Pop is universally recognized as the worst album in the U2 catalogue. The album was a little too polished and they thought they would be tongue in check with their Village People homage for the first Discothèque but the whole world just never got the joke. Even the accompanying tour when over like a lemon; literally as the band descended onto the stage in the oversized fruit that was more Vegas than arena rock.
The thing about Pop is that it still better than ninety percent of music ever made. If God Would Send His Angels hits the emotional chord the band is known for., Please is a heart wrenching plea, Staring at the Sun is right up there with anything on Achtung Baby. And if you don’t take it too seriously, Discothèque is the most danceable, fun song from a band not known for those traits.
With that said, No Line on the Horizon is not a bad album compared to other music that has been released this decade; it is just not a good U2 album. Part of that is for a band that is constantly reinventing themselves, we have heard some of these songs before. First single Get on Your Boots sounds like the first single from their last album, Vertigo, but with The Edge making his guitar more fuzzy (and a funkier baseline from Adam Clayton) and really sticks out like a sore thumb at number six on the track list. While Magnificent sounds like a couple of songs of off How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.
Then when the band tries something new, like on organ, French horn mix of Unknown Caller, it just doesn’t work with the weird chanting chorus. But I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t go Crazy Tonight is one of those absurd idea the band comes up with that actually works when they actually law it down. Stand Up Comedy will be the early stand out live song on their upcoming tour. And Cedars Of Lebanon continues their streak of quasi-religious songs closing out their albums and ends up being one of the album’s best as it is a haunting end to the album especially the last two lines Bono sings. But the rest of the album really misses that emotional investment that every other U2 album has.
Of course this being U2, they do know how to iron out songs on the road with songs like The Fly and Origin of the Species, as well as most of Pop, not the best studio of songs, end up get better in front of live audiences. So hopefully by the end of their upcoming tour, some of these tracks from No Line on the Horizon would make for killer live album additions.
Saving Grace is back for another round of episodes tonight starting at 10:00 on TNT (for those wondering what happened to Trust Me, it has been moved to Tuesdays at 10:00). Christina Ricci (Penelope) pops up for the first three episodes as Grace’s new partner, a uniform cop and single mother making a rotation through the squad while Bobby is on an undercover assignment. Ham then gets teamed up with Butch.
The guest starts don’t stop when Ricci’s run is up F. Murray Abraham (Star Trek - Insurrection) shows up as one of Earl’s fellow angels, Malcolm David Kelly (Lost) turns out to be Leon’s son while Leo’s execution date comes closer, and Kathy Baker (Boston Public’s hook lady) starts dating Grace’s brother in law. Then next week Jessy Schram (Veronica Mars) shows up on a very special episode of Saving Grace as Grace’s niece who is arrested at a Scavenger Party, but the kids aren’t hunting for silly list items, but for drugs.
Tonight the crew is on a fairly gruesome case that is attracting some sickos and may turn out to be the work of a serial killer. Not the funniest subject but the fright does create some funny moments between Grace and her sister and features maybe the least erotic pillowfight ever put to film. For more on the series, check out the clip below:
It is sometimes weird how a premature death alters history. In the late seventies The Beatles were just that band Paul McCartney was in before Wings then they became the biggest band ever with the murder of John Lennon, who himself went from the third most successful artist to its first. Yet had it been Brian Wilson who was gunned down we very may have considered The Beach Boys the most influential band of all time.
In my lifetime it is weird to see the hero worship around Kurt Cobain (how does he crack the top fifty in Rolling Stone's Greatest Singers of All Time?) when Pearl Jam completely overshadowed them in the early nineties. I was one of the million people that bought Vs. the week it came out (which I can prove as it lacks a name on the cover which the first shipment didn’t have) while Nirvana’s sophomore album was pretty much a flop. Then Cobain puts a shotgun in his mouth and he is a voice of a generation.
But it was Pearl Jam that was making the better music and later this month see the reissue of Ten on two CD’s (the original version on one and each song remixed by Brendon O’Brian on the second with bonus tracks) and a DVD (featuring the band’s Unplugged performance). And the album is this month’s Scooter Hall of Fame inductee.
The album starts off with a jolt in the arm, Once featuring Eddie Vedder’s controlled growl that is part scream but never loses its melody. The song even reduces into almost a jam band kind of groove before getting back to rocking. Maybe it was the moody teenager in me, but I cannot count the times I would let loose with the chorus of the second track letting anyone know, “Whoa, I’m still alive.”
The song that got the most play time thanks to an over abuse of the repeat button was Black, a heavy handed song that was a great soundtrack for almost any event for a teenager in the early nineties. But the true stars of Ten were the duel guitars of Stone Gossard and Mike McCready who really shined in that Unplugged setting highlighted by Porch. Yeah the camera focused on Vedder scribbling on his arms, but it is the solo in the song, with help from Jeff Ament, that got full attention from my ear and may be the worth double downing on the reissue when it comes out.
Chuck: So last week Chuck downloaded a whole other Intercect into his brain and saved the Token Hot Chick from a mind melt. And this week no mention of either this week. Not that I really care because I was too busy jamming to Jeffster to notice. Fernando really made that scene though. Unfortunately it didn’t distract enough from a heavy dose of Morgan whom Chuck should have let die. But I have to admit those two and Jeffster spying on Anna while the Token Hot Chick and Casey spied on them was pretty funny. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.
Lost: I hate these episodes where we know everything that was going to happen. We knew Locke was going to get rejected by the Oceanic 6 yet we spend a whole hour seeing him do just that. But Holy Walt sighting! Of course that ended up being a waste because Locke didn’t bother to ask him to go back. The only things that happened were we found out that Locke was alive with the second castaways (which I predicted, well the separate events happening) and that Not-Henry killed Locke (which I didn’t predict).
And I really dislike the seemingly arbitrary time travel: the Jack, Kate, Hurley, Jin, Sawyer, Juliet, Faraday do; Ben, Lepidus, the Others don’t; Locke did, but doesn’t now. Then there are Sun and Syaid who are yet to be determined (my guess is they are even though everyone thinks Sun is the one that ran off with Lepidus, my guess it is a not son dead Charlotte.
But my biggest complaint is Ben lying about not going to Locke, basically meaning that we cannot believe anything he says, and Whitmore for that matter. In fact, I seriously question if Helen is really dead (was that Peg Bundy?) but just an elaborate hoax perpetrated by Whitmore to make sure Locke had nothing to live for. So basically half the things we “know” on Lost could just b be a lie created by either Ben or Whitmore. My hopes of a satisfying ending to the show decreases wit every passing episode. You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.
Survivor: If Coach gets voted off in the next couple of weeks he can rest in the solace that he can be cast in the next season of Tool Academy. He is starting to tread into Johnny Fairplay territory. I wonder just how long until his tribe turns on him, and if the switch teams I have a feeling he would be the first to go if his tribe losses. I love the secret alliance and I cannot believe it has taken this long for someone to start one. I just wonder if the dude Taj recruits will be down but I am sure Sierra will be up for it. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube.
Friday Night Lights: You really fault Landry for making a move on the lesbian: how can you resist a chick that serenades you with She Don’t Use Jelly by The Flaming Lips. Although I’m not sure I like the musical direction Crucifitorious is taking. And is there any bigger slap in the face to Buddy Garrity to have his kids be into soccer and Veganism? It was hard not to feel bad for the guy (and I certainly didn’t need to hear about his daughter’s lady parts). And I wonder what the Over/Under is on the games before Mr. McCoy is banned from the football field. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.
Quote of the Week: You’re like the poster child for friendly fire. (Casey - Chuck)
Song of the Week: Africa – Toto (as performed by Jeffster; Chuck)
Big News of the Week: NBC May Bring Back I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!: It may just be a coincidence, but interestingly enough word leaked a day after I posted my interview with John Lehr about his tenure hosting I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! that NBC is considering resurrecting the show for the summer. Maybe NBC agreed with me that the show was before its time. And hopefully the network agrees with Lehr that the show shouldn’t be taken as serious an d let the host mock the contestants. Hopefully the show doesn’t become too successful because we may end up with weekdays of the Jay Leno 10:00 hour preceded by Celebrity at 9:00 next with only 8:00 for scripted shows on the Peacock. Check out our full discussion of Lehr’s involvement in the show:
Coalition Links of the Week: Does Nick "Normund Gentle" Mitchell deserve another chance at the American Idol crown? (BuzzSugar)
Vance loved the season finales for Privileged and Leverage. While Leverage has been picked up for Season 2, here's hoping Privileged returns too. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace was thrilled by Lost and Damages but also admitted his secret love for animated series like Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Wolverine and the X-Men. (Televisionary)
What's a hipster to do? Marisa pre-emptively fought back against those who would ridicule her devotion to American Idol. (TiFaux)
After watching the Grey’s Anatomy-Private Practice crossover, Jennifer came to one conclusion: Addison Montgomery needs to go back to Seattle Grace. STAT. (Tube Talk)
Raoul talked to Charlie from Hell's Kitchen about making sauce, hitting the sauce and everything Ramsay. (TV Filter)
Free Download of the Week: Barenaked Ladies (Amazon MP3): Amazon is offering up five free songs from those quirky Canadians but keep in mind the songs all come from the Ladies’ children’s album. Some Fantastic I Can Sing Off The Hook Maybe Not In The Car
Video of the Week: In a story I broke a couple months ago, Ben Silverman is batting .000 over at NBC (see: Your New Most Inept Executive Is…) but he may of actually found something watchable to put on his network that may get him close to the Mendoza Line in Kings. Being a history buff (the story is a reimagining of David and Goliath) the show looks epic and appropriately enough premieres on the Ides of March at 8:00 (that is the 15th for those not up on your Shakespearian plays). Here’s a clip:
Next Week Pick of the Week: Tool Academy, Sunday (March 8) at 10:00 on VH1: It has been a fun ride so far and the final three of Matuflex, Shaun and mini tool will get cut down to two for the Tool Academy finale on next week. And if NBC is reading the 9th Green, hopefully VH1 was poking around when I suggested Celebrity Tool Academy featuring Ashton Kutcher, Terrell Owens, Sean Hannity, Pete Wentz, Spencer Pratt, Al Gore, Sean Avery, Donald Trump, and Alex Rodriquez.
Romantic comedies typically get a bad rap because most of them are geared totally towards the female persuasion, not caring that they are alienating half the population in the process. Then there are the few romantic comedies that manage to get both sides of the sex’s right and that is the case in Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Michael Cera (Arrested Development) is the Nick in the title living out a younger version of Jon Favereau in Swingers after girlfriend, the unlikeable Alexis Dziena (Invasion), but not in a good way, dumps him and he is still calling and making mix tapes a month later. But instead of an obsession with swing music Nick is in a gay-homosexual band (despite being into chicks).
Norah, played by Kat Dennings (The House Bunny) manages to be snarky and likeable when she happens to get Nick to pretend to be her boyfriend to prove to Dziena (they go to the same all girls school complete with uniforms) that she has one not know that Nick was the Nick that keep on giving Dziena mix tapes after she broke up with him. And in their mutual dislike, they decide to hop around New York City looking for the elusive and aptly titled Where’s Fluffy.
But before they can scour the city there is Norah’s very inebriated friend that needs to make it back home which fall in the hands of Nick’s bandmates and groupie, for the lack of a better word, just known as Lothario, who would obviously not take advantage of her drunken stupor. Naturally this still do not go well when she escapes and Nick and Norah have to add finding her to their list of things to do like find Where’s Fluffy and avoid their ex’s, Norah’s of which comes in the form of Jay Baruchel (Undeclared).
Oddly enough a movie with the Infinite Playlist in the title, the music isn’t as memorable as you would especially compared to other music reliant movies like Swingers or Garden State with the expect of Middle Management by Bishop Allen (which you may remember from the trailer). And Where’s Fluffy is built up so much it is hard to be anything but disappointed with their music, although the writing gets creative with the ending to alleviate that especially if you pay attention to Nick and Norah’s last conversation. But at the very least, this movies can give anyone hope that their musical soulmate is out their someone. Now if I can just find someone who has both Frank Sinatra and A Tribe Called Quest on her iPod.
Be sure to check out the extras on the DVD where Dennings gives a five minute puppet version of the film. No seriously.
Next Tuesday sees the release of the new U2 album No Line on the Horizon (I should have a review up by at least Thursday of that week) and one of my favorite songs from the group that never was a big hit was What If God Will His Angels. I guess that happens with songs that have overtly religious song. The song was off the equally ignored Pop album. It may have been the worst U2 album, but bad U2 is still ninety percent better than any music that has ever been released.
Leverage is a show that may not show up on a lot of critics list at the end of the year but managed to put together the most entertaining new show in the post writer’s strike era that isn’t populated by a bunch of Tools. This could be that the show knows it isn’t inventing the wheel (it has a modern A-Team feel to it) and doesn’t take itself too seriously (some episodes pack more laughs than most sitcoms).
The selling point for the show is that they brought together five different, but likeable in their own way characters. The MVP of the group is Alec Harrison, the resident nerd who doesn’t care to get his hands dirty but is quick to remark on anything. Then there is Parker who may have a screw or two loose as shown in her penchant to jump off tall buildings and stab guys even if it blows her cover. For muscle is the inexcusable longed hair Eliot Spencer. The interaction between these three really amps up the humor as they deal with each other’s eccentricities.
The mom and dad of the group are Nathan Ford, the guy who realized how effective the group could be, an d Sophie Devereaux who can only act herself out of a bag when she is conning people. Their relationship should be interesting going forward with the introduction of Ford’s ex-wife for the last two episodes.
Leverage isn’t without its flaws, the loss of Ford’s son gets heavy handed at times especially for the first couple episodes. And Nathan’s drinking problem seemed to come and go depending on if the plot needed it or not, but the writing for the most part was witty to help ease these annoyances.
The season finale of Leverage airs tonight at 10:00 on TNT where the gang takes another try at trying to steal David miniture. You can catch up on the whole season with a whole day marathon on TNT or download the show on iTunes or Amazon Video on Demand. Check out a clip from the finale tonight below:
Tomorrow is the season finale of 10 items of Less on TBS at 11:00 so I thought I would finally unveil the long promised video where I ask John Lehr about his hosting duties on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Sorry for shaking the camera while laughing, I should have sprung for a tripod. I also talked to John what we can expect from the future from him in 2009, check that video out:
Tool Academy: VH1 has some weird scheduling. No Tool Academy or Rock of Love Bus tonight because of the Academy Awards yet Confessions of a Teen Idol is a go. Versus the Super Bowl No Bret Michaels but the Tools and Teens were new. Yet there were no repeats against the Grammy’s, the biggest night in music for a once music channel. It is odd to think that airing against the Academy Awards would bite into their viewers but I bet repeating an episode twenty times in a week hurts more than any special programming it goes against. In other VH1 news, Ricki Lake has been tapped to be the head master of the next Charm School featuring rejects from Rock of Love Bus and Real Chance of Love. I cannot wait. You can also download Tool Academy on iTunes.
Chuck: Just what is chuck’s brain made of that he can store all these Intercets in it? Bryce uploaded two (although the second time seemed to get dropped from the storyline because it hasn’t been mention since as to why and what was uploaded) and now he has FULCRUM’s up there too. Hopefully this eliminates the silly plot points where he doesn’t flash on FULCRUM agents on sight even though they are in the Intercet. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.
Trust Me: The Sarah storyline this week really encapsulate why the show isn’t picking up steam, the writing is really subject. I have no clue is she actually realized she is now a lesbian, was she joking, was she just trying to talk herself out of hooking up with the dude? I have no clue. And they really need to work the daughter into the show more because she was the only redeeming quality of this past episode. You can also download Trust Me on iTunes.
Gary Unmarried: Is Jamie King even on this show anymore? I cannot even remember the last episode she was in.
Lost: There are very few things I hate more on television than those silly “Thirty-Six Hours Eariler” beginnings. What the text should read is “The First Act Is Boring So We Are Going to Start in the Third Act in Hopes That You Don’t Fall Asleep or Turn off the TV. Plus We get to Write Less Because We Will Just Show the First Couple Minutes of the Episode When We Get to it in the Story. Oh, and Spoiler Alert: Kate and Hurley Will End Up on the Plane.”
Maybe this was to distract from the gaping plot holes like if the conditions had to be as close to original crash then 1) why were they flying West, not East 2) why did they all get to sit in first class? 3) and most important, where the frak was Walt? And about the “crash” how did they warp to the time Jin was stuck in and how did they warp to the ground? They can either crash and warp or warp and plummet to their deaths; you don’t just warp to the ground safely.
As for some predictions: Kate gave Aaron to Sawyer’s baby mama; Charlie was the one who told Hurley about the plane (which is also why he had the guitar); Jin, Myles and Faraday have been living amongst the Dharma Initiative for the past three years (although Sawyer and possibly Juliet have not unless he has been bribed with enough Dharma Beer); Ben had Syiad extradited to Guam; the people in Coach did not warp in time and are the people that shoot at Sawyer at. el. when they stole their pontoon; Ben killed (or at least attempted to kill) Penny. You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.
Friday Night Lights: I was waiting for Rigging to get a hold of JD. And his tour of Dillon certainly disappoint. But nothing this episode beat Billy staple gunning his hand to the wall. And I cannot believe Tyra was that stupid to believe the cowboy. And thanks to the Promo Monkeys who spoiled what was coming up with their relationship, it looks like she shouldn’t have. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.
Big News of the Week: Scooter Is Moving on Up to the East Side: I have been lucky enough to nab a few interviews here at the 9th Green but the first time ever someone actually wanted to interview me. For those that have never heard of Showhype, it is a site that collects the most linked blog posts and you can even vote them up (or down) on its site. And the site decided to give me a nice write up and a short interview so head over to Showhype to get more inside on me and the 9th Green. And if you are already a member feel free to hit the up arrow on the story.
Another thing I have been quietly doing for the last couple months is being a contributor to the Hulu Awards where I have been nominating and voting on the best the site has to offer. The awards are still to be determined but you yourself can actually vote on the winners too by heading over to The Hulu Review and all the categories are on the top right column. And if you are not sure what to vote for, you cannot go wrong with Friday Night Lights for the categories it is nominated in.
Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:
Coalition Links of the Week: Gossip Girl is a great guilty pleasure — but would you watch a real-life version? (BuzzSugar)
This week, Sandie wished she knew how not to quit Heroes. (Daemon's TV)
Vance did some TV blog catch up and puts his two cents on American Idol, Lost and more. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace explored the history of the Cylon race on Battlestar Galactica and offered up some theories about Daniel, The Colony, and Kara Thrace. (Televisionary)
Dan finally caught up with the new Showtime series The United States of Tara, and discussed his troubling infatuation with John Corbett. (TiFaux)
This week, the TV Addict proved that he may have too much time on his hands by not only taking our favorite magazine, Entertainment Weekly to task for offering up their umpteenth Twilight cover. But going one step further and designing a mock-up of what this week's cover could have looked like. (The TV Addict)
Kate tried to decide which of the "real" housewives of NYC is the most recession-proof (TV Filter)
Free Download of the Week: Damages (iTunes): Not only can you grab the second season premiere for free, for those that enjoy that can for a limited time download the whole series for a discounted price.
Video of the Week: As seen earlier in the week, I bought a new computer. With my old computer I some problems watching even the standard resolution videos on Hulu let along the high definition ones. So I made up for lost time during the extended weekend last week when I wasn’t trying to uses the suspiciously titled Windows Easy Transfer (which tells me I need 65 GB on my old computer to transfer despite only having a hard drive of 55). A good chuck of my Hulu time has been devoted to clips of Attack of the Show’s Olivia Munn who was nice to condence her greatest bits into this two minute video:
Next Week Pick of the Week: 10 Items or Less, Tuesday at 11:00 on TBS: Aside from Leverage, which I mentioned last week, this Tuesday also sees the season finale of 10 Items or Less. In honor of the finale I may just finally release the video of star John Lehr talking about his time on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me out of Here!
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. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.
I never thought anyone would ever beat out Puff Daddy for most inappropriate sample ever when he turned a song about stalking (Every Breathe You Take) into a song about a fallen friend (I'll Be Missing You), but Asher Roth now wins that title taking Weezer's song about an absentee father (Say it Ain't So) and flip it into a party jam. Yet I cannot hate on a dude for starting a song "I wanna go to college for the rest of my life." I feel you bro. Except who has enough money to drink Miller Lite? Natty Lite is the beer of college.
As proven by his attempt at singing, Kanye West is proving to be too ambitious for his own good. Like in his new video where which looks like when my cable box starts to read the cable bad and gets that off color, streaming effect. Instead of going off to work in the fashion industry, Kanye needs to go back to college and rediscover his roots. And destroy his auto tuner.
I may have my man card revoked for writing this but He's Just Not That Into You looks almost watchable, not that I am rushing to the cinema to watch it. Granted when I say it looks watchable I am really only talking about the scenes with Ginnifer Goodwin and the Mac Guy in an Ed reunion. The other parts look like your token romantic comedy drivel. For more on Eric McCarley, check out my review of her debut album: You Hold Your Head Up to the Sky and Say What Kind of Blue Are You.
I can typically get behind videos with puppets, and the last video from The BPA landed at number one of the Best Videos of 2008, but the Iggy Pop puppet just scares me a little. Of course the real one kind of has the same affect on me so I guess the video works on that level.
Got to love those people that do the write up on the back of DVD’s. For Cold Prey it says that, “If you think this is going to be the usual ‘trapped teens stalked by a maniac’ movie, you’re dead wrong.” The finishes off the blurb by quoting Arrow in the Head that says, “If you enjoyed the original Friday the 13th and Halloween, you’re going to love Cold Prey.” Two movies that created the “trapped teens stalked by a manic” genre.
First off, it should be noted that Cold Prey is actually Fritt Vilt and is from Norway and is spoken in all Norwegian (aside from the occasional English songs). Naturally reading and horror flicks do not mesh very well as you are reading what they are screaming but are distracted by the words you sometimes miss what they are actually screaming at.
Despite what the back cover would have you to believe the movie is about a bunch of teens being stalked by a maniac (of whom it is pretty easy to figure out within the first five minutes). The one thing that differs is that they are not stuck in a warm climate conducive to fornicating but instead takes place in an abandoned cabin resort. The kids are stuck there as one of them has a snowboarding accident and it is too far to drag them back in the impending snowstorm to their car and just happen to see the cabin just up ahead.
The injured friend makes for a hard dilemma of flight or fight when one of the five comes up missing. Even with all the reading, you can still sense the fear and claustrophobia that the snowboarders feel as someone in an oversized parka, ski goggles, and an ax hunting them down and manage to frightening and entertaining even as it goes through more than one horror clichés. And if you are grossed out by gore, you can still enjoy this movie as it doesn’t show much because it cares much more about the hunt than the kill, cleaning up the broken leg is as gruesome as onscreen gore as it gets in the movie. And being five character the maniac takes his time getting to each of them.
Apparently the Windows Easy Transfer does not live up to its name as I try to transfer files from my old computer to my new. It does not help that I have been trying to do it through my network and I keep getting disconnected during the transfer. Of course if it were truly Easy, it would let you start right back up instead of making you start from the beginning. But anyways. As I try to do this successfully (I am going to try doing it through my iPod today) take a listen of two of my favorite songs of the new year.
I recently bought a new computer and if you are reading this then I am still transferring files. Hopefully I can get everything configured the way I like it soon and get something posted by tomorrow. One advantage to this new computer is I can watch Hulu without a choppy video which i spent too much time this weekend on when I should have been doing the transferring stuff like this clip from Chuck. And really who need a Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture when there is a Gratuitious Token Hot Chick Montage.