TV Party

As stated in an earlier post, I only have a handful of 'Must-See TV' shows I watch religiously each week. NBC's 'Heroes' started back up a few weeks ago and is still going pretty strong. In fact, one could challenge it's actually picking up steam w/ Sylar's escape and the whole mommy/daddy thing w/ Claire (AKA THE Cheerleader). Not to over analyze, but the fresh take on the baggage that comes w/ someone finding out they have special capabilities you don't see in most comic-based films and TV, is what gives the show it's underlying charm. Much like my other favorite, ABC's 'LOST', the way that the characters are all interwoven into the crazy storyline is the other plus. It'll be interesting to see if they can keep the momentum going after the Summer break, but for now...still good stuff.

Speaking of 'LOST', the new season started last night and I wasn't disappointed. While I still refuse to miss an episode, the show has kind of slowed down a little. Part of the issue being, the large portion of the fall run focusing on the shit going down on the OTHER island w/ Jack, Sawyer and Kate. It's been cool getting a lot of insight into 'The Others' and all, but it's been at the sacrifice of the other gaggle of Lostaways and how they fit into the story as well. I read that the show's creative team has promised that they'll re-focus on what's happening outside of 'Other-ville' starting in a couple of weeks. That said, last night's episode was pretty action-packed and did throw a few nuggets our way...but you can never tell what's truth and what's a mind-game.

NBC is back to form w/ their Thursday night line-up. 'My Name is Earl' and the US version of 'The Office' are back to that Seinfeldian brand of quirkiness that just can't be forced. Both shows are creative as hell, have a strong ensemble cast and, most importantly, make me laugh. 'Scrubs' (in it's final season) and '30 Rock' are good too, but I usually get sucked into watching ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy' w/ Mrs. Famous during the same time slot. Funny enough, I should be annoyed w/ that show...but it ain't really that bad. Good schlocky fun, actually.

Outside of that, there really isn't much I have to watch...and yet I still find myself in front of the TV even when none of these shows are on. Digital Cable w/ 5 majillion channels to surf through will do that to you. I have actually found time to read a few books and will drop a triple-play Book Club post as soon as I finish the one i'm on right now. Until then...Peace!

I'll Be You(Tube)

Gotta' love the gems you'll dig up on YouTube...



Interview w/ the Mats circa 'Pleased to Meet Me' on some show called IRS - Cutting Edge or something. Check out the eyebrows (or lack thereof) courtesy of the Young Fresh Fellows.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Damn. Outside of Owen deciding during the game to finally crawl on all fours and the amazing run back on the kickoff...what a mess. Can't take anything away from Indy, especially their running game and defensive line...but the Bears just seemed to be dead men walking after the first quarter. Luckily for me, i'm also a Cubs fan and accustomed to finding solace in the phrase: 'There's always next year.'

So Fucking Party You Will Die

Back in 1999, an album came out that i'll admit now...I didn't quite get at all. An album since that time that I grew to love and, without sounding too corny, become completely entranced by. 'Since I Left You' by Aussie sonic collage artists, The Avalanches, is one of those records where upon first listen you can tell is something really unique and cool, but end up scratching your head over. Then, eventually, after tucking it away, you bust out later to give it another spin...and then another...and another, until...PING! It all comes together.

Not quite a hip hop or a dance or an electronica album, but equal measures of all of them combined. Really, it's the closest successor to the Beastie Boys sample-laden masterpiece 'Paul's Boutique' which is amazing for one glaring reason. After said B-Boys release and De La's '3 Feet High & Rising' dropped in the late 80's, the business of sample clearance hit artists hard and, in my opinion, almost neutered the genre of hip-hop/rap completely. Where albums like those cut apart and wove different pieces of music and sound into amazing tapestry, legal issues basically reduced the art (yeah, ART) of sampling to the wack practice of Diddy looping the hook from a Bowie or Zeppelin tune and rhyming over the top of it.

'Since I Left You' was a feel-good bouillabaisse of disco/flamenco grooves, hip-hop beats, movie dialogue and other 'everything but the kitchen sink' sound effects blended seamlessly together to create something special. Much like 'Paul's Boutique' and '3 Feet High' before it, billions of snippets were painstakingly assembled into one unified body of work w/ the sole purpose of making your head bob and your toe tap. Outside of the whacked-out tune to the insanely good video above, the rest of the songs are like musical Calgon and take you away to place where you can't help but feel good. For those that don't have it, I highly recommend adding it to your collection.

So, now you're probably saying: 'just awesome my man, but why review an album that came out over 6 years ago?' Well, after dropping this gem on the unsuspecting world and laying down a series of insane live shows w/ dozens of folks on stage to recreate what was on wax, they pretty much disappeared outside of a mix album and random side projects/DJ sets...most fans assuming they'd never hear from the band again...until last Monday. The following post showed up from the band on their website forum just a scant few days ago:

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007
4:49 pm

Post subject: a chinese new year message from the avalanches

-----------------------

abracadabra!

happy new year yall. we've
made a heap of mixes and stuff available while we finish the record. they wont
give you a hint of the new albums magical sound unfortunately, but they will
keep you pilgrims well nourished until the next harvest.

its a really thrilling time
for us right now as this record comes together, its so fuckin party you will
die, much more hip hop than you might expect, and while there is still no
accurate estimated time of arrival, were sure you're gonna love it when it
arrives.

much of last year was spent
cutting up the spoken word/instructional records we need to tell the albums
musical story, and we have some 40 odd songs we're narrowing down and finishing.
so its real, it exists, and you know we wouldn't be serving anything up unless
it was gonna give you that same special feeling that since has. funnily enough
its ended up sounding like the next logical step to since, we just had to go
around in a big circle to get back to where we belong.

and one day when you least
expect it you'll wake up and the sample fairy will have left it under your
pillow. so big up to clint for all his work in making the downloads available
for everyone to enjoy, and have a great oh seven.

The post came w/ a mix you can DL HERE and, like they said, not completely indicative of their sound, but a great sample of how fun this band and their music can be if you let it. Enjoy and PEACE!