Ear on TV: Week of 12.21.09: The Muppets

For anyone that were weened on The Muppets variety series, the repeated appearances Jim Henson's legacy this past month has been a welcome surprise. In the past month, the lovable puppets have not only popped up on the tube, but also launched their own YouTube channel, generating several viral sensations in it's infancy. Their fine rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody" alone has captured ten million views already, and the more recent (and festive) "Ringing of the Bells" is well on its way to everyone's inbox. In these clips, there's a bit of the magic that's been missing since Henson died back in 1990.

On Wednesday night, a few of Kermit's friends will make a very special appearance on The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon, which we can assume will be holiday oriented (ala "The Ringing of the Bells," embedded below). But there's also a recent history with the talk show, after Statler and Waldorf (the old hecklers from the opera boxes) interrupted Fallon and guest Jason Segel back in May. As long as Animal and Beaker are involved, their appearance will be must-see for the evening.



On the surface, the Sundance documentary Rufus Wainwright: Prima Donna (Monday,) is supposed to be about a pop star attempting to compose his first opera, but ends up being just as much a coming of age (and out of the closet) story. Between shots of Wainwright laboring over the project are home movies from his childhood and talking head interviews with famous dad Loudon Wainwright III along with soprano Renee Fleming and Rufus' boyfriend, Jorn Weisbrodt.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, December 21
FUEL: Check 1, 2: The Dodos
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Silversun Pickups
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Julian Casablancas
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Brett Dennen
SUNDANCE: Rufus Wainwright: Prima Donna: Rufus Wainwright
Tuesday, December 22
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Weezer (REPEAT)
IFC: Dinner With the Band: Kid Sister, Flosstradamus
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Kid Cudi
Wednesday, December 23
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Passion Pit (REPEAT)
NBC: The Jay Leno Show: Dan Finnerty and the Dan Band
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Muppets
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Richard Thompson, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, Levon Helm
Thursday, December 24
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Wolfmother (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Entrance Band
Friday, December 25
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Band of Skulls (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Municipal Waste
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Doves
SUNDANCE: Monterey Pop: Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, Otis Redding

Ear on TV: Week of January 12: Crooked X

Call it a RockMitzvah. This week is the coming-out party for this metal band of 14-year-olds from Oklahoma, with the release of their self-titled debut tomorrow coinciding with a documentary on MTV. If the doc's title, Start a Band, Rock the World, sounds familiar, that's because it's the tagline for the Rock Band video game, which is no coincidence -- that game was the unlikely vehicle for the band's recording debut, with their first song, "Nightmare," getting placement alongside songs by their heroes like Metallica and KISS.

The documentary follows the rapid rise of CX, who have been playing together since they were ages 10 and 11, having failed at fifth grade football. Their first exposure came when they placed second in a nationwide contest on CBS Early Morning Live. That's where they were first noticed by eventual managers Spencer Proffer and Doc McGhee, who helped launch the careers of KISS, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi and others. That led to tours opening up for KISS, Ted Nugent and, in a bit of irony, getting the honor of being the halftime entertainment at the last Dallas Cowboys game ever at Texas Stadium. They found a way to make it on the football field after all (even if the team imploded before the stadium's scheduled date). The whole week culminates with an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, which is where I guess we find out if they can play.

Meanwhile, singer/songwriter and musical offspring Rufus Wainwright sits in on Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..., in an episode that also features Wainwright's mother, Kate McGarrigle, joining him on stage for a song. While daddy dearest (Loudon Wainwright III) isn't there, he's brought up in discussion, song (Costello performs "New Paint") and by association with the presence of Bill Frisell, who played on Loudon's Here Come the Choppers! Rufus delves into his somewhat troubled past, even touching upon his recovery from meth addiction. It's Costello's best Spectacle yet as he's far more comfortable in the interviewer's chair now. It helps of course that Wainwright seems more than willing to talk about himself (see Lou Reed).

UPDATE: Fleet Foxes is playing Saturday Night Live this week as well, announced shortly after I filed this (as it usually goes).

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, January 12
Mojitos (w/ Cigar) on a beach in Mexico, zzzzz
Tuesday, January 13
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Airborne Toxic Event
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Tom Freund w/ Ben Harper
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: The Stooges (REPEAT)
MTV: Start a Band, Rock the World (documentary): Crooked X
Wednesday, January 14
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Brett Dennen
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Patty Loveless
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Rufus Wainwright
Thursday, January 15
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Crooked X
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Mute Math
Friday, January 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Delta Spirit
Saturday, January 17
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Fleet Foxes
PBS: Austin City Limits: Foo Fighters

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

Now Downloading: New Releases 05.08.07

Today, the much anticipated new Wilco allbum (Sky Blue Sky) arrives to us a week early. Not that it was necessary, considering the Elliott Smith rarities compilation (New Moon) from Kill Rock Stars hits the digital shelf today along with new releases from Bjork, Mary Timony and Rufus Wainwright (also a week early.) Add to that advance singles from White Stripes, Interpol and Black Francis, and you've got yourself a fine week for releases.

Playlist: New Releases 05.08.07

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Album: Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (week early exclusive)

Most Yankee Hotel Foxtrot fans might recoil initially at the seemingly 70's FM radio sounds ala Steely Dan that permeate Sky Blue Sky, but lying beneath the simplicity is a world of complexities. Jeff Tweedy recognizes the strengths of his players, and here the fretwork of guitarist Nels Cline is given a ton of open space to work with (perhaps that's what the album title Sky Blue Sky is referencing?) If it's not their best album (YHF/Summerteeth) then it's at least their most cohesive. There will be haters, but, like the songs themselves, you need to give it time and room to breath, and it opens into another world.

Free Album stream from AOL

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Album: Elliott Smith - New Moon

Between 1994 and 1997, Elliott Smith recorded his best work, on the albums Elliott Smith, Either/Or (and with Heatmiser, don't forget Yellow No. 5 and Cop and Speeder.) New Moon collects various songs that didn't make the albums of that time, along with early versions of songs that would appear later. It's a vital collection of post-humous material, in a time when these sort of things have been scattered messes. "New Monkey," "High Times," and "All Cleaned Out" are all such great songs it's initially puzzling that they didn't make the cut back then, but those albums were pretty stellar. One of the best things about the album is the contribution to the liner notes from former roommate and fellow musician Sean Croghan (of Crackerbash, who sang "High Times" on the recent Smith tribute album.) Also chiming in with memories are former bandmate Sam Coomes (Heatmiser, Quasi) along with fellow Portland musician Rebecca Gates (The Spinanes.) With all the 90's acts reuniting, it's nice to hear Smith in the mix as well, even if it's from the grave.

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Album: Mary Timony - The Shapes We Make

I've always been drawn to Mary Timony's guitar work, but it had taken a backseat since she started releasing albums under her own name. But on The Shapes We Make, she adds Dischord/DC scene vets Devin Ocampo and Chad Molter (Smart Went Crazy, Faraquet) along with production from Fugazi guitarist Brendan Canty, so the guitar is back at the front of this product, ala her work with Helium. She's still playing with the music structure, though, and enjoying some of her best lyrical turns. Since she's on Kill Rock Stars now, it's appropos that she give us some Riot Grrl politics in the song "Pause/Off":

My reaction to your faction?
Go back to school and learn your fractions!
Get your laws off my body, mister.
Paws off, Supreme Court Misters.
Don’t mess around with me and my sisters.

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Single: White Stripes - "Icky Thump"
Single: Interpol - "Heinrich Maneuver"
Single: Black Francis - "Threshold Apprehension"

This week sees three significant singles from anticipated upcoming releases. The first on everyone's lips is White Stripe's "Icky Thump," which signals that the album of the same name (due June 19) is going to be their heaviest release yet. Still no bass, but Meg's bass drum is UP FRONT, and lyrically, it's got some bottom end as well: "Who’s using who? What Should we do? Well you can’t be a pimp and a prostitute too."

Interpol's single "Heinrich Maneuver" starts with "how are things on the West coast?" as a not-so-caring inquiry to an ex-lover, and the riff pushes the band back into Turn on the Bright Lights territory (a welcome return.) The new album, Our Love To Admire, hits shelves July 10.

"Grand Mariner and a pocket full of speed" sings Charles Thompson (aka Frank Black, aka Black Francis) on his latest single "Threshold Apprehension." The song title (and pending album Bluefinger, due in September,) were taken from Dutch painter Herman Brood's work. He's using the Black Francis moniker here as the songs were written (and didn't make) the new Pixies album still in the works.

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More going (or already in) the Sansa
Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars (Rhapsody exclusive, one week early)
Lavender Diamond - Imagine Our Love (Free album stream from AOL)
Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures (Free album stream from AOL)
brakesbrakesbrakes - The Beatific Visions
Travis - The Boy With No Name (Free album stream from AOL)
Mice Parade - Mice Parade
Sage Francis - Human the Death Dance
Electrolane - No Shouts, No Calls
The Clientele - God Save the Clientele
The View - Hats off to the Buskers

Not making it into Rhapsody this week:
Shannon Wright - Let in the Light (Free album stream from AOL)
Bjork - Volta - In, but for purchase only...

tags: music, album review, wilco, elliott smith, mary timony, bjork, rufus wainwright, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody