Now Downloading: New Releases 10.26.10

Reissues, reissues, reissues galore! Oh, yeah, Bryan Ferry got most of Roxy Music back together for his latest solo release, and Animal Collective's Avey Tare give us something to tide us over until the next AC release (or, rather, the next Panda Bear release). And reissues, reissues, reissues (Apple Records!).

Playlist: New Releases 10.26.10

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Bryan Ferry - Olympia
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

There's a lot of expectation behind this release, thanks to the reuniting of Roxy Music elements Bryan Ferry, guitarist Phil Manzanera and, most notably, Brian Eno, so it's odd to find it such a laid back release, in both sound and promotion. (To top it off, it's been eight years since Bryan Ferry has released an album of original materials!) To that end, there's more than a few comparisons to Roxy Music's last release, Avalon (even though it was Eno-less). Other big name guests include Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Groove Armada and members of Scissor Sisters.

Free AOL Album Stream

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Avey Tare - Down There
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Funny thing about Avey Tare releases is that unlike Panda Bear's solo efforts, it always feels like something's missing. The songs are there, but the one-sided approach to AT's songs feel flat in comparison. There's plenty here to love, though, even if there's not as much as an Animal Collective or Panda Bear release.

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Warpaint - The Fool
Johnny Flynn - Been Listening / Free AOL Album Stream
Josephine Foster & the Victor Herrero Band - Anda Jaleo / "Anda Jaleo" [mp3]
Elizabeth & the Catapult - The Other Side of Zero / "You and Me" [mp3]
Ghostland Observatory - Codename: Rondo / Free AOL Album Stream
The Concretes - Wywh / "Good Evening" [mp3]
Lyrics Born - As U Were
Panico - Kick / "Icon" [mp3]
Cowboy Junkies - Renmin Park
Monster Magnet - Mastermind / Free AOL Album Stream
Crowded House - The Very Very Best of Crowded House / Free AOL Album Stream
Small Black - New Chain / "Search Party" "Photojournalist" [mp3]
Giles Peterson - Worldwide: Celebration of His Syndicated Radio
COMPILATIONS
Treme: Music From the HBO Original Series, Season 1
Jackass 3D Soundtrack
Come and Get it - The Best of Apple Records
Giant Sand - Valley of Rain (25th Anniversary Edition) / Free AOL Album Stream
REISSUES
Badfinger - Magic Christian Music
Badfinger - No Dice
Badfinger - Straight Up
Badfinger - Ass
Billy Preston - That's the Way God Planned It
Billy Preston - Encouraging Words
Mary Hopkin - Post Card
Mary Hopkin - There's Got to be More
Jackie Lomax - Is This What You Want

tags: music, album review, bryan ferry, avey tare, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Sons of Anarchy "Lochan Mor": Welcome to Ireland

"A drive-by, nearly deported... and this is just day one."
Gemma

Those complaining about this season dragging have got to be dancing in the streets with this one, as SAMCRO is finally in Belfast, after seven episodes of dragging feet to get here. Even with all the action in this episode, my wife still is a bit exasperated. "They need to get Jax's kid back and get on with it already." I didn't want to spoil it for her (or you) but... we still have a ways to go (I know!).

Besides heightened violence, building tension with Jimmy and the oncoming train crash of unconscious incest with Jax & Trillian, the music was an obvious highlight. First off, I'm so pleased they did an Irish-tinged version of the theme song. Raise a shot of Jameson for that one. Before we heard that, though, there was the great opening montage with Black 47's "The Big Fellah," a song about the political career of Irish politician and soldier Michael Collins (nicknamed "the big fellah"), who died during the Irish civil war. The song worked great with the transition from trad Gaelic folk beginning (sung by Mary Martello) with the far away shot of the Irish landscape to when the guitars kick in and we move in on SAMCRO on their bikes riding through.

After that the music moved way into the background, often barely even registering as music at all. But if you listen closely, there's a ton of great Irish music here. And, back in Charming, the J Mascis/Cobra Verde rocking combo Sweet Apple provided some ampage at the garage with "Flying Up the Mountain".

Playlist: Sons of Anarchy - Episode 3.08
1. "The Big Fellah" - Black 47 [from Home of the Brave]
2. "Greed & Power" - Attika [download]
3. "The Long Road" - Flatfoot 56 [download]
4. "Shiny Eyes" - Flatfoot 56 [download]
5. "Jungle of the Midwest Sea" - Flatfoot 56 [from Jungle of the Midwest Sea]
6. "Son of Shame" - Flatfoot 56 [download]
7. "Victory Square" - The Dreadnoughts [download]
8. "Ciara" - The Tossers [download]
9. "The Ballad of the Thoughtful Rover" - The Tossers [download]
10. "Faraway" - The Tossers [download]
11. "Flying Up a Mountain" - Sweet Apple [download]
12. "Caroline" - Young Dubliners [download]
13. "(Don't Think I'll) Love You Anymore" - Young Dubliners [download]
14. "Another Bag of Bricks" - Flogging Molly [download]

Previously: "Home" (Episode 3.04)

Glee "Rocky Horror Glee Show": Just a Jump to the Left...

So let me get this straight... Emma loves Rocky Horror Picture Show (what?), and Will still loves Emma (ok), so we get the tired sitcom plot of Will losing his senses and staging the musical to try and win her over (this must be a Ryan Murphy episode). Yes. The whole Will thing is creepy, like Anakin Skywalker's pursuit of Padmé in Star Wars: Episode II (which begs the question: whatever happened to the Will we first introduced to?).

Anyway, the whole thing comes off like a dare was put to Murphy: I dare you to do Rocky Horror Picture Show themed episode, and you have to write it and record the music in 24 hours starting..... NOW! And while this Rocky Horror Glee Show EP is going to sell like gangbusters, it all comes across fairly flat, something that's actually hard to do with content as unhinged as this. Original cast members Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon dodged a bullet by not appearing (sorry Barry Bostwick and Meat Loaf, your cameos were wasted opportunities).

Playlist: Glee - Episode 2.05
1. "Science Fiction Double Feature" - Glee Cast [download] [iTunes]
2. "Damn It, Janet" - Glee Cast [download] [iTunes]
3. "Whatever Happened To Saturday Night?" - Glee Cast [download] [iTunes]
4. "Sweet Transvestite" - Glee Cast [download] [iTunes]
5. "Touch A Touch A Touch A Touch Me" - Glee Cast [download] [iTunes]
6. "There's A Light (Over At The Frankenstein Place)" - Glee Cast [download] [iTunes]
7. "Time Warp" - Glee Cast [download] [iTunes]

Previously: "Duets" (Episode 2.04)

Chuck vs the Aisle of Terror: Welcome to my Nightmare

Robert Englund, inter-species relations, black licorice, man feet... these are a few of my scariest things. I'd call that another winner for Chuck, if only for the parallel in-law battles/annoyances that Sarah and Ellie go through.

"Dead Hearts" by Stars works beautifully both musically and contextually in the final scene, with its lyrical reference to people once close to your heart that are now dead to you.

Playlist: Chuck - Episode 4.06
1. "One Life Stand" - Hot Chip [download]
2. "The Boogie Monster" - Gnarls Barkley [download]
3. "Dead Hearts" - Stars [download]

Previously: Chuck vs the Couch Lock (Episode 4.05)

Ear on TV: Week of 10.25.10: Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon on Letterman Monday: For me and pigeons to poop on

It's been a crazy ride to the top of the heap for Kings of Leon. Once dubbed "the Southern Strokes," the band born in a garage has risen quickly to selling out stadium shows, and gaining a new moniker: "the Southern U2" (or, as Pitchfork has christened them, "Y'All2"), and their latest release (Come Around Sundown) only reinforces the idea that the title is not without merit.

The Followill family (brothers Nathan, Caleb and Jared, along with cousin Matthew) were a plucky, bearded bunch, with more positive press than sales when U2 nabbed them in 2005 to open for them on their North American tour. That tour provided the eager Kings with the opportunity to learn from their successful elders, and as the successive albums would attest (2006's Because the Night and 2008's breakthrough success Only the Night), more than a little bit rubbed off on the band. It's tempting to believe that Matthew Followill stole The Edge's guitar pedals at the end of the tour ("he has so many, perhaps he won't notice?").

When the band plays Letterman on Monday, in support of Come Around Sundown, it's obvious they're mostly keen on just holding on to their current fans, crafting songs with big sing along choruses for the stadium Bic lightersilluminated cellphones. Those early fans hoping for a return of their hungry Appalachian garage rock can only be consoled by Caleb bringing back his beard -- as perfumed and well-groomed as it is. Perhaps the pigeons had the right idea.

Elsewhere, Kid Cudi is poised and ready to follow-up his Kanye West-approved debut (Man on the Moon: The End of Day) with the similarly titled Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. While it won't be in stores until November 9, the rapper gives us a preview with an appearance on Letterman Thursday.

Gwar: Worlds of Warcraft rejects or Orcs loose from Middle Earth?

Meanwhile, it's the week of Halloween which can only mean Rob Zombie and Gwar is on tour somewhere. This year, Virginia's shock rockers are upping the ante with a special Halloween online concert broadcast and a performance with The Roots (maybe?) on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Thursday night. We should expect Fallon, The Roots and members of the audience to employ plastic covering to help shield them from the projectile liquid emanating from the World of Warcraft-looking crew. (Or, perhaps Orcs from Lord of the Rings? The result is scary, regardless.)

Picks for the week
Monday, October 25
ABC: ABC: The View: Janet Jackson
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: K'naan
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kings of Leon
FUEL: The Daily Habit: All That Remains
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Norah Jones
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Weezer (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: One eskimO
Tuesday, October 26
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Donavon Frankenreiter
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Chiodos
IFC: 360 Sessions: Editors
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Underworld
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: She & Him
Wednesday, October 27
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: A Perfect Circle
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Kylie Minogue
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: School of Seven Bells
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Interpol
Thursday, October 28
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kid Cudi
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Temper Trap
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Corinne Bailey Rae
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: GWAR
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ra Ra Riot
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Sugarland
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Seal
Friday, October 29
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Jimmy Eat World
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Villagers
Saturday, October 30
COMEDYCENTRAL.COM: Rally to Restore Sanity: Elvis Costello
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Charlotte Church
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Rihanna
PBS: Austin City Limits: Robert Earl Keen, Hayes Carll

Now Downloading: New Releases 10.19.10

And now we move into the time of reissues and compilations. We'll return you back to your regularly schedule new release schedule in January after these couple months with holiday fodder. [There are some new releases to poke at, though. The Extra Lens, Brent Amaker & the Rodeo, Oh Land, and a load of reissues and/or compilations from Bob Dylan, The Church, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Robyn Hitchcock's The Soft Boys.]

Playlist: New Releases 10.19.10

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The Extra Lens - Undercard
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Back in 2002, The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and Nothing Painted Blue's Franklin Bruno got together as The Extra Glens and released the little heard gem Martial Arts Weekend, which sort served as a practice run for the Goats' move to 4AD where they became an actual band and not a lo-fi acoustic based experiment. It's been eight years and now that the Goats moving to Merge Records, it's the perfect time to revisit the collaboration (minus a 'G' of course). If Undercard is serving the same purpose as their first collaboration (which I highly doubt), John Darnielle is bringing back some of the dark humor that the band has missed in their past three releases. And, as a bonus, we get the occasional harmony vocal from Bruno, which is an oddity for a Darnielle sung song, and something that's easy to get used to.

Download: "Only Existing Footage" [mp3]

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Brent Amaker & the Rodeo - Please Stand By / Free AOL Album Stream / "Man in Charge" [mp3]
Oh Land - Oh Land EP / Free AOL Album Stream / "Sun of a Gun" [mp3]
Elton John & Leon Russell - The Union
Ima Robot - It's What I'm Thinking: Photographing Snowflakes / "Ruthless" [mp3]
Fops - Yeth Yeth Yeth / "Solid Copper Huntress" [mp3]
Houses - All Night / "Soak It Up" [mp3]
Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown / Free AOL Album Stream
Liz Phair - Funstyle / Free AOL Album Stream
Mt Desolation - Mt Desolation
Girl in a Coma - Adventures in Coverland / Free AOL Album Stream
The Mommyheads - Finest Specimens / "Needmore, PA" [mp3]
Glee Cast - The Rocky Horror Glee Show EP / Free AOL Album Stream
COMPILATIONS
Bob Dylan - The Whitman Demos: 1962-1964
The Church - Deep in the Shallows (30th Anniversary Singles Collection)
REISSUES
Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan (2010 Mono Version)
Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (2010 Mono Version)
Bob Dylan - The Times They Are a Changin' (2010 Mono Version)
Bob Dylan - Another Side of Bob Dylan (2010 Mono Version)
Bob Dylan - Bringing it all Back Home (2010 Mono Version)
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited (2010 Mono Version)
Bob Dylan - Blonde on Blonde (2010 Mono Version)
Bob Dylan - John Wesley Harding (2010 Mono Version)
The Soft Boys - A Can of Bees
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Orange
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Acme
The Church - Of Skins & Heart (30th Anniversary Singles Collection)
The Church - The Blurred Crusade (30th Anniversary Singles Collection)
The Church - The Blurred Crusade (30th Anniversary Singles Collection)

tags: music, album review, extra glens, bob dylan, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Mad Men "Tomorrowland": Advertising Marriage, Babe

I was going to let the season four finale for Mad Men go without comment, seeing as how I was late to watching and even later synthesizing my thoughts on it. But after reading several posts on it and seeing Groundhog's Day get bandied about in association with the song over the closing credits (PLEASE!), I felt the need to at least outline a post.

Luckily for all of us, Ann Powers from the LATimes' music blog Pop & Hiss set the record straight with their analysis of the song use for "Tomorrowland," which I'll just point you to in lieu of finishing my post -- she's synthesized my thoughts better than I could at this point, with the song choice having to do with the singers' marriage fantasy versus reality, and what that means for the new Mr. & Mrs. Draper in the mid-60s.

Mad Men - Episode 4.13
"I Got You Babe" - Sonny & Cher [download]

Outside of song choice, there are two other posts that resonate with my reading of the finale (and the season in general) and the first is from Heather Havrilesky (Salon), who points out Don's Madonna/Whore attraction to Megan. My own contribution here is to go back and look at the director cues for this, going back to when we first meet her. Every meaningful look that Don makes towards Megan's way she's either dolled up to go out on the town or playing/taking care of his kids. The other post I envy comes from Matt Zoller Seitz (for The New Republic) who encapsulates the Don / Peggy dynamic (nearly) perfectly. He also stumbled on the Groundhogs Day thing, but he doesn't suggest Matt Weiner or someone from Mad Men had that intention, so we'll let that one slide.

Previously: "Hands & Knees" (Episode 4.10)

Chuck vs the Couch Lock: Dumpster Diving

Guess what? There was no Chuck/Sarah relationship issue of the week and it was my favorite episode of this season so far. Coincidence? It didn't hurt that we got more John Casey backstory (he was the A-Team) and just enough of Jeffster to get a chuckle ("We've woken up in some of the best dumpsters in town").

As for the music, while most got a kick out of the use of Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party" during the funeral (groan), I was more interested in the Fleetwood Mac cover by Mates of State ("Second Hand News") as we got to hear the immortal words of Lindsey Buckingham: "Won't you lay me down in tall grass
and let me do my stuff?"

Playlist: Chuck - Episode 4.05
1. (Morgan talks with Alex at the Buy More)
2. "Dead Man's Party" - Oingo Boingo [download]
3. "Day Like This" - Time Again
4. "On Sale Now" - Daniel May
5. "Shop Till You Drop" - Billy Martin
6. "Second Hand News" - Mates of State

Previously: Chuck vs the Coup d'Etat (Episode 4.04)

Ear on TV: Week of 10.18.10: Die Antwoord

Die Antwoord appear on Jimmy Kimmel Wednesday

When the South African hip-hop mystery that is Die Antwoord makes their network television debut Wednesday on Jimmy Kimmel Live, there's bound to be a clear divide of love and hate among viewers. And that's just they way Die Antwoord's Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er would want it to be.

Die Antwoord, who's debut $o$ was released last week, is essentially an art project from hip-hop provocateur Waddy Jones (Ninja), a sort of musical cousin to the work of Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G, Borat, Bruno). 'Zef style,' as it's now commonly called, is a manic, rave-inspired hip-hop mixed with a trailer-trash aesthetic. With rat tail haircuts, garish colors and thrift store rejected clothing, it's anti-fashion at it's most polarizing, and Die Antwoord are so fully committed to the act now, it's becoming harder to call it, in fact, an act.

The trio (the act also includes the Offensive Lineman-sized DJ Hi-Tek) has been involved with making a mockdocumentary style film entitled The Answer with these characters, chronicling the formation and leading up to their signing with Interscope. Rumors have it that early clips have been impressive enough to warrant Yo-Landi an audition offer from David Fincher for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (keeping with the Die Antwoord mystique, she naturally turned it down). Here's footage from their film, which also serves as a kind of music video for the track "Beat Boy:"



Picks for the week
Monday, October 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: MGMT
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Maroon 5 (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Gogol Bordello
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Weezer(REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Justin Timberlake, Belle & Sebastian (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Nas & Damian Marley (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Neon Trees
Tuesday, October 19
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Mumford & Sons
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Gorillaz (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Frightened Rabbit
IFC: 360 Sessions: Daniel Merriweather
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: David Gray(REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Robert Plant (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Menomena (REPEAT)
Wednesday, October 20
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Die Antwoord
FUEL: The Daily Habit: As I Lie Dying
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: OK Go(REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: John Legend & The Roots (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Morning Benders (REPEAT)
TBS: Lopez Tonight: John Legend
Thursday, October 21
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: N.E.R.D. (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Andrew W.K.
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Tommy Lee's Methods of Mayhem(REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Cast of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Japandroids (REPEAT)
Friday, October 22
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Tom Jones (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Teenage Fanclub (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Los Campesinos! (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: One eskimO
Saturday, October 23
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Kings of Leon
PBS: Austin City Limits: Alejandro Escovedo, Trombone Shorty

Luther "Episode 1": Just Ask Alice

While a TV series about a detective as messed up as the criminals he's chasing isn't a new thing, having Idris Elba (The Wire's Stringer Bell) certainly makes things novel. Pitting him up against a female Hannibal Lecter doesn't hurt either, especially when Ruth Wilson* plays the sociopath Alice with the degree of intelligence and sexuality that she does. Novelist Neil Cross has the pedigree (Booker Prize nominee, writer for MI-5) to pull it off, but I've heard mixed things about how the series sticks the landing (I've only seen the first three episodes, which present crazy kind of potential).

*Those that watched AMC's The Prisoner likely found themselves Googling her. But that's like 12 people, so...

Luther - Episode 1.01
"Paradise Circus" - Massive Attack [download] opening sequence
"Gun" - Emiliana Torrini [download] closing credits

Now Downloading: New Releases 10.12.10

Was stuck on the turnpike this week and almost scrapped this week's new releases due to time crunch, but how to do you let the latest from Sufjan Stevens slide by without comment? Belle & Sebastian are back as well, along with new releases from Antony & the Johnsons, Die Antwoord, The Moondoggies, Badly Drawn Boy, Salteens, Off (featuring members of Black Flag/Red Kross/Rocket From the Crypt), Holy Sons, Franz Nicolay (ex-mustache for The Hold Steady), Wilco's Nels Cline, The Fresh & Onlys, Great Lakes, Star Fucker, Idlewild... more!

Playlist: New Releases 10.12.10

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Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

For someone who foretold the death of the album, Sufjan Stevens sure seems determined to keep the longplayer alive. The Age of Adz is kind of a concept album, built upon the work of freak painter Royal Robertson, it's immediately a complicated affair given the juxtaposition between Robertson's colorful art and the artist's woman-hating insanity. To get into Robertson's space, Stevens drops the trusty banjo and builds songs almost with a glitch foundation, not unlike his wacky second release Enjoy Your Rabbit (2002). This good Christian even tosses out a few 'f' word in the frantic "I Want to Be Well," so dedicated he is to his concept. The whole of the album is all so very exhilarating and, in turn, exhausting in it's stylistic swings and ambition. The 26 minute closing number "Impossible Soul" is much like the album as a whole, in that it packs so many musical ideas that you come away mightily impressed and in need of a breather. Needless to say, it will demand repeat listenings before revealing itself to be the fruit of a mad genius... or just maddening.

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Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Stuart Murdoch recently tried (and mostly failed) to pay homage to girl groups on his God Help the Girl project, and Write About Love appears to be the immediate beneficiary of lessons learned from that experience. While Murdoch isn't necessarily taking a backseat here, there's certainly more emphasis on female vocals on Write About Love than on any past release, including high profile guest turns from actress Carey Mulligan (the title track) and the multi-platinum Norah Jones ("Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John"). And he's also employed a subtle bit of Motown feel to the recordings (again, an element left over from God Help the Girl). As such, the songs are tight and come through bright and clean, getting away a bitfrom the Glasgow twee they helped popularize.

Free AOL album stream [mp3]

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Antony & the Johnsons - Swanlights / Free AOL Album Stream
Die Antwoord - $O$
The Moondoggies - Tidelands / Free AOL Album Stream / "It's a Shame, It's a Pity" [mp3]
Badly Drawn Boy - It's What I'm Thinking: Photographing Snowflakes / Free AOL Album Stream
Salteens Grey Eyes / "If Your Love Has Gone, Where Do We Go From Here" [mp3]
Off - First EP / Free AOL Album Stream
Holy Sons - Survivalist Tales! / "Slow Days" [mp3]
Franz Nicolay - Luck and Courage / "This is not a Pipe" [mp3]
Old 97s - The Grand Theatre Volume One
The Fresh & Onlys - Play it Strange / "Waterfall" [mp3]
Great Lakes - Ways of Escape / "Summer Fruit" [mp3]
Nels Cline - Dirty Baby / Free AOL Album Stream
Suuns - Zeroes QC / "Arena" [mp3]
Starfucker - Julius 7" / "Julius" [mp3
Idlewild - Post Electric Blues / "Younger Than America" [mp3]
Hot Panda - How Come I'm Dead / Free AOL Album Stream
Kelly Stoltz - To Dreamers / "I Don't Get That" [mp3]
Callers - Life of Love / Free AOL Album Stream / "Heartbeat" [mp3]
Hauschka - Foreign Landscapes
Panico - Kick / Free AOL Album Stream
Cloud Nothings - Turning On / "Hey Cool Kids" [mp3]
Indigo Girls - Sunny Day
Simian Mobile Disco - Sunny Day
REISSUES
Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett - Barrett
Syd Barrett - Opel
Carissa's Wierd - Ugly But Honest / "Fluorescent Lights" [mp3]
Carissa's Wierd - You Should Be At Home Here / "Sofisticated Fuck Princess Please Leave Me Alone" [mp3]
Carissa's Wierd - Songs About Leaving / "A Loose Hair Falls Into a Glass of Water Without Ice" [mp3]
Duran Duran - Notorious / Free AOL Album Stream
Duran Duran - Big Thing / Free AOL Album Stream

tags: music, album review, sufjan stevens, belle and sebastian, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

It's a Jersey Thing: The Garden State as cultural bellwether

"F%ck New Jersey!" was the battle cry on South Park

"...we have all noticed a steep rise in everything Jersey."
- Randy Marsh, South Park

While the fictional expansion of the Garden State to "everything East of the Rocky Mountains" on South Park is meant as farce, there has been a steep rise in Jersey-ness this past week on the televison. Besides South Park slaying New Jersey's reality shows Jersey Shore and The Real Housewives of New Jersey, this past week has been littered with plot-centric references to Jersey. Bones, Bored to Death and even Rubicon all found themselves utlizing Jersey as a place for answers. Add to that historical perspectives from Boardwalk Empire and the HBO documentary The Promise on Bruce Springsteen, and you might just have the most Jersey-centric week in popular culture in my television viewing lifetime.

Brennan looks at "guidos" from an anthropological perspective.

While both Bones and Rubicon featured the Jersey Shore in their mysteries this week, Bones slumning it in the waters of MTV's reality series seemed like more an attempt to attract viewers, while Rubicon tried more to grab at something at least a little bit deeper. The terrorist AIP has been indirectly hunting for on and off all season turns out to be a Jersey Shore Joey in "Wayward Sons." Rubicon uses the location as a breeding ground for boys who have lost their way (queue Kansas' "Carry On Wayward Son"), and questions to family and friends help paint the picture of somebody who craves something deeper than the shallow waters on the Jersey Shore. It's likely the most subtle Jersey Shore reference you'll find all year, while still being explicit in it's locale. Oddly enough, the subtle Rubicon shares the Jersey-Al Qaeda plot interweaving with the never subtle South Park, with inverse usage. While Al Qaeda recruits a Jersey Shore resident to help destroy America, Randy Marsh recruits Al Qaeda to help stop Jersey Shore from doing the same. Class meets crass... it's a Jersey thing.

George (Ted Dansen) appreciates Jonathan's suburban roots: "I love New Jersey!" 

Bored to Death leaves the Shore behind, viewing Jersey instead from the more classic "bridge and tunnel" angle. Author Jonathan Ames grew up there, so it makes sense that the character he created based on him should as well, and returning to the bright and tranquil suburb proves advantageous when kidnapped by thugs (played by Jim Norton and Domenick "Herc from the Wire" Lombardozzi). "It's New Jersey, it’s too bright. You can't kill people here!"
The bad guys are forced to drive off with 10% of the promised payoff. "Jersey Sucks!" yells Jim Norton's character. But George (Ted Dansen), who just found out he has prostate cancer, relishes the stability of where Ames was raised. "I love New Jersey" he remarks, sipping warm cocoa while sitting in Ames' old bedroom.

Of course, it's entirely possible that I'm just noticing a lot of Jersey because I recently finished Alex Austin's excellent Jersey Shore-centric book The Red Album of Asbury Park Remixed. It's a rock n' roll noir that takes place in Springsteen's Jersey, Asbury Park in the late 60s to early 70s. Jersey boardwalk attractions Mr. Peanut and the Diving horses of Atlantic City figure prominently, luring in both tourists and our hero into the mystery. Much like Rubicon intimated this week, wayward sons rule the shore, only with organized crime taking advantage through strong arm recruiting. Don't get put off by the garish cover and the red herring of a title -- it's a fine read, especially for those who like a little rock in with their reading. Speaking of that, a free audio podcast reading of the book is currently streaming on Podiobooks.com, backed by a soundtrack of Asbury artists.

Free audiobook podcast on Podiobooks.com
Playlist: Novel Sndtrck - The Red Album of Asbury Park Remixed

The book makes for a decent Jersey cleanser, after dealing with the guidos and the "garbage" from you know where all this week. Also recommended: Any of Brian Williams' guest appearances on The Daily Show, Clerks, a Meryl Streep viewing marathon... and then later this month the big Springsteen box set for The Promise, featuring a ton of lost songs from the Boss.

Previously: Springsteen documentary The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town

Glee "Duets": Born Again

After a wild variance of styles to start the season, "Duets" managed to hit all the right notes, even overcoming the usual "theme of the week" issues while returning to plots raised in the premere. There were no ridiculous "BIG" moments that have littered the series since it discovered it's audience, but instead a series of fun, heartfelt and witty small moments adding up to something bigger. No Sue Sylvester, no Puck (he's in juvie? really, that's your write out go to?) and an out-of-left-field return of the a new character we'd forgotten about (Sam -- Chord Overstreet).

It's pretty telling that "Duets" went back and practically ignored the past two episodes to try and get back to the story that was started, as Ian Brennan wrote the premiere and this episode). Aside from Burt's ticker, there's not really any continuity issues with having this episode after the premiere. It just seems that they (who are 'they'?) wanted to slide in some BIG episodes as fluffernutter between the storytelling episodes as bread. (Mmm... now I'm hungry!) It's not so bad that we had to take a break in reality for those insane episodes, because while it can be frustrating at times to watch Glee fall on it's face, as it has on occasion, the fact that it's reaching... trying to do what no one else is doing on TV is why we watch.

Playlist: Glee - Episode 2.04
1. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Glee Cast [Amazon] [iTunes]
2. "River Deep Mountain High" - Glee Cast [Amazon] [iTunes]
3. "Le Jazz Hot" - Glee Cast [Amazon] [iTunes]
4. "Sing!" - Glee Cast [Amazon] [iTunes]
5. "With You I'm Born Again" - Glee Cast (Billy Preston & Syreeta original) [Amazon]
6. "Lucky" - Glee Cast [Amazon] [iTunes]
7. "Happy Days Are Here Again / Get Happy" - Glee Cast [Amazon] [iTunes]

Previously: "Grilled Cheesus" (Episode 2.03)

Chuck vs The Coup D'Etat: Couples Retreat

Remember my complaints last year about Chuck manufacturing obstacles to keep Chuck and Sarah apart? Well, even with that issue supposedly removed, the writers continue to manufacture obstacles in their relationship. Of course any growing relationship is going to have rough patches here and there, but Chuck seems obsessed with the Chuck/Sarah relationship to a fault.

Conflict resolution for "Chuck vs the Coup D'Etat" comes in the form of couples counseling between Generalissimo Goya (return of Armand Assante) and his wife (Huge's Tia Texada), so that meant at least a little bit of time with Devin, Ellie and Angel de la Muerta, but the Chuck/Sarah will they/won't they thing still lives on as the core of Chuck. It's like a chewed up bone that the dog won't give up, and it's starting to grow tiresome. They better find mommy quick so we can turn the page already. Oh, but wait... Sarah modeling bikinis and a marble statue of Awesome? Ok, I'll stick around.

And if they want to play more Girls ("Laura") in the soundtrack? Yeah, I'd stick around for that as well.

Playlist: Chuck - Episode 4.04
1. "Laura" - Girls [download]
2. "Tropicana" - La Tropicana Orchestra [download]
3. "Sleep Walk" - Santo & Johnny [download]
4. "Rebulu" - Jesus Alejandro Nino [download]
5. "Besame Mucho" - Armand Assante
6. "Without You" - Lewis LaMedica [download]
7. "She Brings Me the Music" - RPA and The United Nations (Richard Ashcroft) [album import]

Previously: Chuck vs. The Cubic Z (episode 4.03)

Ear on TV: Week of 10.11.10: Mark Ronson & the Business International

Depending on your perspective Mark Ronson is a DJ, a producer, a socialite, a musical svengali, or perhaps just Samantha Ronson's older brother. No matter the context, Ronson is surrounded by incredible talent, and that is perceived as both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. But with Record Collection, Ronson takes another step out from behind the mixing board, this time writing his own songs and (surprise!) singing for once.

Ronson's retro soul production on releases from Nikka Costa, Lily Allen, Christina Aguilera and Amy Winehouse (for which he won multiple Grammys) made him a sought after producer*, so it's easy to forgive Ronson for withholding his voice and songwriting talents up until now. Record Collection may be the debut of Ronson's voice, but he's still rolling with a serious posse, with contributions from Duran Duran's Simon LeBon ("Record Collection"), Boy George ("Somebody to Love Me"), Ghostface Killah ("Lose It"), the once missing D'Angelo ("Glass Mountain Trust" in what has to be the guest appearance of the year), and the potent combo of Q-Tip and MNDR ("Bang Bang Bang"), who will guest with Ronson when he performs on The Late Show with David Letterman on Monday night. Ronson also taped a performance for Jimmy Kimmel Live that will air on Wednesday.

*Ronson is currently finishing up the highly anticipated return of Duran Duran, along with working on soul shut-in D'Angelo's latest release.

Meanwhile, the tireless touring juggernauts My Morning Jacket appear to be getting in on the nostalgia show kick. On successive nights in New York (October 19-23), MMJ will perform their first five albums in their entirety, one for each night's concert. In support of this, they'll appear on Letterman Tuesday and take over the famed Ed Sullivan Theater for a full webcast performance, debuting online at 8PM EST.

Elsewhere, the Danger Mouse and James Mercer (The Shins) collaboration Broken Bells is still out touring for their sublime self-titled debut, and are both getting up early (The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Monday) and staying up late (Last Call with Carson Daly on Tuesday) to promote it. Another odd couple collaboration making the rounds this week is the combination of Ben Folds and British author Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity). Their recording, Lonely Avenue, involved the emailing of lots of lyrics and mp3 files back and forth to bridge the Atlantic ocean, but they'll be face-to-face for their appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night.

Picks for the week
Monday, October 11
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Xx
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Mark Ronson with Q-Tip and MNDR
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Heavy (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Walkmen (REPEAT)
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Serj Tankian
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Broken Bells
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: will.i.am with Nicki Minaj
Tuesday, October 12
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: My Morning Jacket
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Heavy (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Johnny Mathis
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Everest
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Broken Bells
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Lil Jon with LMFAO (REPEAT)
Wednesday, October 13
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Tim & Eric, Mark Ronson
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: M.I.A.
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: My Morning Jacket
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lissie
Thursday, October 14
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Damien Marley & Nas
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Diddy-Dirty Money
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Happy Birthday (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Ben Folds & Nick Hornby
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: City and Colour
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Bruno Mars
Friday, October 15
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Happy Birthday (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: John Legend
OVATION: The Search for Robert Johnson: Robert Johnson, John Hammond
SUNDANCE: The Killing of John Lennon
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Florence and the Machine
Saturday, October 16
PBS: Austin City Limits: Patty Griffin with Emmylou Harris, Shaun Colvin
VH1: 8 Mile: Eminem