It was twenty-one years ago last month that the documentary Athens, GA: Inside/Out was released profiling R.E.M. and The B-52's, along with a host of other acts making waves in alternative music at the time. Last week, The B-52's released their first album in sixteen years, and tomorrow R.E.M. releases their finest album in just as long a time frame, making it seem like 1987 all over again. (Thankfully, I'm too follically-challenged to try and grow the mullet I sported back then.)
R.E.M.'s upbeat return with Accelerate is especially pronounced given the low key nature of their previous three albums, especially their last, Around the Sun, which took nine months to make -- a baby that the band isn't particularly fond of. Accelerate is a reaction to that, recorded mostly live, in weeks instead of months and featuring only a couple slower tempo songs. The band plays their first single, "Supernatural Superserious," on The Today Show Tuesday morning, and then makes an appearance Wednesday night on The Colbert Report.
Meanwhile, The B-52's parade their "Funplex" to both Leno (Tuesday) and Ellen (Friday,) showing that they haven't lost a step in their prolonged hiatus. Their appearance on Ellen should be especially fun, given their status in the gay community. The band should have Ellen dancing, if she isn't too tired from shaking the day before to another gay icon, Kylie Minogue, who performs her latest single "All I See."Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, March 31
NBC: The Today Show: Kylie Minogue
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Moby
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Shooter Jennings (REPEAT)
Tuesday, April 1
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Cat Power
NBC: The Today Show: R.E.M.
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The B-52's
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Carbon/Silicon
Wednesday, April 2
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Mighty Mighty Bosstones
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Daniel Lanois
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: R.E.M.
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ani DiFranco
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Bravery
Thursday, April 3
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Paddy Casey
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Kylie Minogue
Friday, April 4
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Mary J. Blige
NBC: The Today Show: Raheem Devaughn
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ben Lee
RAVEHD: Later with Jools Holland: Stereophonics, Foals, Estelle, PJ Harvey, King Creosote, Abdel Hadi Halo
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: The B-52's
Saturday, April 5
PBS: Austin City Limits: Ryan Adams, Tift Merritt (REPEAT)
3 comments:
Picks for the week, 03.31.08
1. "All I See" - Kylie Minogue
2. "Alice" - Moby
3. "Walk Of Life" - Shooter Jennings
4. "Metal Heart" - Cat Power
5. "Supernatural Superserious" - R.E.M.
6. "Funplex" - The B-52's
7. "The Magic Suitcase" - Carbon/Silicon
8. "Don't Worry Desmond Dekker" - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
9. "Where Will I Be" - Daniel Lanois
10. "Fire Door" - Ani DiFranco
11. "Believe" - The Bravery
12. "Fear" - Paddy Casey
13. "Just Fine" - Mary J. Blige
14. "Woman" - Raheem Devaughn
15. "Love Me Like The World Is Ending" - Ben Lee
16. "Maybe Tomorrow" - Stereophonics
17. "Hummer" - Foals
18. "American Boy (Feat. Kanye West)" - Estelle
19. "The Devil" - P.J. Harvey
20. "Relate The Tale" - King Creosote
21. "Two" - Ryan Adams
22. "Broken" - Tift Merritt
I'm curious for the REM album.
As to Kylie's status in the gay community...I think she's damn hot in a heterosexual way ;)
It's probably suicide saying out loud I like some of her music, but there, I said it :)
If liking Kylie is wrong, I don't want to be right ;)
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