Apocalypse ahora

I don't know about you, but I was pretty disappointed in the final episodes of Entourage's third season, and the prospect of season four coming so quickly on the heels of disappointment had me feeling a bit of dread (hence the delay in recapping.) The show needed a reboot, a shot in the arm... something to pull it out of the Turtle-Drama comedy spinoff that it had become. Turns out, all it needed was an Apocalypse Now-like journey into the jungles of Columbia to do the trick.

Medellín is not a movie. It's a life. It's how it is. And I defy anyone to define where life stops and the film starts... or vice versa.

Shot in documentary style, the episode was a sort of homage to the film Hearts of Darkness, which was a behind-the-scenes look at the madness surrounding the filming of Francis Ford Copolla's Apocalypse Now. As the cameras follow Vince on his passion project Medellín, the story of Pablo Escobar, we witness the insecurities of director Billy Walsh (Rhys Coiro) spiral out of control as he falls for an extra (played by Knights of Prosperity's Columbian bombshell Sofia Vergara.)

Meanwhile, the music used in the was an all Latin affair, with the bulk of it from South American artists. Much of Medellín's score was from the Oscar-winning The Motorcycle Diaries soundtrack, composed and performed Argentinian Gustavo Santaolalla. Meanwhile, two more songs come from Columbian born salsa singer Joe Arroyo, including the song "Suava Bruta," which we hear as the character Drama plays announces the attack on Escobar's hideout. Suave brut indeed.

Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Entourage playlist if there wasn't some hip-hop, and when you say 'Latin' and 'hip-hop' it's impossible not to think of the Mexican act Control Machete, who's song "Asi Son Mis Dias" kicks off the episode. Here's hoping this little journey gets the show back on track.

Playlist: Entourage - Ep401
1. "Asi Son Mis Dias" - Control Machete - The film crew arrives on the set of Medellin
2. "Oye Mami" - Malverde - Walsh convinces E he is ready to shoot
3. "Apertura" - Gustavo Santaolalla - Walsh is watching sexy dailies from Medellin
4. "Lima" - Gustavo Santaolalla - Walsh directs Leila
5. "No Pregunten" - TNS - Walsh and Leila have a drink
6. "En Barranquilla Me Quedo" - Joe Arroyo - E asks Walsh for an ending for the movie
7. "Song for Jordan" - Del Castillo - Walsh belts one down
8. "De Mis Huellas" - Incantation - Eric announces that Stephen Gaghan will re write the ending of the movie
9. "Suave Bruta" - Joe Arroyo - Drama attacks!
10. "La Salida de Lima" - Gustavo Santaolalla - Bombs away at a factory in Medellin

HBO tracklisting with scene details

Previously: My Super Ex-Agent (Episode 313)

tags: playlist, entourage, television, hbo, soundtrack, control machete, joe arroyo, gustavo santaolalla, columbia, latin, apocalypse now, hearts of darkness, latin, motorcycle diaries, rhapsody

My Super Ex-Agent

Entourage returned in style last night (for it's season 3.5 premiere) and there was once again, plenty of great quotes, hidden (and not-so-hidden) cultural references, and a slew of fine hip-hop to boot.

First of all, the whole not-so-subtle metaphor of Ari as an ex-girlfriend was taken to such extremes, it was hard not to get caught up in each awkward moment between him and Vince. You just know they'll end up back together, but for now, seeing Jeremy Piven play Ari as a manic, rejected lover is going to be fun (while it lasts.)

Playlist: Entourage - Episode 313
Tracklisting

New agent Amanda (played by the delicious Carla Gugino) is feeding Vince 'nice' scripts, and they're zeroing in on an adaptation of Edith Wharton's The Glimpses of a Moon - which is, appropriately enough, about a poor couple living the high life mooching off their wealthy friends. When Amanda gives Ari the line of the night ("Want me to walk you to your car? This town's not safe for a bitch...") you can already see into the future that the tables are going to be turned soon enough. I just hope it's done without a mysognistic streak that the show sometimes falls trap to.

Did the billboard for Drama's new tv series (The Five Towns) look at all familiar? Probably not, since no one but me seemed to have been watching NBC's The Black Donnellys anyway, but the Irish brothers drama is an obvious reference to the series from Paul Haggis, who, by no coincidence, is directing Vince's dream project, Medellin (Haggis appeared on Entourage, episode 305, "Crash and Burn.")

Music-wise, since much of the story is about Vince's birthday party, the selection is party-centric. Great new hip-hop from Yung Joc and Twista are sprinkled between recent classics from Brand Nubian, Outkast, and N.E.R.D. The sounds of having fun... we know that will have to change somewhat as the series goes on.

HBO tracklisting with scene details

Previously: From Easy to Stranglehold in Twelve Acts (Season 3 on DVD)

tags: playlist, entourage, television, hbo, soundtrack, brand nubian, black donnellys, books, edith wharton, rap, hip-hop, yung joc, outkast, rhapsody

From easy to stranglehold in twelve acts

Like that other HBO series, Entourage premieres the second part of their season (their third) this Sunday, and the DVD of the first part hit the shelves this week... by my calculations, that gives you now just four days to hug it out with the collection. Musically, the show packs in a tremendous amount of music for a 30-minute program, and the track choices are more then just a backdrop of partying in Hollywood.

Playlist: Entourage - Season 3, Pt 1

Take for instance how the season begins and ends. It all begins with Ghostface Killah's request to "Be Easy," which is indicitive of the mood the gang's all in. Vinnie's blockbuster Aquaman is about to open, the money's flowing and the stardom is a heartbeat away. The season ends with Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold," and without spoiling too much, most of that goodwill seems now to be up in the air.

So how did we get from easy to stranglehold? In the first few episodes, everythings mostly copacetic. Songs like Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright," "I Just Want to Celebrate" from Rare Earth and Sinatra's "I've Got the World on a String" are all in sync with the gang riding the wave of fame and fortune. Eric's managing a star now, Turtle's got his own biz now managing the up and coming rap star Saigon, and Ari's new business is breaking ground. But then things start to get interesting. Notice how the songs (in general) get more conflicted and dramatic, and aside from the diversion with The Ramones ("Blitzkrieg Bop," "Rockaway Beach" are used in conjunction with a Joey Ramone bio film pitch,) it progresses steadily until we're led to the introspection of TV on the Radio's "Staring at the Sun," which was as profound a moment as the show has had in it's three seasons thus far.

What do we have to expect with this second part coming up? More specific then the usual great hip-hop, classic rock and indie rock, I'd venture to guess that Kings of Leon will be in the mix, as they've featured the band in each season (and they have a new album out this very week... coincidence?) Here's the teaser trailer for what's to come.

Full tracklisting
HBO's episode-by-episode music and scenes

tags: playlist, entourage, television, hbo, soundtrack, ted nugent, kings of leon, ghostface, indie rock, rap, hip-hop, the ramones, tvotr