Every Time You State Your Case

Who would have thought that the dudes who created the disturbingly catchy She Don’t Use Jelly would still be around making music more than a decade later? But somehow The Flaming Lips have made a career out of weird psychedelic music even if Jelly remains their only true hit. But that’s not to say there isn’t another surprise hit hiding somewhere on their latest outing At War with the Mystics.

Okay, who am I kidding, there is no hits hiding on this album, but to the Lips credit, that’s not why they make music and of course just because there are no hits doesn’t necessarily make something a bad album. Sonically, the album I exactly what you would expect from a Lips albums they inch closer and closer to the sound of early Pink Floyd when eccentric Syd Barrett was at the helm. They even throw in an instrumental, The Wizard Turns On, which could have made it on one of Floyd’s album. But they extra noise isn’t always welcome like on Mr. Ambulance Driver where the band utilizes a siren for most of the song which made me look out the window every couple seconds to make sure it wasn’t real.

But it’s the lyrics where the band evolves the most as they morph into a socially conscience band. The set the tone with the opener, The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song which asks rhetorical questions like, “If you could make everybody poor just so you could be rich, would you do it?” Then they follow those up with the cautionary, “It's a very dangerous thing to do exactly what you want.” They also take aim at our government during The W.A.N.D. where they equate the power of fanatical leaders to them waving a magical wand. But it’s Haven’t Got a Clue really lays the smackdown with the not so thinly veiled reference to President capped off with the lyrics, “Every time you state you case, the more I want to punch your face.” Although I think I’d have my money on Bush in a throw down with Wayne Coyne. Superficial pop starts are also called out on Sound of Failure/It's Dark...Is it Always This Dark? specifically Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani.

And Wayne’s voice still remains the main problem with the group. With everything going on musically, his anemic voice tends to bring the songs down and is always the weak link. The only time he shines on this album is when he goes all Prince falsetto on Free Radical. But it’s not enough to save the mediocre at best album.

Song to Download - My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion

At War with the Mystics gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Don't You See Baby, This Is Perfection

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. I advise you to watch them first (the links to the video are the bold headers, inside the post will lead you to iTunes where you can buy the song and in some cases the video itself) before you read my reviews if you don’t want me to spoil things.


Shakira - Hips Don’t Lie (Fans Only)

Quite possibly the funniest thing ever. I don’t know why any video outlet would show the other version. Well, then again it does have Shakira in it moving like Shakira. They should have thought of doing a dudes only version too because those are the best part especially the ones who thought it was a good idea to film themselves without their shirts most notably the dude during the line, “Don't you see baby, yhis is perfection.” Sadly my tape must have been lost in the mail.


Kelly Clarkson - Walk Away

This video would have been more entertaining had it been not for the Shakira video as it has basically the same theme but with actors in scripted situations instead of real people. But the scene with the dudes in the locker room almost makes up for it. The song itself basically ends Kelly Clarkson’s run as guiltiest of all pleasures as her last two songs were no where as entertaining as Since U Been Gone and Behind These Hazel Eyes. Plus she looks nowhere as good in this video either, but I wonder with her constantly moving her hips, was this her submission to be in the Shakira video?


Not Ready to Make Nice - Dixie Chicks

I’m sure this video has some deep meaning to it, but it went way over my head which means it will go over every country fan’s head. But I have a feeling it has something to do with Bush, and his supporters, being morons. Way to continue to alienate your fan base Dixie Chicks. If you understand what’s going on, please fill me in.


The Flaming Lips - The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song

Again, I have no idea what’s going on, but I’m not sure I want to. But really you can’t go wrong with weird Chinese chicks with penchants for putting croissants, doughnuts, and raw red meat on random people then have them chased by fat dudes, cops, and a dude in a grizzly suit respectively. The dude from The Flaming Lips was even the dude who got the red meat treatment.


The Wreckers - Leave the Pieces

Nothing really special about the video, but this the first real contender to top my Best Songs of 2006 list. And since I plan on buying the album, this is the only place I can listen to it before it’s released because I’m not dropping .99 for a song if I’ll be buying the album later. For those who are not sure who The Wreckers are, it’s basically Michelle Branch and some other chick.


Rihanna - S.O.S.

Again, nothing special here with the video, but the song is great, you just can’t buy it yet. And the music industry wonders why people continue to steal their product. Well don’t build up a demand if you cannot supply the product especially if they can get it elsewhere for free. Actually the video is worth watching to see Rihanna go from uber-hot to uber-creepy when she busts out her 80’s look. That is of course because the song samples the Soft Cell classic Tainted Love. I was a little weary when I first heard it but it definitely grew on me. And it looks like she will have the rare feat of having the summer anthem in back to back summers. Granted Pon de Replay grew old as the temperature grew cold and landed at the paltry 69 on my Best Songs of 2005 list. But with the nostalgia feel, maybe S.O.S. will have some staying power.



There are a bunch of cool new things over on iTunes this week. First and foremost is almost all of the Dave Matthews Band studio albums, along with Dave Matthews and Boyd Tinsley’s solo albums, for the very first time. For fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, there is a really cool offer for those who preorder their new album, Stadium Arcadium, you get first crack to get tickets to their summer tour. And for you television buffs, NBC just recently added Scrubs to the iTunes library. I wonder if the show will have a The Office type surge, which, when put up on the service late last year, was one of the most downloaded shows and even saw a ratings boost quickly taking the show from almost canceled to being moved to NBC’s Must See TV lineup. Too bad Veronica Mars is still not on the service that way I could have downloaded the show Thursday morning and watched it later that day, but instead I have to wait until tomorrow to see the episode because it would be wrong to download it threw other means. Of course if I did, it would take until Saturday for it to actually download anyways, not that I know that from experience or anything.

Bond's Giant Head 2006

Programming note: for those tuning in for my world famous Toss Up between Lost and Veronica Mars, it has been postponed because Veronica Mars was once again preempted by a Cavs game. Check back later this week (most likely Sunday) for that.

It’s the beginning of April so that means only one thing, baseball season has begun and more importantly so has fantasy baseball. I recently participated in two separate drafts, one for all of baseball and an NL Only league here is the former stands up with Jobu’s Revenge in The California Penal League:

C - Jorge Posada - Yankees
1B - Lance Berkman - Astros
2B - Jorge Cantú - Devil Rays
3B - Morgan Ensberg - Astros
SS - Michael Young - Rangers
OF - Vlad Guerrero - Angels
OF - Cliff Floyd - Mets
OF - Randy Winn - Giants
Util - Prince Fielder - Brewers

Bench
Willie Taveras - Astros (OF)
Ryan Freel - Reds (2B,3B,OF)
Shea Hillenbrand - Blue Jays (1B,3B)
Plácido Polanco - Tigers (2B,3B)

Starting Pitchers
Andy Pettitte - Astros
John Garland - White Sox
Jeremy Bonderman - Tigers
Dontrelle Willis - Marlins

Relief Pitchers
Billy Wagner - Mets
Hudson Street - A’s
Fernando Rodney - Tigers
Clay Hensley - Padres


As for Bond’s Giant Head in The Killer B’s League, here’s their lineup which I already have to fool around with due to injury:

C - Paul Lo Duca - Mets
1B - Lance Berkman - Astros
2B - Ray Durham - Giants
3B - Bill Hall - Brewers
SS - Rich Aurilia - Reds
OF - Juan Pierre - Cubs
OF - Randy Winn - Giants
OF - Dave Roberts Padres
Util - Sean Casey - Pirates

Bench
Ricky Weeks - Brewers (2B)
Chris Duffy - Pirates (OF)
Mike Matheny - Giants (C)
Chris Burke - Astros (2B,OF)

Starting Pitching
Chris Carpenter - Cardinals
Dave Williams - Reds
Victor Zambrano - Mets
Glendon Rusch - Cubs
Randy Wolf - Phillies (DL)
Ben Sheets - Brewers - (DL)

Relief Pitchers
Jason Isringhausen - Cardinals
Chris Reitsma - Braves
Clay Hensley - Padres
Chad Qualls - Astros


Now Jobu’s Revenge looks pretty strong but might need another arm to take the championship, but Bond’s Giant Head will need some work. When you start off the season with three pitchers on the DL which is never a good thing. The bench is really weak, but that is to be expected in an NL only league, but I will have to do some shuffling because bench players are much more valuable if they can play multiple positions.

Now my official post season predictions:

AL East - Yankees
AL Central - White Sox
AL West - A’s
AL Wild Card - Angels

NL East - Mets
NL Central - Cardinals
NL West - Padres
NL Wild Card - Astros^*

AL Championship: Yankees over White Sox
NL Championship: Astros over Cardinals
World Series: Astros over Yankees in 6

^*Since baseballs will be seeing plenty of them in the future, I figure I’d get them use them. My asterisk is predicated on Roger Clemens coming back by June. If he ends up retiring, then put the Braves in the wild card and Cards beating the Yankees for the title.

First Impressions - Pepper Dennis

I’m not really sure why networks debut shows in April, about a month before the official television season ends. It’s almost like they are saying, “well we have nothing else to show and at least this is better than dead air.” I was really hoping that was the case for presumable the last WB show to debut, Pepper Dennis, because if it were actually any good and/or people watched it, that would mean one less spot fall the inaugural CW network. Now if that’s the show that bumps off One Tree Hill, no harm no foul, but it takes a spot that would have gone to Veronica Mars or Everwood, that’s a problem.

For some reason, after heavily promoting the show as a chick reporter, they decide to start off Pepper Dennis to make it seem like some sort of Alias rip-off with Pepper as some sort of covert agent, but alas he camera comes out of nowhere to so us what we all ready knew, she’s really a journalist. Not that the derivatives stop there are Pepper later that night picks up a random dude at the bar, takes him home, makes a man out of him, kicks him out the door only to see him later that day to find out she will be working with him. Where have I seen this before? Oh, and random dude just so happened to take the job that she thought she was in line for. Naturally craziness and sexual tension ensue.

The show stars Rebecca Romijn Stamos O’Connell as the perky reporter in question with Josh Hopkins as the one night stand/job stealer whose claim to fame up to this point was appearing in an Alanis Morissette video. Then there is Brooke Burns has Pepper’s sister Kathy, who’s overacting is so bad, it actually becomes entertaining. I guess there’s a reason why her claim to fame is being a game show host. The problem with the sister is they are both injury prone in a Wile E. Coyote kind of way. They really should have one play the stable one and the voice of reason. Instead that job goes to best friend/make up artist Kimmy Kim (and you though the name Pepper Dennis was cheesy) played by Lindsay Price of Beverly Hills 90210 fame.

But as a kid of the early 90’s, the most notable cast mates are Ryder Strong, who most who are my age will remember as Shawn Hunter from Boy Meets World as Pepper’s geeky cameraman who obviously has a crush on her. Then there Larisa Oleynik best known as Alex Mack who supposable plays Brianna, which I believe was the receptionist who job Kathy took over for when she went on maternity leave. So she may not have been on the show yet or was unrecognizable.

Verdict: The show actually didn’t suck. That’s not to say it is appointment television for me or even worth taping while watching Veronica Mars. Luckily the overnight ratings were so dismal, it’s doubtful that Pepper Dennis makes it on to the CW schedule next season and that’s even if it finishes this season.


Speaking of Veronica Mars, the show is, for the second time in three weeks, preempted by a Cavs game. Not only is it being preempted by a Cavs game, their opponent is the Knick. Seriously, who wants to see the worst team in the league, a team that has already admitted to quitting, play? Last time it was another lottery bound team the Bobcats. If you are going to have a basketball game, at least make sure it’s against a playoff team. So my weekly Toss Up will be postponed until Sunday at the latest. Also make sure you mark your calendars because next Tuesday Veronica Mars moves back to its original night with the episode they were filming while I was at the Bloggers Press Day. Also look out for a special post that day commemorating the episode.

Also being preempted tonight is America’s Next Top Model, and judging by the previews it looks like Tyra may die tonight, so that would have been must see TV for me. My guess is that it was all an act as someone competes for a guest role on Veronica Mars. And if Tyra fake dying wasn’t enough, I got a glimpse of some of some other scenes from tonight’s episode and it looks real good. Make sure to watch out for Scarlet Johansson’s doppelganger making a huge, but humorous, mistake and Jade rapping about as good as Kevin Federline.

It's Hypocritical of You

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to turn off the radio; Pink has a new annoying single out. After failing to get any parties started of anyone over the age of thirteen a couple years back, now she has decided to take shots at Paris Hilton and her ilk. Did Pink not get the memo that making fun of Paris was so 2005. Everyone else has realized the best way of getting rid of Paris is to stop talking about her. And the real sad thing about Stupid Girls is that it sounds exactly like all the other pop princesses she also takes shots at. And I really doubt that this song will put a dent in the amount of Girls Gone Wild videos that are released per year. The anti-materialistic song may have worked better if there wasn’t another song on her new album, the sadly titled I’m Not Dead, named I Got Money Now and talks about the size of her rims in another.

And if Paris Hilton bashing was so last year, she goes back even further back in time on her album, with the Bush-bashing, which was so 2004, on Dear Mr. President. Now I hate Bush as much as the next true Republican (or bleeding heart liberal like Pink), but I’m really getting tired the Bush-bashing, get over it, he won. Singing about how bad a president he is won’t change anything, we still have him for another two years. Get over it. Your time would be better spent making sure Gob Jeb doesn’t succeed him.

Here are some sample lyrics from the song, “What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away.” Well a good one, children do not have rights as proven time and time again by the Supreme Court. “And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay.” Shouldn’t you have saved that line for the lame follow up song Dear Mr. Vice President? “I can only imagine what the first lady has to say.” Well maybe you should turn on CNN every once and a while because she routinely backs him up and even pulled out the sexism card during the Harriet Myers fiasco. “You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine.” Ouch, have fun when you’re been audited and wiretapped. And didn’t sing later on the album, “At the bar six shots just beginning.” I think the word I’m looking for is hypocrite. She then ends the song with the line, “You don’ know nothing bout hard work.” Seriously, you sing horrible pop songs, what do you know about hard work? At least Bush spends six weeks of vacation every couple of months clearing brush. How big are your rims now? Maybe you should put your money where your mouth is and make a real difference instead of wasting it.

And that song isn’t the only anti-war on the album, there’s also the Creedence Clearwater Revival rip-off with her dad, I Have Seen the Rain. Oh and by the way, when I say anti-war, I’m talking about the Vietnam War here. Way to be forty years late on that one. And CCR isn’t the only people she rips off, all the pseudo rockers sound like rejects from recent albums by Ashlee Simpson and Lindsay Lohan, but at least Ashlee was able to make one song that was catchy and Lohan was smart enough to cover actual good songs. But Pink add instant cred by cursing constantly, ooo, I’m so impressed. Then on Nobody Cares, Pink tries to emulate Christina Aguilera, but fail miserable because she nowhere near to the dirrrty one’s voice. But the biggest rip off U + Ur Hand that sounds like a note for note remake of The Veronicas 4Ever but with different words and less catchy. Pink may sadly not be dead, but she’s also definitely not original either.

Song to Download - Save your money. But if you like wasting it, feel free to donate to the Scooter McGavin Is Poor Fund

I’m Not Dead gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

These Are the Melodies with Simple Harmonies We Sing

Many were first introduced to Matt Costa when he popped up on Jack Johnson led Curious George Soundtrack (see my review - There's No Stopping Curiosity). His inclusion, Lullaby was less than impressive and definitely couldn’t hold up against the likes of Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. Now Costa is trying to strike out on his own with his first full length album, the appropriately titled Songs We Sing.

Cost does have a good pedigree being a skateboarder turned singer-songwriter discovered by the surfer turned Johnson. Costa’s sound doesn’t deviate too much from his mentor, but Costa does seem to have a wider variety of influences that includes some bluegrass (Ballad of Miss Kate), country (Sweet Rose), and even some songs with a distinct sixties British Invasion vibe (Songs We Sing) to go along with the traditional folk that Johnson usually utilizes. There’s even a spacey song that reminds me of Nick Drake (Yellow Taxi).

But even with the eclectic musical genres represented on the album, Costa still lacks something. Whereas Johnson’s silky voice sooths the listener taking them to a mellow place, Costa’s voice hasn’t found that ability in him yet. Even though the album grew on me each listening, it’s not something that could replace any of Johnson’s disks out of heavy rotation in my CD player.

Song to Download - These Arms

Songs We Sing gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Sometimes I Think that I'm Bigger than the Sound

Whenever an indie band signs with a major label, there haters come out with sell out chants even before they have heard a note from the album. This holds true for the New York indie darling of two years ago The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They took the place of The Strokes on top of every pretentious rock fan’s favorite list and even score a minor hit with Maps that Kelly Clarkson promptly stole the hook for her Since U Been Gone mega-hit. This led to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs to sign with Interscope and a new album, Show Your Bones.

The album starts off with a bang with Gold Lion, a boisterous slow rocker that builds until the crescendo of the chorus where Karen O starts screaming her last name incoherently. Throughout the whole album, Nick Zimmer’s guitar and Brian Chase’s drums are as tight as ever, and the extra instruments the band brings in brings extra layers that were missing during their indie days even though the boys still can make two instruments sound like a whole band when they want to. But the boys can keep it low key too as Warrior is a sparse bluesy song that sounds like something that The White Stripes would record.

But I’m not sold as Karen O as an album artist as she should been seen while heard because her energy onstage is her greatest advantage which don’t come across on a disk. She sounds like a combination of every 80’s female singer which is hit or miss at time. It’s a hit on Cheated Hearts that starts off as a New Wave song that morphs into punk decadence by the end. Another problem is that she won’t be winning any songwriting awards soon really likes to repeat herself, over, and over, and over, and over again. This becomes tedious at times. And the chorus of Phenomenon is creepily reminiscent to the LL Cool J song of the same title. But there is something enjoyable she delivers the line “Turn around, you weren’t invited” at the beginning of Honeybear.

Song to Download - Cheated Hearts

Show Your Bones gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Even Better than the Real Thing

The first and certainly not last induction for U2 into the Scooter Hall of Fame is the album that really turned me into a fan, Achtung Baby. I was fairly young when The Joshua Tree came out so my attention span for music was pretty small and that album was pretty much out of my mind as we went into the nineties. I wasn’t really sold on Achtung Baby when I first listened to the debut single, The Fly. But by the time they released Mysterious Ways, I got they what they were doing.

The album starts off with the crushing guitars of Zoo Station letting you know early on this wasn’t going to be The Joshua Tree II. Bono even lets you know on the song, “I’m ready for what’s next,” and so was everyone listening. But it was the next track that emphasized the album, Even Better than the Real Thing. It’s funny how Nirvana is credited for destroying the self-indulgent rock of the eighties right around the time when one of the few introspective band from the era started to embrace the over the top persona of the rock star.

But even as the sound took a dramatic turn, the major themes of previous albums were there. U2 always writes the best relationship songs that transcend those of lovers to family and friend, and arguably their best is on Achtung Baby, One. Right up there with Every Breath You Take as the most misinterpreted songs of all time, One is more about a failing relationship than a loving one, “Did I disappoint you? Leave a bad taste in your mouth?” That sentiment is also portrayed in Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses and So Cruel, two more songs that really hit close to home.

As I mentioned earlier, it took me a while to fully appreciate The Fly, in fact it wasn’t until I heard the song live, and hearing The Edge start the song off with the chorus, “Love, we shine like a burning star. We’re fallin’ from the sky, tonight” that I finally got the essence of the song and has become one of my favorite of theirs. But my favorite song on the album is reserved for Until the End of World. I was just beginning my era as a moody teenager when this album came out, listening to a lot of the uber-depressing grunge that was big at the time and the song essentially was making fun of me and my flannel wearing posse, Everybody was having a good time except you, you were acting like it was the end of the world.” Now I know better than to focus on the doom and gloom so now when I eat the food and drink the wine, I no longer talk about the end of the world.

Many point to The Joshua Tree as their best work, and maybe so, but this was the album that told the world it’s time to start talk about the band in the discussion of best of all time. It showed that the band didn’t have to make the same record over and over again and could still make great music trying different things. The album even included the first U2 song you can dance to, Mysterious Ways. But it’s only a matter of time until another U2 album makes it into the SHoF.

First Impressions - Teachers

New sitcoms this season have been either extremely good (see My Name Is Earl, Everybody Hates Chris, How I Met Your Mother) or extremely bad (see Emily’s Reasons Why Not, Courting Alex, Four Kings). Now NBC is rolling out its latest effort, Teachers, a comedy about, well, the title pretty much sums it up.

The show starts off with two teachers already burned out they have resorted to playing golf in the halls. And being that this isn’t reality, no one even cares except the goody-goody teacher whose room they slice in to. And that’s not even the most farfetched gag of the first episode. That goes to the substitute teacher who asks one of the golfers if they want a beer only to pull one out of her bag. Oh and the teacher just happens to have a bottle opener that “came with the desk.” Then the very next day the sub is given a full time job. Um, yeah, right.

The teacher in question, Jeff, is played by Justin Bartha who actually has Gigli on his résumé (straight from the NBC.com “Bartha also garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of the mentally challenged younger brother of a powerful federal prosecutor in Martin Brest's “Gigli,” opposite Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez and Christopher Walken.”). His golfing buddy Calvin, is portrayed by Deon Richmond who is best know for play token back dudes teen movies including the Token Black Dude in Not Another Teen Movie. Rounding out the trio of slacking teachers is the elder of the group, Dick, with Phil Hendrie who has done a bunch of work for cartoons, and one look at him and it’s easy to see why. Needless to say, no one will be wearing an “I (Heart) Dick” t-shirt at this high school.

Of course the female teachers on the staff are inexplicitly hot especially Sarah Shahi (see at left), who suddenly disappeared from Alias to never be mentioned again for no reason, as the previously mention alcoholic substitute teacher turned full time staff member. Expect a Van Halen sountrack as she walks down the hall in upcoming episodes. Then there’s the token stuck up British import Alice, played by the equally British Sarah Alexander in her first major role on this side of the pond. Also look out for Kali Rocha, best known as Halfrek, Anya’s demon fiend from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as the straight-laced principal at the high school.

Verdict: What’s sad is that Boston Public was funnier than this show yet still better than the recently canceled Four Kings. But then again, even if it was funny, it wouldn't matter as Veronica Mars will be moving into the timeslot in two weeks.

Toss Up: Lost vs Veronica Mars week 12

Last night we had two highly anticipated episodes of Lost and Veronica Mars, which one lived up to the hype more than the other, well let’s just go to the Toss Up to see which one come out on top:

Fox Sitcom
Lost: Married... with Children, with Peggy Bundy, ran for decades before it wasn’t renewed without warning.
Veronica Mars: Arrested Development, with George Michael and Maeby, ran for three season of time slot moves and reduced episodes until, well, I guess it hasn’t technically been canceled yet.
Winner: Veronica Mars

Episode Title
Lost: Lockdown (click to dowload it)
Veronica Mars: The Raps of Graff
Winner: Veronica Mars

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
Lost: Peggy tosses Locke aside when he chose his father over her.
Veronica Mars: Madison tosses Dick aside when she chose a more mature mate.
Winner: Lost

Hair
Lost: Locke has some in his flashbacks.
Veronica Mars: Maeby has about the same about.
Winner: Lost

Trustworthy?
Lost: Henry Gale
Veronica Mars - Troy Vandergraff
Winner: Veronica Mars

Male Dominance
Lost: Jack schools Sawyer in poker.
Veronica Mars: Dick schools Logan in Mortal Combat.
Winner: Lost

Lies
Lost: Henry Gale says he’s Henry Gale.
Veronica Mars: Veronica shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.
Winner: Veronica Mars

Ouch
Lost: Locke gets impaled by the hatch.
Veronica Mars: Troy gets punched trying to defend Veronica’s honor.
Winner: Lost

Welcome Back
Lost: Peggy Bundy
Veronica Mars: Troy Vandergraff
Winner: Veronica Mars

Did You See?
Lost: Walt was found on My Name Is Earl (ha-ha, he called Earl a butt-wad).
Veronica Mars: The helicopter in the building.
Winner: Veronica Mars

It’s Legal
Lost: Off-shore gambling with fruit.
Veronica Mars: Madison Sinclair.
Winner: Veronica Mars

Lived Up to the Hype
Lost: Said there were five can’t miss moments, let me count the ways; finding the balloon, the lockdown, Locke getting impaled, Peggy showing up at the motel, Henry Gale is black, and dead.
Veronica Mars: Rob Thomas said it was up there, but not as good, as A Trip to the Dentist. Five most see moments; Veronica pulling her hair in front of her face, Johnny Cash references, Veronica debating her worth, Cliff in handcuffs, “18-It's Legal; Re-Elect Don Lamb,” Veronica giving a different type of shocker to frat boy, “Dad, you’re hooker’s here, and of course anything with Dick.
Winner: Veronica Mars


Finally, of weeks of sluggish episodes Lost has it’s first episode to live up to the hype, even though any Locke-centric episode that doesn’t tell us why he was in the wheelchair is by definition disappointing. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought he was going to be paralyzed when the dudes who were looking for daddy shoot him. But by the end of the episode, Locke was still standing. But the big news of the flashback was Locke had yet another job. By my track you can add housing inspector to toy store and box company employee.

Back on the island, even though the trio found the balloon, I was convinced that Henry was still an Other, which turned out to be true. But something should be said that the Others gave the dude a proper burial even with a cross. It’s looks as if the group already accused not Henry of murder, but I’m not entirely sure. But not Henry didn’t run when he had the chance, but that may be because he didn’t expect Sayid to did up his not wife. Plus he also now has Locke’s word which will obviously come back to hurt Locke in the end.

Then there was the lockdown that came right before the voice of God, sounding like every drive thru speaker I’ve ever been to. The only thing I could decipher was “Leave the hatch now” followed by a countdown. I’m sure some uber-nerd has already figured out the whole warning by now, but I haven’t the time to search again. Then in a try to get out, Locke gets pinned under the door, symbolically crushing his legs. But with the clock running down he gets not Henry to crawl threw the vents to punch in the numbers, which not Henry seemed to memorize quite quickly as if he already knew them. This does beg the question, why didn’t Locke first try to crawl threw the vents first? Wouldn’t that have been easier than trying to lift those doors? But it did give Locke a chance to see the blacklight image, which again I’m sure some uber-nerd has translated by now, while not Henry punched in the numbers, or so he says. And it’s safe to say that the lockdown has something to do with the food that magically appeared outside the hatch.

But it was Veronica Mars that outshined allcomers last night. It totally lived up to Rob’s hype, although I may put the first episode of this season above this one too as of now. It really seemed as if all the actors tonight brought their A game and seemed to walk with a swagger. I loved how the show started off with Wallace and Veronica and she tries to get out of her college visit by pulling her hair across her face. Kristen Bell hasn’t been cuter since Emmy Idol. Of course she goes basically to get out of class for a couple days (who has a three day campus visit anyways). There she runs into Troy Vandergraff, her first bad boy boyfriend, long before Logan. The following conversation was great, drudging up everything bad in their past.

Also on campus we get George Michael, still in geeky George Michael mode except he shot a man in Reno, but it wasn’t to watch him die. Maeby on the other hand take a surprising dramatic turn as rape victim. I’m not sure I was ready to see her in that light just yet. This gets me wondering, as it’s pretty obvious that Veronica will be joining Wallace at Hearst next year, will we see more of George Michael and Maeby, or even Troy, in season three? And as Rob Thomas said at the Blogger’s Press Day, the observant viewer will see the seeds of season three’s mystery later in this season, I wonder if Veronica battling with the frat boys will be involved. I believe they never did find out who exactly was the rapist, just that it wasn’t Troy. Speaking of harebrain theories, I hope everyone noticed Veronica wondered if the bus crash and Felix’s murder were connected when she saw Danny Boyd at the construction site.

But there was much off-campus events in this episode too highlighted by “18-It's Legal; Re-Elect Don Lamb” flyer. May I also point out even Lamb would hook up with Madison Sinclair. But this all came about because Cliff got fooled by a hooker who stole his caseload, including his Logan information, and handcuffed him to the bedpost. And speaking of Logan, after spending a day with Dick, he quickly realizes that not what he wants his life to be, sending him back into the arms of Hannah, even though he had an agreement with pappa to stay away from her. And then she was promptly shipped off to Vermont. Oh Hanna, we hardly knew ya. But this is Veronica Mars, so don’t rule out her staying there, because I’d personally like to see more of her.

And the cool thing about the Blogger Press Day is seeing things that other people wouldn’t even think about like the helicopter in the building in the background during the break up scene of Logan and Hannah while they were walking to the parking lot. Not convinced that what I’m talking about is true, click on the picture at right to see the building in question better. Next to where Veronica Mars shoots, there is a place where the military trains troops in urban warfare in Iraq. Who knew Baghdad was a suburb of Neptune?

Next week, we finally get more of Hurley. Will Libby show up like I theorized earlier? What we do know is that Hurley will see a person from his past ala Jack with his father last season. While on Veronica Mars, someone wins a day with Woody Goodman which includes being able to blow up the former Sharks stadium, possible destroying evidence in the process. I get that sense. Oh and look out for another America’s Next Top Model cameo. Yippee.

Chatting with Rob Thomas and Jason Dorhing

Before I get to the teleconference I want to pass along something my contact at Veronica Mars passed on to me. First thing, there are few things more disturbing thank opening up my e-mail and see something with the subject, “Veronica Mars Has Not Been Canceled.” That means there might be rumblings about that. But for those that have heard there rumors, here’s a statement from my contact at UPN:

Veronica Bloggers, we need your help with only something you can do. There's a rumor on the internet that Veronica Mars is canceled. It's not true. Please help us spread the word.

If you were on the Rob Thomas Blogger Press Conference yesterday, you know that he's planning for a third season. Season three is still absolutely possible with your support!

So tune in tonight, 9 PM, ET/PT on UPN.


It seems like every other day there is a report of shows from UPN and WB that will or will not make it to the CW, but none should be believed. It seems like I heard almost every show currently on both networks will both be picked up and canceled by now. The people at the CW said nothing is set in stone and will unveil their schedule sometime in May, so you shouldn’t believe anything unless it is officially issued by UPN/WB/CW.

That much hyped teleconference I’ve been talking about lately was finally last night as Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas and star Jason Dorhing, the latter who was fashionable late though as he came straight from a looping session. Unfortunately there were much more people invited to participate than I thought there would be so I only got two questions asked but at least that was one more than other (poor Ducky was told they were wrapping up while on hold). Hopefully someday I get an one on one interview with Rob so I can get to all my long list of questions still left over from last night and the Bloggers Press Day in San Diego last month.

Here was my question for Rob (minor spoilers in the answer): I get this sense that the two overlying major themes of this season, who killed Felix and who caused the bus crash, might be related. Am I totally going out their on a ledge here?

Rob: (laughs, and if noticed, of the three questions I’ve posted here, he laughed at everyone): You know, I wouldn’t tell you if you were right. That’s information I want to keep close to the vest right now. I mean, um, there are characters overlaps in there whether we have the same cause at the end of the day, the same villain at the end of the day; I will let you find out. In the next couple episodes, the great thing about season one, and I feel really strong about this in season two, it feels like we spend the first half of the season sort of making the story get bigger, introducing more characters, more plotlines, some of them red herring, some of them very specific, real clues, and we spend the last half of the season sort of narrowing the focus. I though last year our final five or six episodes were really strong an our fan base are really following the year long mystery and I feel confident this year going into last five or six it gets real meaty on both of those storylines. I will say this they don’t resolve at the same time, the two storylines don’t resolve at the same time. It’s a bit of a clue, but not a complete clue.

My question for Jason: With Veronica Mars’ season winding up do you have any plans this summer like any movies lined up?

Jason: You know, I don’t know. There’s a lot of materials I’m kind of spoiled from reading guess from reading a lot of Veronica Mars scripts. There a lot of low budget horror films and I don’t know that’s something I want to do, I think I’m just looking for more quality product or go into theater, doing something that’s kind of acting specific. And I’m going to continue looking for something; I’ve only read one thing so far that I’m like really down to do and their still pulling together their financing for that.


Here are a couple more interesting tidbits asked by other bloggers and I'm sure the other Veronica Mars Press Day Bloggers have more in depth stories and you can look for them on my sidebar. (minor spoiler ahead):

Rob wore Neptune Fish House shirt, something that Dick will be wearing in the future.

This and next favorite of this year

Rob says they are “blowing up the bank on the season finale.” And will be spanning the continent (mmm, Mexico maybe?)

Picks episode titles that will make him laugh. Next week’s “The Raps of Graff” may be his favorite.

Doesn’t look like Cupid will make it to DVD.

Logan and Dick will find they can't quit each other.

Rob also mention that he and the writers are thinking of changing up the format from the two major seasons long arcs to maybe going with three short arcs going 7-7-8 weeks. You are welcome to comment here but it may be best to have all the comments at one place and the best would be at Give Me My Remote Forums and post your thoughts on this there. And tomorrow there will be my regularly scheduled Toss Up between one of Rob's favorite episodes of Veronica Mars and Lost's five can't missed scenes.

I (Heart) Madison

Now, it seems as if I’ve started a little feud with one of my Veronica Mars Blogger brethren, The Attractive Nuisance It could be feud bigger than the morons who argue whether Veronica should end up with Duncan or Logan when she obviously should end up with Dick, and may even escalate to Biggie/Tupac proportions. It all started during her review of Versatile Toppings when she said “One poor lesbian girl wrote a love poem to Madison. I'm all for girl on girl action, but...Madison? With the bitchery and the fake, pancake-y tan and Mac's biological family? That's the girl you want to make the sweet, sweet love to? Really? Um...okay.”

Being that I would totally hit that I had to leave a comment that led to this exchange:

Scooter: Would you think less of me if I said I wouldn't mind a little girl on Scooter action with Madison?

TAN: Scooter, in a show full of hot women (and hot men), Madison is the least comely among them. Maybe she's funny.

Scooter: I'm not saying that Madison's on top of my list, she's well below Veronica, Meg, rabbit girl, Carmen, Carrie Bishop and 2 of the 3 Shelly Pomroy's, but I'd still hit that.

TAN: In the words of the cast of Arrested Development...

Her?

Scooter: But in the words of the great philosopher Dick:

(Scooter Note: I have take this out because I quoted a line not yet uttered by Dick but needless to say, it's sexual in nature. I'll update you later in a Toss Up after he says the line. For those in the know, it the line about horses)

And when it comes to Madison, doesn't Dick know best?

TAN: I've learned more from Dick Casablancas than I have from, say, Hegel, but I thought Madison wouldn't let him get fresh with her. Wasn't that why he was trying to slip GHB into her drink in "A Trip to the Dentist"? Dick may not be a reliable source.


Now I killed this conversation because I forgot to check if Dick and Madison ever hooked up, but I’m still under the impression they did sometime. Why would Dick ask his ex-girlfriend for a quickie at the winter carnival if they hadn’t already did it? So I though this mini-feud was dead until I saw this on her blog when she was trolling for questions for tonight’s teleconference with Rob Thomas and Jason Dohring:

TAN: Do you think Scooter McGavin is crazy for saying he would tap Madison's ass?

Scooter: I can't wait until you ask #2 so I can be vindicated. And just so you know, if he avoids the question by bringing up his wife, that's guy code for "I totally hit that, I just don't want to sleep on the couch for a month."

TAN: I am totally asking Jason Dohring about Madison because I am confident that he will agree with me that she is a nasty whore.

Scooter: Whoa, being a nasty whore has nothing to do with if someone would "tap that ass." In fact it may increase the chance that someone would. C'mon he does play a guy who hooked up with Kendall, that's Madison in 5-10 years.

TAN: It pains me, but I think I have to concede the point, especially after I pointed out Madison's over-tanned-ness. Madison may eclipse Kendall and turn into a Louis Vuitton bag before she's Kendall's age, so if you want to tap that ass, now is prime ass-tapping time. Kendall's hair is so much better though.

I just can't understand the desire to tap Madison's ass in the first place. I mean...Kristen Bell? Even I would totally hit that. Girls who write thank you notes are sexy. But Madison?

Scooter: Well right-out-of-high-school is always the prime ass-tapping time. But anyways. And like I have said before, Madison isn't on the top of my list and is definitely behind KB, but that in no way means I'd tell her no.

TAN: Isn't it, like, in the guy rule book that you never say no?

Maybe your question to Jason Dohring can be if he will put in a good word for you with Madison.

Scooter: It's not necessarily in the guy rule book to say no, it's just you can never admit you said no unless she is beyond ugly and is consensus among all guys present that none of them would have hit it.

Unfortunately I have too many other questions, I may not get to Madison, Oh well.

TAN: I am so jealous! I can't think of anything to ask. Not anything serious anyway. Maybe I'll ask Jason to put in a good word for you as a follow up to my question as to whether other guys would hit that.

Incidentally, I don't know how old you are, but I hope it's young enough to make the comment about post-high school girls okay.

Scooter: The high school thing was just a joke, personally I prefer girls who won't be constantly asking me to buy them beer. It's probably wrong for anyone to make that statement seriously unless they are right out of high-school themselves. I just thought it was funny because I assume the chick who plays Madison, like the rest of the people on the show, is well into her twenties. Unfortunately sarcasm is hard to convey with the written word.

And maybe if you are nice to me, I'll send along some of my questions.

TAN: Nice to you, huh? Hm...let's see. I find your blog witty and indicative of a well-rounded personality. Also, your taste in women is impeccable. I'll let you debate which of those statements is true. Can I have some questions now?

Scooter: I was going to ask Rob how was it like writing then performing a song with Santana. You can go ahead and have that one.

TAN: Oh, come on. At least give me some of your C- or D-material. Everyone knows that writing and performing a song with Santana is one of those things that you think is going to be really great and then it ends up being kind of overrated and you have to wear leather pants and he just wants to talk about his new line of women's shoes the whole time. Rob doesn't want to go down that road again.

Scooter: Okay here's another one for Rob that's at the bottom of my list: Did you make Lamb a Big and Rich fan to make more evil than he already is or did you name drop them because secretly you're a fan.

TAN: Aren't Big and Rich those annoying men who sing the country music?

Here's a question I was thinking of asking Rob: Why is the movie called "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector"? Is he both a cable guy and a health inspector? If so, why is this not highlighted in the previews? If not, why isn't it either a movie about a redneck cable guy or else called Larry: Health Inspector? Is Larry not, by definition, a cable guy? Does this make any more sense than, say, MC Hammer: Attaché to Greece? Of course, at that point, I would have taken up a lot of Rob's time and been unfair to the other participants.

I could theoretically be coming up with less silly questions if I wasn't working on a summary judgment motion.

Scooter: Yeah, Big and Rich are country and sadly introduced the word to the first country rapper too. It pains me to even write that last part.

As for the movie, I just assumed all rednecks needed more than one job to help fund their meth habit.

TAN: Country rapper? I'm still grappling with the existence of Matisyahu. Wait. How can you be a country rapper? Isn't that like skiing and playing badminton at the same time?

Speaking as someone from a family full of rednecks, I can tell you that meth has gotten more expensive since Target cracked down on the purchase of OTC drugs. However, making it at home reduces the cost and is something the whole family can do together!

Scooter: Hey, didn't you watch the biathlon during the winter Olympics? That's skiing and shooting at the same time. But yeah Matisyahu creeps me out a bit, but is somewhat entertaining at the same time in a long lost son of ZZ Top sort of way. Can't they lend him that car for his next video?

I thought redneck shopped at Wallmart. I'm sure there's no cracking down there, I mean they sell guns to kids.

TAN: I didn't catch the winter Olympics. Being from Florida, the snow and ice do not interest me. I have a particular grudge against ice, since I think I slipped on it and broke my tailbone 3 weeks ago.

Rednecks like to comparison shop. Wal-Mart has a better firearms department, while Target has the superior pharmacopia.



So it's time to pick sides; either you're with me or against me. Feel free to let your opinion known in the comment section. And be sure to check back tomorrow for a report on tonight’s conference. And since there’s no Cavs game this Wednesday, the regularly scheduled Toss Up will be on Thursday.

The Only Songs to Sing Are Those Sung Again

Ben Harper has gotten a bad rap of ripping off other artist. But in actuality, ever artist out today is derivative of older groups. And in most cases those groups have stolen music from other people. Unlike other artist, at least Harper steals from the best blending The Rolling Stones and Sly and the Family Stone which can be found on his latest album, Both Sides of the Gun.

The title could allude to the double album, split into a more rocking disk and a mellow one even though with both disks clocking in at just over a half an hour, it could have fit on one. This does cause problem as the mellow disk does seem to drag on at times and could have benefited by having an upbeat song in-between them to break up the monotony of the first disk especially with the instrumental Sweet Nothing Serenade which is stuck in the middle of it.

That’s not to say there are plenty of great songs on the mellow version. And with all the great band Harper is influenced by, it seems like his good friend Jack Johnson has rubbed off on him on the mellow disk but takes it a step further with a few orchestral arrangements. The first three songs here are heartbreaking, but still have a grandiose vibe to them. Reason to Mourn sound like he took something from his recent collaboration with the Blind Boys of Alabama also with the standout track of the first disk, Crying Won’t Help You Know.

But the upbeat disk is by far better than its predecessor. This one starts off with the Middle Eastern inspired Better Way, that doesn’t even lose its appeal when Harper goes into a weird screaming bridge. That song starts off a string of anti-war songs, that’s none more blatant than the early Stones sounding Don’t Talk about Murder While I’m Eating and Gather ‘Round the Stone with lines like old men who send children off to die in vain.” The war isn’t the only thing Harper is angry about as the post-Katrina effort gets addressed on Black Rain starting the song off with the straight-forward lyrics “You left them swimming for their lives down in new Orleans.” The title track goes off in a funky Sly-style diversion by way of Jimi Hendrix and deals with the social issues that would make both proud.

Song to Download - Gather 'Round the Stone

Both Sides of the Gun gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.