The Recession Comes to American Idol

For the second week in a row, American Idol/Ford (are they even still a company?!?) have hijacked an awesome song ("Energy") by an awesome indie artist (Apples In Stereo) and had their remaining contestants "sing" it for a 30 second car commercial. This is getting down-right embarrassing... seriously. I know that AI's ratings are down, but don't they still routinely crush their competition? Didn't Ford just get their hands on some of that sweet federal bail-out money? Can they not afford the rights to cover songs that the majority of their viewership would actually recognize? I hear that Lady GooGoo gal has a song out about poker that all the kids are digging. Couldn't they do a version of "Dead and Gone?" Wouldn't that work on multiple levels? I realize I basically just said this, but it would be nice to see Apples In Stereo get even a fleeting mention. I have a feeling a lot of people would actually like their version of "Energy" and the rest of their pretty great New Magnetic Wonder. Listen to the original version and then jump here to see the commercial.

The Decemberists on Colbert (sans green screen)

Colin Meloy and Chris Funk were on the Colbert Report Monday night to discuss their new album Hazards Of Love, 19th century lyrical references, and the origin's of Meloy's sideburns. Colbert really has an effect on people... Meloy seems pretty nervous, and not long ago, Coach K was pretty stiff in the interview chair as well. At least the performance of "The Wanting Comes In Waves" was excellent (and man, Shara Worden is a babe... listen to her wail!). Enjoy.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Gay Marriage Commercial

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Gay Marriage Commercial

And Then There Were 5

First off, I still don't know what Jamie Foxx has to do with the Rat Pack. Trying to find some connection between In Living Color, Ray Charles and Sammy Davis Jr.......nope got nothing.

I was already in a puddle just hearing Kris would sing The Way You Look Tonight. The beginning of the performance was everything I hoped it would be - silky smooth vocals and smoldering looks. I wasn't the biggest fan of the change of tempo near the end but I agree with the judges that he nailed the technical aspects of the performance. Normally I would be upset that he was first in the lineup but I think we're at the point in the competition that it really doesn't matter anymore.

Seems like there is a trend tonight with funky tempos as Allison really slowed down her tune. The way she approached the middle bridge made the song a little disjointed. It was a good performance but certainly did not approach the version Katherine McPhee delivered in season 5.

Speaking of former Idol contestants, when they said My Funny Valentine I immediately thought of Melinda Doolittle and was scared for Matt. Strangely I agree with Randy that it was pitchy and sounds so much worse than he sounded in the mentor package. Matt truly does have a great voice but one that doesn't necessarily translate well in his performances.

The opposite can be said for Danny. He is a performer and brought it once again this week. The song really suited his voice and while he didn't try to do too much with the song the changes he did make only enhanced the vocals.

Adam once again had a great vocal. Strange that he is now my least favorite in the competition despite his superior skills. Maybe it's because I don't really consider him an amateur, maybe it's the guyliner, maybe it's the over the top falsetto. Either way regardless of what I think Adam will probably win. That is unless Miss California and her like-minded idiot friends come out in droves to vote against his unapolagetic flamboyance.

All in all Rat Pack night didn't disappoint. Every contestant picked a good song (not like there were bad ones in this bunch) and executed well. I'm putting my perfect record on the line again and am going to say that Allison will just barely edge out Matt to make it to the top 4.

Beginning of the End

Today marks the start of the worst part of the year for us TV lovers - finale season. Soon the days of DVR capacity warning messages will be gone and we'll be left with nothing but baseball. Thank goodness for So You Think You Can Dance - without which I might just curl up and die during the summers. For some shows this season's finale will be their last because they're either at the end of a good run (here's looking at you Scrubs) or possibly being shut down prematurely (keep your head up Chuck!)  While I prefer a finale that ties of loose ends and sheds some light on previously unexplained circumstances, it seems most writers these days are keen on setting up cliffhangers that leave us longing for resolution.    I've heard some intriguing rumors but they've been wrong before so it will be interesting to see what direction most shows go in this year. Here's a rundown of when your and our fave shows peace out - which finales are you most looking forward to?

Monday, April 27
Chuck (NBC), 8 p.m.
Heroes (NBC), 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 30
Private Practice (ABC), 10 p.m.

Tuesday, May 5
Real Housewives of New York City (Bravo), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, May 6
Scrubs (ABC), 8 p.m.

Sunday, May 10
Amazing Race (CBS), 8 p.m.
Brothers & Sisters (ABC), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, May 13
Lost (ABC), 9 p.m.

Thursday, May 14
Parks and Recreation (NBC), 8:30 p.m.
Grey's Anatomy (ABC), 9 p.m.
The Office (NBC), 9 p.m.
30 Rock (NBC), 9:30 p.m.

Monday, May 18
24 (Fox), 8 p.m.
Gossip Girl (CW), 8 p.m.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS), 8:30 p.m.
One Tree Hill (CW), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, May 19
90210 (CW), 9 p.m.
Dancing With the Stars (ABC), 9 p.m.
Glee (Fox), 9 p.m. (More to come on this show soon!)

Wednesday, May 20
America's Next Top Model (CW), 8 p.m.
American Idol (Fox), 8 p.m.

Thursday, May 21
Ugly Betty (ABC), 8 p.m.
Southland (NBC), 10 p.m.

Check out the full list here

Upcoming Concerts (Atlanta)

Sunday 5/3/09 | The Earl | $8 (advance)/$10 (door)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Enjoy seeing the "next big thing" according to basically every blog, all for the low, low price of $8! Plus, you can get a burger at The Earl before the show. How could this possibly be a bad idea??


Saturday 5/16/09 | The Drunken Unicorn | $8 (advance)/$10 (door)
Horse Feathers and Joe Pug
At a venue called "The Drunken Unicorn," you don't necessarily expect to hear the soft, bucolic sounds of these two artists. As long as the music from MJQ doesn't bleed over, it should be a very entertaining concert.




Wednesday 5/20/09 | The Earl | $8
The Explorer's Club
It's entirely possible that these guys have only ever hear The Beach Boys (and just the sun-tinged, surfer-and-his-girl variety... not the Pet Sounds variety). If you like that sound, you'll love this band, and it should be interesting to see if they can hit their harmonies live.


Wednesday 5/27/09 | The Tabernacle | $25
The National
Well, unfortunately, this show got moved from The Variety Playhouse (great venue and staff) to The Tabernacle (good venue, crappy staff, Live Nation online ticket sales). I love The National, but I'm not sure I can drop $25 + my first born in Live Nation "convenience charges" to see them without a new album to hear live.


Friday 5/29/09 | Variety Playhouse | $16 (advance)/$18 (door)
Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Will Oldham's recent album as Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Lie Down In The Light, is phenomenal as is his newest album, Beware. He's also apparently great live, but really, I just want to see if he makes fun of Wes Anderson.
Video: Bonnie "Prince" Billy - "I Am Goodbye"

Saturday 6/6/09 | The Drunken Unicorn | $12 (advance)/$14 (door)
Passion Pit and Harlem Shakes
There will be all kinds of sweaty kids rockin' out their awkward dance moves at this show. And I plan to be one of them. Seriously guys, let's go!!




Sunday 6/7/09 | Variety Playhouse | $18
Bon Iver
I'm starting to run out of things to say about this band (and lead-man Justin Vernon). So seriously... just go. Go to this concert. Spend $18 and go. Go.


Friday 6/12/09 | The Earl | $8
Here We Go Magic
I know almost nothing about this band except that I heard them on XMU radio (when I had my free trial period) and they have a self-titled album that just came out. But that's what concerts are for... checking out new bands!


Saturday 6/13/09 | The Tabernacle | $26
TV On The Radio and Grizzly Bear
I will be at this show despite the fact that I should be studying for an exam. You're basically getting to see a full set from TVOTR and Grizzly Bear (and their phenomenal upcoming album Veckatimest) for $13 each. That's unreal! Make sure you buy tickets from the box office to avoid having your wallet taken advantage of by Live Nation.


Sunday 6/14/09 | The Earl | $12 (advance)/$14 (door)
St. Vincent
Annie Clark's debut as St. Vincent (Marry Me) was eccentric and tight, and her upcoming Actors promises more of the same great songwriting from the Polyphonic Spree alum.

Lil' Wayne Stopped By The View...

... and this is what happened! Honestly, I can't imagine a more bizarre program for Weezy to make an appearance, or maybe I can but just don't want to. Lil' Wayne goes philosophical when discussing the etiology of his "Misunderstood" tattoo, and talks a lot his personal experience with education (he's currently taking classes through the University of Phoenix online because when he tried to physically attend classes at the University of Houston, it kind of became a circus). Of course, Elisabeth Hasselbeck has to ask a condescending question about Lil' Wayne's "dependence" on cough syrup and marijuana, but he does a great job answering it. In the end, it's kind of hard to reconcile the various images of Lil' Wayne. What is the balance between the "yes ma'ams" and genuine concern about his education and his status among young people in America, and his rap persona, which is heavily centered on drug use, womanizing (if not borderline misogyny), and violence? It's simultaneously frustrating and intriguing, and it's one of the reasons why Lil' Wayne makes such great entertainment. At this point, he has to be considered one of the most recognizable faces/voices in America... I wonder what that means.



(via Videogum)

Amazing Kids

Some of you have probably seen this already (especially if you read Perez) but for some reason I'm just now discovering it.  The 5th grade chorus from PS22 in Staten Island started several years ago after a relentless teacher begged his administration for arts funding.  The results are magical.  Honestly, if there are still people that don't support the arts in public schools they should take a look at these kids' faces when they're singing.  Read more about them here and here.

Major Lazer: Lazer Boom 1

So apparently, Major Lazer is a collab between big-time producer Diplo and Switch that is, according to Diplo, "like digital reggae and dancehall from Mars in the future, pop culture run through a Jamaican filter!" It's definitely... interesting, but to be honest, it's kind of hard to listen to. The only reason we're posting "Lazer Boom 1," which is a sort of megamix of different tracks from Major Lazer's upcoming album Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (okay, now that's phenomenal) is because they sampled... THE BABY! That's right, take a listen here, and then hit play on the track below and see if you hear any similarities. We told you... The Baby is blowin' up!

What the WHAT? - American Idols Cover... Lykke Li

I don't watch American Idol... that's my reality television guru counterpart. This was supposed to be the year I gave it a shot, and it never happened. And now I'm kind of glad, because this Ford commercial (which was apparently on during the show) is infuriating. Let's start with the intro, where some bland 20-something uses the "amazing technology" of Ford vehicles to voice activate a song by "American Idols." In fact, in the 60 seconds worth of chances to mention that the song is originally by Lykke Li, the fantastic people at Ford/Fox chose to go with zero. Naturally, the adaptation of the song is about as milquetoast as everything else in the commercial, including the product. I have no problem at all with the use of the song, and I'm sure that Lykke Li was aware of the terms of use for "I'm Good, I'm Gone," but in the future, it'd be really nice to see the original artist's name at least once. American Idol... help the little people!

Lykke Li: "I'm Good, I'm Gone"


Ford/American Idol Contestants: "I'm Good, I'm Gone" Car Commercial (vomitus)


(via Stereogum)

Wednesday Wrap-Up

If reality television were food, Wednesday nights would be a veritable feast.  Last night I not only got treated to fantastic episodes of 4 of my favorites but I was also pleased with the outcome for all of them!  Days like this don't come around very often so excuse me while I bask in the glory.

AI - In case you haven't noticed I've gotten every single Idol elimination right this season!  If only I had money on these results I wouldn't be scrambling to finish this FAFSA (...GSRATW.)  As much as I loved Anoop-Dawg it was time for him to go and we all know what I think about Lil.  This may just be the best top 5 Idol has had yet.

ANTM - Ding Dong the Witch is dead!  No love lost for Natalie but I'm a little peeved that Tyra decides 8 eliminations in to mention Celia's age and "non-fresh" face.   Look for her to get the boot next week.

Make Me a Supermodel - Kerryn may be a supermodel in Arkansas but neither the judges nor I gave a damn.  And let's be real Lauri should have gone long ago.

RW/RR Challenge - Words cannot express how much I LOVE THIS SHOW!  I want to hire Evan to narrate my life.  He can make even the most mundane occurrence sound like it's the end of the world.  Now that people are starting to turn against him the game could get even more interesting.

I feel so good you would think I actually won something...maybe I should be on one of these shows one day?  Who am I kidding - the only reason I get so much joy watching them is because they make me feel so much better about myself.

Who's Next...

Meet the next big name on the hip-hop/R&B scene... The Baby. With just a 40 second clip, it's clear that from his modest beginnings as a fetus, Baby should be commanding a three-album deal at about $50m within the next few months. Industry insiders report that multiple labels are interested, and each is trying to sweeten the deal. Capitol is rumored to be offering Baby Louis Vuitton diapers, while Interscope has apparently put a platinum spoon and jewel-encrusted bottle filled with Patron Formula on the table. Stay (auto)tuned for updates in the ensuing weeks and see how this courtship plays out!

What We're Listening To

Keri Hilson (f/ Ne-yo and Kanye West): "Knock You Down"
We loved her first single, "Energy," for its cool synth background and catchy hook. This time she improves on the formula with appearances from 2 two of hip-hop and R&B's best. I dare you to listen to this song just once - it's like musical Lay's.


Ciara (f/ Justin Timberlake): "Love Sex Magic"
After several delays, Ciara's third album finally drops on May 5. If the first single is any indication it should be a solid collection of radio friendly songs from the self-proclaimed princess of R&B.


Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings: "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys"
Hey, we never said these selections would make sense. Don't ask...just listen and enjoy.


Matt & Kim: "Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare"
"Show me the sidestreets in your life," sings Matt, and as a naive, childish keyboard line gives way to an honest-to-God beat, it becomes immediately clear that these guys are catchy if nothing else. I wouldn't be surprised if they've been on multiple CW/Fox teen dramas.


Radiohead: "Paranoid Android"
With the new Collector's Edition re-issues of Pablo Honey, The Bends, and OK Computer, I've been going back through the Radiohead catalogue. And it's glorious. I can't believe that this song is 12 years old... it sounds like it could've been released yesterday.


The Veils: "Sit Down By The Fire"
New Veils album!!! "Sit Down By The Fire" is the first track off Sun Gangs (which has an awesome cardio-related cover), and it's very Okkervil River-y. Which means it's the bee's knees.

Disco Week - AI Recap

Dreaded disco week is upon us.  I really think this is a theme night Idol needs to retire and maybe add something more relevant or exciting.  Wouldn't it fun to see the contestants tackle hair band rock or grunge?  I'm glad to see the producers quickly responded to viewer complaints of only hearing 2 judges per contestant by cutting out the pre-song packages.  Rehearsals are rehearsals for a reason - no one wants to see them.  Let's break down the performances.

Lil - It really doesn't matter what she does, Lil will continue to get the same critique time after time.  I think it will be quite a shock if she actually isn't one of the two eliminated tomorrow.  The judges should have been a little nicer to her just to avoid sympathy/rebound voting.

Kris - Once again singing his heart out in all his side mouthed glory to another great arrangement.  If he is not considered a front runner at this point I do not understand this show.  Paula managed once again to combine a pretty astute comment (Santana comparison) with some jumbled metaphor.  Is she using Dr. Schulman as a writer?

Danny - This one was slightly reminiscent of his PYT performance (which I just happened to have rewatched a couple times this week.)  However this week's was unique in that he actually tinkered with the arrangement and added a pretty interesting breakdown in the middle.  The Gokey train still seems to be heading for at least the top 3.

Alison - There's no doubt that Alison is a fantastic singer and still one of my favorites in the competition.  Can't say that I loved this performance though - I agree with the judges that the slower arrangement took away from the appeal of the song.

Adam - OK I'll say it...that was good.  But not tear worthy Paula!

Matt - Stayin' Alive is about as disco as you can get but I wouldn't have chosen if for Matt simply because I don't think it showed off his voice as well as other songs could have.  Don't know if I'm as confident as Paula in saying he will survive the double elimination.

Anoop - The Dawg finally gets the pimp spot and a spiffy new look to go with it!  Unfortunately it was wasted on a poor song choice and weak vocal.  Kara must be a fan of Easy Listening stations if she thought that atrocity was radio ready.

Based on performance I think that Lil and Anoop should head home tomorrow.  It will be interesting to see if Matt's fans rally to save him themselves this week.  Alison could also be a surprise in the bottom 3 due to forgettable placement in the lineup and tepid reviews.

DWTS Recap

We're down to 7 couples - most of whom are pretty good.  The addition of the group dance seemed to throw off a few of the celebs but most came through with pretty solid performances. In honor of the 60's themed routine.....

Leader(s) of the Pack

From first few seconds Melissa and Tony danced I thought she would get perfect 10s.  For one of the first times I actually love the costume!  It was beautifully choreographed and almost flawlessly danced.  Of course fuddy duddy Len had to ruin it with the 9 but I still think they deserved a 30.  Shark had another solid performance and should be well on there way to the finale.  In a role reversal Derek seemed to take over the sexy with his lip synching while Lil Kim showed a softer side and some flexibility.  I know Regis will love that one but I prefer my Lil Kim with a little more spice. 

You've Lost that Loving Feeling

Personally I was bored with Gilles and Cheryl and I think Cheryl has lost a little of the umph in her choreography lately.  Similarly Lawrence and Edyta lost that spark this week.  Chalk some of it up to song selection (Journey? Really?) but the style just didn't click with LT.  Hopefully next week he'll be back stronger.

Do The Freddie

Just like this awesome dance Ty is cute, but still awkward.  He did make a good rebound this week, seemed more comfortable and even hit some nice lines with his arms.

Stand by Your Man

I think it's obvious Julianne is the only thing keeping Chuck in the competition at this point.  Way to show your lack of celebrity status by highlighting your gig in Waverly Alabama.  I'm from Alabama and I don't even know where that is.  They are annoying and don't deserve anymore of my (virtual) ink.

Justin Vernon - Official Hero

I know I've written a lot of flowery praise for Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago, his contributions to the Dark Was The Night compilation, and his recent Blood Bank EP. Justin Vernon, Bon Iver's front man, has a unique voice and is one of the better songwriters out there, but this story pretty much makes him my hero.

Vernon grew up in Eau Claire, WI, a smallish city of 61,000 people in western Wisconsin. While attending Eau Claire Memorial High School, Vernon was a member of the school's acclaimed jazz band. Knowing how much that experience helped shape him as a musician, he decided to give a little something back. On Sunday night, Vernon performed with the current jazz band at a concert to help raise money for their trip to a jazz competition in NY (apparently, a competition that Vernon also attended while he was in school). The jazz ensemble + Vernon played some jazz standards, but what really blows me away is that Vernon took the time to write arrangements of his songs so that they could perform them together. While talking about the experience, Vernon sounds generally impressed by the students:

"It's been pretty much like performing with the kids I was with 10 years ago. Only the faces have changed. In 1999 we had a really special band, but this band is jaw-dropping."

Just unbelievably cool and amazing on so many levels.

Read the article and, more importantly, see the videos (!) at Stereogum, and see the original article/review of the performance from the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. Their performance of "For Emma, Forever Ago" is below.

She's Baaack!

After a cardiology induced hiatus and a much needed West Coast jaunt your television guru is back.  Many props to M.Topes for holding down the fort in my absence.  There's a lot of TV to cover so let's get started...

Amazing Race - After seeing the previews from last week I was eagerly anticipating the drama in this episode.  I must say that I'm on Team Jen/Kisha  on this one.  Luke definitely threw a 'bow at the first clue box which was without a doubt a bitch move. And she definitely didn't push him at the next clue box.  Anyways it was nice to have some added drama since we all knew there was no way the tiny stuntmen could make up 4 hours.

The Duel II - As my sister pointed out these should really just be called Real World challenges now since Road Rules doesn't exist anymore and only a couple of them are in the cast.  All the scheming, hookups and fighting make The Challenge the guiltiest of all pleasures with the first episode living up to it's reputation with CT's attempted murder of Adam.  My early pick to win it - Mark who while pushing 40 is one of the most ripped guys on the show.

American Idol - Movie night was pretty much a ballad fest.  Kris Allen once again stole my heart singing the song from Once.  It was pretty predictable that the judges would use the save on Matt but it was still touching to see him cry and everyone else so excited.  Disco night this week should be pretty interesting (or horrifying) considering it seems to be a theme handpicked for Adam and Danny.

90210 - Donna Martin returns!  Tori Spelling's reprise of her lovable character was the perfect refreshing contrast to the gloom and doom of the Silver and Dixon drama.  This episode definitely lacked some Adrianna action and Naomi just wasn't cutting it.  Word on the street is big things are in store for the season finale including a death so let's hope things pick up soon.

ANTM - I really feel bad for London  - it wasn't her fault she blew up like a balloon.  Apparently the girls no longer have exercise equipment in the house like they had in the early years so they are pretty much forced to employ starvation as their only means to maintain those svelte model figures.  Shame on Tyra!

Make Me a Supermodel - It's like ANTM but with boys! And the people look like they could actually be models!  I'm a big fan of Branden, Mountaha and Jonathan.  Strangely enough I met a girl in San Francisco who dated Colin.  Apparently it's a big lie that girls ignore him cause girls were all over him in college..he's just super awkward and doesn't know what to do.

That's all for now - I still have to get caught up on Taking the Stage, 30 Rock and the Office, try out the newbies Parks and Recreation and Southland and embark on a 7 episode Lost catch-up marathon.  Phew it's hard work being a TV addict, but someone's gotta do it!  Check back later for thoughts on Dancing with the Stars and tonight's return of Gossip Girl and OTH.

The Week In Review

And now for a segment in which we share the things from this week we liked, all while pretending that we actually found them ourselves. Instead of name dropping each source, we'll credit "the indie music blogosphere" and call it a day.

The Boy Least Likely To: "You're The One That I Want"
They're British, and they really like making happy-go-lucky sounding music about things that are often pretty scary. Regardless, The Boy Least Likely To have covered the Grease classic "You're The One That I Want," and even though it's really faithful to the original, it's still a good listen.
MP3: The Boy Least Likely To: "You're The One That I Want"

AC Newman: "Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer"
Recently saw AC Newman and his band at The Earl in Atlanta, GA. It was an excellent show, and "Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer," from his new Get Guilty album is worth a watch+listen.


Jon Hopkins: "Light Through The Veins"
"Coldplay fans will recognize a version of this drifting ambient track as bookending the Viva La Vida album" (via Pitchfork). I figured I'd add this because it would've bothered me all day if they hadn't said that, as the track is definitely recognizable. The video is super trippy, and the song is gorgeous. Great background music.


Daniel Rossen: "Too Little Too Late" (Jojo cover)
This is impossibly perfect... one of my favorite musicians (Daniel Rossen, of Grizzly Bear and Department of Eagles) is covering Jojo's classic "Too Little Too Late." The explanation of how this cover ever happened in the first place is almost as good as the actual cover (which is not as faithful as the Grease cover earlier).


The Fly Girlz: "Born 2 B Fly"
This blog is nothing if it's not trying to be acutely aware of all up-and-coming teenage hip-hop acts out of Brooklyn (we love you Lil Mama!!). The Fly Girlz are 6 teenagers from Brooklyn. The have an album out called Da Brats From Da Ville. Now you know as much about them as we do.


Blitzen Trapper: "God And Suicide"
This isn't that new, but it's a performance of Blitzen Trapper's "God And Suicide" on Pitchfork.tv program Juan's Basement. I think they play in a basement, which may or may not belong to Juan. Just a terrific song!

Record Store Day!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's that wondrous time of year again... when people clean their spectacles, put on their most vintage clothing, and head to their local record store to support... well, records! I've read a few articles recently about the decline/potential elimination of CDs as a medium for music. Taking its place? Obviously those nifty, computerized bytes of sound known as MP3s. But record sales are on the rise too, as people still clamor for the physical experience of having something they can touch that represents their music. With many record companies offering a free MP3 download upon purchase of their record, it's not surprising that record sales are taking off, and that CDs, although probably never getting phased out, will become yesterday's news pretty soon. So... get with the times and head to your local record store tomorrow! I'll be in Dallas, probably hitting up Good Records... although if I was in Atlanta, I'd be spending a lot of time at Criminal Records (their new location is pretty awesome). Check out the Record Store Day website or this article from Pitchfork to get the run down on all the live shows, free stuff, and exclusive releases by TONS of bands. Do your part... support your independent record store tomorrow!!

Artist Profile: Mark Topel

Full disclosure: the clown on the left is my brother. And while I might make fun of him to his face, behind his back, when talking about my family, and in almost every other possible situation, it's becoming more and more apparent that, maybe, he's pretty talented.

The most recent piece of evidence came last night, when he was one of two winners in a songwriting competition held at the University of Texas. As a winner, he'll now travel to and perform at the Kerrville Folk Festival, which is a pretty big thing. To win, he straight-up brought the house down with "Bottle Of Whiskey" and "In The Cane." With a little onstage banter and by taking some chances by really opening up the vocals of "Bottle Of Whiskey," the crowd and the judges were equally impressed, and it took abut 20 minutes for everyone to stop congratulating him.

It's been a lot of fun seeing him develop as an artist... from initially quitting the guitar soon after convincing our parents to buy him one of those guitar/amp starter sets, to dabbling with the violin (thank God that ended), to really committing the time and practice to becoming an excellent guitarist, and finally... to somehow developing vocals and a deftness at songwriting, he's earned his recent accomplishments. His music is grounded solidly in the style of classic songwriters (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, and Neil Young, to name a few) with a hint of modern artists like Bill Callahan, Daniel Rossen, and Sufjan Stevens... all without being completely derivative like so many other artists.

I could go on and on and tell a lot of embarrassing stories, but I'm saving those for any future magazing pieces if/when he "makes it." For now, I think I speak for all our family and friends when I say that we're incredibly proud of Mark. If you haven't heard him yet, please check out the MySpace. If you like it, let us know! We'll pass along the good wishes. As always, thanks for supporting GSATW, and by proxy, Mark. Take care!

What We're Listening To

No input from Audra this week, as she's off gallivanting with movie stars and Disney characters in LA. Many thanks to Mark and Sam for the majority of the tracks this week. You're getting a good mix of videos and MP3s, so enjoy!

St. Vincent: "Actor Out Of Work"
Annie Clark's newest album as St. Vincent, Actor, comes out May 5th, and between this track and the previously-linked-to "The Strangers," it should be an excellent follow up to her debut Marry Me.



White Rabbits: "Percussion Gun" and "The Plot"
These guys get two tracks because after listening to "Percussion Gun," the opening track off their forthcoming It's Frightening, I spent a lot of time this past week listening to Fort Nightly, the band's most-recent album. Spoon's Britt Daniel gets production credits on "Percussion Gun," which isn't surprising... they toured together not too long ago.




Horse Feathers: "Curs In The Weeds"
The opening track from House With No Home, fans of Ray Lamontagne will really enjoy the stripped-down folk of "Curs In The Weeds." And the video makes me want to pack it up and head for the country, never looking back.



The Love Language: "Manteo"
You're getting more Love Language because I can't get enough of them. "Manteo" is a drunken waltz with dirty, unfiltered vocals and a booze-y piano that sounds straight out of an old Western film.


The-Dream: "Love vs Hate"
Just in case you couldn't find the time to listen to the whole Love vs. Hate album from yesterday, just listen to this track. Listen to it!! I don't want to yell at you... but I will.


The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: "This Love Is Fucking Right!"
Hints of The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love" ring through the melody, but "This Love Is Fucking Right!" is very representative of what you'll get on The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. People are losing their proverbial shit over this band... I don't really get it, but they're fun to listen to regardless.


An Horse: "Camp Out"
Opening track of Australian duo An Horse, "Camp Out" is the first in an album full of heart-on-the-sleeves songwriting. Rearrange Beds is actually a really really good album, and I highly recommend it!


Birdman f/ Lil' Wayne: "Always Strapped"
Apparently the word "strapped" means "armed with weapons." I thought Birdman and Lil' Wayne decided to address the serious issue of baggy pants. Too bad. As usual, Wayne destroys Birdman on the track, which has to get embarrassing at some point. If I'm Birdman, why do I keep letting Lil' Wayne kill me on my own tracks? Oh yeah... because people will listen to it.


Dirty Projectors: "Stillness Is The Move"
I saved this one for last because I'm not sure how many people will actually like it. But it hasn't left my head since I heard it for the first time a week ago, and I'm beyond excited for the new Dirty Projectors album, Bitte Orca. Check it out... it's a little different.

MP3: Dirty Projectors: "Stillness Is The Move"

Album Review: The-Dream - Love vs. Hate

This album is so perfect in so many ways, but so painfully hard to listen to at times that it's embarrassing to even own. Love vs. hate, indeed... The-Dream, also known as Terius Nash, has built an album so replete with current pop and R&B gold that R. Kelly could take an extended 8-10 year break and no one would notice. Mr. Nash, along with production partner Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, has quietly penned some of the biggest songs in the past couple of years (Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Jesse McCartney's "Leavin"), and it's clear that he has an ear for the genre. Love vs. Hate plays out like a push-and-pull between the absurd and meaningful, the single entendre and the double entendre... like he's continuously deciding whether to be the next R. Kelly or something else entirely.

"Rockin That Shit," the first single from Love vs. Hate is your run-of-the-mill R&B radio-filler, but Nash's vocals and Tricky Stewart's beat elevates it to another level. At it's core, it's a "I see you moving your hind parts in the club, and I really really like you... I think we should hang out" kind of song. It's catchy, and if you don't focus too much on the lyrics, you'll find yourself singing it unconsciously (which, depending on the situation, may be unfortunate). The same could be said about a lot of the songs on this album: "Put It Down" is a 5-minute homage to the power of The-Dream's love-making abilities, and "Sweat It Out" is an honest-to-god R. Kelly song if I've ever heard one. With an opening line of "Girl call Latisha, your beautician... cause your hair is gonna be fizzin," the song only gets more ridiculous, with The-Dream promising to get his young lady's hair fixed (even though, as he suggests, she should've gotten braids).

The whole album offers an unending string of hilarious (both intentional and unintentional) lyrics, but the literal and figurative heart of the album is the three-song arc of "Take You Home 2 My Momma," "Love vs. Money," and "Love vs. Money Part 2." Without question, The-Dream is at his strongest when he's a little vulnerable. Of course, the braggadocio is essential, but even The-Dream has been burned. And that same girl he expected to take home to his momma leaves him, as he starts to realize that he undoubtedly pushed her away. The consonance of "Take You Home" transitions abruptly to the cold, metallic dissonance of "Love vs Money", as Nash sings "I can't hate her, because I am to blame... instead of loving you, I was making it rain." It's some real chillbump-inducing songwriting, with the lyrics, hooks, and beats perfectly complimenting each other. He eases up on himself some by putting the blame back on the girl in "Love vs Money Part 2," but it's clear the damage has been done, and luckily, the album is the better for it.

So which Dream do you prefer? The whimsical, playful, and yes... demeaning variety at work in songs like "Kelly's 12 Play," or the introspective, reflective variety on tracks like "Right Side of My Brain?" Personally, I think the balance is good. Nash never ventures into misogyny... in fact, most of the lyrics are so absurd I find myself actually laughing out loud after hearing them. And when he's sad, he's borderline brilliant. Love vs Hate finds an artist at the top of his craft, and I'm sure we can look forward to more of the same in the future.

...And We're Back!

Kind of. GSATW is officially on Spring Break (SB2K9!!!), and while one of us is livin' it up, celebrity-style, in LaLa Land, the other is staying low at home, with a quick trip to Austin, TX, home to the University of Texas Longhorns and the only place in Texas where people think this is kind of ridiculous. You can expect pretty frequent postings throughout the week, but for now, a few thoughts from driving 12 hours from Atlanta to Dallas:

*Remember that March Music Madness thing? Well, in the official polling at We Listen For You, Animal Collective narrowly edged out Arcade Fire to take home the championship. A well-deserving champion in the end, and it makes up for some of the more questionable voting decisions throughout the course of the tournament. In case you were wondering, Lil' Wayne was the GSATW champion, also narrowly edging out TV On The Radio. An explanation will happen in the future.

*The McDonald's Egg McMuffin is, and will always be, the undisputed king of breakfast sandwiches. Any debate on this point is a waste of time.

*Is there anything less effective at preventing people from speeding than this sign? Especially when your state ranks 47 out of 50 in education, I'm supposed to believe that aircraft are watching my speed?? Nice try, Mississippi... nice try.

*Check out the site on Wednesday for "What We're Listening To" featuring a bunch of songs from albums that my brother graciously gave me for the trip. Should be a good one.

*Since I've been home, I've watched the season finale of Friday Night Lights (fantastic, as usual), the pilot of Parks and Recreation (decent), and all current episodes of Better Off Ted (surprisingly entertaining). It's been a productive 2 days.

All right... enough rambling. Check back throughout the week for some updates, and until then, have a great night!

Video: Datarock - "Give It Up"

"We'll hook you up with an enema, give it up ohhhhhh! Don't stop till you get enough..." = last lines of the song. I have NO idea what any of the rest of it's about. All I know is I want to go to there. MJQ anyone?

All Kinds of Awesome

This is exactly why the internet was created... so people with too much time on their hands can chop up songs and videos and put them together in an almost-seamless fashion. I think both are pretty self explanatory, and needless to say, they offer countless... ummm, minutes, of entertainment. Enjoy!

The Beatles, LCD Soundsystem, and the Kinks


Was Disney Lazy?

Boston Tea Party, Sponsored by Fox News

Quite simply the funniest/saddest thing I've ever seen. The Daily Show is on waaaaay too late for me to ever see it, so thanks to Kosha for tipping me off to this clip. Enjoy.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Baracknophobia - Obey
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

Why Not... Covers of Brittany Spears' "Womanizer"

Because some people are needy, so this post will take EXACTLY 11 minutes to make. Franz Ferdinand just recorded a cover of Britney Spears' "Womanizer," which, coincidentally, has been covered by other people. Because "Womanizer" is unfairly catchy (seriously, see how good you feel about yourself when you suddenly realize you're singing it out loud in a line of people), it makes sense that people are covering it. See below for some good, some bad, and some ugly "womanizers."

Franz Ferdinand Version


Lily Allen Version (I have a massive crush on Lily Allen...)


Acoustic French version


Acoustic Jason Mraz-wannabe version


All-American Rejects gawdawful version

GSATW - Going on Hiatus

In an effort to prove that grad students really are the worst, Audra and I are going on hiatus. And while we may not be as annoying as a Creative Lit or 18th Century British Literature PhD candidate, we are nonetheless taking a 5 day sabbatical from writing informative and witty commentaries about television and music.

"What am I going to do with my life?!?"

That's a fantastic question, but we're confident that you'll survive. And here's why. Although we're not exactly sure how it happened, you were able to go the majority of your life without our greatness. For the next 5 days, channel those dark times in your life... the times without the sunlight that is GSATW. Read a book. Spend some time in quiet reflection or meditation. Engage in your community through service.

Or buy a season of TV on DVD and run through it while we're out.

Phoenix on SNL

While you were either sleeping or out having a good time last night, Phoenix was killing their performances on SNL! The sound was great on both "Lisztomania" and "1901," the two opening tracks off their new album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Oh yeah, and Seth Rogen is skinny now. It's weird. So there you go... you're caught up on SNL.

Phoenix: Lisztomania


Phoenix: 1901

March Music Madness - The Final Four

And so here we are... the Final Four. Possibly one of the most exciting weekends in all of sports, and I'll be missing most (if not all) of the action due to studying. Grad students really are the worst. But fear not. Before we essentially shut the blog down for a week (save for a couple of random posts), we have to finish up the March Music Madness competition, and I think the national semifinalists speak for themselves. Some of the best talent out there rose to the top, and although there's no Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear (which could possibly be a mistake), the bands left standing all have a strong case for being there. Let's do some quick analysis of the Final Four match-ups before the epic Championship throw-down on Sunday!

(2) Lil' Wayne vs. (4) Beirut
Winner: (2) Lil' Wayne
I probably love Beirut and Zach Condon more than a heterosexual male should, but I submit the following:
Tha Carter III vs. Any of Beirut's albums
Billboard's 2008 Top-Selling Albums
I understand the case for "rap isn't music, and what Beirut is doing is music!" I really do. I'm the same guy who never listened to rap until 2006 (unless it was played while I was awkwardly dancing* with a girl at a school dance). But you have to listen to this album. Is it misogynistic? Yes, at times. Is it filled with vulgarities? It has a Parental Warning Label, doesn't it? But this is poetry. This is comedy. This is extravagant, boisterous entertainment delivered by a man who may very well be losing his mind. And if a basic aversion to rap and hip-hop keeps you from hearing Tha Carter III (I mean... really hearing it), then you've let a seminal album slip through your fingers. Rarely does an album's popularity match its quality (and if you don't believe me, read the rest of the Billboard article). This one does.


(1) TV on the Radio vs. (4) The Decemberists
Winner: (1) TV on the Radio
By calling TV on the Radio this tournament's Louisville, I had a feeling I'd either be jinxing Louisville or TVOTR. But since I already knew who'd be advancing to the final in this tournmanet, Louisville had to fall (and they did). Admittedly, this is a tough match-up for the Brooklynites. The Decemberists have great length (discography-wise) and a rabid fan base. Colin Meloy's hyperliterate lyrics weave intricate stories that lend themselves to multiple listens... always a bonus. In fact, I entertained the thought of moving The Decemberists into the final, but to be honest... I was a little underwhelmed by Hazards of Love. Of course it's good (it's a Decemberists album, after all), but if it had blown me away, I think they had the potential to jump TVOTR (by the thinnest of margins). However, by putting out a merely good album, they lack the momentum to pass the behemoth that is... TV on the Radio. Dear Science is a treasure, and I feel a little sissy for saying that. This is a "tell your kids about it" type of album. I envision myself pulling out Dear Science 20 years from now, in middle-age, and still being blown away. In those 20 years, maybe 25 albums will be in the same league, and maybe 5 bands will have been as consistently as impressive as TVOTR. Maybe. Criticism is prone to hype and "Greatest of All Time" debates (see our last post if you don't believe me), but when something or someone elicits such an indelible visceral response, signs and blinking lights should go off. And so TVOTR is Las Vegas, and The Decemberists are Reno. And that's all right.


* Standing in a corner, avoiding eye-contact