Now Downloading: New Releases 11.18-11.25.08

Once again, releases are in holiday mode, so 'new' releases are sparse (hence the combining of weeks). On Monday, I profiled the new albums from Kanye West, The Killers and Tom Jones, and besides that there's releases from the Paul McCartney project The Fireman, Anathallo, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, Femi Kuti, Ludacris and Momus. (Chinese Democracy is a Best Buy only, so I'll happily ignore.) Special EP's from Coldplay, The Raveonettes, Feist, Sixx:AM and Surf City litter the landscape as well along with compilations from post-punk faves Magazine and Rivers Cuomo. Reissue to get this week is R.E.M.'s Murmur: Deluxe Edition, and there's a special 2-CD edition of last year's fave soundtrack Juno. Speaking of soundtracks, my current fave is Slumdog Millionaire, which gets early digital release this week.

Playlist: New Releases 11.25.08
Playlist: New Releases 11.18.08

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Slumdog Millionaire - Music From The Motion Picture
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

The film Slumdog Millionaire is a frenetic portrait of Mumbai, a gritty fairytale of beating long odds and standing firm in the face of adversity, and propelling it forward is the pulsating score by A.R. Rahman. In the wake of the recent tragic events of the city portrayed, the film -- and even it's soundtrack -- becomes even more visceral than it's already ebullient depiction of Mumbai. Since the news broke while I was writing this review, I've decided to either attempt to write a bigger review on it's own, or can it all together, so some notes will have to do:

At only 42, A.R. Rahman is the 8th best-selling music artist of all-time, and with a long career still ahead of him he will undoubtably work his way further up the list.

Director Danny Boyle originally wanted Jack Black to do the score, but settled on Bollywood king Rahman after realizing his naivete in thinking that Black would have time to hang out in India for a year or so to work on it.

The song "Ringa Ringa" is a reworking of "Choli ke peeche" from the Bollywood film Khalnayak (1993). Rahman utilized the same voice talent, Alka Yagnik and Ila Arun, that sang in the original chart-topping version.

"Aaj Ki Raat" is another reworked song, which originally appeared in the Bollywood gangster film Don - The Chase Begins Again

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week (AOL Streams rollover 11/17)
Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak
The Killers - Day & Age
The Fireman - Electric Arguments / Free AOL Album Stream
Magazine - The Complete John Peel Sessions
The Raveonettes - Wishing You A Rave Christmas
Tom Jones - 24 Hours / Free AOL Album Stream
Rivers Cuomo - Alone II: The Home Recordings
Ludacris - Theater Of The Mind
Juno - Music From The Motion Picture [Deluxe]
Surf City - Surf City EP (AOL Album Stream) / "Headin' Inside" [mp3]
Sixx:AM - Live Is Beautiful EP (AOL Album Stream)
Peachcake - What Year Will You Have Your World (AOL Album Stream)
Coldplay - Prospekt's March EP
Blood Ceremony - Blood Ceremony
John Zorn - The Last Supper: Film Works XXII
Scott Weiland - Happy Galoshes / Free AOL Album Stream
REISSUES
REM - Murmur - Deluxe Edition
11.18.08
Anathallo - Canopy Glow
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sunday At Devil Dirt
Femi Kuti - Day by Day
Max Tundra - Parallax Error Beheads You
Momus - JoeMus
Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
Alaska in Winter - Holiday

tags: music, album review, slumdog millionaire, the killers, kanye west, kanye west, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Chuck: Revenge Fantasy

It's tempting to look at this now completed three episode arc featuring with Chuck's ex Jill (Jordana Brewster) as one long revenge fantasy. Think about it -- six years after getting dumped and left in shambles, Chuck and his ex have unintentionally become super-sized versions of how Chuck saw themselves. Chuck, a weapon of the CIA on the side of good, and his ex Jill, a FULCRUM agent, on the side of evil (as far as we know). This episode culminates with Chuck getting the ultimate vengeance. "You're under arrest, Jill... and I'm breaking up with you." When your ex is also a national security threat, it's a harsh retribution that's wholly justified, hence the revenge fantasy.

There were several fine cultural references this episode as well, the most obvious and funny one being the Start Trek II: The Wrath of Khan moment between Morgan and Lester (Kirk/Spock hands on the glass "needs of the many" classic moment). Another was the hall of mirrors, which recalled the classic Scaramanga's funhouse scene in The Man with the Golden Gun (and, as someone else pointed out to me, possibly Orson Welles' The Lady from Shanghai).

Musically, my favorite moment came during Chuck's interrogation of Jill, where The Accidental's "Knock Knock" plays quietly in the background. The lyrics "You broke both my legs and you asked me to stay / And all of the enemies trickled away" delivered in the haunting song were both creepy and very prescient given Jill's immediate betrayal -- again! The episode ended with Ra Ra Riot's "Can You Tell," trying to rekindle the Chuck/Sarah attraction, but I must confess I'm not a fan of the song, and so it kind of ruined the scene for me.

Luckily, the Thanksgiving cheer of Ellie and co. overcame that slight, even if Josh Schwartz played the holiday miracle card yet again. The scene reminded me that we haven't seen Anna in some time, as the Thanksgiving episode last season had Morgan introducing her to Ellie. Where exactly is our Anna? We haven't seen her since Casey suggested she might make a good agent. And speaking of Casey, any episode featuring the line "unleash the Casey" automatically gets high marks.

Playlist: Chuck - Episode 2.08
1. "Hot Mess" - Sam Sparro
2. "Knock Knock" - The Accidental
3. "Can You Tell" - Ra Ra Riot

Previously: Alas, Poor Yorick! (Episode 2.07)

First of many?

Surprising no one that was paying any attention, the University of Washington Women won the NCAA Cross Country Championships, beating Pac-10 rival Oregon and the rest of the nation handily. Barring any major developments, the team will be favored to win it next year as well, with four returning All-Americans.

In other news, friend to blog (old college teammate/roommate) Greg Metcalf wins Flotrack coach of the year upon the victory:

Visit Flotrack For More Videos

Song: "Nationals Race" - Haik Naltchayan
Song: "Champions" - Dan the Automator

Ear on TV: Week of November 24

The word 'bravado' is a word often tossed about to describe rapper Kanye West, and at the root of it is the word is 'brave,' which is the best way to describe West's latest release 808s and Heartbreak. Here West sings, wears his heart on his sleeve, and wades through some moody (but smooth) electro beats, ensuring the alienation of many rap fans (something West has no problem doing).

It was the recent death of his mother and a painful breakup with his fiance that prompted this detour from his usual larger-than-life hip-hop productions, and in the great tradition of rock-by-way-of-pain classics like Big Star's Third, Neil Young's Tonight's the Night and The Flaming Lips' Soft Bulletin, West has channeled his anguish into something more than just an album of feel good hits. When West performs on
the first single "Love Lockdown" on Letterman on Monday, and Conan on Tuesday, he's sure to be employing the Auto-Tune voice pitch negotiator that's all over the album, a device that also has alienated his fans to some degree.

Meanwhile, The Killers are also performing both Monday (Jimmy Kimmel) and Tuesday (Leno) nights, in support of their new album Day & Age. The album finds the Las Vegas quartet retreating a bit from the arena rock (via Springteen) aspirations of their last album, and instead releasing what sounds more like the logical follow up to their surprising debut. It's more entrenched in the 80's fixated sound of their debut, thanks in part to Euro-dance producer Stuart Price (Madonna,) which, while making it smaller in scope, fits the band better than the larger-than-life ambitions of the overmatched Sam's Town.

Finally, Tom Jones' first album in over 15 years (24 Hourse -- out tomorrow,) finds the Wales icon still in the mood to swivel the hips, delivering his knee-buckling croon over retro-soul beats currently in vogue with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lilly Allen and Kate Nash. Jones teams up here with Brit duo Future Cut, who worked with Allen and Nash, and even gets contribution from Bono and The Edge, who contribute the infectious "Sugar Daddy." At 68, Jones knows he can no longer work the sex angle, so much of 24 Hours is more reflective and intimate, which is probably why his performances this week are limited to daytime television, hitting both Regis (Tuesday) and The Today Show (Wednesday,) along with a previously taped performance on BBC America's Graham Norton Show.

Ok, one last note. A recent performance of Ben Folds and Regina Spektor singing "You Don't Know Me" will be repeating on Kimmel Friday, and while it doesn't feature a mustachio'd Jason Sudeikis (SNL) on trombone (as performed on Conan last month) it was worth staying up for. (Sudeikis-laden performance below:)


Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, November 24
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Killers
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kanye West
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Low vs Diamond
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Nightwatchman
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Young Jeezy (REPEAT)
Tuesday, November 25
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Dimmu Borgir
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Bob Mould (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Killers
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Kanye West
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Knux (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Beyonce
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Tom Jones
Wednesday, November 26
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ludacris
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Adele
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Little Ones
NBC: The Today Show: Beyonce, Tom Jones
Thursday, November 27
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Apocalyptica (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road:
Shawn Colvin, Ray LaMontagne, The Zutons, Nerina Pallot (REPEAT)
Friday, November 28
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Ben Folds, Regina Spektor
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Kaiser Chiefs
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: T.I. (REPEAT)
Saturday, November 29
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Tom Jones
NBC: Saturday Night Live: The Killers (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Coldplay, Michael Stipe (REPEAT)

True Blood: Sucked In

I fully admit that I was skeptical about True Blood after the first few episodes, but in the past five episodes or so, it has really blossomed into the kind of show that HBO hoped it would be: a hit. Heading into it's finale this Sunday, the series has already moved into being the third most watched series in HBO's history, behind only The Sopranos and Sex and the City. Part of the attraction has to do with the current Twilight phenomenon that's sweeping the nation, but I suspect that there would be an audience regardless of what's selling at Hot Topic.

After initially being thrown into the rich Charlaine Harris created world (Southern Vampire Mysteries), the series has gotten it's feet under them, and it's far more fun now. Part of it has to do with the casting, as the actors getting added to the cast of late have been studendous. Stephen Root (Newsradio, Office Space) recently had an arc as a gay vampire accountant, while Michelle Forbes (In Treatment, Battlestar Galactica) and Emmy winner Zeljko Ivanek (Damages) have recently joined the fray.

But it was really when Lizzy Caplan came on as the V-is-for-more-than-vegan loving Amy that the series really started to take off. Sookie's brother Jason was getting to be annoying, but the chemistry between Amy and him contained real magic, and gave actor Ryan Kwanten more to do than strut around with his shirt off (it certainly didn't hurt that Caplan was topless quite a bit as well). Even the most annoying character Tara (Rutina Wesley,) has now become a favorite (showing up drunk to an engagement party in a prom dress sealed the deal).

With the finale Sunday, the series timing has been perfect. The fact that we already know who the killer is doesn't even ruin the suspense as knowing the killer is just half the mystery here. (The reveal was subtle and I'm sure plenty missed it -- here it is.)

Besides the identity of the killer, we also know, by the title, that the episode will feature the Johnny Winter classic "You'll Be the Death of Me", since True Blood double song titles as the episode titles. Winter, who has always kind of looked like a vampire, sings about a different kind of vampire, a lover bent on sucking the life out of him.

Who will die? Who will survive to make it to season 2 (already in production!) It's comforting knowing that the second season will be back sooner than first expected, striking the coals while the vampire is hot. For those that need to catch up, there will be some marathons in December, including a big one New Year's Eve, and I have it on good authority that HBO will have a much quicker turnaround for releasing the first season on DVD than normal, as well.

Previously: Intercourse with a Vampire (Episode 1.06)

Life on Mars: Oedipus Vex

Here is where the map mostly ends. Last night's mid-season finale for Life on Mars started as a nearly note perfect remake of the BBC original's season one finale, featuring Dean Winters (Rescue Me, 30 Rock) as Sam's father. LoM has at least 10 more episodes to go this season (after recently garnering another four episode order,) and the Lost-like ending suggests that the series is going to finally start moving away from the original and start to walk on it's own, and since it's going to be following Lost when it returns in January, I can't think of a better segue.

But back to our guest star for a second... how is it that an actor like Dean Winters doesn't have regular gig? Winters acts the hell out of this role, turning into Keyser Soze before our eyes. For Sam to find out his father was a criminal thug must've been like a gunshot to the gut, figuratively first, and then quite literally.

The scene was backed by Harry Nilsson's great "Spaceman," combining both the opening of Sam pretending to be an astronaut and the two bullets now in Sam's abdomen. "Bang, bang, shoot em' up to the moon." Meanwhile, Sam is kind of a spaceman now, lost, unable to get back home: "Hey mother earth, won't 'cha bring me back down?" Meanwhile, to open the episode, we got Bread's classic AM radio staple "Everything I Own" was a perfect music choice given it was written by songwriter David Gates following the loss of his father, and wanting a chance to see him again. Of course, losing your father is one thing... having him shoot you in the gut, well, I don't think there's a song for that.

The episode brought out the best and the worst of the series, specifically the scene with Sam and his dad on the basketball court. The stiffly directed scene was difficult to watch and reminded me that these are the same folks who helmed the awful October Road. But then they broke into some terrible basketball (cheerfully to Steely Dan's "Reeling in the Years,") and all was nearly forgiven, except O'Mara is terrible (what, no basketball in Ireland growing up?) Hopefully, knowing that they'll be following Lost when they return, the series will play to it's strengths more, leaving the lame Grey's Anatomy soap opera moments behind for good.

Playlist: Life on Mars - Episode 1.07
1. "Everything I Own" - Bread
2. "Reeling in the Years" - Steely Dan
3. "Life on Mars" - David Bowie
4. "Spaceman" - Harry Nilsson

Previously: Holding us all hostage (Episode 1.06)

Life: Honeyhoney, Badge Bunny

There's a reason that NBC stands by Life, even in the face of it's on-the-bubble ratings, and many of those reasons were on full display in this episode, harkening back to the great string of episodes from last season. Centering around the fascinating subculture of badge bunnies (cop groupies,) this week's mystery delved into sexual politics in the police force. We're able to look at it from the outside thanks in part because our guides, Detective Crews and Reese, are outsiders themselves. Crews is the ultimate outsider, while Reese is an outsider here because she's a woman. "Do you date cops?" a bunny asks Detective Reese at one point. "No, I am a cop."

The role of gun as metaphor was brilliant here. For the badge bunnies, an invitation to the shooting range is akin to a groupie getting backstage at a show. An officer's gun is very intimate, and to handle it is very sexual. That even goes for Reese's piece, so when Tidwell and her exchange guns at the shooting range, it was extremely sexual. Having this scene intertwine with the flirtations of the bunnies with Crews was brilliant, and the music made the scene even better, nearly playing all of Honeyhoney's aptly titled "Little Toy Gun." Watching Crews and Reese squirm as they exchange embarrasments ("is that glitter on your face" and "that's not your gun") was, of course, the comedic payoff to all the flirtations we witnessed prior. Add to that the quirkiness of facing off a tiger named Fluffy, and you've got the kind of sequence that keeps executives from wanting to cancel this often brilliant series.

The aforementioned Honeyhoney song has a video worth mentioning in that it features Keifer Sutherland both directing and co-starring in it. And yes, it does feature him carrying a piece.



Life - Episode 2.09
1. "No Explanations" - Sam Phillips
2. "Little Toy Gun" - Honeyhoney

Watch the full episode here (note: original music replaced)

Previously: Neither Fruit nor Cake (Episode 2.08)

Chuck: Alas, Poor Yorick!

Oh, love... what a tangled web you weave for our dear Chuck. While I can foresee some 'love triangle' fatigue at some point, the series has put that tested tool to good use with Jill (Jordana Brewster). The Sarah-Chuck-Jill triangle was far more intense than last season's flirtation with Rachel Bilson's sandwich girl Lou, in that Jill was in on several secrets (Chuck is CIA, Sarah is beard). In that way it's similar to the Bryce-Sarah-Chuck triangle that gets employed now and then to pour water on the Chuck-Sarah sexual tension, but since Chuck is our hero, we have more invested in Chuck finding happiness, so when we pull the mask off Jill at the end, the knife twist hurts all the more.

Speaking of triangles, there was a great reference to Brian K. Vaughan's great Y: The Last Man (Chuck mentioning the Culper Ring and the poster above his bed) and that comic book series had a very similar love triangle, and brilliantly parallels Chuck. Agent 355 (Sarah) is responsible for protecting a geek named Yorick (Chuck) who's person contains secrets to help save the earth. Yorick still pines for his girlfriend Beth (Jill), and his best friend is a monkey (Morgan!). It's a great reference that loses some of it's brilliance on closer look, but Chuck is ahead of the curve here. (A film adaptation is in the works with the Disturbia team of D.J. Caruso and Carl Ellsworth, and it's expected to be a trilogy, with an initial release date targeted for some time in 2010).

Other geektastic references included The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Vogon poetry,) Brazil (Tuttle Repair on Van,) and the Looney Tunes classic "What's Opera, Doc?" which played in the background at the Buy More. There was even another more subtle reference involving Millbarge acting out a sort of Ed Rooney scenario from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Millbarge sees Chuck like Rooney does Bueller, someone who's popularity lets him get away with truancy. Millbarge ends the episode the worse for wear, and while it would've been a bit on the nose, having Jeff offer him some gummy candy from his pocket at the end would've sealed the reference for everyone.

Musically, there was the opera La Traviata, which translates as Woman who strays, which we can later understand it to mean Jill. But my favorite has to be Frightened Rabbit's "Keep Yourself Warm," which warns us about jumping into bed with the wrong person when ""you don't know who's in your bed." Even though the repeated refrain of "you can't find love in a hole" is a tiresome euphemism, I can't help playing this song over and over this morning.

Chuck - Episode 2.07
1. Selections from La Traviata by Verdi
2. "Buildings And Mountains" - The Republic Tigers
3. "Keep Yourself Warm" - Frightened Rabbit

Previously: Songs about Jill (Episode 2.06)

Ear on TV: Week of November 17

Humorously recalling the days of Perry Como and Bing Crosby holiday specials, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All takes the cardigan-wearing, pipe-smoking, crooning-by-the-fire holiday musical genre to new heights. Airing this Sunday night, the story has Stephen Colbert travelling to a performance with Elvis Costello, and they get snowed in at his upstate New York cabin (hint: it's bear country).

Besides Costello, musical guests include Willie Nelson (singing "Little Dealer Boy,") Feist, John Legend and Toby Keith, who declares a war on the war on Christmas with "Have I Got A Present For You." Jon Stewart even lends his pipes for a song about Hannukah. (All songs are co-written by Fountain of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger.) And if it gets you in the spirit for holiday giving (or you just plain missed it,) it's out on DVD two days later, with much of the proceeds going to Feeding America.

Meanwhile, one my biggest guilty pleasures in life is tribute bands, which I often find better than the real thing. Letterman is sharing that love this week, declaring it Tribute Band Week, booking acts invoking the spirit of music icons. Monday features Purple Reign (Prince), Tuesday is Cold Hard Cash (Johnny Cash,) Wednesday is Mr. Brownstone (Guns n' Roses,) Thursday is Super Diamond (Neil Diamond,) and Friday is The Allstarz (James Brown). It's worth noting that Purple Reign's act is a legendary in Vegas, and the Boston/New York hybrid Mr. Brownstone features members of Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Takka Takka, Boss Tweed and The Common End. You don't want to miss either of these (and if you can't make it, have someone who looks and sounds like you tune in).

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, November 17
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Kanye West (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Purple Reign (Prince tribute band)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Adele
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Blitzen Trapper
Tuesday, November 18
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Paul Simon
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Cold Hard Cash (Johnny Cash tribute band)
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Shane MacGowan (REPEAT)
Wednesday, November 19
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Mr Brownstone (Guns n' Roses tribute band)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Secret Machines
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Margot & the Nuclear So So's
Thursday, November 20
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Hives
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Super Diamond (Neil Diamond tribute band)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Friendly Fires
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Tenacious D
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Brian Wilson
Friday, November 21
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Allstarz (James Brown tribute band)
Saturday, November 22
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Estelle
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Ludacris, T-Pain
PBS: Austin City Limits: Gnarls Barkley, Thievery Corporation
Sunday, November 23
COMEDY CENTRAL: A Colbert Christmas: Feist, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, John Legend, Toby Keith

Life on Mars: Holding us all hostage

Didn't find a lot to say about this one. LoM is moving to Wednesdays in the new year, following Lost which is both good and bad. It's bad only in that there will be less viewers leading it, but good in that those viewers will be more in line with LoM's underlying sci-fi angle.

Life on Mars - Episode 1.06
1. "Sweet Lucy" - The Propositions
2. "We're An American Band" - Grand Funk
3. "Going to Make a Time Machine" - The Majestic Arrows
4. "Tuesday's Dead" - Cat Stevens

If (and when) All Goes Wrong

When Smashing Pumpkins broke up in 2000, by all accounts, it was the right time, as the band had seemingly run it's course. But after a failed attempt at both a supergroup (Zwan) and an abysmal solo release (TheFutureEmbrace,) Billy Corgan decided to get the band back together, even taking out a full page ad in The Chicago Tribune to announce it before telling anyone -- except, of course, drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, who it seems would follow Corgan into a burning building.

The documentary If All Goes Wrong picks up the story at the point where Corgan has picked his band replacements for original members James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky, who passed on the reunion, and the beginning of a series of shows in Asheville, NC and then San Francisco. At first glance, it seems the new members, Jeff Schroeder and Ginger Reyes, have been picked in part due to their passing resemblances to the folks they were replacing, giving more credence to the belief that their roles were more image to Corgan than musical. Of course, that could just be me being cynical.

"We were once the Smashing Pumpkins. I don't know what we are now... good night!"
- Billy Corgan, ending a trying concert at The Fillmore

Corgan, for his part, is gets awfully prickly when the subject of his old band mates are brought up. When asked why the new incarnation of SP doesn't play the songs "Soma" or "Mayonaise," Corgan mentions that Iha has co-writing credit for those songs, and after explaining the parts and playing a bit of "Soma," Corgan is so frustrated with the subject of Iha, he throws his guitar across the room. It's moments like this, though, that make the documentary watchable, the few times where Corgan accidentally lets us in on how he really feels about things. Too much of the documentary relies on adoring fans (and several random talking heads only credited as 'writer') to try and frame the story, as rarely do they have anything more meaningful to say than the cliches of "his music changed my life."

It's telling that we see nearly as much of Corgan in a bathrobe writing songs as we do of him on stage playing them, showing that he wanted to give access to his artistic process, but in the end, he comes off more of an egomaniac than what he probably was hoping to convey. Perhaps he saw himself like Jeff Tweedy in the Wilco documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, but Corgan seems far more aware of the camera. The idea of writing a song during the day and debuting it later that night at a show is kind of cool in theory, but that's only if the songs will resonate, and, for the most part, they don't.

Besides playing all the new songs, SP also a play a tour-only beast of a song called "Gossamer" that runs anywhere between 20-38 minutes long, depending on how much Corgan feels like testing the audience. In Asheville, both Corgan and the audience are more patient, but in San Francisco, things turn a bit more adversarial, thanks in part to criticism in the press. (This mutual animosity between Corgan and more discerning audience members as carried over into some great fireworks at recent shows in New York.)

Along with the documentary, there's a concert film, piecing together songs from the Fillmore shows, featuring zero songs that would make a well edited greatest hits album (to be fair, one song,"Untitled," actually debuted on their Greatest Hits compilation, ) and a bonus relaxed set from the Fillmore floor (none of those pesky fans).

Disc 1:
"If All Goes Wrong" documentary
"Voices Of The Ghost Children" featurette
Interview with THE WHO guitarist Pete Townshend

Disc 2:
The Fillmore Residency
01. The Rose March*
02. Peace + Love*
03. 99 Floors*
04. Superchrist
05. Lucky 13
06. Starla
07. Death From Above
08. The Crying Tree Of Mercury
09. Winterlong
10. Heavy Metal Machine
11. Untitled
12. No Surrender*
13. Gossamer*
14. Zeitgeist
Bonus Tracks: Live From The Floor Of The Fillmore
01. 99 Floors*
02. Peace + Love*
03. No Surrender*
04. Mama*
05. Promise Me*

*previously unreleased

Life: Neither Fruit nor Cake

One of the casualties of burning off so many episodes early, like NBC did with Life to start the fall season, is that you end up airing a Christmas oriented episode ("Black Friday") weeks before we even get to Thanksgiving. At least there's no more worry that it will be cancelled, as it's been picked up for the full 22 episodes. Add to that the news today that the other series that had moved into Life's previous two timeslots, My Own Worst Enemy (Monday at 10PM) and Lipstick Jungle (Friday at 10PM) have both been cancelled, and I'm thinking perhaps they should add a Charmed to the series' title.

At least this episode was a step up from weeks prior, relying heavily on Damian Lewis' dry delivery as Detective Charlie Crews for humor. "It's fruit and its cake, what's not to like?" Crews wryly observes, revisiting his obsession with fruit. Of course, upon further inspection "there's a distinct possibility that this is neither fruit nor cake." Besides Lewis, though, the running gags about the missing dead body and "do we have our first jumper of the season" remind me that the humor is not only dry here, but fairly often it's black as well. One complaint: they need to find better ways to shoehorn in the over arching story, as the episode lost momentum when Crews shifted his attention to finding who set him up.

Since it was a holiday episode, there were plenty of carolers, and The Kinks' "Father Christmas," which is second only to "Christmas in Hollis" as far as modern holiday music goes for me. Meanwhile, Cat Power makes a return with the eerie "Cross Bones Style," making this the second song from her great 1998 album Moon Pix to make an appearance this season ("Metal Heart" appeared in episode 2.03). The haunting qualities of these tracks heavily foreshadows something far more dark about Charlie's ex-wife Jennifer, and I'm thinking it has to do with a potential connection between her current husband and the person who set up Charlie. Considering how closely the storyline of Life matches up with the classic The Count of Monte Cristo, it's not much of a leap to imagine Jennifer's husband as a sort of Fernand Mondego, or more likely in cahoots with that that line of evil.

Playlist: Life - Episode 2.08
1. "Happy Day Today" - Jim Noir
2. "Father Christmas" - The Kinks
3. "Jingle Bells"
4. "Deck the Halls"
5. "Cross Bones Style" - Cat Power
6. "I Don't Live In A Dream" - Jackie Greene

Previously: Logue and Dulli (Episode 2.08)

Now Downloading: New Releases 11.11.08

Releases from The Nerves, The Pillbugs, Flaming Lips
New releases from here on out are more about gift giving than an actual interest in music, so new albums give way to box sets, compilations and reissues along with DVD interests. But there are still some great finds, especially for a power pop head like myself, as the long awaited The Nerves compilation, One Way Ticket, finally sees the light of day. As far as Nerves fans go, there's a 30th anniversary edition of Cheap Trick's Live At Budokan, along with a new release from The Pillbugs, so it's a nice week to celebrate power pop. Elsewhere, the very odd Flaming Lips' Christmas On Mars finally sees the light of day, both soundtrack and DVD, and there's new releases from Wintersleep, Holy Hail, Vetiver, Denison Witmer, Deer Tick and an EP from Gnarls Barkley. On the gift giving front there's compilations from The Smiths and Led Zeppelin, along special reissues from New Order (first five albums,) and Warren Zevon.

Playlist: New Releases 11.11.08

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The Nerves - One Way Ticket
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

The Nerves register barely a blip in time, releasing only a four-song self-titled EP in 1976, but in that brief time, that trio consisting of Jack Lee, Peter Case and Paul Collins produced some work that would have a much larger impact, propelling a resurgence of power pop on the charts. All three members had an impact following their breakup. The Jack Lee composition, "Hanging on the Telephone," is the Nerves song that lives on, being covered by Blondie (video) two years later (and more recently by Cat Power for a Cingular commercial). Peter Case would go on to form The Plimsouls, and Paul Collins would form The Beat; along with The Knack, these bands took what The Nerves had started in LA and elevated it further. One Way Ticket (on Alive Records) is the first full length from the band, taking the four songs from the EP -- "Hanging on the Telephone" (Lee,) "When You Find Out" (Case,) "Give Me Some Time" (Lee), and "Working Too Hard" (Collins) -- and adds the Peter Case song "One Way Ticket," along with a song from the shorter lived Breakaways ("Walking out on Love" -- Case and Collins) and other unreleased tracks, demos and live recordings. It's a great document to a band just a couple years ahead of it's time -- a band who combined the melody of the Beatles along with the energy of the burgeoning punk movement. There was little in the way of indie labels, DIY was too expensive and major labels weren't quite ready, so we can only wonder what might have been if they'd been able to stick together for just a couple more years.

Cingular ad featuring "Hanging on the Telephone" covered by Cat Power:


Of some note, Def Leppard also recently covered "Hanging on the Telephone"

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The Pillbugs - Everybody Wants a Way Out
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

The Toledo OH five-piece The Pillbugs are getting special mention here in part due to the power pop angle I'm going for, but also because bassist/vocalist Mark Kelley lost his battle with lung cancer earlier this year, so the album, Everybody Wants a Way Out is an especially bittersweet collection of psychedelic power pop songs. From the opening strands of the majestic "Life as it Happens" all the way uplifting and trippy closer "North of Reality," a song featuring the post-humous Kelly on vocals, it's an album that takes inspiration from the Beatles circa Revolver to Magical Mystery Tour. It can seem awfully derivative, and the middle gets dragged down a bit with some questionable songs, but it's nonetheless a well done album for the genre.

Download: "Life as it Happens", "Can't Get it Right (So I'm Loving it Wrong)" (Rainbow Quartz Records)

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week (AOL Streams rollover 11/17)
The Flaming Lips - Christmas on Mars
Wintersleep - Welcome To The Night Sky
Holy Hail - Independent Pleasure Club
Vetiver - More of the Past
Denison Witmer - Carry the Weight
Deer Tick - War Elephant
Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save My Soul
Au Revoir Simone - Reverse Migration (AOL Album Stream) / "Lark (Ruff And Jam’s remix)" [mp3]
Butch Walker - Sycamore Meadows (AOL Album Stream)
The Bronx - The Bronx III (AOL Album Stream)
Longwave - Secrets Are Sinister (AOL Album Stream)
Frontier Ruckus - The Orion Songbook
T-Pain - Thr33 Ringz / Free AOL Album Stream
88 Keys - The Death of Adam
Tracy Chapman - Our Bright Future / Free AOL Album Stream
Dir En Grey - Uroboros
COMPILATIONS/BOX SETS
The Smiths - The Sound of the Smiths [Deluxe Edition]
Free Blood - The Singles
Led Zeppelin - The Complete Led Zepelin
Abba - The Albums
Genesis - Genesis Box Set 3 (1970-1975)[12 Disc Set] (AOL Album Stream)
REISSUES
New Order - Movement [Collector's Edition] / Free AOL Album Stream (for all five albums)
New Order - Power, Corruption & Lies [Collector's Edition]
New Order - Low-Life [Collector's Edition]
New Order - Brotherhood [Collector's Edition]
New Order - Technique [Collector's Edition]
Cheap Trick - BUDOKAN! 30th Anniversary / Free AOL Album Stream
Warren Zevon - Warren Zevon [Collector's Edition]

tags: music, album review, deerhunter, danielson, q-tip, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Chuck: Songs Featuring Jill

Sometimes I feel the need to post about Chuck just to reinforce it's status a show folks should be watching. Take this week's episode ("Chuck vs The Ex",) which isn't anything special, but it still will stand as one of the most entertaining hours of television this week. (Perhaps that says more about television programming right now than it does about Chuck.)

This week Chuck encounters the ex who dumped him for Bryce, Jill, who we first meet in a flashback to the sounds of Iggy Pop's "Pumpin' Jill," an unlikely song to be hearing blasted from a beer pong competition outside a sorority. As we flash forward, we find it's part of a Jill '03 mix that Chuck's wallowing in still, a reminder that he's not over her some five years later. Of course, instead of that, it made me wonder what else might be on that mix. Perhaps "Ask For Jill" from The dB's, or maybe Dr. Frank (of the Mr T Experience) with the simply named "Jill"? Not that all the songs on the mix would have Jill in the title, but you'd think if Iggy's there, there might be more. Since Jordanna Brewster (as Jill) is supposed to have a three episode arc here, I imagine we might hear more Jill songs, so as a mostly pointless exercise, here is my top five:

Playlist: Top 5 Songs Featuring Jill
1. "Ask For Jill" - The dB's
2. "The Best Of Jill Hives" - Guided By Voices
3. "Jill" - Dr. Frank
4. "Pumpin' For Jill" - Iggy Pop
5. "Everybody Loves Jill" - Cowboy Mouth

As far as the non-Jill songs this week, the charming folk pop of The Accidental's "Time & Space" is the only other noteworthy track, mostly for it's repetition of cliches, like "to your own self be true" and "you are part of everything." Sure, it speaks to Chuck exhibiting some independence from Sarah, but it's further proof of the lack of quality cultural references this week. Ok, naming Jill's boss Guy Lafleur is another nice subtle refence to the 80's, a favorite pastime of the show. Don't get me wrong, it was a funny episode, there's just not a lot to write about (so I'll stop).

Playlist: Chuck - Episode 2.06
1. "Pumping for Jill" - Iggy Pop
2. "Papa Loves Mambo" - Perry Como
3. "It Makes My Heart Break (Acoustic Version)" - Your Vegas
4. "Time and Space" - The Accidental

Previously: Nerdgasm (Episode 2.05)