me, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony crawled out of obscurity to perform their tribute song The Crossroads.
- I never got into the theatrics of Afrika Bambaataa but it’s nice to see him get his due and it seemed natural that Outkast introduced his tribute with George Clinton and Bootsy Collins participating. Odd that was the only honoree in the history of the show that didn’t perform.
- If there is one thing that I have learned in my life is that Wu-Tang Clan is nothing to (expletive deleted) with. Nice to see the Clan reunite on stage with all the members showing up (sans Ol’ Dirty Bastard, R.I.P.). I remember seeing the troupe perform back in 1998 when they toured with Rage Against the Machine. Granted they were a half an hour late to the venue. And when they arrived the spent time playing basketball backstage before actually coming out minus three members. And when they did they only gave a twenty minute set because they had to get off stage so Rage could do their set before curfew. So it was great to see them perform C.R.E.A.M. and Triumph with Method Man actually jumping into the crowd to spit his verse.
Looking forward to next year, here are my suggestions to honor next year: A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, EPMD, N.W.A., Leaders of the New School, and Slick Rick (feel free to share who you think should be honored and be sure to scroll down to check out my lyrics quiz to see if you can answer any that are left). You can watch performances from the show at VSPOT and I'm sure VH1 will repeat throught the next couple weeks.
Tonight is the premiere of the third annual Hip-Hop Honors on VH1 so I though I’d dust off a Best Of compilation I made for one of this year’s honorees, the Beasties Boys. How they weren’t a first ballot induction is baffling, but better late than never. The Hip-Hop Honors has quickly become one of the best shows on the musical calendar just below the Grammy’s and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. I got a sneak peak of tonight’s festivities and it is worth tuning in just to see which MC’s perform Paul Revere. Yeah the show is airing opposite of Veronica Mars, but keep in mind this is VH1 so aside from airing at 9:00, it will also re-air at 11:40 and 11:00 AM tomorrow and I wouldn’t be surprised it shows up on VH1’s broadband channel VSPOT soon. This Best Of clocks in at 76:33:
In more hip-hop news, I have some really great news, former Hip-Hop Honoree with Public Enemy, Flavor Flav and his show Flavor of Love is now available on iTunes, so click the link to download your favorite episode (mine being the spit seen round the world). You can also now download Strange Love too.
And in other iTunes news, you can download a free preview of the upcoming Tenacious D movie from the store. I haven’t had the time to look at it yet, but I’m hoping it’s at least funnier than Jack Black’s stint at the VMA’s this year. But hey, it's free so click on their name to download it. While you're there you can also pre-order their new album but it is not free though.
One last thing, please scroll down to the Lyrics Quiz to see if you can guess any of the remaining lyrics which now have hints. Also if you think there is a song missing from my Beastie Boys list, feel free to tell me what you would add or replace in the comment section.
Two years ago while trying to decide whether I wanted to vote for the guy who did a horrible job and a guy who would most mostly do a horrible job I made myself a playlist for my iPod with songs that reminded me of the election. Some were political ones while other were void of any politics and dealt with Americana or places within the nation. Now with the midterm elections less than a month away, I thought I’d duct off that playlist as most races in my district are between two candidates that aren’t really highly qualified for the job. Now I’m not going to tell you haw to vote (just please do so), but for this month’s lyrics quiz I thought I pick twenty-five songs (of one hundred and sixteen) from that playlist that maybe will help you when election day comes around this year. As always, put both the song title and artist in the comment section and if you are right, I will un-bold the song and give you credit. Now onto the quiz:
Hints: 1. As someone already guessed, the artist is Grandmaster Flash (although there are 5 other members), but the song is not guess. The song does have two words, one of which is “The.” 4. Sadly, this singer died shortly after recorded this song so he didn’t get to see how the song because one of the greatest soul recordings of all time. 7. A blatant blast at George Bush and others with huge egos; also claim he’s “no Elvis” to boot. 21. This song title was originally the title of the album that it was on, but the band changed the album’s name to the band’s name when September 11th happened shortly after the release. 22. Another band on this quiz (#11) did an amazing version of this song on a live album. 24. Someone has already correctly guessed the artist; all I need is the song title.
1. Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge, I’m trying not to lose my head. It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under. 2. It helps to make friends. It’s good to meet girl. A sweet little queen that can’t run away. (It's Good to Be King - Tom Petty; guessed by Kristi) 3. It was a big high wall there that tried to stop me. Sign was painted, it said “Private Property.” And on the back side it didn’t say nuthin’. (This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie; guessed by Erica) 4. It’s been too hard living but I’m afraid to die because I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky. 5. Colored lights can hypnotize, sparkle someone else’s eyes. (American Woman - The Guess Who (or Lenny Kravitz); guessed by Erica) 6. Early morning April 4th, shots rang out in the Memphis sky. Free at last, they took your life. (Pride (In the Name of Love) - U2; guessed by Angie) 7. If I met you in a scissors fit I cut off both your wings on principle alone. 8. Freedom came my way one day, and I started out of town yeah. (I Shot the Sheriff - Bob Marley; guessed by Kristi) 9. Now Watergate doesn’t bother me, now does your conscience bother you? (Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd; guessed by Kristi) 10. Let the president answer a higher anarchy. Strap him with an Ak-47, let him go, fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way. No more blood for oil. (Mosh - Eminem; guessed by Erica) 11. Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses. And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control. (Killing in the Name Of - Rage Against the Machine; guessed by Trish) 12. Away, away you have been banished, your land is gone and given to me. And here I will spread my wings. Yes I will call this home. (Don't Drink the Water - Dave Matthews Band; guessed by Angie) 13. Some folks inherited star spangled eye, oh they’ll send you down to war. (Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival; guessed by Kristi) 14. We don’t need no education. (Another Brick in the Wall part 2 - Pink Floyd; guessed by Miz) 15. There’s battle lines’ being drawn. Nobody’s right is everybody’s wrong. Young people speaking their mind getting so much resistance from behind. (For What it's Worth - Buffalo Springfield; guessed by Kristi) 16. How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free? How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see? (Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan; guessed by Kristi) 17. I just did what I always do, everyday the same routine before I skate off to school. Who knew that this day wasn’t like the rest? Instead taking the test I took two to the chest. (Youth of the Nation - P.O.D.; geussed by some random person) 18. Everybody’s got a bomb we could all die any day. But before I let that happened I’ll dance my life away. (1999 - Prince; guessed by Angie) 19. I know things will get better; you’ll find work and I’ll get promoted. We’ll move out of the shelter, buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs. (Fast Car - Tracy Chapman; guessed by Angie) 20. We want more than this world’s got to offer. We want more than the wars of our fathers. (Meant to Live - Switchfoot; guessed by Erica) 21. I’m not along because the TV’s on, yeah. I’m not crazy because I take the right pills everyday. 22. Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand or decent job or a helpin' hand. Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free, look in their eyes Mom you'll see me. 23. But if you wanna leave, take good care. Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there but just remember there's a lot of bad and beware. (Wild World - Cat Stevens; guessed by Miz) 24. No prints can come from fingers if machines become our hands. And then our feet become the wheels, and then the wheels become the cars, then the rigs begin to drill until the drilling goes too far. 25. I support the left, though I’m leaning to the right. But I’m just not there when it’s coming to a fight. (Politician - Cream; guessed by Kristi)
Since I’m well out of the MTV demographic I missed the premiere of the only show on its schedule that I actually still turn into, the Real World/Road Rules challenge. But this is MTV so it replayed ad nausea as well as being able to stream on their broadband channel Overdrive. This season, coming from Brazil, has been dubbed The Duel because it’s everyone for themselves this year with two members going at it in The Duel with the loser going home. The selection processes is somewhat complicated in itself with the winner of that day’s challenge picks a member of the opposite sex who then does the same until there is only one member of that day’s sex left (they alternate guy and girl duels). The last person then in turns picks anyone aside from that day’s winner to go in The Duel with them that night.
But the show really is more about the characters then the challenges themselves. One of the reasons I stopped watching The Real World circa Chicago is because they cast the same people lately. You got two frat boys with either a token gay or black dude while the girls basically are just there to fill out bikinis but rarely have anything that resembles a personality. But luckily there are plenty of screw balls from back when MTV actually cast real characters. Unfortunately some have gone MIA recently like Veronica, Rachel, Julie, and Abram. But in the challenge we have some old faithfuls like Tina, Beth and I’m sure once liquored up I’m sure Brad, Wes, Derrick, C.T. will make for good entertainment. Thankfully they brought some of the Fresh Meat from last season because Casey Cooper was easily the most entertaining reality star MTV has produced in year. Although most of that last season was thanks to how she reacted to her partner Wes so we will see if she is as entertaining without the antagonist.
The challenges this season should be interesting since it will be everyone for themselves. Surprisingly the first challenge the contestants ended up actually teaming up. Beth was the only smart one and went it alone (naturally) forcing the weaker “team” to go towards her almost giving her the win but Robin ended up taking it in the end. Then after the pick ‘em two newbies from Kew West went into The Duel. In what could be the lamest reality challenge ever where the two had to pick how many watermelons they could life, going back and forth until the other said, “do it.” Random Frat Boy ended up losing to Token Gay Guy.
The other challenge was much more interesting in that each person essentially got to choose which other contestants got eliminated by grabbing that person’s lifer preserver and one all their were gone they would be eliminated. Beth was the first one out for the girls (naturally). Fresh Meat/Cancer Survivor Diem ended up winning because no one wanted to be the heel that knocked out the cancer chick. But the real fireworks came afterwards when Beth and Tina threw down. It should be interesting how this plays out because if you look at the super-slow-mo, Tina barely grazes Beth’s forehead even though Beth acted like she got hit square in the jaw by Mike Tyson.
Verdict: The Real World/Road Rules Challenge are the crack and I’m the addict so I will be watching faithfully every week. The Duel airs on MTV Thursdays at 10:00. You can also check the show as well as The Aftershow (this week with special guest Tina) whenever you want on Overdrive.
There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I though I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form so here they are courtesy of YouTube. I advise you to watch them before you read my reviews if you don’t want me to spoil things. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available, if not the link goes to YouTube where you can watch the video in full screen). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.
My new favorite song that no one else is listening to (overtaking I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)). Just when you think Paris Hilton ruined faux-reggae music forever, here comes Lily Allen to make it entertaining again. And what makes this song great, in a time when Kelly Clarkson is content with getting made at an ex-boyfriend, Allen gets even. The best part is when the intruders trashed the LP’s, but them put them back in the case. Classic.
Okay so the song, a remake of the Violent Femmes song, is no Crazy which may sadly send them to one-hit wonder status, but the latest video by Gnarls Barkley may actually be more entertaining than the other one. Granted nothing beats their Star Wars performence at this year's MTV Movie Awards. But seriously, who doesn’t enjoy watching chick on bug lovin’? And what better message than there is no better hallucinogen then bug spray?
Where Gone Baby Gone video is a chuckler, the new Barenaked Ladies video is laugh out loud funny. As funny as Earl Hickey’s mustache is, this guy’s may actually be funnier. Plus the song includes possibly the best line from any song this year, “I was a baby when I learned to suck but you have raised it to an art form.” And as great as this video is, there are making one that may top it as the group is gathering fan submitted air-guitar videos to be included in a second version.
I really didn’t plan on including two British chicks biting black music, but you got to love anyone who uses Tetris in their video. Granted the song by Jay-Z’s latest find, Lady Sovereign is mediocre at best. Really the only thing worse that white dudes rapping are which chicks rapping. Did she really start sing Phil Collins at the end of the song? So for those keeping at home, as a record executive, Jay-Z is batting .000. No wonder why he is getting back into rap.
Both Lost and Veronica Mars have had strong starts to their third seasons with VM squeaking out a victory last week. Now here is this week’s Toss Up:
Floral Dress Lost: Kate is the lone person in a summer dress Veronica Mars: Veronica is one of many in a sea of summer dresses Winner: Veronica Mars
Bald Lost: Sun’s lover Veronica Mars: Parker Winner: Lost
Back for the First Time Lost: Sayid, Sun, Jin Veronica Mars: Sheriff Lamb (check out Tube Talk Girl’s interview with Lamb) Winner: Veronica Mars
Still MIA Lost: Locke, Desmond, Eko, Claire, Hurley, Charlie Veronica Mars: Weevil Winner: Lost
Remember Me Lost: Alex Veronica Mars: Chip Diller Winner: Veronica Mars
Torture Lost: Kate and Sawyer are forced to break and remove rocks Veronica Mars: Logan and Horshack are forced to listen to The Piña Colada Song Winner: Veronica Mars
Tasers Lost: It’s the Other favorite way to keep Sawyer and Kate in line and used it liberally Veronica Mars: It’s Veronica favorite form of defense but wasn’t able to use Mr. Sparky when she wasn’t led to the naked room Winner: Lost
Death Toll Lost: Sun’s lover (and it’s safe to assume the random Other on the yacht is officially dead) Veronica Mars: Cormac Fitzpatrick (and it’s safe to assume that Kendall is officially dead Winner: Lost
Being Monitored Lost: It seems like Not-Henry has cameras all over the compound if the not the whole island Veronica Mars: The den mother has cameras all over the Theta Beta house to keep her stash safe. Winner: Lost
Overbearing Parent Lost: Sun’s father busts in on her in a compromising position Veronica Mars: Parker’s berate her because she can’t think for herself Winner: Lost
Best Line Lost: You taste like fish biscuits Veronica Mars: Vomit, it’s the new mace Winner: Veronica Mars
I Love the 90’s Lost: Charlie Salinger Veronica Mars: Shawn Hunter Winner: Lost
Worst Kept Secret for Next Episode Lost: Locke, Desmond, and Eko all survived the blast last season Veronica Mars: Parker won’t be going home with her parents Winner: Veronica Mars
A surprising early win for Lost this season and hopefully this is signs of things to come as the were unable to string along two good episodes in a row last season and already have two straight right out of the box this season. The big news this week was the return of Sayid, Sun, and Jin. And what’s bigger is that Sun actually killed someone. I though in the final flashback it would turn out that she was going to be the person that pushed out the bald dude out the window but oh well. But the real predictable part of the flashback was that Sun was getting busy with the bald dude, something everyone already assumed.
Elsewhere on the island, Not-Henry continues to get creepier and creepier. First we learn that he enjoys watching people on monitors. Then he offers Jack a chance to go home. It will be interesting what Jack has to do and if he would actually do it. Even though they have CD’s and Stephen King novels, both of which could be leftovers from the early nineties, I’m still not sold that the Others have contact with the outside world just because they have tape of the Red Sox world series victory, just that they have a satellite feed.
As for Veronica Mars, seriously what could be more entertaining than watching Ronnie lesbian dance? I have to say I was half hoping that Vee would end up joining the sorority in the end and take Dream Lily’s advice and experiment in college. Oh well. What’s much more surprising than her not joining the sorority was she left the paper too to work at the library which I assume will be the new girls’ bathroom. But this begs the question; why not continue to work at Java the Hut? It has to pay more (especially with tips) then a work study job.
Of course Ronnie went undercover to investigate the Parker rape and I already have my lead suspect picked out, the RA. This is mainly due to picking George Michael when the college episode last year but since he is unavailable, I still think they will be going with an RA. As for the rape victim herself, it’s pretty safe to assume that Parker once again won’t be able to make her own decision and stick around like Mac asked her. And on the hair front, I really hope they find her a better wig than the one she was sporting during the episode.
But I have to admit I was totally taken out of the Wallace/Logan storyline with the Shawn Hunter sighting. And what’s extremely disturbing is he looks exactly the same since I last saw him. But at least the casting director at Veronica Mars was nice enough help him postpone his inevitable sex tape. And the guest spots didn’t stop there with the geek from Freaks and Geeks (or was he a freak, I always forget which one was which), the token hot chick from Jack and Bobby, and Homer Simpson in the flesh. But with all the absurdity that went along with this storyline, the part that I had the hardest to believe that an intro sociology class would have to do a twenty page research paper. I took upper level courses and never had to do more than ten.
Now it’s time for my far out there theory of the season (or just this mini arc): The serial rapist is a chick. Remember when being questioned by Lamb, Ronnie mentioned when she walked in she heard buzzing and Lamb said what did it sound like and Ronnie said you know and gave him a look. Well I was thinking, what do girls use that buzz? So I think in the end it will turn out that one of the feminists had a bad experience at a Greek party and are trying to set them up to get them all kicked off campus. So there’s my current out-there theory.
Next week on Lost we finally learn the fate of the boys that were in the hatch and presumably Hurley makes it back to camp so it will be interesting how he deals with what he knows. Then Veronica meets the nasty Dean played by the dude with no eyebrows from Arrested Development. Keep in mind our good friend Chip Diller got three hundred points for nailing the Deans wife so it will be interesting to see if that comes back up.
And don't forget to check out Tube Talk Girl's interview with Sheriff Lamb. My favorite part is that Lamb watches my favorite TV show, Pardon the Interuption and the question on who he would like to be "on the Lamb" this season.
![Terror Alert Level: High [ORANGE]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebDZ0qqwOVKMZj7oFSUe8Hm3ax54U9Hp1fThJPgiddTyzcdwx_5SV6E3b7hkKyxbaDiym4COmUXT2YJnsKCUjBHI_a2xZtNoY7qFQRslP5AGO5gLkJwn2ZbO0wIF80ycbKrgPPA/s400/small_high.png)
on my Terror Alert Scale.
where Black played a long term substitute teacher at a private school who taught his class how to rock so he could enter a battle of the bands. This then spun off a reality show where Gene Simmons of 
But the stars of the show are the students that have no clue how to rap and weren’t even born when Ice recorded New Jack Hustler. The standout is Sophia who complained after Ice announced they were taking a field trip to the South Bronx that she would be shot, murdered, and raped. Then later she endured herself less to Ice when she said that sunglasses he handpicked for her to were “Ghetto.” If Sophia moved out to the west coast in two or three years she could easily be the new star of 
The cast is rounded out by a student with a stutter, your token kid with a bad case of attention deficit disorder, the stock market playing kid, the uber-shy fat chick, the poor girl who attends the school on scholarship, and another token mean girl that is Sophia’s running mate. The very British headmaster may be showing up quite often as Ice got called to the principal’s office in his first week complaining that he was dressing the kids up like little gangstas. Apparently Mr. Headmaster didn’t do his homework before letting Ice-T supervise his students. Not to mention I don’t think Ice is Highly Qualified under the No Child Behind Act.
![Terror Alert Level: Guarded [BLUE]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCbHfExiuXqojow1zxkBUX6j-9BHg9IyrfzqR77jnja2Xq6dbv-7iiqMFzp_UKXGcUF9FyAHqCkNxa5uitXa5Xu2Q1OboN9-TLjsaeI1a2eoGLORU4vkTQ54l1C-_cZyn81QHyQ/s400/small_guarded.png)
on my 
.
