Live Blogging: Live Earth

Today is the Live Earth Concerts and since it is supposed to top out at around 90 here today, I thought I would try live blogging for the very first time. You can stream the Live Earth concerts on MSN.

Scooter Update: It is the day after and I have a few more thought on things I didn't get to or didn't see yesterday.

- The Police get great closing out the show. Not that surprising when they brought out John Mayer, who has been known to do an version of Message in a Bottle in concert. But the big surprise was when Kanye West popped up. Yeah the rap was kind of lame with lines like "Sting is the only police cool in the hood" and it was obvious that it wasn't Sting's idea to have him as he mispronounced his name (Kane-ye). But it was a cool way to end the show.

- Roger Waters with the rest of Pink Floyd was a huge letdown even with the weird "Save Our Sausage" pig balloon (get it, because SOS was a running theme and sausage is made from pigs part of Pink's imagery? Oh never mind). It was cool when he brought out the children's choir for Another Brick in the Wall until the chorus hit and you realized that they weren't miked up and they were piping in the album version.

- Who had the Smashing Pumpkins being the only artist (that I saw) to shameless promote their album? Then to make it worse Billy Corgan went on to insinuate the band lackluster sales in the late nineties were because of illegal downloading. No Billy, it was because the product wasn't very good. And it looks like Billy recruited yet another female bassist, his third for the band) and this new one is definitely the most attractive one, you know, in a creepy goth kind of way.

- Shakira straighting her hair: upgrade.

- Unless I missed it, it was nice to see Rihanna skipped her new single Shut Up and Drive. It was silly enough to have a car company sponsor the event. But I'm not sure what was the worse fashion statement of the day, her Sandy at the end of Grease outfit or KT Tunstall's.

8:10 - Well I think I finally hit the wall. It is time to take the dogs out and actually turn of the computer (I'll even switch off the power strip, see I did learn something today). I'll catch up on the rest which includes Bon Jovi, the semi-reunited Smashing Pumpkins, Roger Waters sans Pink Floyd and The Police later and may add them to this later.

7:50 - I got to imagine that Kanye West's string section is getting tired with always being paraded out with weird makeup ever performance. At least Gnarls Barkley dresses up their backing band in cool outfits that they wear with them. He also breaks out Golddigger which he opened his Concert for Diana with. Yeah that was appropriate.

7:35 - Sadly Kelly didn't take my advise as she brings out back to back songs from her new album as the audience visibly thins. Okay Kelly, we get it, you are a bitter chick with daddy issue, it time to move on.

7:25 - It is Kelly Clarkson time and she wisely didn't up with anything from her unlistenable new album. Hopefully that trend continues.

7:10 - Wow, that was a blistering performance of Don't Drink the Water, which is very appropriate for the day's festivities.

6:50 - Okay, that was coo, they just had on the US feed what I assume was from earlier in the UK a massive drum ensemble featuring the drummers from Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queen along with a bunch of what looked like high school age kids. But I can't complain that it got cut off because it is time for one of the best live acts ever, the Dave Matthews Band.

6:30 - I'm really digging this new Alicia Keys song, That's the Thing About Love(?). It's goosebumps good. And when did she get so hot? Maybe it's the sweat or that flattering pink dress she is sporting, but she is looking real good tonight.

6:20 - Looking at his waistline, Randy Jackson won't be running for president any time too. It hard to take energy conservation tips from people that aren't conserving their food intake. He is out to introduce Alicia Keys who starts of with a great medley of For the Love of Money, Living for the City and Mercy, Mercy Me. I can't wait until she finally puts out her next album that should be out by the end of the year.

6:00 - Al Gore is back out and he is now shouting. Bored now. People say you can tell if Gore is going to run in 08 based on his waistline. Well it looks like he won't be running at this point.

5:45 - Now it is time to catch up on some of the acts I missed earlier like Genesis in the UK, Linkin Park in Japan, and Snoop Dogg, who know more about living green than maybe even Al Gore, in Germany all while I wait until Alicia Keys comes back out in the US.

5:30 - Back from dinner and it looks like I missed the start of the John Mayer set. And it looks like John is know longer waiting as he has changed the lyrics to his hit song to "We're not waiting on the world to change." While I was eating I checked out the Bravo broadcast and Dave Holmes actually made me spit out my food when someone said Akon was coming up to which he responded, "Somebody's gonna get humped."

4:45 - Darn I missed all but the end of Fall Out Boy. Oh well. And with Madonna in the UK and Akon in the US, I think I'll take my dinner break now. Be back in an hour or so.

4:35 - Dave Grohl, with his new Jesus look, dedicated Best of You to "you know who". Actually I don't, can someone help me out?

4:20 - The Foo Fighter start off with my favorite song in their catalog All My Life. If that life can't get your blood rushing I'm not sure what could. Then they follow that up with my second favorite Hy Hero. Can Big Me be next?

3:55 - Ludacris really needs a new hype man. I know they can't all be Flavor Flav but c'mon. Now he is preforming Pimpin' All Over the World. I'm sure all that pimpin' has to have a pretty large carbon footprint. It is never a good sign when you set is so bad you make me switch over to the Pussycat Dolls. And no, I still don't wish my girlfriend was hot as any of them because that would be a downgrade.

3:40 - Gee had I known that Keith Urban was going to bring out Alicia Keys to sing Gimmie Shelter I may have watched it live. Well probably not because he was still against the Beastie who set the bar pretty high for best performance of the day on any continent. Of course that is because you, and maybe the Beasties, never know what record Mix Master Mike is going to put. Not it is time for a major lull as the Pussycat Doll are coming up in the UK while Ludacris takes the stage in the US. Seriously who invited the Pussycat Doll, together they probably killed a good chunk of the Ozone every performance with all the hairspray they go through. Well they do save some electricity considering only one of their microphones are ever turned on.

3:35 - It's the fracking Beastie Boys doing fracking Sabotage!!! Frack Yeah!!!

3:25 - It's the fracking Beastie Boys!!!

3:10 - Crap, I turned in early as not to miss the Beastie Boys and happened upon James Blunt butchering Wild World. That's enough to turn Yusuf Islam into an actual terrorist. Please get the Beasties out soon so I can erase this from my mind.

3:00 - I guess I spoke too soon about competing venues as I am having trouble figuring out who I care about less, James Blunt in the UK or Taking Back Sunday in the US and there is always Xzibit in Japan. I may sink to watching Crowded House in Australia because I continue to not dream it's over. Ooo, Beatie Boys are up next in England.

2:55 - Spinal Tap certainly brought out everyone to help them out with Big Bottom yet even though they have about twenty different bassists onstage, it doesn't sound like any of them are actually plugged in but not that it mattered because the visual was good enough.

2:35 - Now that the US event is up and running there are going to be some hard decisions as it goes head to head with Britain. Right now it is either the Spinal Tap (with the dude from The Office) or KT Tunstall (in gold tights, shorts and a tank top, no seriously). Luckily they will be streaming these after the fact. But Live 8 gets the reunited Pink Floyd, Live Earth reunites Spinal Tap. Mmm.

2:05 - Decisions, decisions, upcoming there is Jack Johnson in Australia, Metalica in Britain or the 12 Girls Band back in China. I think I'll go with Jack who wrote one of the best environment song in recent memory, The Horizon Has Been Defeated.

1:50 - Is it wrong that whenever I here Keane's Somewhere Only We Know I instantly think of that horrible Lakehouse movie just because they used the song in the trailer? Then coming up in Japan is AI, I wonder is (s)he is related to the Antwain Merriweather look-a-like TI.

1:45 - There is currently (I assume) a German rapper on the Germany named Jan Delay (who I assume isn't related to Tom, but one can hope) feed right now, this may be the most entertaining thing I have seen all day.

1:30 - Ugg, the Live Earth website really needs to work on the timing. I missed the beginning of Corrine Bailey Rae because it still says she won't be on another ten minutes will Jack Johnson has been going back between 50 and 45 minutes for a while now even though that concert is already over so there shouldn't be any guessing. Cool, John Legend has joined Rae onstage for a version of Mercy Mercy Me.

1:00 - Darn, while watching the Peppers in England, I missed Enrique Iglesias in Germany. Oh well. And what is with him being in Germany, is he big there? (Insert your own Hasslehoff joke here)

12:35 - Chris Rock making fun of Paris Hilton and introducing the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Classic. Oddly enough he called U2 the "Baddest Band in the Land" at the 1997 MTV VMA's. Wow, that was ten years ago, I feel old. And where is Bono in all of this? If you can't get U2 to a charity event, how important can it be?

12:20 - In between acts on the England feel they have "Put Your Computer to Sleep" which is the biggest irony of this whole event because think of the amount of energy is going into including to power all the concerts and the TV's and computers who are watching, and I'm sure all the waste at the events can't be good for the environment. I know if this wasn't on, my computer would be off right now and I'd be outside doing yard work.

12:00 - So while making my lunch, I turn on Bravo's coverage it it is fracking Fergie again. Can we please end the Black Eyed Peas era? And your host on the television is Dave Holmes, the original loser of MTV's Who Wants to Be a VJ contest and Duffy, the short lived VJ from the nineties. C'mon NBC, can't you get the people at Today to work an extra day of the week? Now Duran Duran is playing Notorious. It is weird to hear this song without Kelis from the great Notorious Trick mash-up.

11:50 - Gee, I take a shower because Fergie is on and I get back and John Legend is already done just to be followed by one of the Spice Girls. Did he just get one song. Now it's Duran Duran who I just saw at the Diana Concert so that's my cue to get some lunch. Hopefully I don't miss the Red Hot Chilli Peppers who are next.

11:25 - Insterersting, in Germany, Maria Mena also sang What a Wonderful World, a much better version if not shorter. I wonder if it was suggested to artist to do the song or if it is a coincidence. Only thirty minutes until John Legend hits the stage in England.

10:10 - I liked Paolo Nutini's New Shoes but this dude is not a very good live performer. He is currently butchering What a Wonderful World. I gotta hunt down the Loius Armstrong to remember how great the song is. But there is only ten minutes until 12 Girls Band hits the stage in China. While Eskimo Joe still plays Down Under. They must be huge there to get such a long set. Speaking of Australia, where is Midnight Oil, aren't they a requirement for every event in that country?

10:55 - Finally Al Gore and I'm already nodding off. Poor Al, he hit the interview circuit last week in one of the worst week with the Fourth of July in the middle of the week to take about Live Earth. Then everyone wanted to talk instead about his son getting caught with the sticky-icky and if he would throw his hat into the presidential ring because the current lackluster candidates.

10:45 - Now there are two American Indians. C'mon, there is only one person that I want to bore me today and that is Al Gore. I'm almost ready to switch over to the Australia feed to listen to Eskimo Joe.

10:30 - Random old dude not named Al Gore coming straight from the National Mall. I guess when you ask Congress to okay a concert featuring Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood was a better idea than getting to okay one featuring Akon and Kanye West.

10:20 - A commercial with Jessica Biel in a bathtowl, if that can't get people to recycle, I'm not sure what will. Well, maybe her actually doing my recycling in a bathtowl. And only ten minutes until a speech from Al Gore. Yeah.

10:00 - Okay, this may not be much for normal music fans, but I totally geeked out when David Gray and Damian Rice performed together. Yeah, I like the sappy troubadours.

9:45 - A nice way to wake up is to the sounds of Snow Patrol. Unfortunately they only got three songs. I guess that will be the norm until the big name old timers hit the stage later.

Don't Download These Videos vol. XXIII

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.


Tarantula - Smashing Pumpkins



I got a chance to hear the new Smashing Pumpkin album, Ziegist (look for a review sometime next week) and it sounds like they started right where they left off, musically irrelevant. And a look at the first video, Billy is still rocking the creepy pseudo-psychedelic gear that he was sporting near the end of the first Pumpkins run. Oh well, at least it still better than anything that tried to fill the void left by the Pumpkins back when they were still relevant much like My Chemical Romance.


First Time - Lifehouse



On the other end of the rock spectrum, Lifehouse has firmly engulf themselves in the mom rock that gets them plenty of airplay on adult contemporary radio stations. Although there latest album was too bland to even warrant a review as all the songs sounded pretty much the same and pretty much like every other Lifehouse song. Although the special effects in this video are pretty cool.


Clothes Off!! - Gym Class Heroes



Despite being found by the annoying dude from Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes reeled me in with the catchy Cupid’s Chokehold cleverly reworking the Supertramp song with help from the less annoying dude from Fall Out Boy. Well after hearing their new song, I’m officially off the Gym Class Heroes bandwagon for desecrating one of the greatest one hit wonders of all time. Seriously, do these guys write any of their own hooks? For those of you born in the eighties or later, let me explain, I am speaking of Jermaine Stewart and his song We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off (check out the very eighties looking video here), notice the orginal has “Don’t” in the song title which the updated version wrongfully took out. And of course the irony of Stewart’ song is that he died, partially in part because of taking his clothes off. So kiddies, be sure to do as Jermaine says, don’t do as he does.


Gotta Work - Amerie



It has to be hard for Amerie to try to come up with anything as catchy as one of the best R&B songs of the new millennium, 1 Thing. Throw in some horn from Sam and Dave’s Hold On, I’m Comin’ and she come close. Although she is definitely serviceable, she should not work with whoever did the wardrobe for this video. That all black number is completely unflattering.

There’ll Be Girls Across the Nation That'll Eat This Up

Whenever a new female singer-songwriter who plays piano comes along, also comes the instant comparisons to the like of Fiona Apple and Norah Jones, even if the only thing they have in common is they are females who just happen to play the piano. And so you may here the same comparisons for the latest pianist on the block Sara Bareilles. Sure you can here the other artist named throughout her debut album Little Voice (click the link and you can buy it for the low price of $6.99 on iTunes), true be told, Sara is not as moody as Fiona nor as mellow as Jones.

Don’t compare her to Vanessa Carlton either because unlike the classically trained artist, Bareilles had no formal training on the instrument. But on listen to album and you find she didn’t need any. Little Voice is full of accessible pop songs that will undoubtedly show up on cheesy medical dramas when their writers are too lazy to write a couple more pages of dialogue and instead choose to close out an episode with yet another lengthy musical montage.

The album starts off the bouncing ditty Love Song, a refreshing kiss off to a guy who requested one but doesn’t come off as annoyingly bitter like other artists who recently made a bad decision to write their own songs, while Bottle it Up takes a slower bounce to slightly better effect. On the other hand Vegas is a smooth track that would play very well if you were to take a late night road trip to the Strip. The song would also play well, much like Love on the Rock, in a smoke lounge just off the Strip. Fairytale whimsically re-imagines different princesses from children’s tale that didn’t live happily ever after. The album concludes with the beautiful Gravity, a simplistic song about always going back to the guy whom she begs for him to let her go.

Even though Little Voices is loaded front to back with a bunch of good pop songs, the album is missing that one hit single that would make a big slash at radio much like Anna Nalick had with Breathe (2 AM) that kept her on the airwaves over a year. But that doesn’t mean you should check her out know so you can say you knew her way back when she finally gets the inevitable hit single especially at a price like $6.99.

Song to Download - Bottled it Up

Little Voice gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Check Thyself Before Thou Wreck Thyself

To be honest all I could handle of the train wreck that was called Flavor of Love were the premiere and the finale, well and of course the reunion show. Really all of those dating shows are pretty nausea inducing even with Flavor Flav at the helm. Yet when the spinoff, which I believe is the fifty-second branch in The Surreal Life family tree, Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, I was completely onboard. And luckily it didn’t disappoint.

The show did start off a little rocky as they burned in effigy the names that Flav gave to the girls and we had to relearn all of his castoff’s names again. But we get to fins out that Buckwild’s actual name was one of the whitest names ever, Becky. Then there were some questionable casting omissions most notably the girl who did her lady business in the middle of Flav’s foyer. And if you are inviting the chick who got kick out for beating up a white girl and not also include the white chick she beat up?

But all those quibbles were laid to rest as soon as they ladies started to settle in and started trying to out ghetto each other leading the show to being funnier than most sitcoms the networks trot out each fall. This is mostly thanks to the previously mentioned Buckwild as well as Saaphyri who were both good for a one-liner per episode. My personal favorite was from the latter in the finale, who said when it was announced there would be a guest judge, “Who is it, Bill Clinton? He likes school girls.”

In my original assessment of the show, I feared that it would lose its entertainment value because the show was supposed to teach this girls manner, but their hood rat personas were the reasons to watch the show. Luckily the show never lost that edge thanks in part to Pumpkin Brooke and Bootz Larissa making it deep into the competition. Unfortunately without either of them in the finale, and the finale three actually seeming like they wanted to change just as much as they wanted the money for winning, a paltry $50,000 in reality contest terms. Luckily this won’t be the lasting image of the show as we get the reunion special next week. And hopefully there are already plans for a second semester of charm school and maybe they can incorporate the I Love New York rejects or the groupies that get tossed off the upcoming Rock of Love featuring the dude from Poison (and no I won’t be watching that).

Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School get a on my Terror Alert Scale.

You Can't Start a Fire Without a Spark

With the Fourth of July in just three days, if you live inside the United States, you will undoubtedly be hearing Born in the U.S.A. a couple times from now until then maybe even scored to exploding firecrackers. Yeah, for anyone who has actually studied the lyrics knows that the song isn’t as patriotic as people like Ronald Reagan would believe. But whatever the shard your state is, it is hard not to have your blood start pumping as the bombast of the song starts up. That, in part, is why the Bruce Springsteen album is this month’s induction into the Scooter Hall of Fame.

The title track is in no way the main reason why the album is getting inducted as the was able to spawn seven top ten singles, a record that is shard only with people that have the last name Jackson (Michael’s Thriller and Janet’s Rhythm Nation 1814) and could have conceivable had more if any other singles were released because there are no skipable tracks here. Hey, Working on the Highway could have conceivable extended the Stray Cats rockabilly phase a couple more years if it were released.. My personable favorite being I’m on Fire, a short dark driving song that features Springsteen mumbling sweet nothings. The song also has the dubious honor of having one of the greatest cheesy accompanying video of all time with Bruce playing a mechanic who in the end decides to walk home after delivering a car instead of getting an invite inside.

The album also features one of the greatest drunken karaoke songs to be performed by a group of guys of all time, Glory Days. Not to mention if you were to play this song in the presence of any dude born in the seventies, I guarantee he will stop whatever he is doing to start singing along. The only other song I have witness that can cause such an effect is NWA’s Automobile. Then once the song ends, he will probably start discussing with the closest other dude who was also singing along which verse he most relates to and why. Personally I once saw a baseball player from high school, yes he could throw that speedball by ya, at a bar recently.

We also have Dancing in the Dark to thank for giving us Courtney Cox. And even though it wasn’t as cheesy as I’m on Fire, Bruce dancing in that video was pretty cheesy too. And yes I tend to break it out whenever I here that song. Then on the other part of the spectrum you had the album closer My Hometown and even though it took until my teenage years to understand the true meaning of Born in the U.S.A., it was hard not to read into the racial themes in the song even as a kid.

So on this Fourth, maybe throw on this album at your cookout and reminisce about the Glory Days over some burger. And if you get drunk enough, you may be able to find someone to do the Dancing in the Dark swing with.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. XXV

Big News of the Week: Well I was going to lead with the Paris Hilton story, but I’ll let this video speak on my thoughts on the story:




Rescue Me: The show had a strong three year run but it finally ran into its first sub-par episode. Surprising considering that it started off with Tommy’s daughter wearing very little clothing. But that was spoiled considering it was featured in the last two previews and it had to steal the best joke from last week. Okay, to be honest I still laughed. But the whole Probie storyline ended a little anti-climatically while the Chief’s death was too over dramatic. Hopefully they can turn the ship around next week.

Lil’ Bush: The whole British are gay has always been comedy gold, but throw George Bush in the mix and it makes it even better. I think I laughed more in this episode than the other five combined. But I can do without those stupid musical segments every episode. Download the episodes on iTunes.

Pirate Master: I can’t believe they let that freaky dude be captain again. Then just like last time he picks the two strongest players to be his officer but I don’t he will have another boneheaded moment to lose an expedition again. Hopefully the other pirates realize that mutiny will be the only thing that will get him out of that captain hat. And next week it will be the first time the non-voters will out number the people that vote in pirates court (five voters against the three with black spots as well as the captain and his henchmen) so I wonder if they will be switching up the voting anytime soon.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: I guess you really can’t fault Sorkin that much for the show going out with a whimper. I wondered how much would have been different had this been a season finale rather than a series. I have a feeling that one or two of the big storylines wouldn’t have been tied with a nice neat bow, most likely Tom’s brother one. It is sad with so much trash on television these days that this or Sports Nights, which was even better than Studio 60 could have a decent run. Check out the latest episode over at NBC.com.




No real pick of the week this week because with the fourth of the July everyone should be spending the week outside. But I did get a pair of press releases the hype a couple of shows that are coming up in the next couple of weeks. First, Monday July 9th is the premiere of ABCFamily’s newest show Greek. This show does look interesting and I’ll be giving it a try. Now I have heard from unreliable sources (i.e. Wikipedia) that LonelyGirl15 actually has a recurring guest spot but has been conspicuously absent from the press release and promotion so I am not entirely sure if this is true but Kelsey Grammer’s daughter is in the cast so hopefully she looks more like her mom (who, if I’m not mistaken was a dancer for Club MTV) than dad. And at the end of July, the Discover Channel is kicking off their twentieth anniversary of Shark Week. Here are those two press releases:


GREEK focuses on college life and the social minefield that is the Greek system. Viewers will see this unique cast of characters try to navigate their way through this treacherous terrain as they try to find their place at Cypress Rhodes University.

Rusty (Jacob Zachar) is determined to make his college experience more exciting than his high school years, which he spent with his head buried in the books. His answer… no more geek, he’s going Greek! However, he faces one small obstacle…his sister!

Casey (Spencer Grammer), already ensconced as a sorority siren and not too keen on having her younger brother invade her world, is a high achiever and is already at the top of her sorority game. As next in line to become the president of her sorority Zeta Beta Zeta, she can be seen around campus with fraternity hottie, Evan.

Cappie (Scott Michael Foster), president of the Kappa Tau, known for its outrageous parties, is Casey’s crazy cool ex-boyfriend, who by all accounts cannot be taken seriously. However, he just might prove to be more than meets the eye.

Evan (Jake McDorman) is the president of one of Cypress Rhodes top fraternities Omega Chi and clearly one of the most sought after men on campus. Together, he and Casey are considered campus royalty.

Dale (Clark Duke), Rusty’s roommate, is a fellow engineering school student, who holds some rather conservative and unusual ideals. His disdain for Rusty’s pursuit of the Greek life is clear from the moment they meet and will continue to be a thorn in Rusty’s side.

Rebecca (Dilshad Vadsaria) is a Senator’s daughter, who is considered the prize “get” for the sororities on campus, due to the prestige she would bring. However, there is more to Rebecca than the polished exterior that could bring more trouble than prestige.

Calvin (Paul James), a newfound friend of Rusty’s, is one of those guys who always knows exactly what to say… and his story always changes to fit the room. With his ever-changing story, it is difficult to get to know the real Calvin.

Ashleigh (Amber Stevens), Casey’s BFF, is the perfect best friend and supports Casey in her run to the top of the sorority. For those who need to know what’s happening on campus, she is the go-to-gal for gossip.

The ten one-hour episodes will be produced by Piller/Segan (“Wildfire”) in association with ABC Family. The pilot was directed by Gil Junger (“10 Things I Hate About You,” “Kyle XY”) and written by creator-producer Sean Smith (“Summerland,” “Wildfire”).





DISCOVERY CHANNEL’S SHARK WEEK HITS MAJOR MILESTONE,
CELEBRATING 20TH YEAR AS SUMMER’S MOST ANTICIPATED TELEVISION EVENT

-- From July 29 to August 4, It’s All Sharks, All Day, as Cable’s Longest-Running Event Fills the Network’s Entire Weekly Schedule --

It's just not summer without SHARK WEEK. And in 2007, the ultimate must-watch summertime television event is turning 20 – making it cable’s longest running event. Hosted by SURVIVORMAN’s Les Stroud, SHARK WEEK’s 20th Anniversary will fill Discovery Channel’s total day schedule from Sunday, July 29, through Saturday, August 4, from 9 AM to 3 AM (ET/PT) each day – adding up to over 130 hours of shark programs devoted to the behavior of one of the most mysterious and majestic creatures on the planet. Also to be featured is a programmed-by-you Viewer’s Choice hour at 8 PM, and eight all-new primetime specials at 9 PM.

For the past two decades, SHARK WEEK has intrigued, educated and enthralled viewers. Who can forget the footage of huge great whites bursting out of the water, launching 10 feet into the air, shown for the very first time on SHARK WEEK? Or the first-ever 3-D shark program, with sharks big, small and unusual seeming to swim right out of television screens and into living rooms across the nation? And every year since its inception in 1988, SHARK WEEK has partnered with the world’s most renowned shark scientists and experienced underwater cinematographers to bring viewers the latest information about the ocean’s top predator.

Les Stroud, outdoor adventurer, instructor in survival and host of SURVIVORMAN on Discovery Channel, will host SHARK WEEK this year. During premiere program breaks in the 9 PM hour, he will offer practical and potentially lifesaving tips that show viewers the best techniques for surviving an encounter with a shark. In addition to providing critical safety and awareness knowledge, Stroud explains that, while sharks are incredibly efficient predators, they are not mindless killing machines. For a safe coexistence with sharks, we must acknowledge that ultimately the waters are the shark’s domain. Stroud will also host one premiere special, Shark Feeding Frenzy (July 31, 9-10 PM), which will examine the feeding habits of sharks.

The 9 PM premiere hour will kick off on Sunday, July 29 with the two-hour special Ocean of Fear: Worst Shark Attack Ever, which is narrated by Richard Dreyfuss and tells the gripping real-life story of the worst shark attack ever recorded – after the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis in 1945. Additional SHARK WEEK premieres include Deadly Stripes: Tiger Sharks (July 30, 9-10 PM); Top 5 Eaten Alive (July 30, 10-11 PM); Shark Feeding Frenzy (July 31, 9-10 PM); Perfect Predators (August 1, 9-11 PM); Shark Tribe (August 2, 9-10 PM); Sharks: A Family Affair (August 3, 9-10 PM); and Sharkman (August 4, 9-11 PM). All times ET/PT.

In another SHARK WEEK first, viewers are being given the opportunity to help program television's most anticipated summer event. Via the "Best of Shark Week Poll" at Discovery.com/sharkweek, viewers can watch clips from 10 of the highest-rated and most talked-about SHARK WEEK programs of all time – and vote for their favorites. Voting continues through July 1, with the top voted shows airing in SHARK WEEK's 8 PM hour.

Among Discovery.com’s exciting online SHARK WEEK features: a game based on real-world tracking of live sharks in the wild, a video mixer that allows users to create their own mini-SHARK WEEK documentaries, exclusive behind-the-scenes video, information about sharks and more.

First launched in 1988, SHARK WEEK was Discovery Channel’s very first week-long event, designed to satisfy viewers’ thirst for knowledge about the natural world and to use the time between traditional television seasons to draw attention to the still-young network. The ratings shot up in that first year, and in its 20th year, SHARK WEEK shows no signs of slowing in popularity, remaining one of Discovery Channel’s most popular annual events. Last year, in 2006, SHARK WEEK was watched by 20 million viewers.

Don't Download These Videos vol. XXII

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.


Stronger - Kanye West



Whenever Kanye West drops a new video and this is no exception as Stronger even debut at a film festival. And this is by far the most expensive video to date. But more expensive doesn’t quite equate to better as this probably cost more than all three Jesus Walk videos combined and all three were better than this. But this video does have Cassie who shows that she is a much better video hofessional than singer. As for the song, of the two songs that sample indie acts, this is the stronger (bad pun intended) song but what is up with the OJ shout out and I don’t even care for the white Kate Moss why would someone want the black one?


LDN - Lily Allen



Okay, so certainly we could have all done without the intro to the video, but for my money, this is the best song on the debut album from Lily Allen. Plus it is also the best video of the four that have been released. I love the juxtaposition of Lily’s fantasy world and the real world. And the song has finally been released as a singe here stateside so be sure to request it at your local radio station.


Oh My God - Mark Ronson



And that isn’t the only Lily allen sighting as she also shows up in this Mark Ronson video. Well or at least an animated version. For those who have never heard of Ronson, he is responcible for two of the best albums of the first half of this year producing Lily’s album as well as the American debut from Amy Winehouse.


Rihanna - Shut Up and Drive



After three album this may be the first time I have ever seen Rihanna show anything that closely resembles a personally. She may not be a Fembot as I originally suspected. But the best part of the video is nowhere does she repeat “ella-ella-eh-eh-eh” over and over again. Add a New Order sample and I call that an upgrade.

I'm Open All Night and the Customers Come to Stay

When an artist is able to create three pretty good albums, one of which is a double album, in the span of twelve months, one can only imagine how great an album could be if the artist took a year and a half in between albums. After releasing an album a year since 2000 including the previously mentioned three pretty good albums in 2005, Ryan Adams took a year off in 2006 from recording. Well, from releasing albums anyways and he would post his more eccentric work on his website.

Finally after an eighteen month hiatus, (Don’t Call Him Bryan) Adams has released his ninth album entitled Easy Tiger that almost lives up to the hype. Certainly if you read another review for this album you will get the token, “Best Album Since (insert one of his previous eight albums here)” and I’m game so I will say this is his best work since the album that turned me onto the prolific singer-songwriter, Gold.

But there really isn’t that groundbreaking on the album and you are getting what you would expect from a Ryan Adams’ album, there is some alt-country, the best of which is Tears of Gold, and a good chunk of excruciatingly sad songs headlined by the lyrics, “You and I together, but only one of us in love” from Everyone Knows. The album isn’t as eclectic as some of his best works and is missing some more straight ahead rockers.

He does throw in a few eccentric songs, nothing as head scratching as his online-only hip-hop album Welcome to Ryan Adams Dot Com (Expletives Deleted) but there is the oddly named Oh My God, Whatever, Etc. But that is nothing to Halloweenhead which will induce you to go, “What the frak was that?” after the first listen. But give it a few listens before passing judgment because after a while you may realize how ingenious the song was. And really Adams is the only artist that can pull off a song like that. Now lets hope he doesn’t make us wait another eighteen months for the next album.

Song to Download - Everybody Knows

Easy Tiger gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

You’re Going Crazy, Running on Empty

It hasn’t been a good month for Kelly Clarkson. First it was leaked that the president of her label, Clive Davis, hated her new album, My December, so much he wanted to her to scrape most of it and reportedly wanted to replace some of the song with ones that already appeared on Lindsay Lohan’s album, an album that bombed in its own right. Then during her dispute with her label, Clarkson dumped her management team. All the while her first single from the album, Never Again, failed to make a dent at radio thanks in part because there was a universal yawn from the general public even after she tucked her tail between her legs to perform the song on American Karaoke after publicly distancing herself from the show pretty much since the forgettable karaoke movie she stared in. But on the bright side Clarkson successfully convinced her label to push up the release date of the album about a month so her fans would know the songs before embarking on her tour. Granted that victory ended up being a little shallow considering her tour of arenas recently got canceled due to poor sales.

Upon hearing My December it is hard not to answer the question to who was right, Clarkson or Davis and Clive is the clear winner in that there are no marketable songs on the album although it still is much better than Lohan’s. Whereas Never Again was virtually ignored, there really isn’t much better here. Sober, with its slow crawling acoustic groove, really is the only song here worth the price of admission. But it still doesn’t even rank in the pantheon that hosts Kelly ten best songs thanks to her ruining ending with her incisive need to try to turn the song into to a power balled.

It is not coincidental that the best songs on the album are the slower songs like Sober, Be Still and the album closer Irvine because when she tries to rock out on the rest of the album the result range from Never Again where she fails to Judas where she fails miserably to Yeah which is laughable because it sounds like she is actually trying to recreate a Sly and the Family Stone song. Almost as laughable is the Euro-trash One Minute. And it may have been a good idea to have the hidden track Shivas, where it sounds as if she is trying to channel Leadbelly, stay hidden. By the end of the album you may want to take her advise to, “don’t waste you’re time on me.”

But what really brings down Never Again isn’t the music rather its lyrics, which much like the whole album was co-written by Clarkson. Since U Been Gone was a quirky kiss off of a failed relationship that could get anyone to sing along to in the car. Never Again is just a spiteful jagged little pill that not many people would want to swallow with Clarkson coming off as a vengeful ageing starling whose husband/boyfriend just upgraded to a younger model by wishing “the ring you gave to her turns her finger green.” She much not watch My Name Is Earl otherwise should would have though of the karma effects of the line, “it must suck to see my face everywhere.” But it may don on her when the dude is happy to see her face when she is reduced to bunking up with the Dude You’re Getting a Dell guy while Fred Durst leers on for the 2012 edition of The Surreal Life. Well of course that is only if she gets an invite considering Sanjiya may be the producers first pick to be their token reality star that season.

Song to Download - Sober

My December gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

R.I.P. Chris Benoit

Long before I was Scooter McGavin, I actually wrote a column for a wrestling website called the Hardcore Report. It has been years since I regularly watched professional wrestling, it may because network television started airing decent programs on Monday nights and the move of Smackdown to Friday, not really a day I like to stay in and watch television, but I occasionally will tune in to see what is going on. Last night I had just finished up a session of playing final Fantasy XII and I thought I would switch on Raw to see what was happening before I do a little reading and head off to bed. Instead of the usual WWE hijacks, all I saw on the scene was a picture of Chris Benoit with the title 1967-2007 below him.

First thoughts were yet another wrestler dieing from the wrestling lifestyle, something that has happen way too often. But when it was mentioned that his wife and young son also had died which initially wondered if it was a car or plane accident. But the announcers conspicuously avoided mentioning the cause of death and in the back of my mind it was hard not to think of Phil Hartman. Unfortunately it turns out the Benoit family had a similar outcome with Chris taking the lives of his wife and son before taking his own life.

It is had to eulogize someone who would do such things. Most wrestlers need to rely heavily on charisma and catchphrases to get over with today’s fans but Benoit was one of the rare stars who was able to let his actions on the mat speak for him and still get people to cheer or boo him depending on if he were a good or bad guy at the time. He was scheduled to wrestle for the ECW title this past weekend before being pulled from the card for a “family emergency.” We may never know what initially sparked Benoit to travel back home, skipping two scheduled appearances, but hopefully wherever he is now he finds some peace because it didn’t look like he found much while on Earth. My condolences go out to the whole Benoit family and friends of the family.

For more on the life and death of the Benoit family check out stories over at MSNBC.com and WWE.com.

We on Award Tour: 2007 ESPY Nominations

The ESPY’s are quickly becoming even more entertaining than the MTV Awards season granted half of the readers here may not even know what they are, and that half most likely like dudes (ESPY’s are awards given out by ESPN, just don’t ask me what they stand for). This year we get the tag team tandem of hosts in LeBron James and Jimmy Kimmel. Should be intesting. No Arthur Ashe Award winner has been announced yet but the segment always ranks as the one of the most emotional moments of the year and enough reason to watch. Now, much like the Grammy’s, there are way too many categories to list here, plus I have no desire to pick who is the dude who can turn left for five hours the best, so check out all the nominees and vote on the ESPY’s page at ESPN.com and be sure to check out the awards on July 15th at 9PM ET on ESPN. Now on to my predictions:


Best Male Athlete
Roger Federer, Tennis Pro
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Tiger Woods, Pro Golfer

Who Will Win: Peyton Manning
Who I Voted For: Roger Federer

When it comes to the best across all sports, you have to instantly throw out the two that didn’t win anything over the last two months and I have said this every time I’ve done and ESPY’s nomination post but golfers are not athletes. And if you take away clay, Ferderer doesn’t lose. Ever.


Best Team
Florida Gators Basketball - Final Four Champs
Florida Gators Football - BCS Champs
Indianapolis Colts - Super Bowl Champs
San Antonio Spurs - NBA Champs
St. Louis Cardinals - World Series Champs
Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball - Final Four Champs

Who Will Win: Indianapolis Colts
Who I Voted For: Indianapolis Colts

No one even remembers that the Cards won and by the time the awards are handed out everyone will have forgotten the Spurs. It is laughable that college teams are even included here and they should really split this into two different categories, pro and college.

Best Coach/Manager
Billy Donovan, Florida Gators
Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts
Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers
Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Pat Summitt, Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball

Who Will Win: Tony Dungy
Who I Voted For: Tony Dungy

Pretty much see above.

Best Moment
Tiger Woods, British Open - Tears of Joy
New Orleans, Monday Night Football - Saints Return, Beat the Falcons
Tony Dungy vs. Lovie Smith - Super Bowl's First African American Coaches
Derek Fisher - Father First, Utah Jazz Second

Who Will Win: New Orleans
Who I Voted For: Derek Fisher

I am not sure if anyone cared that two black coaches when head-to-head and I cannot even remember why Tiger cried. Now the Saints were a great moment even with all the over the top celebration, remember U2 performed, but the Fisher story made me tear up a little.


Best Championship Performance
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Jimmie Johnson, Nascar Driver
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Serena Williams, Tennis Pro

Who Will Win: Peyton Manning
Who I Voted For: Peyton Manning

Um, didn’t James get swept? How does that qualify for a best of anything? He was the fourth best player on the floor at that. Williams was forgettable and Johnson just turned left for hours so Manning is the easy choice here.


Best Record-Breaking Performance
Bobby Knight, Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Michael Phelps, U.S. Swimmer
Kelly Slater, Pro Surfer
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers

Who Will Win: Bobby Knight
Who I Voted For: LaDainian Tomlinson

There must not have been many records broken if there is a surfer in the category. Since there were no Olympics this year no on will care about Phelps, myself included. In the end I’ll take a player over a coach.


Best Breakthrough Athlete
Kevin Durant, Texas Longhorns
Devin Hester, Chicago Bears
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
Morgan Pressel, Women's Golf Pro

Who Will Win: Kevin Durant
Who I Voted For: Morgan Pressel

I was less than impressed than the athletes here so I went with Pressel because, well, she’s moderately attractive. Hey I’m shallow.


Best Game
Oklahoma State over Texas - College Hoops Triple Overtime
AFC Championship - Colts over Patriots - Remarkable Playoff Comeback
Fiesta Bowl - Boise State over Oklahoma - David vs. Traditional Goliath

Who Will Win: AFC Championship
Who I Voted For: AFC Championship

I can’t say I watched the whole AFC Championship because I turned off the game early when the Colts went into the big hole. I doubt I was the only one. But when you can come back from three touchdowns in a playoff game, especially against the thorn in your side, it is the easy choice.


Best Finish
Dodgers over Padres - Back to Back to Back to Back
Harwick's Daytona 500 - Nothing Closer, Ever
Division II Men's Basketball Championship - 57 Game Win Streak, Broken
Preakness - Triple Crown Spoiler

Who Will Win: Dodgers over Padres
Who I Voted For: Dodgers over Padres

Way too many nominees about dudes turning left. It has been fifty years since a team hit four bombs in a row and the Dodgers did it in the ninth to tie the game. Then hit another round triper in the tenth to win.


Best Play
Boise State 2 Pt Conversion vs. Oklahoma - The Statue of Liberty Play
Darrelle Revis' Return - One Thunderous Block
Dwyane Wade Shot - Crazy Shot off the Glass
Endy Chavez Catch - Home Run Thief
Travis Pastrana - X12 - Moto X Double Backflip

Who Will Win: Boise State
Who I Voted For: Boise State

College football’s overtime rules are pretty lame but that doesn’t take away from Boise State’s ballsy play against a team most thought didn’t deserve playing against.


Best Upset
Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees - AL Division Series
Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks - NBA Playoffs
Florida Gators vs. Ohio State Buckeyes - BCS National Championships
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Duke Blue Devils - NCAA Women's Sweet 16

Who Will Win: Florida Gators
Who I Voted For: Golden State Warriors

This one is pretty easy for me because eights never beat one seeds in any sport. And they did it in six games to win.


Best NFL Player
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears

Who Will Win: Peyton Manning
Who I Voted For: Brian Urlacher


Best NBA Player
Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
Kobe Bryant, Los Angles Lakers
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

Who Will Win: LeBron James
Who I Voted For: Steve Nash


Best Baseball Player
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
Johan Santana, Minnesota Twins

Who Will Win: Albert Pujols
Who I Voted For: Johan Santana


Under Armour Undeniable Award
Arizona Wildcat Softball
Nebraska Cornhusker Volleyball
North Carolina Tar Heels Soccer
Northwestern Wildcats Lacrosse
Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball
Wisconsin Badgers Hockey

Who Will Win: Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball
Who I Voted For: North Carolina Tar Heels Soccer

Gotta love the ambiguous categories that are just shameful product placement. But considering that all the nominees are female college teams, that this is their category. I don’t think that this award was given out to the same thing last year though. Just odd.


Hummer Liker Nothing Else Award
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Michael Phelps, US Swimmer
Kendric Smith, Hughes High School
Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers

Who Will Win: LeBron James
Who I Voted For: LeBron James

I am glad LeBron is nominated in this category because I can bring up my “LeBron’s Mom Gave Me a Hummer” t-shirt. Other than that there really isn’t much more to say about these mixed bag of random athletes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. XXIV

Celebrity Fit Club: Men vs. Women: Well that was an anticlimactic finale. Screech’s obnoxious tirades got tired a long time ago to the point I hoped that random redneck actually took a swing at him.

Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School: Last week we got the your token recap show but looking at my TV Guide this week, tonight’s three episodes are all repeats. Are they not showing the finale tonight? Did I miss it? I’m not too worried if I did being that this is VH1 and it will be repeated ad nausea until the next Flavor o Love spin-off starts. Download the full season over on iTunes.

Rescue Me: This show just may be the funniest show on television and the funniest character has to be Garrity. Lou totally hit the nail on the hammer when he said whenever he poised a question it is hard to sleep thinking of the stupidity of it. And his latest question may not have been as funny as the time he debated the existence of God with Tommy’s youngest, but it is up there. But here is the scene of his latest quandary which isn’t really safe for work or anyone with high moral standing:



Lil’ Bush: After watching the first two episodes I’ll say it is funnier than That’s My Bush, but that doesn’t really say much. Download the episodes on iTunes.

Pirate Master: The whole immunity thing could make thing more interesting and three different captains in three weeks is keeping the show almost afloat but I still want to see who exactly is voting fore who.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: Even though this was the last of the K&R trilogy, unfortunately it looks like the Jordon pregnancy and Tom’s brother plotlines will carry over into the series finale which means the show will most likely got out in a whimper. Sad for a show that had such great potential and moments of greatness early on. Check out the latest episode over at NBC.com.





Next Week’s Pick: Flavor of Love: Charm School on VH1: Whether the finale is on tonight, next week, or it has already been on and I missed it, certainly it will be re-aired plenty of time for anyone who wants to watch to see it.

You're a Baseball Glove, Get on that Truck

Yesterday I had to do some research on animal testing for a presentation in a class I had today and since I was responsible for obtaining information for the con, I figured peta.org would be the best place to grab some information. Now I think PETA members are clinically insane and do more harm for animal right the help them in the process. But the group can be thoroughly entertaining at times most notably with their ingenious “I’d rather go naked than wear fur campaign.”

Now I say they do more harm then good because of imbecile actions like dousing people who wear fur with blood. Now there are much more effective, and entertaining, when they go the passive aggressive root like when they called NBA players sissies because they were complaining about cuts on their finger from the new synthetic ball resulting in the league to go back to the leather balls. You can read that whole thing here: A Letter to the NBA (warning, this is a PDF file).

While visiting their website yesterday, I found the groups latest passive aggressive attack was on Michael Moore. For those that are unaware, Moore has a new documentary coming out called Sicko (see below for a trailer) which focuses on the health care debate in America. Well someone inside PETA decided to write to Moore, who is described in the PETA blog as, “a fat, bearded dude who makes political documentaries and occasionally angers conservatives.” Nice. Why attack Moore you might be thinking, well as Ingrid Newkirk put in her letter to Michael:

“Although we think that your film could actually help reform America’s sorely inadequate health care system, there’s an elephant in the room, and it is you. With all due respect, no one can help but notice that a weighty health issue is affecting you personally. We’d like to help you fix that. Going vegetarian is an easy and life-saving step that people of all economic backgrounds can take in order to become less reliant on the government’s shoddy healthcare system, and it’s something that you and all Americans can benefit from personally.” (Read the entire Letter to Michael Moore, again it is a PDF file)

As for someone who has been without health care for most of his adult life, I fully understand the need for a national health care system and cannot imagine anyone with a soul being against it either but I applaud PETA what they call the elephant in the room. Now I have no problem paying some extra so someone in a car crash gets the medical attention they deserve and not get denied because they don’t have insurance or just as worse, have insurance but not the right HMO. But I have absolutely no desire to pay extra taxes for diabetes and heart disease medicine for someone too lazy to get off their butt and do thirty minutes of exercises a day. In that same vain, I don’t want my taxes going to that moron who smoked a pack a day for forty years. So before we get a national health care plan, we really need to regulate health so we aren’t paying half or salaries to help people who obviously have no desire to help themselves. Now as promised, here is the Sicko trailer:





One more thing I found over at the website, PETA is again conducting their sexiest vegetarian alive poll so feel free to take part in that. Unfortunately you have to vote in both the dudes and chicks categories and since I am really now one to decide who the sexiest dude is, I just went with RZA, because, “If you want beef then bring the ruckus because Wu-Tang Clan is nothing to (expletive deleted) with.”

Don't Download These Videos vol. XXI

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.


Working Class Hero - Green Day

I’ve never been much of a John Lennon guy, but this Samuel Bayer directed clip of Green Day’s version of Working Class Hero is a must see. The song is featured on Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur, an charity that benefits Amnesty International with money going to stop the violence and disease that has killed over a half a million over the past four years. Although I think it would be best to just grab this song and U2’s Instant Karma on iTunes (where there are ten songs you won’t find on the CD) and donate the rest of the money directly to AI because I’m not sure if anyone really needs to hear Avril Lavigne’s take on Imagine. Girlfriend (Dr. Luke Mix) - Avril Lavigne Featuring Lil Mama Speaking of Avril Lavigne, she a yet another new video out. For those who found the original version of Girlfriend disturbing you may want to avoid this one because it is even more disturbing. This is mostly thanks to Lil’ Mama, most famous for her Lip Gloss song. And if you have never heard it, you are luckier than I. For Reasons Unknown - The Killers Four videos deep and The Killers are still holding on to that Spaghetti Western persona. And with each passing single I am warming up to Sam’s Town more and more. Maybe within five years I may actually begin to like the album. (Scooter's Note: his is the first time I attempted AOL's snag feature so hopefully it works. Scooter's Update: Well that failed miserably, back to YouTube.) Before He Cheats - Joe This may be the most entertaining thing I have heard in a long time or at the very least since Kanye West remixed Throw Some D’s. You may or may not remember Joe as the guy who implored that he wasn’t a player and had a girl who stuttered. But this is by fair his best work. Gotta love how he flipped the line to, “She’s probably singing some ghetto version of Mariah Careyoke.” Seeing Joe take on Carrie Underwood harkens back to the day when R&B and country artist would mix where Ray Charles would release a country album and Kenny Rogers would show up on the R&B charts. Aw the good ol’ day.

I Was a Starling, Nobody's Darling

Whoever had Mandy Moore back in 1999 being the most successful of the blonde pop princesses in the office pool eight years later would have made a lot of money as she started out fourth in the pecking order. But out of her contemporaries, she seemed to make the most chances being the first to go brunette as well as the first to give acting a shot, and remains to be the only one to be successful at it. She even recorded two of the best songs among her peer with In My Pocket and Crush, though Genie in a Bottle still ranks as the gold standard.

After three albums chalk full of the overproduced teen pop fair, Mandy released an album of cover tunes that reflected more of her new love of folksier music which included one of my favorite songs of all time, John Hiatt’s Have a Little Faith in Me. Now four years later at the age of twenty-three, Mandy has written an album worth of songs very similar to those she hand picked for Coverage with some help from the indie-folk acts like The Weepies, Rachael Yamagata, Chantal Kreviazuk, and Lori McKenna on the just released Wild Hope.

The lyrics are everything you would expect from Mandy for her first go a round putting pen to paper with some introspective lyrics and laments to lost loves. The problem though is unlike other artists of the genre she is trying out where you tend to relate the songs to your own experiences, you cannot help but wonder which songs are about that that tennis player and which ones are about that dude who wrote Garden State. Although until I learn otherwise, I will assume the line, “I hope you burn in hell” (Nothing that You Are) is about that annoying dude from Yo Momma. Despite the vengeful lyric, Mandy never come across like Kelly Clarkson-like bitterness.

Instead throughout the album, Mandy takes a low key approach to her vocal, content instead of letting the well produced music performed by actual musicians, no synthesizers in sight, share the spotlight until she turns up the dial on the album closer Gardenia where she belts it out with only a piano to accompany her and lines like “I’m the one who likes to make love on the floor”. No word yet on if she likes taking walks in the rain. Elsewhere on the album, Most of Me, with its driving acoustic guitar, is one of those songs you should be required to play while driving on a country road on a clear summer night. Whether the girl Moore is talking about in the song is her or someone else, the way she presents the female in Can’t You Just Adore Her? The answer is a resounding yes.

Wild Hope certainly isn’t the best folk album you will here this year, nor any of the songs as catchy as her poppier past, but the album is a step in the right direction creatively for Ms. Moore. And this album shows that Mandy could have a great album in her if she put more time into it.

Song to Download - Most of Me

Wild Hope gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.