Lyrics Quiz: St. Patrick's Day

Recently I have been playing around with Genius in iTunes and have concluded that it doesn’t really live up to its name because I rarely have any, “wow, that is a great match” moments. Like when I put in Puff Daddy’s Been Around the World I’d like to see Davie Bowie’s Let’s Dance and/or Lisa Stanfield’s All Around the World instead of the generic rap of the late nineties. But anyways. It does make for a good Lyrics Quiz creator. For this month I threw in St. Patrick’s Day by John Mayer (on account that it is Tuesday). Now if it was truly Genius I would expect other holiday themed songs like Halloweenhead, The Thanksgiving Song, 4th of July Ashbury Park (Sandy) or anything from Christmas related, but alas. As always leave your guesses, both artist and song title, in the comment section or e-mail me. If you are correct I will un-bold the lyric. Please keep in mind the lyrics quiz is for entertainment purposes only so please only use your own meandering mind to guess them. Here are twenty-five songs that Genius did spit out for St. Patrick’s Day.


1. Anger, he smiles, towering in shiny metallic purple armor.
2. Am I the one who plays the quite songs? Is he the one who turns the ladies on?
3. Looking on, she sings a song. The words she knows, the tune she hums. (Tiny Dancer - Elton John, guessed by Angie)
4. Just remember the telephones; they work in a both ways. But if I never ever hear them ring. If nothing else I think the bells inside them finally found you someone else. And that’s okay.
5. There’s no one left to finger. There’s no one here to blame. There’s no one left to talk to honey and there ain’t no one left to buy our innocence. (Adia - Sarah McLaughlin; guessed by Angie)
6. She could keep anything from me. I could have been anyone you see. She’s nothing but porcelain underneath her skin.
7. When you’re sure you had enough of this life, to hang on. Don’t let yourself go. (Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.; guessed by Angie)
8. Your top was untied and I thought how nice it’d be to follow the sweat down your spine. (Dreamgirl - Dave Matthews Band; guessed by Angie)
9. You will never have the time. I would love to change your mind. You were there, and it was good in the beginning.
10. Come one, come all into 1984. Yeah three, two, one, lights, camera, transaction. (Talk Shows On Mute - Incubus; guessed by Jo)
11. There are many things I’d like to say to you but I don’t know how. (Wonderwall - Oasis; guessed by Angie)
12. I’m going to meet you, I’m gonna greet you at her back door as you’re coming out.
13. We’d hit the bottom. I thought it was my fault. And in a way I guess it was. I’m just now finding out what it was all about. (Landed - Ben Folds; guessed by Molly)
14. Finding what I really need is what makes me bleed, like a new disease. Oh, lord, she’s still too young.
15. Late nights won’t do me justice because when I drink I get so (expletive deleted) depressed and it’s not right. I ain’t trying to get over you.
16. Wish I had a dollar every time you say, “don’t you miss the feeling music gave you back in the day.” (Musicology - Prince; guessed by Angie)
17. I pulled into Nashville Tennessee. But you wouldn’t even come around to see me. Since you’re heading up to Carolina you know I gonna be right there behind ya. (Steal My Kisses - Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals; guessed by Angie)
18. If you want it, come and get it. Crying out loud. (Babylon II - David Gray; guessed by Angie)
19. Flowers in her evening set I get the feeling she won’t forget. And there’s times you’d long to be her but to be her is surely blinding. (She's On Fire - Train; guessed by Angie)
20. Spin around one more time and gracefully fall back into the arms of grace. (Breathing - Lifehouse; guessed by Angie)
21. Well, I shuffled through the city on the 4th of July; I had a firecracker waiting to blow. Breaking like a robber who was making his way through the cities of Mexico. (New York, New York - Ryan Adams; guessed by Molly)
22. I have only come here seeking knowledge. Thing they would not teach me of in college. (Wrapped Around Your Finger - The Police; guessed by Angie)
23. I am surrounded by liars everywhere I turned. I am surrounded by imposters everywhere I turn. (I Don't Want To Be - Gavin DeGraw; guessed by Angie)
24. There was so easy living day by day; out of touch with the rhythm and blues.
25. Don’t know who I’m kidding imagining you’ll care. I could stand here a fool for another day. (Barely Breathing - Dunkan Sheik; guessed by Angie)


(Scooter’s Note: I plan to use Genius in future Quizzes, feel free to suggest a song you would like see run through Genius in the comments along with your guesses. Keep in mind I must have it to use it)

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. LXXI

Quote of the Week: I got the premium package. I told you if I don't watch 5 hours of TV a day, I'm throwing money out the window. (Gary, Gary Unmarried)

Song of the Week: Heaven – Warrant (Tool Academy)

Big News of the Week: The Recession Hits Home: When the recession started making stories circa October last year I could care less because it seemed to only hurt morons who bought houses they couldn’t afford and the morons who gave them the money to do so (an a few innocent bystanders). But as we inch closer to a depressions thanks to an administration thinking throwing money at anything will make things better even though the reason why we are in it is because the last one did the exact same thing, the recession actually hit home this week with the announcement that BMG Music is no more. I have taken advantage of their “12 for the price of 1” deals for almost two decades now (my first shipment included Public Enemy, Bryan Adams and Alice in Chains) and would estimate a good 40% of my CD collection came from the service. BMG Music: you will be missed. Luckily Amazon MP3 has cushioned my fall thanks to the MP3 Daily Deal which offers a full album for $2.99 (or less) every day and I have already taken advantage of the deal multiple times this year.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Coalition Links of the Week:
With news of Leighton Meester landing a film role, Buzz wondered which TV actors could shine on the big screen. (BuzzSugar)

This week, Sandie shared the first pictures of Alex O'Loughlin in Criminal Minds. (Daemon's TV)

Vance is loving the new Degrassi kids, meanwhile, some of the old ones are going to Hollywood, while a few in real life are starring in a play in Toronto! (Tapeworthy)

Missing Lost this week? Jace might not have a new episode of the ABC drama to tide you over until your latest fix but he does have video of his interviews with showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and series stars Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Emerson... along with a few spoilers. (Televisionary)

Although not usually one to pick a fight, Dan expressed some annoyance with the portrayal of gay folks on SNL and Bromance. (TiFaux)

Jennifer pondered why there are no big stars on Dancing With the Stars and who will die on Smallville, while Ashley took a swing at TV's best musical moments. (Tube Talk)

Raoul talked to Kris and Amanda from The Amazing Race. (TV Filter)

This week, we listed 5 reasons why Kings could help rebuild NBC's empire. (the TV Addict)


The Big Bang Theory: I may be knit-picking, but Sheldon does that with everything, so it makes it okay. But the opening just didn’t work for me for two reasons. Why would they need more Tivo space so they don’t have to delete Battlestar Galactica? I can’t image between the four of them, at least one has the DVD, and most likely all four have their own version. And why would Sheldon be so adverse to breaking the warranty agreement? Wouldn’t he think he would be able to fix the Tivo better than even the dude who created it. With that said, all of it was still funny. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: I was completely offended by the insults flung around to Ted having a soul patch as I sported one in my youth and had one before there was even a name for such a thing. Okay, the name “soul patch” is kind of Toolish, but having one before it was dubbed that was totally awesome. Then I had the save mine off when someone suggested I stole the idea from the gay dude on The Real World (I want to say New Orleans). You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

I Love Money: I love how The Entertainer and his alliance have gotten so upset that everyone pretty much banded together to out his crew as if no one else is allow to create their own alliance and just sit around waiting to get voted off.

Gary Unmarried: It has become pretty clear that Louis is the new star of the show and the most recent episode just cemented that. Just imagine if she were ten years older and ran into Sheldon. And they should seriously think about adding Martin Mull and Jane Curtain to the cast. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube.

Survivor: So J.D. chips a tooth, spits it out, throws it across the playing field, and gets ready for the next round. Man's Game J.D. But I really want the Exile Alliance to work though they are skating on thin ice on both tribes. What really sucks is I don’t think we will get a new episode for three weeks thanks to March Madness with just a Wednesday recap episode in the mean time. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube.



Friday Night Lights: I was a little disapointed that the Panthers did not run a little Wildcat. When you have two quarterbacks on the field you have to trow in a trick play or two. And how do you go for it on fourth and long with under a minute? Punt i through the enzone so the cannot have a run back and go into prevent. If he doesn't make a first down, that would have been a fireable offense. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.



You can also check out my First Impressions of Castle and/or my Final Impressions of Tool Academy.

Free Download of the Week: Pitter-Pat (Acoustic) – Erin McCarley (Amazon MP3): One of the previously mentioned Deal of the Day’s that I have advantage of was the decent debut from Eric McCarley and this week you can get an acoustic version of one of the songs for free.

Deal of the Week: Over 300 Blu-ray Discs as Low as $13.99 (Lost, Tropic Thunder, Reservoir Dogs, Zack and Miri Make a Porno)

Video of the Week: Monday wraps up Christina Ricci’s run on Saving Grace and don’t expect her tenure to end with her completion of her rotation. Nope, Grace finds something about Ricci that brings her stint to an abrupt end. Check out a clip below:



Next Week Pick of the Week: March Madness, Thursday and Friday from noon until after midnight on CBS: Some would argue that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but for me it is March Madness. With four games on at a time, there is a high probability that at least one will be good and they go on all day for two days. Plus it is the only time of the year when gambling is socially acceptable, even teachers pass out brackets to their students for “extra credit” and the boss doesn’t care if you spend the workday hitting refresh on ESPN.com. Sadly 90% of people are all but out of their office pool by the start of the second round while the secretary who doesn’t follow sports sits on the top of the leaderboard.

Around the Tubes vol. V

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Blog Smog, Kings, Parks and Recreations, DogTown, My Boys, Guantanamo Bay, and Cesar Millan.

- Dentyne has a new campaign out that hits a little to close to home. Luckily for the people around me I am a little obsessive compulsive about my teeth so I usually keep them clean and fresh. For those that do not, or not sure, you will want to check the video out below:

Blog Smog


- I have been excited for Kings since I saw the first preview because it just has that epic feel to it and I can finally get a full look at it Sunday at 8:00 on NBC. Here is a two minute preview but if you want to see a much better seven-minute version, you can download it for free on iTunes and in HD if you choose.



- The show has even put together a pretty cool interactive trailer where you play a television news producer reporting on the star of the show. But keep in mind that it will take you about ten minutes and they will be calling you and you will want to disable your pop-up blocker. Head over to UNNExclusive.com to participate.

- In other website for fake shows news the City of Pawnee has set up its own website, the city in the upcoming show Parks and Recreation starring Amy Poehler. You can even find the e-mail address of Parks and Recreation’s Deputy Director Leslie Knope (Poehler) while you are there.

- If there is one thing I learned from the press release for the new season of DogTown it is that the show is Ellen DeGeneres’ favorite show. The new season premieres next Friday and I may have more on it next week. But until then, here is a clip from the premiere:



- Also coming up on the television calendar is My Boys coming March 31 at 10:30 on TBS. I should also have more information on the show in upcoming weeks. Until then, you can view some of last season’s episodes over at TBS.com.

- Coming April 5 at 9:00, the National Geographic Channel gained extended access to the notorious Guantanamo Bay to document what life is really like for the detainees and those who guard them.

- In an odd press release I got, apparently the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan became a United States citizen yesterday. Um, okay. So congratulations Cesar and feel free to stop by my house sometime to see if you can keep my dogs from using the dining room as their own personal bathroom.

I Want My Music Television vol. XLV

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.


Nothing to Worry About – Peter Bjorn and John



You may remember Peter, Bjorn and John from their whistling song, and if you don’t, what hole were you hiding in back in 2007? Naturally there new song isn’t as catchy but at least the video is classic, featuring choreographed, Japanese, Elvis bikers. Brilliant.


Carol Brown - Flight of the Concords



I have never seen Flight of the Conchords before on account that I am too cheap to order HBO. But this chorus of ex-girlfriends may get me to throw the DVD into my queue. Granted it may two to three year to get through it.


Just Go – Lionel Richie featuring Akon




Why? Why Lionel Richie Why would you stoop so low to recruited Akon to make music? He has had his hand on some of the worst music of the 00’s. You need to just go back to writing and producing your own music. And if you need a duet partnet, just get the Commodores back together.


It Won’t Be Like This for Long - Darius Rucker



I really miss Hootie.

Keep Your Hand on My Head, Your Heart on Your Sleeve

Listening to All I Ever Wanted I feel I may have been a little to harsh when reviewing Kelly Clarkson’s last disk My December (see: You're Going Crazy, Running on Empty). My big complaint was that she tried to do too much herself, even if she had no ability to create a memorable melody, almost defiantly resulting in a bland cumbersome album. But on her new disk, the best tracks are actually the one with her hands on it.

The album starts off with handing the reigns over to other writers an d producers almost saying, if you want another Since U Been Gone, here you go” with first single My Life Would Suck Without You even opening up with the exact same guitar riff. Sadly the truly excellent riff from Gone, the ripped off one from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Maps, is nowhere to be found. But in the end the song doesn’t even sound like Clarkson, instead sounds like Katy Perry trying to imitate her.

Perry actually shows up twice co-writing two of the weakest tracks on the album I Do Not Hook Up (co-written by Kara DioGuardi) and Long Shot (co-written with Glen Ballard). Both songs are dumbed down and riddled with over reaching clichés, pretty much your token Katy Perry song. And Since U Been Gone isn’t the only song that gets recreated as Don’t Let Me Stop You starts up with the same noted as Behind These Hazel Eyes.

Things don’t get much listenable until the Clarkson written Already Gone. But keep in mind the song was co-written and produced by the dude from One Republic, so it is about as adventurous as your typical Musak track. Actually, Save You sounds like Stop and Stare in the beginning and features the “I wish we were Coldplay” riffs in it too. Two of the songs Kelly didn’t write with Ryan Tedder are a bit poppier, and better. In fact I Want You may be the best late nineties teen pop songs never written and even harkens back to the girl groups of the sixties.

The album ends on a high note with the Keri Noble scribed If No One Will Listen which Clarkson could have written herself after the debacle surrounding her last record. And is a much better balled than the overdramatic and over dramatic Cry which will probably polluting the airwaves for the year and a half. But it will be If No One Will Listen that American Karaokers will be butchering for years to come.

Song to Download – I Want You

All I Ever Wanted gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

First Impressions: Castle

It is hard not to get a distinctive case of déjà vu while watching Castle. We have seen it all before: a woman who takes her job a little too serious gets stuck with a guy who doesn’t take anything serious. This has become so overdone it is hard to remember the last time television put together a stuck guy and a free spirit chick.

What the show does have going for it is the characters are someone likable. The all too serious detective Stana Katic (The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice) gets stuck with bad boy writer Nathan Fillion (Two Guys a Girl and a Pizza Place) after someone has gone on a killing spree that mirror those in his books. And naturally the sparks fly.

And if that isn’t enough clichés for you, then we meet Castle’s family, his mother the drunken Martha Rodgers (Dharma & Greg; hey, there’s an answer to my question earlier). Then there is his fifteen year old daughter who is more mature than her father, naturally. Also in the cast are some of Kanic’s coworkers, but none of which were interesting enough to really mention.

What hurts Castle the most is a symptom that has been plaguing a bunch of new shows lately where the premise is a decent idea if it were a movie, but it doesn’t seem built for the long run. For Castle, had they extended out a couple more murders, it would have made a decent movie. But I am not sure how they can keep Castle following around the cops entertaining week in and week out.

Castle airs Mondays at 10:00 on ABC. You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.

I'm Sorry, You're Just a Tool

“I’m sorry, you’re just a Tool” may never reach the pantheon of parting snarkiness of reality shows like “The tribe has spoken” but that certainly hasn’t stopped me from uttering the phrase ad nausea for the past two months. From Michael Phelps and Alex Rodriguez for their “young and stupid” excuses, to Rush Limbaugh and Rohm Emanuel arguing over who wants to get us out of economic mess less; there are no shortage of Tools out there.

With the overabundance of Tools around these days, VH1 (naturally) rounded up the nine biggest Tools in America who were stupid enough to think they were actually competing for the title of Mr. Awesome. But much like life, the joke was on them as their girlfriends had enrolled them in the Tool Academy to make them better people and boyfriends. But on the bright side, to get into this charm school they didn’t have to make out with Bret Michaels or Flavor Flav.

Nor did they have to be judged by one of the least classy person in America, or England for that matter in Sharon Osborne. Instead we get “relationship expert” Trina Dolenz, who may or may not be related to the dude from The Monkees. Granted she was just a pasty because like all of these “better one’s self” shows, the eliminations were arbitrary and inconsistent where most eliminations were not because they were the biggest Tool but they made for the least interesting television. Which is what kept Tommy and Shawn around to the final four when they should have been the first two out based on their actions.

The one misstep the show took was they each Tool their own moniker, such as Tiny Tool and Naked Too for the two finalists, but still had the host go by their own name, or silly self given pseudonym like Matsuflex and Celebrity, when they should have taken a page out of Flavor Flav’s notebook and continually call them by their Tool given name. Other than that, there were not any other flaws aside from the stupid girls who decided to stay with their Tools despite getting kicked out early (two of the nine decided to not break up with their expelled Tools despite stating the Tool Academy was the last stop). Although we will have to wait until next week at the reunion show to see if they kept their snap judgments.

In the end Josh was the lone Tool to graduate and got his very first diploma ever. And in a twist I would guest the other Tools were happy to avoid, the host said that their families were waiting to get married right there and then. Granted I debate the validity of the union because what self respecting minister would officiate a wedding on a show called Tool Academy? And he conspicuously didn’t mention who vested the authority of him to deem such a thing legal. But in the end IO hope they rush into production Tool Academy2 and if we are really lucky we may one day get a Celebrity edition featuring some of the earlier mentioned Tools. Or possibly a spin off realty show where Matuflex, his girl Jenna Fenton move in with her Deacon father.

Tool Academy gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. LXX

Tool Academy: There was nothing more entertaining than to see Ashley give the verbal smackdown to Shawn. The guy remained to the end the biggest tool on the show so it was good to finally see him leave. And even though it was a bit toolish, Josh calling out Aida for being a hooker was classic. Really, he had two girl, but Shawn’s were two of the most unattractive on the show. Can’t wait for the reunion special. Oh, as fo a prediction of winner and who is getting married, Josh for both of them. You can download Tool Academy on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: It felt like we have already seen this show with Penny messing with Sheldon’s spot. And she didn’t even lose any points for disrupting it. And are we really supposed to believe Wolowitz has been with different girls? You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.

Chuck: Chuck is lucky that Sarah saved him from moving in with Morgan, that was a bad idea to end all bad ideas. Speaking of bad ideas to end all bad ideas, it was nice to see Brooklyn Decker on NBC after the network stupidly didn’t pick up her pilot Lipshitz Save the World. What moron thought that Kath & Kim was a better idea? Oh yeah, Ben Silverman. Thanks for depriving me of weekly installments of Brooklyn, you moron. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

Lost: Just when you thought the show couldn’t get any more unbelievable: Sawyer gets domesticated. And did Horace have Amy’s husband killed? He has a truce with The Others, and Richard is pretty mad that two of his men were killed but in defense, Horace never mentioned they killed the husband first, then Horace promptly marries her. And shouldn’t little Ben be wondering around somewhere at this time? And why hasn’t Jin and Sawyer found Rose and Bernard when searching the island for Locke?

And I think I figured out why Locke and Ben didn’t flash with the Oceanic Six (assuming that Sun and Sayid did, and by the previews, he definitely did). We already know The Others aren’t doing the time warp so that is why Ben isn’t, and by turning the frozen donkey wheel, Locke got his Others inducted card. Of course I cannot account for Lapidus or Charlotte’s corpse, who will end up being the chick people saw leave with Lapidus. You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.



Survivor: Thankfully the Token Hot Chick got saved from getting voted off. They seem to be dropping early from recent Survivors. Hopefully she can at least make it to the jury. And I wonder if the secret alliance is going to crumble before it ever gets started. Taj looks like she is going to crack and the dude forgot to talk to Sierra. Hopefully they can make it to flip the game on its head and that Coach is their first casualty.
You can stream current episodes over at Innertube.



My Name Is Earl: Holy Booger Sighting! And really the show is much better when it is about Earl and his list. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download My Name Is Earl on iTunes.

Friday Night Lights: Darn you Friday Night Lights, yet another emotional exit this week. It was hard not to yell at the screen hoping that would help Jason get a job. Hopefully with his exit, they at least find a way to work Herc into more storylines. Maybe the Riggins and him can flip more house. Or maybe he can turn out to be Jacob on Lost (it took me to recognize him up and dancing). You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.

Best of the Week vol. XII

Quote of the Week: It’s probably not the best idea to give the “It’s not you, it’s me” speech to a trained assassin wielding a knife. (Casey - Chuck)

Song of the Week: Rocket Man (I Think it's Gonna Be a Long Long Time) – Elton John (My Name Is Earl)

Big News of the Week: I Got Nothing: You know it is a slow week when the most headlines go to the spat between Rush Limbaugh and the White House as they battle to see who can look dumber. I could talk about the World Baseball Classic starting, but like much of the world I just don’t care unless they figure out a way to incorporate fantasy leagues. Or that Jimmy Fallon started his tenure as Late Night host, but dude just isn’t entertaining. Or I can rant on how Daylight Saving should be abolished again (see Daylight Fading). At least it hit 60 this week so I didn’t need to stay inside and find something to occupy my time.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Coalition Links of the Week:
Buzz had a blast moderating the Chuck panel at WonderCon in San Francisco — check out her recap of the proceedings! (BuzzSugar)

Vance has his dukes claws up and is ready to totally defend The Bachelor's Jason Mesnick for dumping that harpy Melissa and getting back with Molly. Maybe it's a guy thing (and sees nothing wrong with it), but Vance is totally ready to take this outside. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace took another look back at the New Romantics era by taking second look at BBC America's Ashes to Ashes. (Televisionary)

Dan may have misgivings about musical comedy as a genre -- but even he is excited about the idea of Victor Garber and Kristin Chenoweth on the new show Glee. (TiFaux)

Matt's hidden camera inside the bedroom of Jennifer Love Hewitt proves she isn't actually knocked up - so there must be a little Ghost Whisperer in Melinda Gordan's future. (TV Fanatic)

Special relationship or not, we Brits get to see Lost a week or so later than our cousins across the Pond. And so, better late than never, Ben tries to make sense of The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham. (TV Spy)

Don't miss any of March Sweep's big TV events with our downloadable and printable March TV 2009 Calendar. (The TV Addict)

Free Download of the Week: Oscar Wilde – Company of Thieves; I mentioned this earlier this week when I highlighted the music video, so here is a reminder to pick up the song.

Deal of the Week: Superheroes DVD Sale: DVDs up to 57% Off (Iron Man, Hellboy, Justice League)

Video of the Week: It seems like every funny movie made in the last four years has Judd Apatow’s name on it but those or mostly producing titled and has only also had directing and writing credits for 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. Number three is Funny People which actually looks to ironically be enough the least funny, if not by design (it is about a stand up comic who is dieing). But hey, it has Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan so it should be entertaining.

Funny People Trailer


Next Week Pick of the Week: Castle, Monday at 10:00 on ABC: I am not entirely sure how to gage this show. It looks entertaining but the concept seems like it would have made for a better movie plot than an episodic television show. I guess the good thing about that is I doubt the show will be around for a second season.

Feed Your iPod vol. XXIX: Hitchhicker Joe

I rarely listen to the radio anymore but occasionally will turn it on in the car when I forget the iPod or a CD. Even then I will flip through the fifteen preset stations without finding anything before signing to talk radio. Mostly because the radio playlist are so consolidated but the local rock station for some reason (thankfully) dusted off The Rugburns Hitchhiker Joe which took me right back to college when I played their album fairly often and even saw them in concert one. Fun fact: Rugburn Steve Poltz was the dude in Jewel’s You Were Meant for Me video (not the one directed by Sean Penn) and co-wrote the song. And who knew there was a video for Hitchhiker Joe?

Hitchhicker Joe – The Rugburns

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Previewing Kingdom of the Blue Whale

Who knew the biggest animal ever to inhabit the Earth is still around? Not that many people have ever seen a Blue Whale which is longer than a basketball court and weighs as much ads twenty-five large elephants. In fact their heart is the size of a Mini Cooper, their lungs and you could actually walk through their major arteries.

This Sunday at 8:00, the National Geographic Channel takes a closer look at this elusive animal and for the first time get a look at an infant Blue Whale Calf underwater which is getting harder and harder to do as the population dwindles thanks to whaling (which has been banned internationally since1960’s even if Blue Whale meat can occasionally be found in Japanese markets) and shipping lanes crossing their natural migration.

Kingdom of the Blue Whale follows academic teams from Oregon State University tracking the mammals from the coasts of California, where beached whales are on the rise, to Costa Rica, where they are on the look out for a calf. All the while the special is narrated by Tom Selleck. The special is also available in HD. Check out a clip below:

I Want My Music Television vol. XLIV

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.

Grapevine Fires – Death Cab for Cutie



Death Cab for Cutie certainly likes their depressing cartoons and this certainly is one. But it is a great song.


Blame It – Jamie Foxx



All I have to say about the new Jamie Foxx video is: Ron Howard… him?


Fitz and Dizzyspells – Andrew Bird



One of my favorite songs of the moment is this song by Andrew Bird which gets me thinking there are not enough whistle solos in pop music these days. Granted I figure everyone thinks they aren’t going to top Axl Rose so why try. And the video is as quirky as the song is. Andrew should consider rerecording the song with the live marching band featured here.


Oscar Wilde – Company of Thieves



Had this video sent along to me and it is pretty cool in a Rushmore sort of way, which is not surprising because that film is what inspired the video. Of course I could have used some more dodgeball. If you are interested in downloading the song, chick this link to get it for free courtesy of the band’s label: Download Oscar Wilde. Fun fact about Company of Thieves: they have been featured on Live From Daryl's House. And if you are not sure who Daryl is, his last name is Hall. And if you still need help, he has a friend named Oates.

Let Me in the Sound

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.

Song to Download – Stand Up Comedy

No Line on the Horizon gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Previewing Saving Grace

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:

Got a Bomb in My Temple that Is Gonna Explode

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.