Monday, July 20, 2009

Ear on TV: Week of 07.20.09: De La Soul

It's the 20th anniversary of De La Soul's hip-hop masterpiece 3 Feet High and Rising, and the trio is celebrating with a tour they're affectionately calling "20 Years and Rising." Backed by a 10-piece orchestra (LA's the Rhythm Roots All-Stars), the act is even reunited with producer Prince Paul for the dates, revisiting an album which just might be my favorite rap album of all time.

When Posdnuos, Trugoy and Maseo perform -- one would think it would be "Me, Myself & I" -- on Conan Friday, they'll not only be trying to recapture past magic, but also dealing with The Tonight Show's notorious sound problems. Hopefully with Prince Paul on board, they'll still be able to 'do as De La does.'

Speaking of revisiting the 1980's, Twisted Sister is celebrating their own anniversary - the 25th for the album Stay Hungry, which just received a special reissue treatment. While they recorded a new song for the release ("30"), it's a fair assumption that when they play Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, it will be the classic "We're Not Going to Take It." Because, we really are not going to take whatever that new song is supposed to be.

Finally, continuing nostalgia week for Music on TV This Week, The Flatlanders are together again and touring, playing Letterman on Monday. Comprised of three of Texas' greatest living songwriters, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock, the band had the briefest of runs (from 1972-1973), but the continued success of the members as solo artists made the act legendary. They've performed together as the Flatlanders many times over the past decade, even releasing a couple fine albums -- including the latest, Hills and Valleys.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, July 20
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Spinnerette
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Goat
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Tom Jones
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ben Harper & Relentless7 (REPEAT)
Tuesday, July 21
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Flatlanders
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Set Your Goals
IFC: From the Basement: Gnarls Barkley (REPEAT)
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Manu Chao (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ben Harper & Relentless7 (REPEAT)
Wednesday, July 22
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Diane Birch
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Flo Rida
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Tony Bennett (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Cold War Kids (REPEAT)
Thursday, July 23
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ginuwine with Missy Elliott
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Twisted Sister
Friday, July 24
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Tortoise
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: De La Soul
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Pains of Being Pure of Heart (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Kurt Cobain About a Son (2007): Nirvana
Saturday, July 25
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Kelly Clarkson (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings (REPEAT)

1 comment:

Shawn Anderson said...

Picks for the week of 07.20.09
1. Baptized By Fire - Spinnerette
2. Sugar Daddy - Tom Jones
3. Shimmer & Shine - Ben Harper
4. After The Storm - Flatlanders
5. This Will Be The Death Of Us - Set Your Goals
6. Who's Gonna Save My Soul - Gnarls Barkley
7. Politik Kills - Manu Chao
8. Nothing But A Miracle - Diane Birch
9. Right Round - Flo Rida
10. The Best Is Yet To Come (Duet With Diana Krall) - Tony Bennett
11. Something Is Not Right With Me - Cold War Kids
12. Get Involved [feat. Timbaland & Missy Elliott] - Ginuwine
13. Sophisticated Side Ponytail - Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
14. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
15. Prepare Your Coffin - Tortoise
16. Me Myself And I - De La Soul
17. Come Saturday - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
18. About A Girl - Nirvana
19. My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson
20. 100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings