Ear on TV: The Week of August 4

It's only fitting that I follow up last week's CSN profile with Seattle's own Fleet Foxes. Fresh off their summer festival circuit, where they entertained captive audiences to their CSN-like lofty baroque harmonies, the band makes it's national television debut tonight on Letterman. Frontman Robin Pecknold may sit down for the entirety of the performance, but it doesn't reflect on the music's power to lift the audience out of their seats. While you're at it, though, you should also check out drummer J. Tillman's solo catalogue, which has recently been graciously reissued. Tillman's stuff is also worthy of all the adulation that Fleet Foxes are currently receiving.

Elsewhere, this week Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst releases his first solo album ( in name anyway, as Bright Eyes is essentially just Oberst,) and hits the talk show circuit to help promote the occasion. Oberst is also kind of a throwback to 1960's protest singing (see "The President Talks to God,") and while he's mostly shed the weighty 'new Bob Dylan' tag, his biting wit and nervous energy still evoke the time period. Oberst peddles his wares on Leno (Wednesday) and Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (Thursday).

Picks for the week
Monday, August 4
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Does It Offend You, Yeah? (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Fleet Foxes
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Jamie Lidell
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Night Marchers
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Flobots (REPEAT)
Tuesday, August 5
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Tyga
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Spiritualized
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: N.E.R.D.
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Tristan Prettyman (REPEAT)
OVATION: Imagine: John Lennon: John Lennon
Wednesday, August 6
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Rev Theory
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Randy Newman
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Lucero
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Conor Oberst
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The B-52's
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Brett Dennen (REPEAT)
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Joe Cocker
Thursday, August 7
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Alejandro Escovedo
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Conor Oberst
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Warlocks
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Solomon Burke
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Al Green
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Shooter Jennings (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Elbow , MGMT , Alanis Morissette
Friday, August 8
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Airbourne
CBS: The Early Show: Duffy
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Chris Cornell
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Mason Jennings
Saturday, August 9
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Stereophonics (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Sufjan Stevens, Calexico, Iron & Wine (REPEAT)
Sunday, August 10
A&E: Private Sessions: LL Cool J (REPEAT)