Now Downloading: New Releases 08.31.10

End of summer doldrums leaves slim pickens in the new release shelf. School's starting up, though, and the debut from the Jenny Lewis/Johnathan Rice collaboration (Jenny & Johnny) has a kind of high school rebellion/innocence to it, while Yo Gabba Gabba covers the preschool/elementary angle (and, more importantly, the parents). Other releases worth mentioning are the latest from The Weepies, My Morning Jacket's Carl Broemel, Radiohead's Philip Selway, Film School, Richard Thompson and an EP from Anthony and the Johnsons.

Playlist: New Releases 08.31.10

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Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Writing songs about relationships is as old as the craft itself, so with the authenticity-minded genre of indie rock, it makes sense that there are so many real life couples collaborating. Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis and Scottish singer/songwriter Johnathan Rice fit into that category, and the songs from their debut, I'm Having Fun Now almost read like couples therapy, with their dirty laundry on full display. "I'll forgive you, if I outlive you," coos Lewis at one point in the fine opener "Scissor Runner." Musically, the duo is like a more amped version of She & Him, with less classic country and more Laurel Canyon, and that is always welcome.

Free AOL Album Stream

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Yo Gabba Gabba - Music Is Awesome, Vol 2
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Is Nickelodeon finally realizing they have a sellable product now in Yo Gabba Gabba? Even though the series has a frothing (and sometimes high) dedicated fan base, every season the series seems on pins & needles awaiting to find out if it gets renewed. Now they're on a nationwide sold-out tour and raking in ticket sales -- and still awaiting renewal. They at least have their second full length compilation out now, featuring MGMT, Datarock, Weezer, Hot Hot Heat along with more original tracks sung by characters from the show. My 3-year old gives it five tard (he has trouble with his 's' still) and the 5-year old likes to pretend he's too old (but he still can't help dancing to it).

Download: "All My Friends Are Insects" - Weezer [mp3]

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More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
The Weepies - Be My Thrill / Free AOL Album Stream
Carl Broemel - All Birds Say / Free AOL Album Stream / "Heaven Knows" [mp3]
Anthony and the Johnsons - Thank You For Your Love EP
Film School - Fission / Free AOL Album Stream / "Heart Full of Pentagons" [mp3]
TV Buddhas - TV Buddhas / "Fun Girls" [mp3]
Richard Thompson - Dream Attic) / Free AOL Album Stream
I'm Here - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / Free AOL Album Stream
The Two Man Gentlemen Band - ¡Dos Amigos, Una Fiesta! / "Chocolate Milk" [mp3]
Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses - Junky Star
Chucho Valdes - Chucho's Steps
Tracey Thorn - Opposites EP / "Kentish Town (Walls Remix)" [mp3]
Sonny & The Sunsets - Tomorrow Is Alright (Live) / Free AOL Album Stream / "Too Young to Burn" [mp3]
Sahara Smith - Myth Of The Heart

tags: music, album review, jenny and johnny, yo gabba gabba, 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).

Ear on TV: Week of 03.30.09: Yo Gabba Gabba

Yo Gabba Gabba, the kids show that's secretly for us adults, gets a special visitor this Friday in the form of Nickelodeon favorite Jack Black, who finds himself stranded in Gabba land when his mini-bike runs out of gas (for the episode "New Friends"). Black plays guitar with Muno, shows the Gabbas his Dancey Dance and even dons DJ Lance's orange jumpsuit for a bit. The appearance hits two of Black's target markets, that being kids and potheads. ”I’m hitting two birds with one stoner, as it were,” quipped Black recently to EW. Also appearing present another knock-knock joke are Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) and Paul Scheer (Human Giant).

Meanwhile, how did the French indie pop act Phoenix end up as this week's music guest on Saturday Night Live? I'm already a big fan of their new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but it doesn't come out until May 26, and the band is a few notches below in name recognition to other recent acts like Fleet Foxes and TV on the Radio. It's a bold and unlikely choice, to say the least. Is this week's host Seth Rogen a big fan, or is Lorne Michaels just making up for the disaster that was Jason Mraz a couple months back?

Finally, This is Spinal Tap celebrates it's 25th anniversary this year, and to honor that achievement, Christopher "Nigel Tufnel" Guest, Michael "David St. Hubbins" McKean and Harry "Derek Smalls" Shearer are embarking on a tour. However, for this tour ("Unwigged and Unplugged" -- a play on KISS's "Unmasked" tour, no doubt,) they're leaving the wigs at home and going simply as themselves. On Wednesday, they'll appear to both perform and be interviewed on Leno, without getting into character -- which is something of a relief for the group. When they last toured, they also opened as The Folksmen (from A Mighty Wind) and "had the really unusual experience of being negatively received by the same crowd that couldn't wait to see us," McKean recently said. "We went off, changed our clothes, came back as Spinal Tap, and the same people were very happy."

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, March 30
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Pretenders (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Adele
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Glasvegas, The Roots
Tuesday, March 31
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Marianne Faithfull
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Gomez, The Roots
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Flo Rida
Wednesday, April 1
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ray LaMontagne
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Spinal Tap
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Stevie Nicks, The Roots
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Robin Thicke
Thursday, April 2
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Dr. Dog
Friday, April 3
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lily Allen
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Cold War Kids, The Roots
NICKELODEON: Yo Gabba Gabba: Jack Black
Saturday, April 4
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: The Pet Shop Boys
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Phoenix
PBS: Austin City Limits: Arcade Fire (REPEAT)

Ear on TV: Week of September 22 - Yo Gabba Grabba

If it weren't for having a 3-year old, I might have never have known the glory that is Yo Gabba Gabba. Part Pee-wee's Playhouse, part The Banana Splits, the toddler series counts as many parents as fans as kids, thanks to performances from the likes of The Shins, and regular slots from rapper Biz Markie and Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh. This week, the Emmy winning Nick Jr. series is back for a second season, and it's upped the ante on the guest front. This week alone features music from The Ting Tings, Mates of State, Hot Hot Heat and Jimmy Eat World, along with Dancey Dance lessons from Melora Hardin (Jan from The Office) and NBA star Amare Stoudamire.

For the premiere on September 22, my son's current fave band The Ting Tings cover the 1980's hit "Happy Birthday" (Altered Images,) in celebration of Brobee's special day, but since it's my birthday this week as well, I've already convinced my son that they're performing it for me. Beyond this week, we can also look forward to music performances from The Roots, Ladytron, MGMT and Datarock, along with guest appearances from Jack Black, Amy Sedaris, Rachel Dratch and Jack McBrayer (Kenneth on 30 Rock).

If that weren't enough this week, TV on the Radio return to Letterman on Monday, in support of their fantastic new release, Dear Science, coming out tomorrow. In short work, it's already my album of the year -- just like every TVOTR release. They melted Paul Shaffer's face the last time they took the stage at Ed Sullivan Theater, but this time they're going to get funky, playing the Prince-meets-classic-Jacko single "Golden Age."

In a normal week, I'd also be saying more about My Morning Jacket (Monday on Leno and Foals (Wednesday on Kimmel Live), but it's my birthday week (turning 40!) the Music on TV gods have made this week thick with aural goodness. As Yo Gabba Gabba's intrepid host DJ Lance Rock likes to say, "Listening and dancing to music is AWESOME!!!"

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, September 22
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Nelly
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: TV On The Radio
NBC: The Today Show: Tony Bennett
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: My Morning Jacket
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Little Feat
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Hot Chip
NICK JR: Yo Gabba Gabba: The Ting Tings
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Natasha Bedingfield
Tuesday, September 23
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Atmosphere
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Kings of Leon
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Glen Campbell
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Bo Burnham
NICK JR: Yo Gabba Gabba: Mates of State
Wednesday, September 24
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Foals
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Jamie Lidell, Garbage
NICK JR: Yo Gabba Gabba: Hot Hot Heat
Thursday, September 25
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Morningwood
FUEL: The Daily Habit: One Block Radius
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Hives
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Jakob Dylan
NICK JR: Yo Gabba Gabba: Jimmy Eat World
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Panic at the Disco, David Gray, Suzanne Vega
Friday, September 26
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Pop Levi
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Placebo (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Amos Lee
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Seether
Saturday, September 27
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: The Feeling (REPEAT)
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Duffy
PBS: Austin City Limits: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival featuring Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Bela Fleck, Ricky Skaggs, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris

Ear on TV: The Week of May 19

It's been about a year since I originally sang the praises of the Nick Jr. program Yo Gabba Gabba, and much has happened since. Besides becoming reoccurring joke with Joel McHale on The Soup! and premiering to success in Canada and the UK, it's also caught on with drug-induced college kids. One thing that hasn't changed, though, is that The Shins are still scheduled to appear on the program. Finally, the performance taped last year will air this Friday in an episode called "Imagine." Shins frontman (and recent parent) James Mercer contributed the original song "It's OK, Try Again" for the program (see video below) and one can imagine it appearing eventually on a soundtrack, along with other YGG! hits like "Party in my Tummy" and The Trebling Blue Stars version of ""I Found Love" (a great The Free Design cover). YGG started work on their second season last week, and already on confirmed to appear is the band I'm From Barcelona.

Elsewhere, the (almost sickingly) cute married duo Mates of State appear on Conan Tuesday night to perform a song from their new album Re-Arrange Us, which is hits shelves earlier that day. With lead single "Get Better," we're asked to 'throw our politics away,' and dig their MOR piano-based ballad. It makes me miss the band's more inventive pop writing of the past, but at least there are still plenty of brilliant flashes in the album (especially with my new fave "The Re-Arranger").

Finally, R.E.M. recently shot a performance for the upcoming 34th season of Austin City Limits, but for some reason, 'upcoming' has changed to 'this weekend.' So why exactly is PBS moving ACL's season premiere up about four months? My guess is it has something to do with R.E.M.'s summer tour kicking off this weekend -- Willie Nelson doesn't even get that kind of favor.



Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, May 19
CBS: The Early Show: Lenny Kravitz
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Sara Bareilles
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Estelle
FUEL: The Daily Habit: From First To Last
FUSE: The Sauce: Ashes Divide
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Devotchka
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ben Harper
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Natasha Bedingfield
Tuesday, May 20
CBS: The Early Show: Lenny Kravitz
NBC: The Today Show: Jason Mraz
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Mates of State
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Flobots
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Sara Bareilles
Wednesday, May 21
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Kooks
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: k.d. lang
NBC: The Today Show: Al Green
Thursday, May 22
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Death Cab for Cutie
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Republic Tigers
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Heavy
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Atmosphere (Rap)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Tristan Prettyman
Friday, May 23
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Neil Diamond
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Duffy
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Atmosphere (Rap), Chuck D
NICKJR: Yo Gabba Gabba: The Shins
RAVEHD: Later with Jools Holland: Hot Chip, Sheryl Crow, Sugarush Beat Company, The Imagined Village, Liza Minnelli, Jacob Golden
Saturday, May 24
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Duffy
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Gnarls Barkley (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: R.E.M.

Ear on TV: Week of August 27

Will Sheff, the frontman and songwriter for Okkervil River, is like a novelist who works short musical form. So when they perform on Conan Tuesday night, even though it's only one song, it'll be a page-turner as well as barn-burner. The Austin band are great live performers, and Sheff's voice breaks and cracks reaching notes that meet his needed expression. It's no wonder he's prone to it giving out on him at the end of a tour (like last year.)

And while it already aired this morning (early bird gets the worm,) Smoosh made an appearance on Yo Gabba Gabba, writing a new song for the 'Sleep' themed episode called "Pajama Party." Only a few years removed from the target audience (Singer/Keyboardist Asya is 15, drummer Chloe is 13) these sisters had my 2-year old son jumping up and down saying "kids...pwaying... music... go gabba!" You can catch a rerun later, but the show that's like crack for toddlers (and their parents) will also feature The Salteens (Tuesday) and Supernova (Thursday) this week as well.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, August 27
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Feist
NICKJR: Yo Gabba Gabba: Smoosh
Tuesday, August 28
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: T.I. w/ Wyclef Jean
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Okkervil River
NICKJR: Yo Gabba Gabba: The Salteens
Wednesday, August 29
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: T.I., Against Me!
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Ozomatli
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Deerhoof (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Gym Class Heroes
Thursday, August 30
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Willie Nelson
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Nellie McKay
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Wilco
NICKJR: Yo Gabba Gabba: Supernova
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Paul Simon, Primal Scream, Corinne Bailey Rae
Friday, August 31
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Sinéad O'Connor
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Mims (REPEAT)
Saturday, September 1
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Björk (REPEAT)

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, okkervil river, yo gabba gabba, smoosh, indie rock, rhapsody

Already with the mo 'Gabba Gabba'

It hasn't even aired yet and my 2-year old is already singing it's songs and requesting 'mo gabba gabba.' The show in question is Nick Jr's Yo Gabba Gabba, and the promos for it are insanely addictive. The show features giant muppets ala The Banana Splits, a hip-hop beat, regular segments from Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh and rapper Biz Markie, and a slew of guest stars like Elijiah Wood, The Shins and Tony Hawk.

Started by two members of the band The Aquabats (Christian Jacobs and Scott Schultz,) Yo Gabba Gabba looks to capture the growing genre of parents who avoid Disney and the like in favor of more original programming for their youngsters. If you've ever purchased a Ramones onesie, an indie rock compilation for kids (like Play,) or Chuck Taylor kid shoes, you are (like me) the target here.

The design and tone of the show draws inspiration from shows we grew up on like H.R. Pufnstuf, The Banana Splits and (later) Pee-wee's Playhouse, making it more then just a wink to the parents in the room. As a result, when the toys and clothes come later in the fall, they're not just going to be in toddler sizes. Look for clothing from Paul Frank (and his kids line Small Paul) to feature Yo Gabba Gabba characters, including adult hoodies. Frank's character Julius the monkey even makes an appearance on the show.

Like most children's programming, music is crucial for communitation, and so along with original songs like "Party in My Tummy" and "Jumpy Jump Jump," the show will also feature guest musical artists like The Shins (playing "It's OK, Try Again",) Smoosh, Rahzel (The Roots,) Mya, Supernova and country artists Sugarland.

Playlist: Artists scheduled to appear on Yo Gabba Gabba

Could it be that child's voice that I hear saying 'mo gabba gabba' is actually me?

Yo Gabba Gabba premieres Monday, August 20th at 10:30 AM on both Nickelodeon and Noggin.

tags: television, nickjr, noggin, music, the shins, yo gabba gabba, playlist, rhapsody