Ear on TV: Week of February 16 - Lily Allen

This is one stacked week, as the talkies have seemingly upped their game for Conan O'Brien's final week hosting Late Night. Leno, as if anticipating his replacement, has booked a very Conan-like music lineup for the week, procuring Andrew Bird, Oscar lock A.R. Rahman and Monday night's starting off point, Lily Allen.

The UK star just hit number one in her home country for both song ("The Fear") and album (It's Not Me, It's You) while also making headlines for advising parents to let their kids try drugs. Besides Leno, the spunky Allen will also be on Ellen (Wednesday) and look for her to be a little more tight-lipped with US audiences (see her chat with Matt Lauer last week). For instance, don't expect her to go flashing us her third nipple.

While the Lily Allen stateside onslaught is already in progress, A.R. Rahman's is about to begin. Already the biggest pop star in India, Rahman's work for Slumdog Millionaire is almost guaranteed to win him an Oscar -- likely two -- and place him on a bigger stage here in the US. He'll be performing one of his two nominated songs -- "Jai Ho" with singer Sukhwinder Singh -- on Leno Thursday, and then an abbreviated version of it and "O Saya" for the Oscar telecast. And by "abbreviated" I mean part of a medley of all three nominated songs, limited to 65 seconds each. This new limitation is what led Peter Gabriel (the other nominated artist) to pull out of performing as a protest. His song for Wall-E, "Down to Earth," (which normally runs 6 minutes) will now likely be performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir. Meanwhile, M.I.A., Rahman's other collaborator, just had her baby this past Wednesday and it's probably too soon to expect her to make it back to the stage. I guess stranger things have happened -- like performing at the Grammys with contractions on her due date.

Finally, it's the final week for Late Night Conan O'Brien before Jimmy Fallon steps in and Conan disappears for a couple months getting ready for the Tonight Show gig. To send him off, White Stripes are playing their first public performance since the summer of 2007. They have a history with O'Brien, going back to even before appearances on the show (they played five nights in a row back in 2003). Conan has known Meg and Jack White since before they were even The White Stripes, which goes a long ways explaining Conan's appearance in their Michel Gondry directed video for "Denial Twist."

Wow ... all that and no mention of Letterman's stellar first half of the week. He's got Willie Nelson with Asleep at the Wheel on Monday, M. Ward on Tuesday, and Antony and the Johnsons stopping by on Wednesday. Any other week, those would be the leads, my friends.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, February 16
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lenka (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Willie Nelson with Asleep at the Wheel
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Living Things
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Lily Allen
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: thenewno2
Tuesday, February 17
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: M. Ward
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Funeral Party
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Andrew Bird
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lykke Li
Wednesday, February 18
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Antony and the Johnsons
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Lisa Hannigan
SUNDANCE: Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...: Elton John, Diana Krall
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Lily Allen
Thursday, February 19
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Razorlight
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: A.R. Rahman, Sukhwinder Singh
Friday, February 20
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Kinky
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: The Knux
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Chris Isaak
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: White Stripes
Saturday, February 21
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Kanye West
PBS: Austin City Limits: Kings of Leon, Roky Erickson
Sunday, February 21
ABC: The Academy Awards: A.R. Rahman, Sukhwinder Singh, M.I.A. (maybe???)

Now Downloading: New Releases 06.19.07

There's been an air of seriousness with indie rock releases of late, so new releases this week from White Stripes, Art Brut and The Polyphonic Spree are a welcome breath of fresh air. Not that Icky Thump is all fun and games, as the lead single has Jack White taking a political stance about immigration: "White Americans, what? Nothing better to do? Why don't you kick yourself out, you're an immigrant too."

Playlist: New Releases 06.19.07

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Album: White Stripes - Icky Thump

Over the past few years, it's easy to get the impression that Jack White had gotten bored of the confines he'd set forth with the White Stripes. Limited colors, instrumentation and influences seemed to box him in such a way that he needed to break free. The collaborations with Loretta Lynn (Van Lear Rose) and Brendan Benson (The Raconteurs' Broken Boy Soldier,) seemed like a signal, and right in the middle of that came the odd Get Behind Me Satan,) which experimented with keyboards and more sounds outside the lines formerly drawn. The album sounded great, but felt like it was missing something. Icky Thump seems to realize this and fills in that hole, coloring on and around the lines but keeping the spirit (and songwriting) of fave prior releases like White Blood Cells - they're back writing blues in the basement. More then any prior release, it demands to be played loud, and while there's no obvious hit like in past albums ("Rag and Bone" comes closest,) it should still rank with their best. So perhaps White wasn't bored with the Stripes at all, and instead just needed an outlet?

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Album: Art Brut - It's a Bit Complicated

As I was saying before, all this serious indie rock of late sets the stage perfectly for Art Brut's sophomore release, and where their debut had Eddie Argos genuinely excited about forming a band and seeing his girlfriend naked (TWICE!) it's hard to pull off knowing he's now a rock star (and has his pick of naked women.) With experience comes indifference, "I can't say I'm not enjoying the kissing/But I've a sneaky suspicion that you're not really listening" ("Pump Up the Volume;") and of course a growing number of women he's seen naked "I'm nothing to my peers but envy and hatred/How many girls have they seen naked?" ("Nag Nag Nag Nag.") So while Art Brut pull off the same trick musically, lyrically it doesn't have the same enthusiasm - which honestly is an unrealistic expectation. It's still a lot of fun, though, and if you're already a fan, there's a lot to love.

Free album stream from AOL

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Album: The Polyphonic Spree - Fragile Army

The 24-piece ditch the multi-colored choir robes for black army garb which seems like a signal that they're abandoning the joyous naivete of past releases and getting down to business. Unfortunately, while the music is still all there, the attempt at depth in the lyrics don't work as well. It feels, at times, like an homage to Arcade Fire, when they were better at stealing from The Flaming Lips and Danielson Famile. The theme of optimism in turbulent times is one that is ripe and ready to be cut up into a salad, and I applaud (and salivate at) the thought. Just forgive me if I pick out the peppers.

Free album stream from AOL

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More going (or already in) the Sansa
The Mooney Suzuki - Have Mercy (Free album stream from AOL)
Robert Forster - The Best of the Solo Recordings 1990-1997
Grant McLennan - The Best of the Solo Recordings 1990-1997
Digitalism - Idealism (Free album stream from AOL)
Jennifer Gentle - Midnight Room
Savath & Savalas - Golden Pollen
Grand National - A Drink and a Quick Decision (Free album stream from AOL)
Maps - We Can Create (Free album stream from AOL)
Bumps - Bumps
The Lovetones - Axiom
Kinky - Rarities
Misha - Teardrop Sweetheart
Straylight Run - The Needles, The Space
Benji Cossa - Between the Blue and the Green (Free album stream from AOL)

tags: music, album review, white stripes, art brut, polyphonic spree, indie rock, new releases, 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

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