Ear on TV: Week of September 1

When Tricky plays this Wednesday on Letterman, he may need to reintroduce himself to the folks on this side of the pond. It was just twelve years ago that the Bristol born artist seemed to be everywhere. His solo debut Maxinquaye was widely considered a masterpiece for the trip-hop sound, and by the end of 1996, he delivered two more worthy followups (Nearly God and Pre-Millennium Tension) that made his star even brighter. His name became big enough, in fact, that he was sought out to play a major role in the Luc Besson directed mess that was The Fifth Element (1997). It could be said that it's been, artistically speaking, all down hill from there.

Next week, Tricky, born Adrian Thaws, releases his new album Knowle West Boy (in Rhapsody a week early,) which does several things all at once. First thing is that it tells the story of young Adrian Thaws growing up in the Knowle West neighborhood of Bristol. It also gives the many of us who stopped listening an idea of what Tricky's been up to the past decade, as the release has been rumored to be stylistically a mishmash of the best moments of his recent string of poorly received albums. And hopefully, it will also remind us of why Tricky was such a big name those twelve years ago. It makes 2008 the comeback year for Bristol trip-hop, with Portishead's triumphant return earlier this year with the album Third.

Also making a splash on Wednesday night will be San Diego's Delta Spirit, who take their energetic stage presence to Conan. Their beautiful debut Ode to Sunshine finally got it's wide release last week, and the band's Spoon-meets-Violent Femmes sound is a treat to see live.

Finally, this week's lineup for Live from Abbey Road could very well be titled 'Daddy Issues.' Beach Boy Brian Wilson's father Murry reportedly the young genius in the head with a two-by-four. Martha Wainwright wrote a song called "Bloody Mother F**king A**hole," inspired by what she called her father Loudon Wainwright III's "sh*tty parenting." (The Wainwrights have since made up). And finally there's Teddy Thompson who... well... ok, he seems to be alright with father and legend Richard Thompson, but it's still got to be hard to fill those shoes. I guess seeing Richard and Teddy, there's hope that my boys won't write a song called "Stupid Poopy-Headed Jerk."

Playlist: Picks for the Week
Monday, September 1
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Game (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Randy Newman
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Priscilla Ahn
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Conor Oberst (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Duffy (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Your Vegas (REPEAT)
Tuesday, September 2
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Judas Priest
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Airborne Toxic Event
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ingrid Michaelson
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Ra Ra Riot
Wednesday, September 3
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Young Jeezy
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Tricky
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Brian Wilson
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Delta Spirit
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (REPEAT)
Thursday, September 4
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Metro Station
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Duffy
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Adele
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ben Harper (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Brian Wilson, Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson
Friday, September 5
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Black Kids
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Steve Earle
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Jamie Lidell
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Liars
NBC: The Today Show: Joan Baez
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Game

Ear on TV: Week of July 16

After 40 years in the music business, singer-songwriter Nick Lowe knows how act his age, and his latest album (At My Age - his first in six years,) plays to the strengths of his 58-year old voice. In his younger days, Lowe was known as "The Basher," but when he plays Conan tonight, you'll surely note it's less bash and more sashay, with his turn toward a more casual croon. It's a career move not unlike the great Charlie Rich before him, mixing pop with country and jazz, all with his trademark lyrical bite. Lowe knows that he'd be fooling himself to try an appeal to a younger market, and unlike another aging left-handed bass player I could name, Lowe could care less if his fans adored him or not. And that somehow makes him even more endearing.

Elsewhere, you don't want to miss Teddy Thompson on Letterman Wednesday, as the son of famed folk legends Richard and Linda Thompson has set his sights in the sorry state of country music. Says Thompson: "It's literally the same song that could be produced for a bad pop record, except that it has Carrie Underwood on it and a pedal steel guitar. It's appalling." Tomorrow Thompson releases his album (Upfront & Down Low) of classic country covers, and the album features arrangements by Robert Kirby, who's most famous for his work with folk legend Nick Drake. While Kirby likely won't be there, I'm sure Paul Schaffer has jotted down a few notes.

Picks for the week
Monday, July 16
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Minnie Driver
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Nick Lowe
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Justin Timberlake (REPEAT)
Tuesday, July 17
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Bright Eyes
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ryan Adams
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Cribs
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Beyoncé (REPEAT)
Wednesday, July 18
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Teddy Thompson
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Deerhoof
Thursday, July 19
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Fountains of Wayne
Friday, July 20
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show:
Shane MacGowan
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Mims
Saturday, July 21
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Justin Timberlake
PBS: Austin City Limits: Franz Ferdinand, What Made Milwaukee Famous

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, nick lowe, teddy thompson, country, rhapsody