New Obsession: Azealia Banks

Kind of obsessed with Azealia Banks right now.  People keep comparing her to Nicki Minaj, who I'm not really a fan of (though I just found out my one and a half year old niece is - which is weird in and of itself).  I think Ms. Azealia is a bit more fresh and less packaged: more Kreayshawn, less Ke$ha.  And, she's so cool that she even covered Interpol's "Slow Hands."



Special shout out to my friend Bacon for always thinking of me when he hears the ill shit.

New Single: School of Seven Bells

I hate when I totally miss music that's good.  And, it's all my fault really.  I'm just not paying attention.  That was how School of Seven Bells escaped me.  I did actually catch them on Last Call With Carson Daly and meant to research more, and forgot.  That is, until this morning when I heard "The Night" on KCRW.  LOVE.  "The Night" is the teaser track from their forthcoming album Ghostory which comes out in February 28, 2012.  It's not as lo-fi as some of their previous stuff, maybe meaning they are going in a more poppy direction.  Either way, it's awesome and I can't wait to hear more!!

School of Seven Bells - The Night by Consequence of Sound

Chick Fil-A vs. Me

I would like to start by saying that I love Chick-Fil-A.  I grew up in Tallahassee, where I ate Chick-Fil-A all the time.  I used to hang around there like a typical middle schooler, crushing over a guy who worked there.  Moving to LA, Chick-Fil-A was one of the things I left behind.  I took any chance I would get to stop at a Chick-Fil-A here in LA, stopping there on my way to Palm Springs, feeling lucky when my return trip was on a Monday and not Sunday.  I also considered it a highlight of going to Coachella every year.  So, I was very excited when Chick-Fil-A moved into Hollywood, about a mile from my house.

Naturally, when they moved in it brought up a lot of discussion about Chick-Fil-A's stance on homosexuality, gay marriage and all around Conservative values.  Honestly, if *I* owned a company, I would probably keep my views to myself and just focus on running a business.  If the owners of Chick-Fil-A hate the gays, so be it.  But, don't use corporate money to fund bigoted and anti-gay propaganda.  It just doesn't seem to make good business sense, if you ask me.  But, that's their deal, not mine.  When confronted by a friend about my support of Chick-Fil-A, I told them that the support of anti-gay marriage was just one franchise in Pennsylvania and it didn't seem to be something that the company as a whole supported.  I love my gays, but I wasn't giving up my chikin.  On the real.

Then a couple of weeks ago this article appeared all over my Facebook News Feed, which clearly states that they don't think that gays have a right to marry.  Pretty disappointing, but I was still planning to eat there.  The food is just that good.  And, in any given week, I really only have an 86% chance of eating there (being that they are closed on Sundays and all).

Which brings us to where we are now.

The local Chick-Fil-A's sponsored the KIIS-FM Jingle Ball featuring Lady Gaga here in LA and tweeted about it.

I saw that they posted that on Facebook, and thought, "Well, isn't that queer?"  Lady Gaga is a HUGE gay supporter and the gays LOOOOOVE them some Lady Gaga.  I would be willing to say that she is probably more gay than most of the gays that I know.  I didn't post a comment on Facebook, but then I saw it posted again on Twitter, and decided to chime in.

I thought it was pretty nice and non-confrontational.  I wasn't saying that they were wrong for their opinions on gays, just noting that it's a little contradictory for them to be supporting a gay icon and hoping that they would soon come around.  This was Saturday.  No one really follows me on Twitter.  I talk to about five of my friends on there, and it's mostly for fun.  The next morning, I'm watching football and see that some jackhole has responded to me. 

Who is Justin Clark?  And, why did he see my tweet?  I don't know.  When I went to his profile, it seems that he tweets a lot about Chick-Fil-A.  He likes snowboarding and was snowboarding after he sent that tweet.  I know this, because his profile was public.  Now, it's not.  Maybe he works there.

I responded.

And then I got this.  From the actual Chick-Fil-A! 

ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?!!?!  Rude.  And, on a Sunday no less.  I thought they were supposed to be celebrating the Lord and not sending asshole tweets to someone who didn't do anything to begin with.  I went to Twitter, and the tweet was deleted.  But, I still have it in my inbox and I think it's rude.  And I think they owe me an apology.  And, as far as I'm concerned....no food is good enough to be treated like that.  ON THE REAL.

My New Favorite Web-Obsession: Florida Mugshots

I have stumbled on the BEST WEBSITE EVER!!!   It's called Florida Mugshots and features the latest in Florida Arrests.  The best visual breaking news to come cross my desk in....EVER.  I know that some might say that it's not good to knock people when they're down, but since I am from Florida, it's more like I am laughing WITH them.  I was a little disappointed that my home county of Leon does not show up as an option to search by (meaning that my stalking of old high school chums will only come to pass if they were arrested anywhere else in Florida).  BUT, I was able to see that an ex of mine was arrested back in 2005 for DUI.  Not a shocker, but further proof that crisis was indeed averted.

So far, it looks like Sarasota County is winning with some hot shots:

File Under:  Time sucker of the day.  Check out the Most Popular, or the section tagged Hotties and Hunks.  If you're so inclined, it might turn out to be your own personal Match.com.  You're welcome!

New Music: Black Keys

File Under:  HELL EFFING YES!!

The Black Keys are set to release El Camino - their follow-up to 2010's Brothers on December 6th through Nonesuch Records.  For those of us who can't wait until then, the band has been so kind to preview five songs on their website (in exchange for your email address).  I am so in LIKE with what I hear so far.  This album is going to be huge for them.  I had already heard "Lonely Boy" since it's the first single and love it.  But, I was excited to hear what else they have in store for us.  "Gold On The Ceiling" is soulful and funky, while "Little Black Submarines" is very Led Zeppelin-it starts out very "Stairway to Heaven"and erupts into an explosion of crunching guitars).  The next track is "Sister." which is very along the lines of "Lonely Boy" and will probably be their next single, though if I had to pick, I'd choose the last track "Run Right Back"- which might be my favorite of the bunch.

Can't wait for ONE MORE WEEK!! 

New Obsession Alert: The Big Pink

I recently stumbled on a band called The Big Pink and have been obsessing ever since.  They are set to release their second album in January, 2012 on 4AD.  It's totally fitting that they are now my new favorite band and that they are on 4AD, because 4AD was the home to many of my favorite bands and henceforth became my favorite record label back in the day (ya know, when people had favorite record labels).  I don't know if I would have made it through the 90's without 4AD (would not have been pretty).  They brought me many bands, but I am mostly grateful for: Cocteau Twins, This Mortal Coil, The Breeders, Belly, Throwing Muses, The Amps and most of all...THE PIXIES.  Love, love, love.

Anyway, 4AD knows good music, which is only one reason you should check out The Big Pink.  The better reason is because they are pretty frickin good.  "Stay Gold" had me hooked, and then came "Hit the Ground (Superman)" which sealed the deal.  January 2012 can't come soon enough!
 

Musings From My Flight: The Roach Coach

Every time I fly it’s a different experience.  Mostly because people are FREAKS.  I hate it and I love it at the same time.  While traveling this week, I had the following thoughts I thought were worth sharing:

Dear woman with an obviously teething baby.  They make these things called pacifiers now.  They’re really cool.  You can put them in your baby’s mouth and it will shut them up.  I’m no Dr. Spock, but I have to think that it works better than the ten cookies you’ve crammed in her face hoping for the same result and instead getting more of the blood-curdling Mariah Carey screams that echo through my body like a lightning bolt.  Make it stop.  Please. 

 I was sitting next to an Asian couple.  The woman didn’t speak English.  Or, if she did, she was incredibly rude screaming out her one-word demands to the flight attendant well after she had passed for sugar and cream for her coffee.  And, while I’m glad that she is nimble for her age, I didn’t really appreciate that she would just throw her leg over my face to get into her seat.  Or, that she - in the middle of me typing this - put me in prime motor-boating position for no reason at all, other than to throw her coat into her seat.  Actually, she probably would have leapt over me had I not tapped her with an annoyed, “HI.” The kicker was when she and a friend across the aisle pulled out a Farmer John’s half-pound brick of ham STEAK.  Unsliced.  She opened the package with her teeth and started going at it like a dog on a bone.  She pulled off a quarter of it, handed it to her friend and then proceeded to eat it as though it were a Snickers bar.  In the wrapper.  After downing the ham, she crumpled up the wrapper FULL OF HAM JUICE...OVER MY COMPUTER and then handed it to her husband, who disposed of it in the barf bag.

 While waiting for the flight in the gate area, there was a woman next to me.  She was older, probably early fifties.  As I’m sitting there eating my $10 sandwich before getting on the flight, I can’t help but hear music in my peripheral.  At first, I thought that the lady was wearing headphones and her music was just really loud.  I was thinking, “Get it girl, you rock on with your bad self.”  But, then it got louder and I realized that she was holding her flip phone next to her head, and was listening to some soothing Persian pop music.  It was annoying, but I was trying not to get myself worked up before the flight (I’m kind of a nervous flyer).  Then, she turned it up.   Not one to keep my feelings to myself, I looked at her and said, “REALLY?”  And, she said, “Oh, you can hear that?”  Um, YES.  I think she was mad, but at least she turned it down and moved the phone away from me.  I mean, COME ON!  I wouldn’t pop on some Pantera (or Pavement, for that matter) and expect for the entire flight to want to be entertained by my choice in music.  What is wrong with people?!

New Single: Common

I was once at a dinner with a few friends and the conversation for some reason came around to Common.  I blurted out, "I love him!" and my friend, who happens to be black, asked me why.  Was I a fan of his movies?  Did I like his music?  To be honest, I was caught off guard.  Why do I love Common?  I haven't seen a ton of movies he's in.  I've seen Date Night and Just Wright (which I happen to love...judge me, go ahead).  I don't know him, though I AM convinced we crossed paths when he went to FAMU.  My friend DJ'd at a club where a lot of FAMU dudes hung out and I worked the door on that particular night.  I do like his music, but wouldn't exactly say that I'm an expert.  I love "Go" and "Universal Mind Control" is on my workout playlist.  But, the reason I love Common, which I was embarrassed to admit, is because he's hot.  Let's be honest.  I mean, I'm not fooling myself into thinking that he would go for a goofy white lady, such as myself, but the guy is easy on the eyes.  And, he has a sultry voice that makes you want to turn the lights down.  Rawr.


So, hearing that Common has a new record out makes me happy.  Because I love him.  "Blue Sky" is a really great song.  And the video?  Well, that'll be on repeat for a minute, as they say.

I'm Baaaaack!!

For all of my loyal readers (I'm looking at you, Melissa-and loving you too), I have been indisposed for the last few weeks.  My computer was attacked, crashed and died. Wah Wah.  So, I've moved on with a new computer that is faster and hopefully better.  Goodbye Firefox, hello Chrome.  Goodbye AVG, hello Microsoft Security Essentials.  Let's hope I have a better run this time.

It's weird how a computer glitch like that can knock the socks off of you and derail all of your forward progress, but it did for a few weeks.  So, now I'm back and better than ever.  You heard me.

In more exciting news, I know you're DYING to know what I've been up to, so here goes:

1.  The Psychopath Test:  A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson

Without giving a full book report, I will simply state that I loved this book.  This is a book that we read for book club (and part of the reason that I love book club); it's not a book that I would normally have read on my own volition.  The book was witty, interesting and made me question the mental state of everyone I know.  Like Jon Ronson, I would have reacted the same way...with intense interest and disturbing introspection.  He finds that many of the most successful CEO's are indeed psychopaths.  Interestingly enough, Wall Street loves psychopaths.  One of the subjects, former Sunbeam CEO Al Dunlap, caused Sunbeam stock to catapult upon his hiring.  Al was pretty fascinating.  He seems fairly creepy and disassociated, but philanthropic as well.  He donated a grip of cash to my alma mater Florida State University.  I guess having a building named after you is a big deal to guys like this.  I think the most fascinating person that he interviewed was Emmanuel "Toto" Constant, a Haitian rebel who likes to brag that he once "had dinner with Bill Clinton."  It's pretty intriguing to watch how he tries so hard to make sure that Jon Ronson likes him, and that he honestly does come across as a somewhat likable guy - FOR A MASS MURDERER.  Spoiler Alert: he's a psychopath.

I definitely recommend reading The Psychopath Test.  If anything it gives you something really cool to talk about at dinner parties (and to secretly ponder as you sit on the other side of your boss in meetings).

2.  Cults and Foster the People at The Wiltern

Last Tuesday I went to see Cults and Foster the People.  Initially, I went just to see Cults.  Their self-titled debut is still one of my favorite records of this year.  I have to say that I was really impressed with their live show.  I thought that the singer was really cute, and they sounded pretty tight live.  What I wasn't expecting was to be blown away by Foster the People.  I've heard their record once.  I do love "Pumped Up Kicks," but I hear it all the time so it's kind of lost its luster.  I know that these aren't the lyrics, but I like to pretend that it says:  "Better run, better run....faster than my bubby."  I did think it said that at first and it made me laugh out loud.  I later found out it's bullet.  Bubby is funnier.  I digress.  These kids put on a damn fine show. It's as though someone told them early on, "Always be moving."  Because they all are pretty active on stage.  They dance, they play lots of instruments and they really seem like they are loving what they do and are grateful for it.  It shows.  If they come to a town near you, I definitely recommend seeing them.  For not knowing any of the music, I really really dug it.

3.  Football

Oh Crikey.  Where do I start?  If you follow football at all, then you will know the weekends I have been having just based on my teams:

NCAA Football
#1 will always be Florida State - I went to school here and grew up in Tallahassee, so there ya go.  We're 4-3.  Not happy about that, but we're still "building" our team.  Yeah, whatever.  I just want to win again!!

NFL
Here's where things get sticky.  I have more than one team, which is a little distressing to my fellow football watchers.

#1 - Detroit Lions - we started off hot as shit for a team that went DEFEATED two years ago.  Not counting them out yet.  We've got some pretty awesome players...Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Suh.  Love them!  We're up against Tim Tebow and the Broncos this weekend, so I will enjoy rooting against them more than any other team this year.

#2 - Philadelphia Eagles - since the Lions sucked so hard, and the Bucs weren't doing so great either, I had to pick up another team to root for.  A few of my besties are huge Eagles fans so it made it easy.  And, I like the Eagles swagger...I am a huge fan of the __Seans: DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy.  And, don't hate, but I like Mike Vick. I hate what he did, but he's a good player.

#3 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I had to pick a Florida team to root for, and they used to be staffed full of former Seminoles, so I got into them.

Recently added:  #4:  Minnesota Vikings - I'm not really a Vikings fan (unless they come to LA.  Pleeeeease come to LA!!), but I am a HUUUUGE Christian Ponder fan since he was the quarterback for FSU.  Love, love, love him.  Now that he's starting (and did pretty well, I might add), I have another team to watch.

4.  Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at The Music Box

I'm sure I've mentioned this a few times before, but Steve Malkmus is my boyfriend.  I could not live without him in my life, whether it be through Pavement or his solo work.  I thought for a bit that I could just ignore his solo work and pretend that Pavement was where it all ended.  But, after the Pavement reunion last fall, I was reminded how much I loved him.  So, we're back together.  I went to see him and The Jicks at The Music Box last Wednesday and the show was great as usual.  Although he was complaining of back pain, he seemed to be in a good mood.  He was cutting jokes.  He danced.  Ahem, he DANCED.  I was bummed that I didn't get any pictures, but the show was awesome and I just wanted to mention it to remind everyone that his latest record, produced by Beck, is pretty boss.

WOW.  Well, I think that's it for now.  It's been a busy month away from writing and trying to get my life and hard drive back in order.  Thanks for listening!!

Way Back Wednesday: Dan Hartman

When I was growing up, my mom owned an aerobics studio so she had tons of albums of all the current hits.  A lot were 12 inches with remixes and instrumentals.  They were sorted and labeled by what the good songs were, how long they lasted and for what exercise.  This one was one of my mom's favorites and it will forever remind me of doing DOGGIES.  You probably won't find many people in the gym doing doggies these days, at least that's not what they're calling it.  I stand by the fact that the doggie is still an effective exercise...even though it's not the 80's.  And, this song might still be one of my mom's favorites.  She's old school.

*Please note, I tried to find an 80's video of the doggie, but couldn't weed through all of the videos of dogs doing aerobics to find it.  It's also known as the fire hydrant.  HOT.

Check out the new video from...Dawes!

I fell in love with Dawes on their debut record North Hills with their song "When My Time Comes" and I'm so happy that they are back with a follow-up Nothing is Wrong.  The first single from the record is "Time Spent in Los Angeles" and the video was filmed in the Hollywood Hills this summer with director Sam Jones who also did videos for Foo Fighters and Wilco.  Dawes is co-headlining a tour with Blitzen Trapper this fall and taking along The Belle Brigade and Smoke Fairies for the ride.  I can't wait to see them in November in Los Angeles!  Check them out when they are in your hood:

10/7/11 FRI         Petaluma, CA                     Mystic Theater

10/8/11 SAT        Santa Barbara, CA            SOHO

10/9/11 SUN       San Diego, CA                  Belly Up

10/10/11 MON   Phoenix, AZ                       Crescent Ballroom

10/11/11 TUE     Santa Fe, NM                    Santa Fe Sol Live

10/13/11 THU    Dallas, TX                          Club Dada

10/14/11 FRI      Utopia, TX                         Utopia Fest

10/15/11 SAT     Baton Rouge, LA               Manship Theater

10/18/11 TUE     Atlanta, GA                        Variety Playhouse

10/19/11 WED   Nashville, TN                      Mercy Lounge

10/20/11 THU    Louisville, KY                     Headliner's

10/21/11 FRI     Asheville, NC                      Orange Peel

10/22/11 SAT    Carrboro, NC                     Cat's Cradle

10/24/11 MON Washington, DC                   Black Cat

10/26/11 WED  New York, NY                   Webster Hall

10/27/11 THU   Philadelphia, PA                  Theater of Living Arts

10/28/11 FRI     Boston, MA                        Royale

10/30/11 SUN   Toronto, ON                      Opera House

11/1/11 TUE      Cleveland, OH                    Beachland Ballroom

11/2/11 WED    Grand Rapids, MI               Calvin College

11/3/11 THU     Chicago, IL                         The Metro

11/4/11 FRI       Minneapolis, MN                First Avenue

11/5/11 SAT      Milwaukee, WI                   Turner Hall

11/7/11 MON    Boulder, CO                       Fox Theater

11/10/11 THU   Vancouver, BC                   Rickshaw Theater

11/11/11 FRI     Seattle, WA                        The Neptune

11/12/11 SAT    Portland, OR                      Crystal Ballroom

11/13/11 SUN   Eugene, OR                        McDonald Theater

11/15/11 TUE    San Francisco, CA             The Fillmore

11/17/11 THU   Los Angeles, CA                The Music Box

Download a free EP sampler from the bands on the tour here:

 

Way Back Wednesday: R.E.M.

I heard the news today, oh boy
A band I used to love has gone away
And though the news is very sad
I just have to laugh-

I saw the photographs...

Oh wow.  I loved and still love me some R.E.M.  While I wasn't a huge fan as of late, they were the soundtrack to many years of my life.  "Pretty Persuasion," "Radio Free Europe," "I Believe" ...all amazing songs that I still love today.  My BFF Michele and I knew all the words to "It's the End of the World" (harmonies and all) and would annoy everyone around us by singing them at the top of our lungs.


R.I.P. R.E.M.
and I feel fine....

New Music: Girls

Love Love love this record!!  I seriously can't get enough.  I'm new to the Girls fan club, but after this record I might become president.  Father, Son, Holy Ghost is addictive.  It's 60's rock.  It's 70's rock.  It's not really 80's or 90's rock.  It's just awesome.  The record could be described as being all over the place...in a good way.  Some of the songs are very AM radio, others lean toward prog rock/metal and some are shoegazy romps.   You'd think with all of that, the record would be incongruent.  But, it's not.  It blends together and wraps you in a musical burrito of yumminess.

The common theme of this record is love.  And, Girls have done a great job of spooling together a record that gets ya right where it hurts.  Whether you are falling in or out of love, there is something for everyone.  The album opens with the very upbeat "Honey Bunny" and rolls into one of my favorite songs "Alex" with it's simple lo-fi melodies and lazy vocals.  It's really simple: "Alex has blue eyes. Well, who cares?  Well, I do."  It has this summer fun quality about the song that you can just picture a sunny day in the park.  "Die" is an homage to 70's metal, almost sounding like Muse, but not as produced.  "Saying I Love You" is a really sweet love song that feels like something I would've heard in the back of my Mom's VW Bug driving to Florida in the 70's.  "My Ma" is reminiscent of Cat Power's "The Greatest" or something by The Promise Ring and is sleepy and sweet.  While the name of "Vomit" is not something that is flattering, it's probably the most complex song on the record.  I can't help but think Pink Floyd when I hear it, but then it hits the crescendo with janky guitars and takes a My Morning Jacket turn, with Christopher Owens ranting "Come into my heart" over and over as this wailing female vocal comes in just as the emotion washes over you.  I have a feeling that this is the song to hear live.  My next favorite song is "Love Like a River" which also features that same Gospel choir as the perfect backdrop to another song that gives me chills.  The heartbreaking "Forgiveness" is the opus of the record at almost eight minutes and it's quite the tugger of heartstrings:

"Nothing's gonna get any better
If you don't have a little hope
If you don't a little love
In your soul

Nothing's gonna get any better
If you're drowning in your fear
If you've got nothing but sorrow
In your soul

And you'll have to forgive me brother
And you'll have to forgive me sister
And I'll have to forgive you if we're ever gonna move on

No one's gonna find any answers
If you're looking in the dark
When you're looking for the reason
To give up

No one's gonna find any answers
If you're just trying to hide
From the things you know inside
Are the truth"

Father, Son, Holy Ghost is not a record to be missed and is one of my favorites for this year so far.  You can stream it below for a limited time:

It's TV Season Premiere Party Time!!!

The Fall TV shows are here!  The Fall TV shows are here!  YAY!!  Most people I know are not as open as I am about their obsession with TV.  But, I LOVE it.  I have so many shows that my DVR is often overflowing.  I watch three soaps, Judge Judy, Letterman and Jimmy Fallon, which are all dailies. On any given week, I would say that I take in a good 30+ hours of TV a week.  I know that's a little much, but I'd watch more if I could.  Until Time Warner gets with the times and has the "tape four shows at a time" DVR, I will have to make some tough decisions.  (Sorry, Glee: you didn't make the cut a few years ago).  I'm hoping that the following shows will not disappoint and make my DVR and I the happiest people on earth:


1.  Prime Suspect

Now that my beloved Law & Order is in the tanker, I'll be looking for a new procedural drama to keep me warm in the winter months.  I feel like Prime Suspect is going to nicely fit the bill.  Mario Bello is great.  Aiden Quinn?  Like him too.  Only complaint?  It's up against The Mentalist.  This better not mean that only one can survive.  Because The Mentalist that had the most intense season ender that I literally was on the edge of my seat.  I can do both.  Let's hope America can too.

Prime Suspect, Thursdays 10-11pm on NBC
The Mentalist, Thursdays 10-11pm on CBS

2.  Castle

Castle stars my boyfriend, Nathan Fillion, so this is a no brainer.  When they left us last season, Beckett was shot at the funeral of her former mentor turned bad guy and Castle whispered, "I love you" as the credits closed.  I'm not really into Beckett and Castle getting together (hello, he should be with me) and I actually liked it when she was with Michael Trucco (hello, hunk #2).  But, I have a feeling that the romantic tension this season will be off the charts.  Either way, I can't wait for more hunkiness and laughs with Captain Hammer.

Castle, Mondays 10-11pm on ABC

3. Up All Night

I love Christina Applegate, I love Will Arnett and I love Maya Rudolph, so this one should be a no-brainer.  It's a comedy from Emily Spivey, who was a writer on Saturday Night Live, so I'm hoping for my new favorite 30 Rock. 

Up All Night, Wednesdays 8-830pm on NBC

4.  Revenge

I loved Emily VanCamp on Brothers & Sisters, so I'm looking forward to watching her be devious and somewhat evil on Revenge.  The show starts with Emily's dad being murdered, and her avenging his death throughout the season.  They're comparing this show to Dallas with the "Who shot JR?" premise, but I'm hoping that it will bring enough drama to satiate my loss of my favorite soap One Life to Live.  ABC owes me.

Revenge, Wednesdays 10-11pm on ABC 

5.  Big Bang Theory

I was so excited that Jim Parsons won another Emmy for his performance as Sheldon on Big Bang Theory.  Jim Parsons brings an amazing performance and convincingly delivers lines with terminology that might as well be Mandarin to those outside of Comic-Con circles.  I'm hoping that Leonard and Penny get back together this season.  *fingers crossed*

Big Bang Theory, Thursdays 8-8:30pm on CBS

6.  Parks & Recreation

While I do love Modern Family, I think that Parks & Recreation was robbed by not winning the Emmy this year.  This last season was brilliant with the additions of Adam Scott and Rob Lowe.  I still have the episode on my DVR where Rob Lowe plays the "air banjo" in the back of the car.  It is sheer genius.  And, don't even get me started on Nick Offerman.  He could read the phone book and I would cry laughing.

Parks & Recreation, Thursdays 8:30-9pm on NBC

Still on the fence:

Whitney: I'm not sure how to feel about this one.  On one hand, I want to like it.  She's funny at roasts and I've heard that she's a really nice person.  I'm just not sure if I can get behind this show like NBC has.  Jesus...I can't go anywhere without seeing her face.  It's a little much.  Speaking of, did she have plastic surgery?  She looks like she did something.  Fillers?  Chris D'Elia was hilarious as the perv on Workaholics, so I may end up tuning in for him

Thursdays, 9:30-10pm on NBC


2 Broke Girls: I'm just not sure what to think of this one.  It has the potential to be funny, but the previews are just meh.  Entertainment Weekly put it in their top 5, so we'll see.

Mondays, 8:30-9pm on CBS

Person of Interest:  Sadly, this one is up against The Office and Grey's Anatomy so I'm going to have to go to my backup DVR for this one.  Again, Entertainment Weekly put it in their top 5, so I'm going to give it a shot.  J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Nolan...definitely a show of interest.  It may get the ax if I don't have time.

Thursdays, 9-10pm on CBS

I'm exhausted already!! 

Way Back Wednesday: Human League

Talking about Men At Work hitting the road with Human League last week made me think of my all-time favorite song by Human League.  It's not "Fascination" or "Don't You Want Me."  In fact, it's not a song that most people have probably heard, even though it's from their biggest hit Dare.  The DJ used to play "Seconds" at Club Park Avenue when I was in college and it was one of my favorites.  It could probably go down as the happiest sounding song about the JFK assassination that has ever existed.  For me it goes down as being in the long list of Jeannie-Emo songs.  I listen to it and am transported back in time to the early 90's and all of the shenanigans that ensued: my friend Gidget driving us around all night going from party to party, using her leg to guide the steering wheel, coming home with sludge all over the bottom of my Laura Ashley dress that we all thought was so cool to wear to Goth night and being at parties on Columbia Drive doing a lot of unmentionable things.  Ahhh...those were the days.

New Single: Rachael Yamagata

I'm so excited that Rachael Yamagata has a new album coming out!  This will be her first release since 2008's Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart, which was a great album.  The first single from Chesapeake is "Even If I Don't," a beautiful upbeat love song about looking back on a relationship and missing it but knowing that it would never work.  The video was directed by her brother Josh Ruben, and features a lion and a bunny falling in and out of love.  I love what the song says:

"All those words
said at the ending
were pretty revealing

I can't forget them

All those ways
missed our connecting
despite all our trying
it always came back to what I couldn't give you."

I think we all know that story a little too well.

Chesapeake will be released on October 11th via Rachael's record label Frankenfish Records.  She'll also be hitting the road this fall for a full US tour.

OCTOBER

24th - Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall

25th - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Lodge

27th - Ithaca, NY - Deliah's

28th -  Northampton, MA - Iron Horse

30th - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

31st - Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live

NOVEMBER

1st - Washington, DC - Birchmere

2nd - Baltimore, MD - Sound Stage

4th - Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory

5th -  Pittsburgh, PA - Club Café

6th - Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom (Small Room)

7th - Detroit, MI - St Andrews Hall

8th - Chicago, IL - Logan Square

10th - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Ballroom

11th - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line

12th - Davenport, IA - Redstone Room

14th - Kansas City, KS - Record Bar

16th - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge

18th - Salt Lake City, UT - State Room

20th - Spokane, WA - A Club

21st - Vancouver, BC - Media Club

22nd - Seattle, WA - Crocodile

23rd - Portland, OR - Doug Fir

25th - San Francisco, CA - Slim's

27th - San Diego, CA - Casbah

29th - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

30th - Tuscon, AZ - Crescent Ballroom

DECEMBER

2nd - Austin, TX - Parish

3rd - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's Upstairs

4th - Dallas, TX - The Loft

5th - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom - 2nd Stage

7th - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill

8th - Nashville, TN - 12th and Porter

9th - Birmingham, AL - Work Play

10th - Atlanta, GA - Vinyl

12th - Charleston, SC - New Brookland Tavern

13th - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre

15th - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506

16th - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern

17th - Louisville, KY - Headliners

18th - Columbus, OH - The Basement

20th - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's

21st - New York, NY - City Winery

22nd - New York, NY - City Winery

New Single: Class Actress

  Weekend by Class Actress

Class Actress is on my radar since I heard their song "Let Me Take You Out" in a bar and became obsessed with Elizabeth Harper's dreamy vocals.  The latest single "Weekend" is making the rounds for download this week and I'm so excited to hear something new from them.  Their debut EP Journal of Ardency was released on Chris Taylor's (of Grizzly Bear) Terrible Records in 2010 and they are finally releasing their first full-length Rapprocher in October 2011.  I expect for it to be full of lovelorn dance anthems showcasing Harper's wistful vocals and synth pop beats.  I can't wait!

You can download "Weekend" on their Soundcloud page and get the latest info here.

Way Back Wednesday: Men At Work via Lazlo Bane

I had just moved to Los Angeles and my friends who worked at Geffen Records invited me to see a band called Lazlo Bane at the Viper Room.  I hadn't heard of them before, but was always down to see new music.  They started in on a cover of Men At Work's "Overkill." Men At Work is a band I haven't thought much of since the 80's, other than anytime I had come across an Aussie and asked them if they'd like a bite of my vegemite sandwich (for the record, the answer was always no).  The song was going on, and it was a really good version of it.  I liked the smashing guitars and it didn't seem as "80's" as I remembered the original being.  When the song came to crescendo, Colin Hay suddenly pops up on stage and grabs a mike.  I had chills as he wailed "I can't get to sleeeeep..."  It was definitely NOT overkill.  In fact, it was pretty freaking awesome.  I literally had tears in my eyes, it was that awesome.  You can kind of get the vibe from the recorded version, but I have to say that I will never forget that moment.  It made me love a song that had previously been a throwaway from middle school and gave me a new found sense of appreciation for Colin Hay and his vocal talent. Lazlo Bane went on to sing the theme to Scrubs and I'm sure recording a bunch of other stuff. Colin Hay resurrected his career with a song on the Garden State Soundtrack, and recently resurrected Men At Work for a tour with Human League.

Way Back Wednesday: Huey Lewis & the News

The first thing you think of when you think Huey Lewis is probably, well, The News, but you also probably think of their smash hits "I Want a New Drug" or "The Power of Love" (the theme from Back to the Future). Those are some hot tracks, but my favorite Huey Lewis & the News song is "Do You Believe in Love?"  I was oddly obsessed with this song for many years, and I don't know why.  It's not a favorite song.  If anyone were to ask my favorite 80's song or to list 100 songs, this one wouldn't even come up on my radar.  But, it was a song that was stuck in my head for most of my college years and beyond.  It's a super catchy song and it's a happy song.  It was my "shower" song, my cleaning song, my "annoy my roommates" song.  It was the song I would sing when I was walking.  Down a one way street.  JUST LIKE THE SONG.

"I was walking
Down a one way street
Just a lookin
For someone to meet
One woman
Who was lookin for a maaaan."

Besides insinuating that I'm a prostitute, I do still love this song and may need to add it back into my repertoire.  I must admit that Huey Lewis is still hot.  Yeah, I said it.  Judge all you want, but I'd hit it. 

Maybe I really DO believe in love.


Call me, Huey.

New Single: Mastodon

Metaaaaal!  \m/ 

Mastodon is releasing their new album coming out on September 27th called The Hunter.  "Curl of the Burl" is a track from that record and if it's any indication of what's to come, it's gonna be huge.  Mastodon has some pretty cool shit planned for this record.  They are releasing it in several different configurations for fans, with limited edition copies and one that is going to use augmented reality.  Fans can put their face on the sculpture featured on the cover in 3D.  I love when bands think outside the box and try to give fans something cool to go along with the record!  It means they care; they really care.

New Music: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

Despite having been crushing on Stephen Malkmus since the early 90's when he was the frontman for my most favorite band Pavement, I never really got into his solo work.  I wrote about this before, but it begs mentioning again.  When the Pavement reunion happened last year, my passion for all things Malkmus was reinvigorated and just in time too.  He's got a new record out with his band the Jicks, and this time it's produced by Beck, who I also love. 

Mirror Traffic is a really good record.  It's got all the signature Malkmus poetic tricks mixed with Beck's twangy almost country production.  It's pretty apparent on a song like "No One Is (As I Are Be)" which has a very dizzy 60's ish melodic twangy thing going on.  Same with "Long Hard Book" where the Sweethearts of the Rodeo influence and Beck's latest mellowness really come through.  "All Over Gently" and "Fall Away" feel like Sea Change meets older Jicks tracks.  In a good way, of course. 

I'm sure that Malkmus hates it, but people are always going to compare his music to that of Pavement's.  While I think that there are songs on here that are very Pavement-esque ("Senator" and "Spazz"), this isn't why I love this record.  It's surprises like "Asking Price" that really get me; when he wails "the distortion is way too clear" I just melt inside.  Then there's "Share The Red" which gets me all emo.  I mean, come on...with lyrics like this:

"Have you no ear?
Have you no eyes?
You've got no idea of how to survive
Have you no tears?
Have you no heart?
You've got no idea what set you apart"

It seems like Malkmus has really grown up.  I feel like there is a certain cognizance of getting married, having a family and getting older in a lot of these songs.  In fact, his kids are even in the video for "No One Is (As I Are Be)."  (Cute!)  There are still bangers like "Tune Grief" and "Forever 28," which is a great example of a song about being young and getting old.  While I'm not driving a mini-van yet, I can still relate to the tone of the record and appreciate that he's allowed this part of his life come through.  I always pictured him being just too damn cool to give a shit, so it's nice to know that he does.  He even touches on the daily grind in "Gorgeous Georgie," which closes out the record leaving you wanting more and glad that there's a repeat button.  I have to admit that I loved almost every song on the record (just being honest), and am happy to welcome Mr. Malkmus and his Jicks back to my life.