TV on the Radio on TV (again)

Hope you don't mind if I just go ahead and skip the McSteamy vs. The Nazi, McDreamy or McVet and Izzy's riches bit and concentrate on what Grey's Anatomy's doing better then radio: Providing exposure for music artists.

First, and foremost, is my beloved TV on the Radio, who's song "Province" played during an emergency C-section, which is somehow appropriate, as listening to TVOTR's art is like having to throw away your birth plan and just give in to the unexpected turn that life (and art) throw your way. The song features guest vocals from David Bowie, who's making all sorts of guest turns these days. It also marks the second time this week that a TVOTR song has appeared in a drama (Friday Night Lights featured "Wolf Like Me.")

But like Scotland's Snow Patrol can tell you (see related below,) it's really the opening and closing montages that sells the records, and fellow scots Camera Obscura gets the opening honor here with their early 1960's girl group sound of "If Looks Could Kill."

Title track: "What I Am" - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians
Playlist: Grey's Anatomy - Episode 304
1. "If Looks Could Kill" - Camera Obscura
2. "Standing In The Way Of Control" - The Gossip
3. "Back In Time" - Au Revoir Simone (MySpace)
4. "So - Lo" - Kate Havnevik (MySpace)
5. "Province" - TV On The Radio
6. "Fall For Nothing" - Mindy Smith (MySpace)<

Related:
Last week, Snow Patrol became the first UK guitar-based band to crack the top 5 in a long time, thanks mostly due to appearing on the season finale to Grey's Anatomy last year, where "Chasing Cars" played through the final 4 minutes. Lead sing Gary Peabody understands this shift to TV in the US, and the reason why (via Starpulse) :

"You just have to turn the radio on there to know there's a problem. There is literally hundreds of stations dedicated to playing Eighties rock such as Poison, Heart, Whitesnake, Def Leppard. There is a serious problem.

"If television is the new radio (Grey's Anatomy, The O.C.) what's going to happen to radio? The radio, as I see it, is a preview device. A place to hear the records you may one day like to own one day soon. Not a graveyard for records you sold at the same car boot sale you sold your stonewashed denim jacket."

Since Gary's from across the pond, he probably missed the US radio obituary notice.

Previously:
Sometimes a fantasy is all you need (Lily Allen on Episode 403)
Texas means football... and Daniel Johnston (TVOTR on Friday Night Lights)

tags: music, television, soundtrack, greys anatomy, tvotr, tv on the radio, indie rock, camera obscura, snow patrol, rhapsody