Ear On TV: The Week of August 13

I may be back from vacation, but the majority of the talk shows are still in the Poconos it seems, leaving us to pick through the dregs of repeats. Luckily, The Henry Rollins Show is new on Friday, and his musical guest Manu Chao is an international superstar who's huge just about everywhere except in the U.S. (a crime that needs to be rectified.)

Chao sings his social commentary in French, Spanish, Arabic, Galician-Portuguese, Wolof and (yes) English, making him truly a world musician. More then that, though, he's godfather of Latino alternative music, thanks to his work with the band Mano Negra, in which Chao took inspiration from The Clash forming this band in the late 80's. His latest single, "Rainin In Paradize," sounds like a return to these Sandanista roots, as Chao begs the Massai of East Africa to "be sharp" and "be mellow," while filing weather reports for Zaire, the Congo, Monrovia, the Palestine and Baghdad (it's raining.) It's a stunning preview of the forthcoming La Radiolina, which will be his first studio release in six years.

Monday, August 13
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lily Allen (REPEAT)
Tuesday, August 14
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Smashing Pumpkins (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Keane (REPEAT)
Wednesday, August 15
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Nelly Furtado (REPEAT)
Thursday, August 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Common (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Teddy Thompson (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: The Kooks, Wynton Marsalis, Muse
Friday, August 17
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Editors (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Andrew Bird (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Augie March
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Manu Chao

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, manu chao, mano negra, henry rollins, world music, rhapsody

Ear On TV: The Week of June 25

The prolific Ryan Adams returns with a new album tomorrow that is sort of a return to the alt.country focus of his much lauded debut, Heartbreaker. The album's title, Easy Tiger, serves as a mantra to the hyper-kinetic songwriter who's spread himself pretty thin since his reach-for-the-golden-ring album Gold in 2001. Couple that with his recent sobriety and you have Adams' most focused release since his debut. To get an idea of what to expect Wednesday night on Letterman, check out this earlier performance of album opener "Goodnight Rose" on The Henry Rollins Show from a couple months ago.

Also gracing Letterman's stage is Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry, who's latest solo release (Dylanesque - out tomorrow,) is made up entirely of Bob Dylan covers. Never one to play it straight, Ferry ups the irony of the album's title by making sure none of the songs sound at all like Dylan. Meanwhile, The Henry Rollins Show features one of my heroes, Robyn Hitchcock, along with his backing band The Venus 3 which features REM's Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey and Bill Rieflin.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, June 25
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Ben Kweller
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Apples in Stereo (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Kelly Clarkson
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Joss Stone
Tuesday, June 26
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Bryan Ferry
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Explosions in the Sky (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Format (REPEAT)
Wednesday, June 27
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Keely Smith
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ryan Adams
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Teddy Bears (REPEAT)
Thursday, June 28
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Velvet Revolver
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Midnight Movies (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol, Madeleine Peyroux
Friday, June 29
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Robyn Hitchcock
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: T.I.
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Morrissey
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Nightwatchman (REPEAT)
Saturday, June 30
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Tenacious D (REPEAT)
Sunday, July 1
NBC: Concert for Diana: Kanye West, Bryan Ferry, Lily Allen, Tom Jones, Duran Duran and more

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, henry rollins, robyn hitchcock, ryan adams, bryan ferry, indie rock, rhapsody

Ear On TV: The Week of June 18

It's the first week of summer, giving bands and viewers alike a good excuse to lay off the tv. But before you do that, just know that The White Stripes are back and playing Conan tonight, in support of their latest album (Icky Thump) coming out tomorrow. Early reviews see it as a welcome return to the basement blues of White Blood Cells, with the duo leaving much of the keyboard experimentation of Get Behind Me Satan behind, yet remaining heavier (and just as peculiar) as ever.

Elsewhere, this week's requisite Henry Rollins Show plug has Queens of the Stone Age bringing their stoner metal to the studio, with the added bonus of an interview with KISS legend Gene Simmons. But you could also use some fresh air, so... get outside!

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, June 18
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: White Stripes
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Jill Cunniff
Tuesday, June 19
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Bright Eyes (Repeat)
Wednesday, June 20
zzzzzzzzz
Thursday, June 21
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Mooney Suzuki
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lily Allen
Friday, June 22
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show:
Queens of the Stone Age, Gene Simmons (interview)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Kelly Clarkson
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Rooney
Saturday, June 23
PBS: Austin City Limits: Alejandro Escovedo
Sunday, June 24
A&E: Breakfast with the Arts: Bonnie Raitt

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, henry rollins, white stripes, qotsa, indie rock, rhapsody

Ear On TV: Week of May 14

When Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy went through rehab three years ago, it was on the heels of recording some of his most creative work with the band. The album Sky Blue Sky (out tomorrow) is the first album of new material since and it's telling that the chaotic exercises that were sprinkled throughout previous releases is gone, and instead is replaced with a calm and open setting. When Wilco performs on Letterman Tuesday, keep an eye/ear out for new guitarist Nels Cline, as his shredding fret-work is what truly shines on this album.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Rufus Wainwright makes his appearance on Letterman, playing a song from Release The Stars. Here's hoping he'll be wearing Lederhosen like he does throughout the liner notes of the album.

Finally, the The Henry Rollins Show pulls off an amazing two-for-one, as Rollins sits down with the legendary Joan Jett, and then later is entertained by a punk-soaked angst rock performance from The Blood Brothers. As surreal as it is having a hardcore legend host a talk show, it makes for great programming week after week.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, May 14
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Kelly Clarkson
Tuesday, May 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Feist
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Wilco
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ying Yang Twins
Wednesday, May 16
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Modest Mouse
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Gretchen Wilson
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Silversun Pickups
Thursday, May 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Rufus Wainwright
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Tori Amos
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: M Ward
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Kanye West
Friday, May 18
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Elvis Costello
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: The Blood Brothers, Joan Jett (Guest)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:
Peter Bjorn and John
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Blonde Redhead
Saturday, May 19
PBS: Austin City Limits: Dixie Chicks

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, wilco, joan jett, blood brothers, henry rollins, indie rock, rhapsody