In the past, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo has been known to be a bit of a control freak, so it's surprising to see just how much he's let go with their latest release, Raditude. Whether it be the band switching instruments, giving Lil' Wayne a guest spot to rap (Weezer & Weezy!), or even letting The Office's Rainn Wilson name the album, it's a looser, more free-flowing Weezer.
In the lead up to the album's release, set for November 3, the band has repeatedly managed to keep itself in the news, by branding their own Snuggies, launching a Weezer iTunes Pass, and more recently, bringing along one Kenny G. to an in-studio taping (for an upcoming edition of AOL Sessions).
As far as television goes, the band has a two-night engagement on The Late Show with David Letterman, and has already taped five songs for upcoming episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live, to air sometime in November. One of those songs for either shows is undoubtedly going to be the advance single "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To," a song that signals the bands return to relevance. The video for the song, besides borrowing a tad from Being John Malkovich (Weezerville as Malkovich inside is own head), also harkens back to their "Buddy Holly" days, with it's fifties-style nostalgia in the art direction. It also sports the beautiful Odette Yustman (Cloverfield, The Unborn), which is never a bad thing. Too bad music videos don't have the same cache that they once had. (Oh, where have you gone, MTV?)
Not to be outdone in the video department, Har Mar Superstar (aka Sean Tilman) employed multiple starlets in the video for his recent single, "Tall Boy," including Eva Mendes, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and even comedian Eric Wareheim (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Good Job!). When Tilman performs the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, expect some suggestive dancing and undergarments to go with the double-entendre in the song's lyrics (a song, it should be pointed out, was originally written for Britney Spears to sing).
Finally, Oscar-winners Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (The Swell Season) have finally followed up their surprising debut with Strict Joy, and while it would undoubtedly benefit from having film like Once as a feature-length music video, the duo create their own stories befitting the film playing in your subconscious, kind of like a sequel (let's call it Twice). Not seeing it? Maybe it's time to wake up the projectionist.
Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, October 26
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Motorhead (REPEAT)
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: Florence & the Machine
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Wolfmother
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Har Mar Superstar
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Like (REPEAT)
Tuesday, October 27
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Morningwood
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Florence & the Machine
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Future of the Left
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Julian Casablancas
Wednesday, October 28
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Flyleaf
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Sting
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Rodrigo y Gabriela
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: Snoop Dogg
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: "Weird Al" Yankovic
Thursday, October 29
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Weezer
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: The Swell Season
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Mastadon
Friday, October 30
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Weezer
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Fruit Bats
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Why?
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Alice in Chains
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Andrew Bird
SUNDANCE: Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten: The Clash, Joe Strummer
Saturday, October 31
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Lady Gaga (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: M. Ward, Okkervil River
Indie rockers-turned-kids-music-masters They Might Be Giants face an interesting dilemma when go on tour, and by extension, appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Tuesday. Do they play for the kids or for the adults?
Usually, bands draw from their current release, which in this case is the wildly entertaining children's album/DVD Here Comes Science, currently on high rotation with my rugrats. Competing against that is the 20th anniversary of the (recently certified platinum) album Flood. If I'm a betting man, I'd place it on the latter, meaning we'll probably get a little "Birdhouse in Your Soul" (or possibly "Particle Man").
Their current tour schedule is a marvel in schizophrenia, with three different kinds of shows being marketed across the country, sometimes with all versions making an appearance in a given town. First there's the rock show, which is a traditional TMBG joint, involving all their hits throughout the years, minus the kids stuff. Then there's the Family Show, occurring early in the afternoon and incorporating music from all four of their albums made for kids. Finally, there's the special Flood Show, a celebration of the aforementioned 20th anniversary featuring renditions of all the songs from the band's most popular album. 
Meanwhile, The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle has always displayed a fascination with religion, so hearing his take on bible verses is not a tremendous leap for the band's latest release, The Life of the World to Come. Each of the 12 songs takes lessons learned from 12 different verses from the Bible (each titled accordingly), yet somehow manages to veer clear of being preachy, or even Christian for that matter. Don't tell that to Stephen Colbert, though. When Darnielle and band appear on The Colbert Report Tuesday, there's sure to be (faux) bonding over their favorite biblical passages.
Elsewhere, Australia's heavy metal purveyors Wolfmother have been tapped to be the house band all week for The Daily Habit (Fuel TV), debuting three new songs from their forthcoming release Cosmic Egg along with two fan favorites. Tuesday, Conan welcomes the newly revived Anvil, fresh from their documentary success (Anvil! The Story of Anvil). And finally, 70's yacht rock legend Christopher Cross answers the call from Jimmy Fallon to play "Ride Like the Wind," an idea that we support only in that a) he's backed by The Roots, and b) it's not the song "Sailing." Seriously, no "Sailing." Ever.
