Now Downloading: New Releases 12.06.11: The Black Keys, The Roots

The Black Keys' El Camino will likely make a dent in the holiday season. 

It's effectively the last week for new releases, as the inventory shifts to high ticket unit shifters for the holiday season (i.e. special reissues and box set compilations) before going dormant until 2012. Most significant albums have either been released or are pushed off to January (see Guided By Voices' first post-reunion offering coming January 1) so as not to get lost in the holiday shuffle. A couple releases look to make their way into a few stockings, though, with The Black Keys likely to outsell their last, Brothers -- which has nearly gone platinum), by a decent margin. The Roots have the other release which, thanks to their nightly exposure on TV, should also shift enough units to justify a December release.

Playlist: New Releases 12.06.11

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The Black Keys - El Camino
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

The Black Keys have had an unlikely rise to the top of the indie rock heap, buoyed in part by both the slick production of Dangermouse and the absolute clinic they put on for commercial song licensing for 2010's Brothers. Video games (FIFA 11, NHL 11, Rocksmith), soundtracks (Limitless, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, I Am Number Four, Bad Teacher) and countless ads (Suburu, etc.). Their sticking to the formula with El Camino, and this album is built for song licensing. From the opening strands of "Lonely Boy," all the way to the final note fading out for "Mind Eraser," it's an assault of radio-friendly-glam-blues pop. The riffs are so welcoming to the ear, it becomes easy to forget after a listen, but it's hard to deny going back for another run. Lyrics have never been a strong point for the Akron, OH duo, and there's no escaping the inanity here as well, but T. Rex/Bo Diddly/ZZ Top combo will scratch an itch you didn't even know you had.

Free Stream of 5 Tracks

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The Roots - Undun
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Undun, the band's 13th long player, is the story of the fictional Redford Stephens, running from his death by gunshot in reverse to his birth. It's the Philly outfit's first concept album, and it was born from a Sufjan Stevens' piece (from the album Michigan). (Wrote more about this a couple days back -- obligatory link back.) It's a sonically stunning, and if there's any drawback it's Black Thought's usually obtuse rapping, which makes following the story frustrating at times. There's a whole iPhone/iPad app to go along with it, featuring interviews, photos and music videos to help with the back story, but I'm not equipped for playback, so I can only speak to the music -- which is stunning enough for this to be considered their best album yet.

Album Stream via NPR's First Listen

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Boris - New Album / Free AOL Album Stream
Lucero - Mi Secreto De Amor
Amy Winehouse - Lioness: Hidden Treasures
The Cure - Bestival Live 2011
Nils Lofgren - Old School
The White Buffalo - Lost and Found EP / Free AOL Album Stream
KOAN Sound - The Papercut Chronicles / Free AOL Album Stream
Robin Thicke - Love After War
Miracles of Modern Science - Dog Year
Dia Frampton - Red
Loka - Passing Place / Free AOL Album Stream
Great Aunt Ida - Nuclearize Me / "Romance" [mp3]
T-Pain - rEVOLVEr
The Maine - Pioneer

tags: music, album review, the black keys, the roots, indie rock, new releases

Music on TV - Week of 12.05.11: The Roots

More than a house band for Jimmy Fallon, The Roots pull double-duty as the musical guests on Tuesday.

Nearly three years ago when The Roots were announced as the house band for the new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the news was met with mixed feelings. While it was great to have access to the band on a nightly basis, there was some fear that the night-in-night-out punching of the clock might beat some of the creativity out of the Philly act. 2010's How I Got Over quickly refuted that theory, but it's their latest, Undun (out this week), that really helps define what the Late Night experience has contributed to the band.

Undun is the band's first attempt at a concept album, and follows the life -- in reverse -- of one Redford Stephens, a fictional character we meet dying of a gunshot wound on the streets of New York. The concept was inspired, in part, by a performance on Late Night by *Sufjan Stevens, and the band incorporates Stevens' "Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)" to kick off a four-part suite to end the album. Through the experience of booking and often backing so many diverse acts, Questlove and co. have truly begun to transcend hip-hop, without becoming anything you could label as fusion.

*Between the inclusion in Undun and getting name dropped by Childish Gambino, how crazy is it that Sufjan Stevens has become cool for hip-hop?

Picks for the week
Monday, December 5
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ryan Adams
FOX: American Country Music Awards: Kristin Chenoweth, Miranda Lambert
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Alison Krauss & Union Station
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Weezer (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Yelawolf
Tuesday, December 6
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: T-Pain
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: 50 Cent
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Black Dub
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: The Black Keys
NBC: A Michael Buble Christmas: Michael Buble, The Puppini Sisters, Ed Helms, Oscar the Grouch
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Taio Cruz
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Roots
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Portugal. The Man, Wale
Wednesday, December 7
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Neil Diamond
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Coldplay
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Bear Hands, Tom Morrello
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Lenny Kravitz
Thursday, December 8
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Chevelle
DOC: John Lee Hooker: That’s My Story: John Lee Hooker
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Gym Class Heroes
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: fun., Ziggy Marley
TBS: Conan: Blink 182
Friday, December 9
NBC: The Today Show: Robin Thicke
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Aretha Franklin
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: M83
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Lady Gaga
Saturday, December 10
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Coldplay
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Robyn
PBS: Austin City Limits: Patty Griffin, Shaun Colvin, Emmylou Harris
Sunday, December 11
HDNET: HDNet Concert Series: REO Speedwagon

Now Downloading: New Releases 06.22.10

Like the first few summer days in Seattle, this week's crop of releases is missing a few degrees. There's a couple releases that stand out amongst this dreary offering, though, including interesting debuts from Baths, Bloc Party's Kele and my namesake Drake; along with the latest from The Roots, Stars, Robert Pollard, Nina Nastasia, 22-20s, The Chemical Brothers, RJD2 and more.

Playlist: New Releases 06.22.10

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Baths - Cerulean
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Born out of Los Angeles-based producer Will Wiesenfeld's [Post-Foetus] project, Baths is what you might call emotronica -- mixing the emotional highs of a Sigur Ros and the swirling smooth electriconica of a Toro Y Moi. The result is hypnotic on record, and transcendent live. I've always found electronica a bit boring on stage, but Wiesenfeld's talent and commitment to his craft on stage is something you have to see as well as hear (scroll down below for live vide0). Curelean isn't a perfect record (how many debuts are?) but it feels like the beginning of something that you want to be a part of. And the unbelievably amicable Wiesenfeld would only be happy to oblige.

Download: "Maximalist" [mp3]
Download: "Hall" [mp3]

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The Roots - How I Got Over
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

When it was announced some 18 months ago that The Roots were going to be the house band for the new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a lot of folks wondered how it was going to affect their recorded output. Well, by the sound of How I Got Over, not much except to expand their roster of guest stars. If you've been following Questlove on Twitter, you could just hear who might end up in the studio. Joanna Newsom, Monsters of Folk and Dirty Projectors are just a few that guested on the show and the album, twisting Q's ears enough to tweet about it. The result is, at first listen, a low key affair much like their last two albums (Game Theory, Rising Down), but unlike those two dark, politic affairs, How I Got Over eventually settles into an album of positivity. Let's hear it for day jobs.

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Kele - The Boxer
Stars - The Five Ghosts
Robert Pollard - Moses on a Snail
Nina Nastasia - Outlaster
22-20s - Shake/Shiver/Moan / AOL Album Stream
The Chemical Brothers - Further / AOL Album Stream
RJD2 - Inversions of the Colossus
Eminem - Recovery
Sia - We Are Born / "Hold Me Down" [mp3]
Herbie Hancock - The Imagine Project / AOL Album Stream
Fol Chen - Part II: The New December

tags: music, album review, baths, the roots, indie rock, new releases, rhapsody

Yo Gabba Gabba returns with The Roots, MGMT, Lady Tigra, soundtrack

Parents and stoners (and stoner parents) alert. After a long drought, the final batch of episodes from Season 2 of the toddlericious Yo Gabba Gabba will finally see the light of day shortly, on the channel formerly known as Noggin (to be re-christened Nick Jr, which we were already in the habit of calling it). The week of October 12 will bring five new episodes, featuring guests like Andy Samberg, The Roots (performing "Lovely, Love my Family"), MGMT and Lady Tigra along with the popular guests segments from Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh ('Mark's Magic Pictures') and Biz Markie ('Biz's Beat of the Day'). (Scroll down for episode descriptions and schedule.)

Meanwhile, just a few days later (October 20), Yo Gabba Gabba is finally set to release a proper soundtrack to the series (Yo Gabba Gabba: Music is Awesome!), which you'd think would be a no-brainer given how much music plays a part in the series. The soundtrack features original songs used on the show from The Shins, Of Montreal, The Roots, Chromeo, Mark Kozelek, Money Mark, I'm From Barcelona and more. Also features already classic YGG songs "Party in my Tummy," "Get The Sillies Out," "Try it, You'll Like It" and other songs my kids sing at random throughout their day.

Playlist: Yo Gabba Gabba - Oct 12-16
Monday, Oct. 12 - "Family"
Muno's whole family comes to visit and the Gabba gang learns about their family tree.
Guest Stars: The Roots, Biz Markie in "Biz's Beat of the Day" segment
Tuesday, Oct. 13 - "Art"
The Gabba gang mix paint colors to get new shades and paint a picture. Everyone contributes a piece of art and for an art show.
Guest Stars: Andy Samberg, MGMT, Ray Barbee, Mark Mothersbaugh in "Mark's Magic Pictures" segment
Wednesday, Oct. 14 - "Boat"
The Gabba gang discovers a box with Viking costumes and a map. After dressing up in their costumes, they go on a boat ride adventure discovering a new land and new friends.
Guest Stars: Reeve Oliver, Mark Mothersbaugh in "Mark's Magic Pictures" segment
Thursday, Oct. 15 – "Band"
The characters are interested in learning to play music and decide to start a band. Toodee plays the bass, Muno the guitar, Brobee’s on drums, Foofa plays the tambourine, and Plex plays the keytar.
Guest Stars: Lady Tigra, Biz Markie in "Biz's Beat of the Day" segment
Friday, Oct. 16 – "Dress Up"
The Gabba gang likes to dress up and play pretend. DJ Lance gives them a costume box, and they pull out shoes, put on silly hats, play cowboys, and also save a princess.
Guest Stars: Little Ones, Mark Mothersbaugh in "Mark's Magic Pictures" segment

If that weren't enough, also coming down the pipe is the all-new feature-length DVD Yo Gabba Gabba!: Meet My Family, which sees the light of day on October 20 as well. Includes the new "Family" episode featuring The Roots, along with three other episodes yet to make it to DVD (featuring guest stars The Shins, Mya, Nikki Flores and The Aquabats).

Paul Simon w/ Roots and Antibalas Horns

Paul Simon performed "Late in the Evening" tonight on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, with The Roots and the Antibalas horns. Upon it's original release back in 1980, the song marked further progression of Simon's into African rhythms (see "Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard" for first toe-dip,) and nearly 30 years later, it's cool to see the Afro Orchestra horns of Antibalas spicing it up along with The Roots.



"Late in the Evening" - Paul Simon

Previously: Ear on TV - Talk show musical guest calendar

Reaper - "To Sprong, With Love": Robot Suit Up

It's late and I need desperately to go to bed (and read more from my Preacher graphic novel) so I'm merely posting notes tonight, which should be recognizeable.

Good and bad news for Reaper fans: The Tyler Labine-starring Sons of Tucson has been picked up by FOX for next season. Just another nail in the Reaper coffin.

Does this episode seem remotely at all like the third to last for a series? A LOT has to happen next week, right?

I never saw Mr. Woodcock, but I feel like I should do some Wikipedia time on it to compare it to the Mr. Sprong storyline.

"I am Sock no longer, I am Wrenchy Bench... forever."

"Xavier comes around sniffing for Nina again, he's gonna have to go through these guys. Lilo & Stitch."

"Ooh, that was a terrible place for a ventilation hole."

Hearing The Roots' "Game Theory" now makes me think of Jimmy Fallon running up to high-five the audience. But the robot suit comes in a close second.

Playlist: Reaper - Episode 2.11
1. "Fool Yourself" - Adonis Tsilimparis
2. "Game Theory" - The Roots
3. "She's Expensive" - The Virgins

Previously: Dark Lord of Asses ("No Reaper Left Behind" - Episode 2.09)

Ear on TV: Week of 03.16.09: Public Enemy

Jimmy Fallon has two weeks under its belt, and it's a no-brainer to say that the highlight of the talk show is The Roots as house band. Whether its "slow-jamming the news" or backing musical guests, the band has been even better than advertised. Monday, they'll be backing the legendary Public Enemy, as they perform a track from their legendary album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back. It will serve as a warmup for The Roots' annual picnic this year, where Public Enemy will perform the album in its entirety, with The Roots (along with Antibalis,) backing.

After Public Enemy, Fallon and The Roots also welcome The Ting Tings (Tuesday,) and Vampire Weekend (Wednesday,) to make the week a full one as far as guests go. But truthfully, even when there's a not a band on the docket, the fact that The Roots are there night in and night out make Fallon appointment television.

Finally, how does Jon Stewart follow his Cramer-drubbing ratings bonanza of last week? Well, if you're from the Garden State like Stewart is, you get "the get" of any Jersey boy's dreams, The Boss. Bruce Springsteen stops by on Thursday to talk about music, politics and possibly the turnpike, before picking up his guitar and doing what he does best.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, March 16
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Public Enemy, The Roots
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Sam Sparro (REPEAT)
Tuesday, March 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Bell X1
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Dropkick Murphys
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Audrye Sessions
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Soundtrack of our Lives
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Ting Tings, The Roots
Wednesday, March 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: MSTRKRFT
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Modest Mouse
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Vampire Weekend, The Roots
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elvis Costello, Pres. Bill Clinton (REPEAT)
Thursday, March 19
ABC: The View: Lil Wayne
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Duke Spirit
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Bruce Springsteen
FUEL: The Daily Habit: BLK JKS
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Kelly Clarkson
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Roots
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Katy Perry
Friday, March 20
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Conor Oberst (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Chris Cornell
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Roots
Saturday, March 21
PBS: Austin City Limits: Ray Davies (REPEAT)