Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (2/10/13)

Another February Sunday morning.  Finishing up just a little later this morning.  Late night working yesterday and then a lazy morning not wanting to get started today.  Dee went to her Winter Ball last night and looked so grown up and mature - feeling like the old man today.  Caleb's basketball team lost a tough overtime game yesterday too.  Christian has started his JV baseball season with a couple scrimmages and did well so far.  I have to get in a quick workout soon before I have to go draft Caleb's baseball team.  And carve out a long nap in there somewhere.  Until then I'm looking over the kids I might draft, watching the weather report and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

PINK MARTINI - TAYA TAN.  The Portlandia band makes another appearance in the tuneage this week - never a bad thing.  This is off the 2007 "Hey Eugene!" album.  It's a cover of a Japanese song from the 1970s - can't really sing along - do the lyrics even make sense?  But it's always a fun touch to the morning.

LAURYN HILL - MR. INTENTIONAL.  Is this tune from the "Unplugged album  really the last time we've had a Miss Hill release?  That was 2002.  These are the type of lyrics that she writes the best - trapped in a relationship with a man that exploits her and doesn't treat her the way she deserves.  Reminded this morning what a great voice on Miss Hill.  We need more of her out there.

AMERICA - THE BORDER.    It had been a little bit since "You Can Do Magic" when America hit the charts one last time in late 1983.  This single was, trust me, the only good song on the "Your Move" album.  This also fits in between their soundtrack work on THE LAST UNICORN and THE LONELY GUY.  Judging from the cover photo on the album - this was a very confusing time for the members of America.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . watch BACK TO THE FUTURE in a minute . . . 

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013 . . . Always knew ED KOCH as the crazy mayor of New York City in the 1980s.  He was the mayor that David Letterman needed as a comic foil in his early days. The man always seemed so jolly. . .  Reg Presley was the lead singer of The Troggs - best remembered as the voice on "Wild Thing" . . . Stuart Freeborn was the major makeup artist for Yoda.  He worked on 2001 and DR STRANGELOVE (all the Peter Sellers characters) too.  But I also regret that he was a major player in the Ewok makeup creation. . . Donald Byrd, Detroit native, brought that Midwestern funk sound to his bebop jazz.  The was best with the Blackbyrds and in recent history with Guru on the Jazzmatazz albums. . . 

There was a West Coast request for a special Quick List this week.  I did not get the time to think of my uninformed Top Ten and will address that list next week . . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST FICTIONAL CATS OF ALL-TIME

10.  THE CAT IN THE HAT (THE CAT IN THE HAT)  This trouble maker kitty is the other side of cats - but a valid one - the cat who causes trouble when everyone is gone for the day.

9.  BILL THE CAT (Bloom County / Outland)  Known for weird sounds and seemingly stoned for most of the series - he was always worth a laugh and such a skinny tabby.

8.  BUCKY KATT (Get Fuzzy)  It's Bucky and Satchel Pooch that run this show.  Bucky, like most cats in a cat-dog relationship, runs the show and takes advantage of the more innocent Satchel.

7.  CROOKSHANKS (Harry Potter)  Of course, Hermione had a great cat.   Like all the best cats - he wasn't a wanted one (squashed face) but Hermione bought him anyways and he's one of my favorites.

6.  JONESY (Alien)  Other than Ripley who else is going to survive an Alien attack?  The dogs don't do so well against The Thing but Jonesy makes his way through the series pretty stealthily. 

5.  FELIX (Felix the Cat)  Excessively cute and funny cat that was one of the first cats to star in his own cartoons.  Still clever and funny today.

4.  TOM CAT (Tom and Jerry)  Too many people only know this cat from the past decade of cartoons.  But if you sit down to watch some of the greats from the 1960s, you'll know what a great team Tom and Jerry made.  Not many blue cats around but Tom has a classic look despite his colors.  Pay attention to his expressions - he does with his face what others try to accomplish with their words.  Brilliance.

3.  GARFIELD (Garfield)  I've always had a spot in my heart for the fuzzy tabby kitty.  Why else would I put up with Desmond?  Garfield was one of my favorite comic strips growing up and he's still the cat that most current cats are measured against.

2.  SYLVESTER THE CAT (LOONEY TUNES)  Much better when chasing Tweety than the later days of chasing Speedy Gonzales.  What a classic kitty look with the black and white fur.  And I often imagine my cats talking with a lisp.  Some of the best moments were with his doubting son, Sylvester Jr.

1.  CHESHIRE CAT (Alice's Adventures In Wonderland)  A big fat cat who raises philosophical questions and can disappear and appear as just a head.  There is a fundamental understanding of what makes a cat a cat here and has always been my favorite cat.

What cats don't make the cut?  There are only a few that I really don't like and that's mainly because they are too annoying - and not in the adorable way that cats can be annoying.  The worst?  Heathcliff is one of the worst - not in comic form but his cartoons are almost unwatchable.  Salem from "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" was too smart for his own good - dumb black cats.  Had they been in more cartoons - I would love to have included Babbit and Catstello from the Looney Tunes appearance.  Just off the list - Stimpy, Top Cat, Puss N Boots, and Mr Jinks.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . Some great additions in the past week or two including the once very popular but now forgotten film from 1980 - ORDINARY PEOPLE is a powerful film about the loss of a son and the sadness of those who remain . . . TRADING PLACES is one of my favorite Eddie Murphy films and there's a very special Jamie Lee Curtis scene in the film (if you know, then you know) . . .  SHAOLIN SOCCER is one of the better Stephen Chow films but I fear this might be dubbed . . .  GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT is a film for anyone who appreciates a good Gregory Peck film.  He's very much in his MOCKINGBIRD mode again here.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#179 - The Silence of the Lambs
#434 - Fight Club
#453 - Lucky Number Slevin

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The MARK TWAIN project.  I had finished "The Innocents Abroad" a year ago and I've been reading chapters of "Roughing It" ever so often since then.  I"m a little over 2/3rds through this one and I've enjoyed the storytelling even more.  His humor from future novels is present in this 1872 book.  I've recently enjoyed his writings on San Francisco and especially regarding the big earthquake.  I am considering some fiction next - "The Gilded Age" anyone?

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#49 -  Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill (1986)

In 1986, my view of the Hip Hop world was completely changed by one album with 44 minutes of the most unique sounds I'd heard to that point.  The "Raising Hell" album by Run DMC would show me that rock sounds good coexist with rap.  Rick Rubin created a sound that would be copied for over 20 years.  This was an album that if you were my age in 1986, you had to memorize the lyrics to every song.  And today I can still do them all for you in a pinch.  I'm not going to try to put over on you that this is their best album.  You know it isn't.  But there's part of this list of mine that includes an album for what it meant to me when it was released.  And this was the definition of a game changer.  Still fun?  For sure.  Put on some of these tunes at a bar and prepare to identify everyone over the age of 40.  Still love these songs - "The New Style", "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" and "She's Crafty" can still get me up and on my feet.  The sampling world and the potential audience for hip hop more than doubled the day these New York boys dropped this wax.

Slow and low that is the tempo . . . 

Previous Rankings

#50 - Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove (1978)#51 - Steely Dan - Aja (1977)

#52 - Prince - Dirty Mind (1980)
#53 - The Stooges - The Stooges (1969)
#54 - Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill (1972)
#55 - The Doors - The Doors (1967)

#56 - Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends (1968)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

CASTLE (ABC)  This show seems to be stuck in a single mode this season.  It's all formula.  Tonight seems like the same episode that has aired 6 times since the first of the year.  It's a murder on the set of "The Wives Of Wall Street".

THE BIGGEST LOSER (NBC)  We're halfway - good episodes so far.  But now the teams are dissolved and I have to learn to appreciate more of the individuals.  Can Jillian go back to being mean now?

TUESDAY

WILD THNGS w/DOMINIC MONAGHAN (BBC)  In Venezuela to find the world's largest centipede.  So creepy - I might not be able to even record this and know the big centipede is on my Tivo.

CITIZEN KANE (TCM)  Your choice - watch the "State Of The Union" address or one of the greatest films ever made.  Hahaha.  I wrote that like it's really a choice.

WEDNESDAY

SURVIVOR (CBS)  More fans vs favorites, this time in Caramoan.  I enjoyed the casts with three returning cast members - ten might be just a bit too many for me.  But after the last few great seasons - I'm onboard.

ARROW (CW)  Ollie is injured and Felicity has to help.  I'm still getting my head around kinda liking this show.  A bit.  Enough to only ever fall an episode behind or less.

THURSDAY

COMMUNITY (NBC)  Maybe the only show I want to watch on stupid Valentine's Day - because this week is the Halloween episode.  A much better holiday.

THE OFFICE (NBC)  Glad that the Sound Guy Brian thing isn't going to ruin the end of the show.  Pam is off to Philly for an interview - you can kinda see where the end of this show is heading.

FRIDAY

THE JOB (CBS)  Cosmo editor in chief is looking for a new editorial assistant.  What better way to find a high quality employee than with reality candidates on a Friday night TV show?

GRAND HOTEL (TCM)  This Greta Garbo pic is studded with lots of other stars and a much better way to spend your Friday night.

SATURDAY

PLANET OF THE APES / BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (AMC)  The originals and still the best - start your evening relaxing with a double feature.

RIPPER STREET (BBC)  I've got the whole season lining up on Tivo ready to watch.  It's similar to the way I watched "Copper" and that was a good experience.

SUNDAY

KILLING LINCOLN (NAT GEO)  Not exactly the Oscar nominated film - this attacks it from a much different angle.  I hate to mention that it's based on the Bill O'Reilly novel because there just went 80% of the audience that read this.  I'm still interested because it concentrates on one of the most interesting moments of American History.  So full of meaning.

ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC)  I wasn't going to watch it.  Then I started and wanted to catch up.  But then I lost all my mojo for it around the beginning of the year.  In a quandary now - worth getting through the 1st season?   This whole stuff with Rumpelstiltskin seems ridiculous.

AMAZING RACE (CBS) and WALKING DEAD (AMC)  are returning favorites that once again make Sunday nights the busiest Tivo night of the week and a logistical nightmare to make sure everything records correctly.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . . Generally not a great year for Super Bowl ads.  The creativity is happening elsewhere but these ads were pretty safe.  These weren't all the most popular but they are generally the most discussed ads of the past week from the Super Bowl.  Start with the tear jerker from Budweiser . . . .

And there's the touching Paul Harvey ad.  I love Paul and I'm the grandson and nephew of farmers so this was extra special to me . . . 

I love libraries and librarians and library humor with this whisper fight over Oreos.

And lastly.  I love everything about this Dorito's Goat For Sale commercial . . .

"Because Mutiny on the Bounty's what we're all about
I'm gonna board your ship and turn it on out
No soft sucker with a parrot on his shoulder
'Cause I'm bad getting bolder, cold cold gettin' colder."  - Beastie Boys


Drinkin' not thinkin'.  Rhyme and steal.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (12/16/12)

Welcome to a brave new world.  After probably seven years of posting my Sunday ramblings on MySpace at GenX 13 blog, I'm venturing out into scary territory and trying out a new home for my little blog.  It's a little collection of thoughts every Sunday (well, truly about 48 of them in an average year).  I hope you find the new home pleasant to read.  I'm still learning how it all works - any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

Interesting Saturday - the usual 13 hours Saturday that followed the 15 hour Friday.  So, I'm a little beat down today.  And I accomplished a first in 10 years of coaching yesterday - I got kicked out of a kid's basketball game.  I wish it was a more interesting story but everyone agrees I didn't raise a voice or call the ref a name.  I just questioned their knowledge of the rules - which was agreed upon by all present was non-existent.  Needless to say - it was a loss again for Caleb.  Today is a busy day for a tired guy - workout, The Hobbit, bills to pay, Survivor and maybe a little time out tonight.  And not to mention, Caleb gets the Amazing Race pick for lunch since his team finished second and that's Applebee's.  Until then I'm having some protein and looking over the HBO schedule for the week and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

PINK MARTINI - LILY.  This little ditty is a clever song that's obviously about a tiny doggy.  But it's also easy to think of it about a girl if you are in such a mood - "Lily leaves kiss on your collar."   This is from the 2004 album, "Hang On, Little Tomato" which is ironically from a Hunts commercial and the album is on Heinz Records.  I love this little eclectic orchestra.  They are hard to define.  This tune is pretty illustrative of what they have to offer.

BERLIN - THE METRO.   This is from a 1982 album - "Pleasure Victim" - but I remember the single from the Summer of 1983.  I'd heard their "Sex (I'm A . . )" song briefly but thought it was someone like Soft Cell.  This song with Terri Nunn on vocals became one of my first MTV video crushes.  And her voice was brilliant too.  A perfect example of New Wave - weird lyrics, pop sensibilities with a rocking sequencer beat.  Still one of my favorites.

TIMBALAND - APOLOGIZE (feat. One Republic)  I actually kind of like this song now.  It was one of those songs in 2007 that was everywhere - in stores, on radio, at sports arenas and on commercials.  I was getting quite sick of it but now over 5 years later it is a nice reminder of those days.  This is the Timbaland remix of that song - slightly better than the original with the added samples and beats.  I think this will be a song to get some nice cover versions in the future.

IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO TODAY . . .  Bill Parcells is hired as head coach of the New York Giants . . . Groo #1 by Sergio Aragones is published by PC Comics. . .  top selling books - James Michener - Space and Robert Ludlum - The Parsifal Mosaic. . . 

DEADLIGHTS OF 2012 . . . Norah Jones' dad had a bit of a musical career himself.  Ravi Shankar was just a go-to sitar name for me for years.  But seeing him in that George Harrison documentary gave me a new appreciation for his music.  Then I remembered that his soundtrack was one of the best parts of the Apu Trilogy.  Rock on, Ravi . . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST CHRISTMAS FOODS OF AL-TIME

10.  WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BARK.  Anything that combines the fresh taste of peppermint with the great taste of chocolate is right up my alley.

9.  PECAN PIE.  We had one with Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean there won't be one on the Christmas dessert table.  It's always a Christmas pie in my mind.

8.  GINGERBREAD COOKIES.  Simple and tasty.  With our without frosting.

7.  PEANUT BRITTLE.  Why don't more people make this anymore?  Seems like a dying art.  And taking the chance of breaking a tooth to eat this awesome treat is worth every bite.

6.  SHINER CHEER.  My favorite seasonal beer is Sam Adams' Octoberfest.  But this is very close - it's got a nice tang to it.  I like to just have some in the fridge - especially for the lazy afternoons just after Christmas Day.  Good also for Bowl season in early January.

5.  HOT CHOCOLATE.  Good on any cold afternoon.  But here in Texas - you have to take advantage of the few cold days as they appear.  When the temps drop into the 30s - mostly in December or January - there's nothing like having a nice mug of Hot Cocoa - especially after dinner as a warming dessert.

4.  MIXED NUTS IN THE SHELL.  I don't always like having to work for my snacks.  But a Christmas time it's nice to sit in front of the TV with a bowl of pecans, almonds, Brazil nut and walnuts and crack away and them with what seems like a broken knuckle tool waiting to draw blood.  Oddly - I only get them this time of year although I don't think it's the season for any of those nuts.

3.  TOFFEE.  Much like the Peanut Brittle - it used to be everywhere.  Now not nearly enough people know how to make it with the almonds and the rich chocolate.  Mmmm.

2.  CANDY CANES.  They are what candy corn is to Halloween or those Cadbury Eggs to Easter - a wonderful treat that tastes great in the month of the holiday but you don't want it all year around.  I still favor the tiny bite size canes that come in their own tiny plastic bags.

1.  GRANDMA MILLER'S SUGAR COOKIES.  I can't even explain them correctly - they are soft and round and have sugar on top.  My mom does a good job with them but I always associate them with the big batches that my Grandma made at her Allegan home - they were spread all over the house cooling on wax paper.  I miss her and love these cookies.

The worst?  I've made it no secret that I don't care for eggnog.  Even if you put some alcohol in it.  Closest I can come to enjoying it is in ice cream form at Braum's.  And I'll eat a piece of fruitcake but it's not my favorite and I wouldn't seek it out.  And I'm not sure I can identify the flavor of a mince pie - I always think I would like it but rarely does it taste good.  Have I ever even had Fig pudding?  Not making the list - but a guilty pleasure is the terribly stale but yummy popcorn in those big tins.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . .  Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson team up and made a hugely entertaining movie that I don't understand why it didn't get more love - watch THE ADENTURES OF TINTIN now . . .if you need some uncomfortable humor - IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA has multiple seasons available . . . Netflix has tried to do something good - they've taken all of the DOCTOR WHO stories that were available in Instant Watch and collected them under one heading of CLASSIC DOCTOR WHO (as opposed to the ones collected under the DOCTOR WHO which are the new ones).  But they've done this with a complete misunderstanding of how the show is constructed.  There are very random Season numbers attached to episodes with Tom Baker ones coming before Troughton ones in some cases.  This is a total mess and makes it impossible to find specific ones you are looking for.  If you want random classic episodes - this is for you.  If you want consistency - hold off until someone fixes this travesty.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#166 - Kung Fu Panda

#249 - Bottle Rocket (seems like it should change places with the one above)

#755 - A Scanner Darkly

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The ELMORE LEONARD project.  Started up my 2nd Leonard Western novel and had a little time to get into it this week.  I'm reading "Valdez Is Coming" - a novel written 17 years after the first Western I read.  I can tell this is in the hands of a man writing his 8th novel.  And it reflects the 1970 date of writing - much more cruel and intense action.  The bad guys are more evil and the good guys are less good.  This happens in a post-Leone period, unlike the earlier novel I read.  Excited to see where it goes - I know there's a film adaptation from the 70s but I think this has potential if the Coen Bros wanted to try another Western.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#55 - The Doors - The Doors (1967)

Because of the title of this album - I spent much of my youth thinking this was their Greatest Hits album.  For 44 minutes, this album marks a change in rock and roll.  This is a non-stop assault on what was happening in pop music.  It's hard to listen to this today and not fall under Jim Morrison's spell.  This album has a definite American feel that opposes the British sound of The Who, Rolling Stones and Beatles.  I think they shine in the long songs that show off their Blues influence - "Light My Fire" and "The End".  But there's an awesome run of songs on Side One too - "Break On Through" leads into "Soul Kitchen" that leads into the drug induced "The Crystal Ship".   I still take pleasure from listening to this album in order - something that you just don't get on newer albums.  

"Some are born to endless night.  Some are born to endless night."  

Previous Rankings

#56 - Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends (1968)

#57 - REM - Automatic For The People (1992)

#58 - The Who - Who's Next (1971)

#59 - Paul Simon - There Goes Rhymin' Simon (1973)

#60 - Kool & The Gang - Wild & Peaceful (1973)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

OLIVER STONE'S UNTOLD HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES (SHOW) Oliver takes a look at the JFK assassination.  Well, to be fair, another look at the shooting.  And an overall larger look at JFK in general.

GOSSIP GIRL (CW)  They are promising this will be the last episode ever.  I've seen the 1st episode.  None in-between.  But I won't be watching this one just yet.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (ESPN)  Remember when this game used to be entertaining or at least matter?  Are you excited about Jets vs Titans?  Me neither.

TUESDAY

IT'S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS MOVIE (CW)  I like this 2002 TV movie with Kermit discovering he has had "a wonderful life".

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (TCM)  The 1944 is an underrated Holiday film with the most touching Judy Garland version of Christmas favorites.

RAMSAY'S CHRISTMAS COOKALONG (BBC)  Chef Gordon teaches how to make some Yuletide classic dishes.  And probably peppers in some salty language to boot.

WEDNESDAY

THE SOUP: END OF THE WORLD - WE TOLD YOU SO (E!)  We've still got a few days left on the Mayan calendar - hope you have plans to enjoy them.  This serves as an 8 year retrospective of the show including some poop from "Flavor Of Love" and lots of Tila Tequila, I'm guessing.

INVENTION USA (HIST)  I always mean to watch this show.  It seems like a bit of "Mythbusters" for the History Channel crowd.

WHITE CHRISTMAS (AMC)  The 1954 version with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye is great entertainment.  Not my favorite Holiday film but it will help get you in the mood for the next week of goodness.

THURSDAY

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION (ABC FAM)  It's only a handful of days until the big day - this is as much a tradition for my kids as any other film or special.  Tonight's as good a night as any.  Hopefully cold and Dee will fix up some hot chocolate.

HOLIDAY AFFAIR (TCM)  I like discovering old holiday classics that I've never seen.  Caught part of this before - it's a clever 1949 love story with Robert Mitchum and the awesome Janet Leigh (I'm smitten with her).

FRIDAY

CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON (TNT)  The only thing going for this is Conon O'Brien hosting.  The Obamas shouldn't settle for TNT - or any of the Turner family of channels.  Nothing says quality Christmas show like Korean rapper PSY and American Idol's Scotty McCreery.  I fear the First Family will outlive Libya before they outlive this regrettable show.

A WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS: FIRST FAMILIES REMEMBER (NBC)  Wait???  On two channels at once?  At least it isn't basic cable.  Will George W remember his Christmases in the White House?

SATURDAY

ODDITIES: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (SCI)  This show combines things I love - Christmas and odd things.  Elf hats made of human hair?  I need to know more.

MR MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL (NBC)  I'm so glad to see this special make it back to network TV and so close to Christmas.  It was a favorite of mine for years.  But then for decades it was off the radar and hard to find.  No video releases - old out of print copies even hard to find.  But now it's back and hopefully a new audience will find the brilliance of Jim Backus and Mr Magoo.

SUNDAY

STORAGE WARS (A&E)  Another Sunday night marathon.  For a couple weeks to end this year, there will be nothing on what is usually the best night of TV.  No reality, no HBO, no Showtime, no Animation Domination.  Nothing good.  So catch up with a pizza, a drink and a few hours of buying storage units.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (TNT)  Hopefully by this point, I've watched THE HOBBIT and I'll have the inkling to watch the series again.  Or even if I haven't, I'll still want to watch again.  It's never a bad choice.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . I don't see what the deal is with people getting panties in a bunch over Ellen and JCP.  Seems pretty routine to me.  A little funny . . .

Have you seen the collection of Griswold reunion ads?  Still a huge fan of the movie but temporarily a little down on Chevy after some of his "Community" quotes.  Here's the set . . .

Including ALL the kids (clever, clever) . . . 

And soft sweaters . . . 

 "We chased our pleasures here

Dug our treasures there

But can you still recall

The time we cried."  - The Doors

Everybody loves my baby.  Break on through. Stay hard.

sb