Ear on TV: Week of November 24

The word 'bravado' is a word often tossed about to describe rapper Kanye West, and at the root of it is the word is 'brave,' which is the best way to describe West's latest release 808s and Heartbreak. Here West sings, wears his heart on his sleeve, and wades through some moody (but smooth) electro beats, ensuring the alienation of many rap fans (something West has no problem doing).

It was the recent death of his mother and a painful breakup with his fiance that prompted this detour from his usual larger-than-life hip-hop productions, and in the great tradition of rock-by-way-of-pain classics like Big Star's Third, Neil Young's Tonight's the Night and The Flaming Lips' Soft Bulletin, West has channeled his anguish into something more than just an album of feel good hits. When West performs on
the first single "Love Lockdown" on Letterman on Monday, and Conan on Tuesday, he's sure to be employing the Auto-Tune voice pitch negotiator that's all over the album, a device that also has alienated his fans to some degree.

Meanwhile, The Killers are also performing both Monday (Jimmy Kimmel) and Tuesday (Leno) nights, in support of their new album Day & Age. The album finds the Las Vegas quartet retreating a bit from the arena rock (via Springteen) aspirations of their last album, and instead releasing what sounds more like the logical follow up to their surprising debut. It's more entrenched in the 80's fixated sound of their debut, thanks in part to Euro-dance producer Stuart Price (Madonna,) which, while making it smaller in scope, fits the band better than the larger-than-life ambitions of the overmatched Sam's Town.

Finally, Tom Jones' first album in over 15 years (24 Hourse -- out tomorrow,) finds the Wales icon still in the mood to swivel the hips, delivering his knee-buckling croon over retro-soul beats currently in vogue with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lilly Allen and Kate Nash. Jones teams up here with Brit duo Future Cut, who worked with Allen and Nash, and even gets contribution from Bono and The Edge, who contribute the infectious "Sugar Daddy." At 68, Jones knows he can no longer work the sex angle, so much of 24 Hours is more reflective and intimate, which is probably why his performances this week are limited to daytime television, hitting both Regis (Tuesday) and The Today Show (Wednesday,) along with a previously taped performance on BBC America's Graham Norton Show.

Ok, one last note. A recent performance of Ben Folds and Regina Spektor singing "You Don't Know Me" will be repeating on Kimmel Friday, and while it doesn't feature a mustachio'd Jason Sudeikis (SNL) on trombone (as performed on Conan last month) it was worth staying up for. (Sudeikis-laden performance below:)


Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, November 24
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Killers
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kanye West
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Low vs Diamond
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Nightwatchman
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Young Jeezy (REPEAT)
Tuesday, November 25
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Dimmu Borgir
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Bob Mould (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Killers
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Kanye West
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Knux (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Beyonce
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Tom Jones
Wednesday, November 26
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ludacris
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Adele
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Little Ones
NBC: The Today Show: Beyonce, Tom Jones
Thursday, November 27
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Apocalyptica (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road:
Shawn Colvin, Ray LaMontagne, The Zutons, Nerina Pallot (REPEAT)
Friday, November 28
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Ben Folds, Regina Spektor
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Kaiser Chiefs
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: T.I. (REPEAT)
Saturday, November 29
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Tom Jones
NBC: Saturday Night Live: The Killers (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Coldplay, Michael Stipe (REPEAT)

Two go Boss: The suddenly fashionable Springsteen

This week sees two releases from bands confessing a liking to The Boss.

The Hold Steady has always had a a strong E Street band appreciation, and with the new album Boys And Girls In America once again lines itself up squarely between The Boss and the muscle of Thin Lizzy. Singer/lyricist Craig Finn is arguably today's best singer/poet, and the juxtaposition of AC/DC guitars and lyrics like She was a damn good dancer / But she wasn't all that great of a girlfriend hit both the gut and the brain with equal force.

Album: The Hold Steady - Boys And Girls In America
Free album stream (via Vagrant Records)

As if to announce his lyrical intentions, Finn quotes Keroac's Dharma Bums right off the bat in the opening track:

There are nights when I think Sal Paradise was right
Boys and Girls in America have such a sad time together
- "Stuck Between Stations"

Two songs might break the band out from their current small circle: the excellent lead single "Chips Ahoy" and the equally impressive "You Can Make Him Love You." Even the ballads here ("First Night," "Citrus") work well as a change of pace in the midst of all the muscle. Once again, Finn weaves his storylines around the Twin Cities and More Cowbell put together a Google map pointing out all the geographic points of interest that are brought up in the Boys And Girls In America.

Boys And Girls In America is a step up from last year's Separation Sunday, which says a lot considering how good that album was. It's still early in my listening of the album, but I may have to bump this up over TV on the Radio's Return to Cookie Mountain for my album of the year.

Meanwhile, in another Springsteen mood, is the latest from The Killers. Where The Hold Steady have always been straight shooters, The Killers latest feels like an overreach in earnesty. They've ditched their suits and ties and have copped a western look, complete with facial hair seemingly organized for each band member to not duplicate it's pattern from face to face - ust the kind of randomness that's a tip-off to orchestration.

Brandon Flowers has been fond of relating his rebirth as a songwriter after discovering early Springsteen, but I'm not sure I hear it. Lyrically, "When You Were Young" hints at the Boss, but only if filtered through a 90's-era Bono. While 2004's Hot Fuss met with some derision (mostly after it became ubiquitous,) they sounded in their element, depth-wise. Sam's Town, by comparison, sounds like The Killers just decided to skip releasing a sophomore album and instead move on to their 5th album, which is either really daring, or just plain stupid. So far my ears are leaning towards the latter..

Album: The Killers Sam's Town

Update: It appears Salon has the same idea (I like my headline better, though.)

Previously:
The Hold Steady playing 7th period
Woke up in the grass with the assless chaps (Essential Lifter Puller)

tags: album review, music, hold steady, the killers, bruce springsteen, indie rock, rhapsody

Ear on TV: Week of Oct. 2

Get your Tivo/DVR's ready, it's another week of music on talk shows. This week sees the release of The Killers' latest Sam's Town, and to promote it they've got a three-night engagement on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Here's hoping they can redeem their rather lackluster (and off-key) performance on SNL from a couple nights ago. I'm more excited to see Whole lot of Shakin' and Shakey performing together (Jerry Lee Lewis and Neil Young on Late Show With David Letterman.)

Monday, October 2
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: John Mayer

Tuesday, October 3
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Killers
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Brazilian Girls
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: David Cross
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Jet
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Decemberists

Wednesday, October 4
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Killers
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Billy Bragg
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Jerry Lee Lewis & Neil Young ("You Don't Have to Go")
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ben Kweller

Thursday, October 5
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Killers
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Jose Gonzalez

Friday, October 6
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Ray LaMontagne
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Sleater-Kinney (RERUN)