There has not been a more provocative album title in recent memory than Hip Hop Is Dead. On one hand Nas hit the head on the nail as the ringtone rappers killed off the genre that had been slowly dieing all decade. But on the other hand, that album actually proved otherwise and that hip hop still had a couple more breathes in it.
So how do you follow-up a controversial title album? Well name it something that usually reserved for Jesse Jackson spoken on Fox News. But when it looked like the album wouldn’t be getting shelf space almost nowhere, Nas decided to change the album to, well, nothing. Or as Nas says himself in Hero: “Try telling Bob Dylan, Bruce, or Billy Joel they can’t sing what's in their soul! So "Untitled" it is. I never change nothing” This begs the question was naming it months in advance all a publicity stunt to get people talking without hearing a note?
Where Hip Hop Is Dead was a loose concept album on how and why the genre needed a funeral and who killed it, the new album is a loose concept album on race relations. Throughout the album are thoughts about how blacks are perceived in the media (Sly Fox), stereotypes (Fried Chicken), and a half hearted endorsement of Barack Obama (Black President), and even though it is no longer the title, a certain six letter word shows up in two song titled claiming that n*****’s are not black people but the uneducated.
Throughout the album, Nas is on point when not inexplicably name dropping Jessica Simpson or giving props to ringtone rappers he put on blast less than two years ago. The album falls flat thanks mostly to the company he keeps. You have to do a double take at seeing Chris Brown on the guest list and the song is about as juvenile as Brown’s age suggest.
Aside from the Polow da Don produced Hero; the production value is moderate at best. Even Mark Ronson, who had been batting 1.000, had a rare misstep on the snare heavy Fried Chicken that is too downtrodden than his usual upbeat horn infused throwback. Nas recently stated that he wants to drop two albums on the same day. One exclusively produced by D.J. Premiere who he hasn’t work much with since Illmatic, the other by his The Firm associate Dr. Dre. With the mediocre at best beats that pepper this album, that drop date cannot come soon enough.
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.
Well that was disturbing. Granted Zooey (half of She & Him, M Ward being the other half) was always the darker Deschanel sister. Creepy videos aside, at least the song is catchy. And if you like the song, I have been given permission to let you, my loyal readers, download the song for free for a limited time. And by I, I mean Border.com, so head over there for the free mp3.
John Mellencamp made two videos for this song, this being my favorite if only for the replay value and the George Bush cameo. Wait, why is George given the “believe” frame exactly.
So let me get this straight, a bunch of Wisconsin country fans booed Jessica Simpson, born and raised in Texas, for not being country enough. Um, alright. Of course it may have been residual booing from the unwatchable Dukes of Hazard remake (a brunette Daisy Duke is blasphemy). And this song isn’t bad for a country song which, granted, doesn’t mean much.
Hope - Jack Johnson
Like most Jack Johnson videos not involving Ben Stiller, Hope is not that interesting. But it is a great song.
This summer NBC.com is hosting a bunch of webisodes which looks like what Heroes: Origins was supposed to be if it had no budget. The latest episode just hit the intertubes and here are both if you missed the first one.
Well that was about as entertaining as the main show. Maybe even more thanks to the creepy weird moving bald dude. Too bad he won't be showing up in the main show. One person that will be showing up on the main show is Hayden Panettiere. And since I cannot get enough of it, here is Wake Up Call video again.
The Espy's are so foolproof, even when they get athletes to host it still is pretty entertaining. That adage is put to the test this year when they get Justin Timberlake, who bombed when he team hosted with Stifler at the MTV Movie Awards a couple years back. But let us star t off with the pre-show first.
- Holy Chris Connelly sighting!
- Erin Andrews has to be one of the most underrated hot chicks out there today. Any of those lame lists by lame magazines that countdown chick and don’t have her in the top ten just isn’t credible. With that said, someone should tell her that the word “bling” died five years ago.
- The Top 5 Meetings need to make it on YouTube sooner than later.
- How does Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo make the Dynamic Duos list? She is the reason his team lost.
- An Under Armour CEO interview? Seriously?
- Adrian Peterson had his draft position drop just by wearing his hat like Antwain Merriwheather.
- Wow, the Espy’s actully started on time this year.
- I know I say this every year, but no award show’s clip package comes close to the ESPY’s.
- Justin Timberlake may not be able to tell a joke, but the Bill Belichicken was funny.
- As much as I love seeing the Giants beat the Patriots over and over again, but Appalachian State was the true biggest upset. And the won on the opposing team, not a neutral site like the Super Bowl.
- They don’t even show the nominees for Best Record Breaking Performance, just give it to Brett Farve. I guess having Big Head Barry also in the category doesn’t make you want to acknowledge him.
- It is not a good sign when you are out acted by Greg Oden. Can we get him to host next year? And that musical number went way too long.
- Who was the nerd sitting next to Kristen Bell? If they need a nerd next to her, why not ask me?
- Suggesting to dig up Harry Carey: not funny.
- Have I ever told the time I met and annoyed Posh Spice?
- Now for the best part of every ESPY’s the Arthur Ashe Award of Courage. But why is Tom Cruise narrating the story of Tommy Smith John and Carlos. Tom aside, the package had a History Channel feel to it.
- Is it ironic that Jason Taylor saying he was doing something to piss off Bill Parcells the day he got traded?
- Jimmy V Award for Perseverance presented by Robin Roberts, someone who know a little about Perseverance. Be sure to check out Jimmyv.org.
- I have no clue what Adriana Lima was doing at the ESPY's, I am just glad she was.
- On the other end of the spectrum, who invited Fergie?
- In the end the New York football Giant complete their sweep winning Best Sweep, Upset, Play and Team. Wait, what, they actually did not win Best Team? Did not see that one coming. But that going to the Boston Celtics does not help the ESPN criticism that they have a New York/Boston bias.
Recently John Mayer released a live album, Where the Light Is and even if you have Any Given Sunday, the new live album is also worth picking up. It is really three sets in one, an acoustic one, a blues rock set with the John Mayer Trio, and a full band set. The latter features the highlight. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room. The version is so epic I had thought the song was going on for ten minutes or so even though it really clocks in at under six. The Where the Light Is version isn’t on YouTube currently (it is at MSN video but it is not embeddable. You think if they make you sit through a commercial the least they could do is let you is embed it. But anyways. Click the link to see that) but below is another live version. But you definitely want to check out the WTLI version because like I said, the solo is just epic, even more so than the one below (but below he does work in some a Tom York song).
Quote of the Week: I’m ironic, not cynical. (Wendy Watson - The Middleman)
Big New of the Week: Emmy Nominations Are Announced: Yawn.
Coalition Links of the Week: With the Emmy nominations out, Buzz (not surprisingly) had a few rants and raves. (BuzzSugar)
GMMR's summer obsession, So You Think You Can Dance, just went from the Top 10 dancers to the Top 8, but not without a little scandal and drama. Listen to what GMMR & Ducky have to say about it in the latest TV Talk Podcast: SYTYCD Edition. (Give Me My Remote)
Marcia celebrated the return of Project Runway with a thorough look at the first episode -- adult diapers, Oompa Loompas and all. (Pop Vultures)
Infatuation is the only word to describe Rae's feelings about Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and is trying to decide whether she likes Act I or II better while eagerly awaiting the third. (RTVW)
With the Emmy nominations finally out, Vance got his butt in gear and put out his Best of TV for the 2007-2008 TV Season. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace reviewed the laughably bad BBC drama series Bonekickers, from the typically brilliant creators of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, and was shocked and horrified by just how truly awful it was. (Televisionary)
Watch Design Star? Well, Dan wrote a little letter to his favorite contestant -- the bald, bearded Colorado native Matt Locke. (TiFaux)
It's TCA Madness on theTVaddict.com, featuring interviews with Wentworth Miller, Joss Whedon, Sarah Wayne Callies and more! (The TV Addict)
I Love Money: It has only been two episodes, but this show may go down as the guiltiest guilty pleasure ever. The best part of last week was Pumpkin and Toastee thinking that they had some Machiavellian plot to look the weakest when they were easily the weakest. But it was Mr. Boston who is quickly filling the Midget Mac void with his stupidity. And him beating Nibblz may be the biggest upset in reality competition history. You can download episodes of I Love Money on iTunes.
The Middleman: Noser by far is my favorite character on the show, but Stump the Band was the dumbest thing ever. And yes I also knew every song that was suggested. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
My Boys: PJ totally missed the best reason why bachelor parties are better the bridal showers, we don’t have to buy gift aside a beer, shot, or lapdance. It’s good being a guy. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com. You can also download My Boys on iTunes.
Promo of the Week: Apparently a new Heroes promo hit the intertubes this week, but that isn’t the video involving the show that is getting all the buzz. Nope, it is the new video from Hayden Panettiere called Wake Up Call (not a Maroon 5 cover) which disturbingly sound like Paris Hilton’s Stars Are Blind with slightly better singing (which doesn’t say much). But at least the video is watchable if not only for the highest of high comedy during Hayden’s dance interlude in the black hoodie.
Wake Up Call - Hayden Panettiere
Pick for Next Week: Mad Men, Sunday (7/27) at 10:00 on AMC: My sources tell me the show is decent but for the life of me I couldn’t find AMC on my television until Breaking Bad premiered (which wasn’t very good). Time Warner (whom I am still having issues with) is offering up the first season On Demand and I may give it a try before the second season premiere. Granted I looked for the In Demand channel yesterday and couldn’t find it.
- Today was the funeral of former White House press secretary Tony Snow who lost his battle with colon cancer this past weekend. This year one out of four deaths in America will be cancer related, earlier this year E Street Band member Danny Federici also lost a battle with melanoma. Bruce Springsteen was released a charity EP featuring live songs from the latest Magic tour. The set features Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine on The Ghost of Tom Joad (a song Rage has covered), Alejandro Escovedo on Always Be a Friend and Danny’s very last concert on 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy). The EP is available on Amazon MP3 (see widget below) and iTunes (see banner to the right) where you can also buy the video for each song. For this EP the artists, songwriters, and music publishers are waiving all of their royalties and Columbia Records is donating all of its net profits to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund.
- People with HD computer screens rejoice, CBS.com is offering most of their streaming episodes in HD now including The Big Bang Theory, The Late Show with David Letterman, and How I Met Your Mother (one would assume Survivor will be added to this list next fall when its first season ever in HD premieres). New summer shows Swingtown and Flashpoint are also available in the format. Now if only I had a computer that played regular definition shows. But anyways. Interesting choose in promo pictures for The Big Bang Theory (click to enlarge):
- Some news out of FX including the return of show The Shield in its seventh and final season premiering Tuesday September 2nd at 10:00 and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia returning for it fourth season Thursday September 18th at 10:00. There is also a new show on the lineup, Sons of Anarchy which is set to premiere Wednesday September 3rd at 10:00. Check out a promo below.
- Earlier this week I implemented a new comment system where the comment form is embedded in the individual post page. This currently part of Blogger in Draft so there may be some kinks to be worked out before it becomes official. The only drawback is that you currently cannot subscribe to individual comment pages like before where it would e-mail you anyone that comments after you. But if you look at the sidebar on the right, you can subscribe to all my comments. Hopefully this new method will encourage some of you to comment more. (hint, hint)
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.
Consider my mind blown… sort of. New broke a couple weeks ago that Radiohead was filming a new video without any cameras or light, but with lasers and I guess the buildup in my mind hoped for something cleaner. But this is still a contender for best video of the year.
Another visual wonder this time from R.E.M. Not entirely sure what is going on here even after a couple viewing as it seems to be high tech and low tech to cool results.
Is there anyone who isn’t working with Danger Mouse these days? The latest is Beck and the result is his latest album Modern Guilt. Gamma Ray of which sound like an acoustic version of a Gnarls Barkley track that never existed.
Spaz - N.E.R.D.
Here is the song that N.E.R.D. contributed to that, um; actually I can’t remember what they were selling in that commercial actually. Not a very good marketing job there. But anyways. There are not enough cool performance videos these days. Maybe we will start seeing more since the big budget video is basically dead. Bonus: No Lindsay Lohan in this video.
There is a good reason why Life and Death become Love in Freedom in the title of the new John Mellencamp album; mortality and preparing for life when no longer on this Earth is abound on Life, Death, Love and Freedom. In fact, really the only time he goes on for a while on the subject of Love in is the aptly titled My Sweet Love, a rockabilly style romp. Not surprisingly the lone upbeat and romantic song is the album’s next single.
As for the other word in the title, considering the politically charged album, last year’s Freedom’s Road, Freedom this time is not as represented. The lone political statement comes on Jena, a song and video that hit the internet late last year dealing with the Jena 6 controversy. Half a year later you have to wonder the impact of the song now and if it has done any good. And what’s with calling people “with paper bag skin”? I would say that could be offensive to African American except I’m not entirely sure he was refereeing to them. But paper bags are to dark to describe Caucasian unless it is one of the tan-obsessed kinds. So is Mellencamp blaming George Hamilton for hanging the nooses?
But it is life and death that really takes up Mellencamp’s time on the album. And that seems like a conscious effort to saying he wanted to write about the darkness in his life for this album and try writing sad songs. And sad and dark songs are abound especially with titles like When I Die and Don’t Need This Body. Or when he states in a growl for John Cockers, “There must be 10 million people but I ain’t got no friends.”
The real MVP of Life, Death, Love and Freedom is producer T Bone Burnett, the guy behind the O Brother, Where Art You? Soundtrack and the pairing of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. That pairing could have inspired bringing in a female to duet on My Sweet Love, A Ride Back Home and For the Children. But it is Burnett help shaping the music where is presence is really feel taking the folk of the last album and fleshing it out more giving this album more of an Americana feel, making it sound classic and contemporary at the same time. Over time, and the more they gel together, T Bone Burnett could be to John Mellencamp what Rick Rubin was to Johnny Cash.
It should be noted that this album is the first album to be released in the CODE format. Think CODE as to CD what Blu-Ray is to the DVD. You will need a standard DVD player to play the format, but the CODE version comes bundled with the CD version at no extra cost. The CODE disk can be copied into most computer music software and is iPod compatible. Please note that I didn’t listen to the CODE version for this review. It should also be noted that Mellencamp didn’t license any of these songs to be played ad nausea for a truck commercial. Because this is arrrrrrrre country.
Last month was a quiz devoted to the longest songs in my iTunes library and this month is about those length challenged songs, each of which clock in at under 2:30. Songs are ranked from shortest to longest. As always you need to put both artist and title in the comments section (or you can e-mail me) and if you are correct I will un-bold it and give you credit. The Lyrics Quiz is for entertainment purposes only so please do not use anything besides your own meandering mind to help you up with the answers. Now onto the quiz:
1. Bobby says its fine he doesn’t consider it cheating. (Fell in Love with a Girl - The White Stripes; guessed by Tony) 2. Wonder this time where’s she’s gone. Wonder if she’s gone to stay. (Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers; guessed by McD) 3. But when I see out and about it’s such a crime. If you should ever want to be loved by anyone. (It's Not Unusual - Tom Jones; guessed by Rebekah) 4. You got mud on your face, you big disgrace, kicking your can all over the place. (We Will Rock You - Queen; guessed by Tony) 5. Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be. (Yesterday - The Beatles; guessed by McD) 6. Don’t bother to choose: if it’s jug band music or rhythm and blues. Just go and listen. (Do You Believe in Magic? - The Lovin' Spoonful; guessed by Rebekah) 7. I feel so lonely I could die. (Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley; guessed by Jo) 8. I got the letterman’s jacket with the letter in front that I got for football and track. 9. I got a song that I sing; I can make the rain go anytime I move my finger. Lucky me, can’t you see I’m in love. (I've Got the World on a String - Frank Sinatra; guessed by Rebekah) 10. But it’s you that I fell into. (Big Me - Foo Fighters; guessed by Tony) 11. She totally confused all the passing piranhas. (Lump - The Presidents of the United States of America; guessed by Tony) 12. See, don’t ever set me free. I always want to be by your side. (You Really Got Me - The Kinks; guessed by Tony) 13. Big soggy tears’ running down her chin and it smears up her makeup. (Wrong Way - Sublime; guessed by Tony) 14. First time I shot her, I shot her in the side. Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died. (Delia's Gone - Johnny Cash; guessed by Joe) 15. Microphone checka, swingin’ sword lecture, closin’ down the sector, supreme neck protector. (Da Rockwilder - Method Man and Redman; guessed by Joe) 16. I see earthquakes and lightning. I see bad times today. Don’t go round tonight. It’s bound to take your life. (Bad Mon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival; guessed by Tony) 17. He is gonna kiss me if he doesn’t miss me. Ready for it now, already on the ground. Five minutes in the closet with you. (Spin the Bottle - Juliana Hatfield Three; guessed by Dara) 18. Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams and fairytales; that’s all she ever thinks about riding with the wind. (Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix Experience; guessed by Joe) 19. You can rely on the old man’s money. (Rich Girl - Hall and Oates; guessed by Tony) 20. Big hands I know you’re the one. (Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes; guessed by Tony) 21. Black coat, white shoes, black hair, Cadillac. (Time Bomb - Rancid; guessed by Tony) 22. Hey little girl is your daddy home, did he go and leave you all alone? (I'm on Fire - Bruce Springsteen; guessed by Tony) 23. If you are chilly, here take my sweater. Your hand is aching I’ll make it better. (The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson; guessed by McD) 24. Nobody likes you when you’re twenty-three. (What's My Age Again? - blink-182; guessed by Tony) 25. Just get me to the airport, put me on the plane, hurry, hurry, hurry before I go insane. (I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones; guessed by Tony)
For those that need a refresher to what happened to Brenda Leigh Johnson last season on The Closer get caught up with a rapid recap over at TNT.com. Not that you really need to know all the details of her life to jump into the show. The fourth season of the number one ad supported series in cable history is back tonight at 9:00 as show creator James Duff puts it, “We are going to examine the issue of power, especially how much power we really have over our own lives. We live with the illusion that we are in control of our lives. The season will start with Brenda tracking an arsonist while having a reporter follow her every move.”
The arsonist in question just happens to be pyromaniac Bill Croelick who first appeared back in season one who just so happens to show up in a crowd during a forest fire. That fire starts the epic start of the fourth season giving the opening almost a cinematic feel to it. The reporter on the other hand is not Brenda’s idea instead that was the brainchild of Assistant Police Chief Will Pope who would like to have a better relationship with The L.A. Times.
Since we are dealing with arson in the first episode, people with weak stomachs (i.e. me) may want to watch with the hands free so they can promptly put them in front of their eyes in certain scenes especially with the way they try to get fingerprints from charred remains. Brenda’s home life is still as frantic as work while here and fiancé Fritz Howard are stuck in an apartment with plumbing problems while they still look for a home to share the rest of their lives in.
The Closer airs Mondays at 9:00 on TNT starting tonight. You can download past episodes of The Closer on iTunes or on Amazon Unbox. If you want to see a sneak peak of season four, you can also find that at TNT.com.
For those that missed the first season of Saving Grace or just need a refresher, check out the show rapid recap over at TNT.com. But before you go, if you have not seen an episode yet, be warned that it easily earns its TV-MA rating and gets very dark at time.
If you want to know what kind of detective Grace Hanadarko (Raising Arizona’s Holly Hunter) is, she is the kind that, while having coffee with a friend while off duty, will chase down an armed carjacker on foot without any backup or protective vest. And like most cops on television these days, especially the ones on cable, Grace has some demons haunting her most of which she drowns with a heavy dose of the alcoholic beverage. Granted she has some decent excuses including having her sister being one of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombings.
Oh, and did I mention the angel named Earl that visited her when she hit as close to rock bottom. Yeah one can compare to the heavy drinking Tommy Gavin who lost his cousin in the Twin Towers and is visited by Jesus. But with Tommy it is pretty ambiguous whether he was seeing him, with his heavily leaning toward thinking it is a hallucination, Grace, along with some other people in her life think that Earl is really looking over her. All the while with rapper tuned singer/songwriter Everlast providing the score and theme song.
In the first season finale, Grace was last seen with a gun to head of the priest who got a little to hands on with here back in grade school. In the start of the second season premiering tomorrow at, Grace’s longtime buddy Rhetta (Just Shoot Me’s Laura San Giacomo) is worried about Grace going MIA since learning the whereabouts of the priest and it takes a while to find out what Grace did with him, but once we see the body (be it dead or alive) Grace’s consequences to her actions play out through the rest of the episode. Oh and her mother, Lucille Bluth pops in too.
Saving Grace airs Mondays at 10:00 (after The Closer) on TNT. You can check out a preview clip also at TNT.com. You can download previous episodes on iTunes or Amazon Unbox. Also if you are fan of the show you want to check outthe Saving Grace community site Embrace your Grace. Users can blog or use the message boards to share how they "embrace their grace"-- the parts of themselves that are fearless, questioning, and passionate-- like the show's main character. They're also giving away 85 tee shirts every day with Grace-like descriptors like "Hellraiser" and "No filter." And there's a sweepstakes for a Porsche (similar to the one Grace drives in the show) as well.
Quote of the Week: There's acing it, and there's what you did. Kind of like shooting a cow with a Howitzer. (The Middleman, The Middleman)
Big New of the Week: A Melancholy Happy Trails to Tony Snow: Former Bush spokesmen died early this morning after losing a second bout with cancer at age 53. He lasted only seventeen months as the press secretary before stepping down to have chemotherapy. I remember hearing a fact recently (I know I am messing up the exact number, but you will get an idea) that we since President Nixon declared war on cancer, we have spent less on cancer research that what we do in one week in Iraq. That is just an embarrassing. Tony Snow and the millions of other that have died or are suffering through the disease, including Eric Shanteau who learned just a week before qualifing to the Olympics that he has testicular cancer, deserve better than that. For more on the life of Tony Snow check out the article at MSNBC.
Coalition Links of the Week:
Buzz was pretty delighted by her first glimpse of NBC's Kath and Kim. (BuzzSugar)
This week, Sandie shared her visit on the set of The Closer. (Daemon's TV)
Getting ready for Burn Notice's second season, Rae shares her talk with Props Master Charlie Guanci, Jr. (RTVW)
Vance is looking forward to getting burnt all summer with a new season of Burn Notice! (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace gave a rare second chance to HBO's upcoming vampire drama True Blood (from Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball), taking a look at the pilot installment's revised version and the series' second episode, kicking off this September. But did he change his tune about the series this time around? (Televisionary)
In his quest to find something -- anything -- to watch on TV, he uncovered an internet music series based out of France. And, believe you me, the clip he found by Menomena is probably the cutest thing he has seen all year. Honest. (TiFaux)
The TV Addict has the scoop on Grace Park's first post - Battlestar Galactica project. (the TV Addict)
Petrozza from Hell's Kitchen badmouthed Matt and Jen and we kinda loved him for it. (TV Filter)
The Middleman: Here is a case of the promo monkeys ruining a show. Knowing that Dr. Phil did it before the show even started just made the reveal less interesting. At least the witty dialogue saved it a little. You can download episodes of The Middleman on iTunes.
The Bill Engvall Show: Great juxtaposition of how cheesy and lame Bill is and really that is what is endearing about the show. Just a half an hour each week to turn off my brain and enjoy. Catch up on recent episodes over at TBS.com
Pick for Next Week: ESPY Awards, Sunday (7/20) at 9:00 on ESPN: Yeah Justin Timberlake hosts, but hopefully the show can overcome that because the awards has been pretty solid in recent years. Expect Lance Armstrong, David Beckham, Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell to show up. Speaking of the former Ms. Veronica Mars, Amazon is having a sale on Crime Shows up to 50% off including all three seasons of Veronica Mars for under $20.
Two Men with the Blues - Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis may seem like a weird pairing because, well, it is. But after Willie hooked up with Snoop Dogg on his country song My Medicine, every other pairing just seems a little less odd in comparison. Recorded live at Lincoln Center with Marsalis’ backing band, the two blend the jazzy songs with the country vocals seamlessly with Willie knowing just when to step back and let Marsalis and his band go on extended solos. And if the two genres weren’t enough, Two Men with the Blues live up to the title, because really, who better that Willie Nelson to sing the blues, and even a little New Orleans flavor seeping into a couple track. Most novice music fans will most likely only recognize Ray Charles’ Georgia on My Mind on the album, but that just means more for them to discover on the album.
It is pretty safe to call the Los Lonely Boys a one hit wonder. Heaven was just one of those songs that just doesn’t go away and is hard to top. There was nothing close as good on their second album Sacred, and same for their third outing, Forgiven. And if you heard Sacred, you have already Sacred then you have already heard Forgiven as the band doesn’t deviate from the brand of south of the border blues. There are some great riffs like on the album opener Heart Won’t Tell a Lie, and current single Staying with Me is somewhat catchy, that suggest that they could go on to be this generation’s Santana without the revolving door of singers, and maybe even get a second hit, but that hit won’t be coming off this album.
Forgiven gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.
Have Another Ball! - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
You really have to try to dislike Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. They take pop, R&B, and country songs and turn them into punk anthems. Their seventh album Have Another Ball! is a bunch of outtakes from their first album covering songs from the sixties and seventies from artists like Hall and Oates and Diana Ross. Yeah that can get old quick and the entertainment value decreases exponentially with each listen, but for that first listen these songs are thoroughly entertaining especially the Blitzkrieg Pop-ified version of Carol King’s You’ve Got a Friend. Too bad the band did not bring in a George Michael to help them out with the Elton John classic Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.
Have Another Ball! gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.
Feed Your iPod was created to highlight songs that may not have been hits, or even released as singles, but deserve a much bigger audience. Hopefully of the first nineteen I have posted you have a least found a couple that you may not have heard before but have made it into your regular rotation. Of course Feed Your iPod is just a catchy title and any of these can be for any mp3 devise, just your computer and now you can make a CD out of them as the first set comes in at 78:24. You can even help create volume two by emailing me (or use the comment section) song suggestions and a short description on way everyone should have it on their iPod for me to post. Click the links below to be taken to iTunes where you can download the songs or use the widget below to go to Amazon MP3 to get them DRM-free (and sometimes a dime cheaper) or use the label function to scroll threw what I had to say about these songs and full song previews.
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.
The more I listen to Narrow Stairs (see: And They Carried on Like Long Division) the more Cath… becomes my favorite song on the lattest Death Cab for Cutie album. The video is about as odd as the four and a half minute bass groove that started off I Will Possess Your Heart. Half, a fairly literal version of the song about a lady marrying someone she could have done better than with the other half with the whole band lip syncing in a backstage area with grass. Arighty then.
The latest album from Nas is no longer called the word I am not allowed to say without receiving a beatdown, indeed is now named, well, nothing. The song has to be in the running for beat of the year so far with it Neptunes meets Timbaland feel, granted the video itself just looks like another Hype Williams retread.
In what could be the most profound question of the year, Vampire Weekend ponders, “Who gives a (expletive deleted) about an Oxford Comma”. Indeed. But my pretentiousness aside, you got to like any video that is all one shot. Just don’t ask me what the whole chapter thing is about.
Yes that is Lily Kane singing… singing Abba from the theatrical version of Momma Mia, a movie there is no way anyone can get me to see unless Lily Kane herself invites me and involves some extracurricular activities afterwards.
![[Untitled] - Nas](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519yccU78DL._SS500_.jpg)
![Terror Alert Level: Elevated [YELLOW]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-iVFV0hXCTSYP16K_V0Rrxp3GqFrtBIJKeTUyQ2LpxZQ9XKHFj6QGtqqa7oxhLadLV8vUj8R84AftD8IKUSfN0u_u0CYDtJwhrpCPN2DBWquAIDv0jbVlhZL0mDFKlPKluGyxw/s400/small_elevated.png)
on my Terror Alert Scale.
![Terror Alert Level: High [ORANGE]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebDZ0qqwOVKMZj7oFSUe8Hm3ax54U9Hp1fThJPgiddTyzcdwx_5SV6E3b7hkKyxbaDiym4COmUXT2YJnsKCUjBHI_a2xZtNoY7qFQRslP5AGO5gLkJwn2ZbO0wIF80ycbKrgPPA/s400/small_high.png)
on my 
. If you want to see a sneak peak of season four, you can also find that at 
’s Holly Hunter) is, she is the kind that, while having coffee with a friend while off duty, will chase down an armed carjacker on foot without any backup or protective vest. And like most cops on television these days, especially the ones on cable, Grace has some demons haunting her most of which she drowns with a heavy dose of the alcoholic beverage. Granted she has some decent excuses including having her sister being one of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombings.
. Also if you are fan of the show you want to check outthe Saving Grace community site 
including all three seasons of Veronica Mars for under $20.