‘Raditude’ is the best album title ever.

Well, that’s being a little facetious, isn’t it? Ok, ok. It’s not the best, but damn it’s smooth.

Reviews are mixed on this bad boy, but I’m hear to dispel all of your fears, and calm your Weez-ing worries.

Let’s get this straight: This album is not “The Red Album.” I repeat: Not “The Red Album”. What made the former CD so great was that it was reminiscent of Weezer heyday, while still dipping toes into new territory. And it worked. “Raditude” is a totally different beast, and (dare I say it?) maybe even an extension off of 2005’s “Make Believe.” I know what you’re thinking, but this ain’t no “Beverly Hills” shit.

“Raditude” is exactly what you would expect from a Weezer record: Simple and fun, with phenomenol hooks. It’s a bit mainstream, but what this album’s critics curiously don’t understand is that Weezer have always been mainstream! Thinking otherwise is absurd.

That said, the new single is such a poor frontrunner. “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To)” doesn’t really do it for me. It’s a little plain, mega repetitive, and way too long to type. But on the second track, “I’m Your Daddy,” we’re comforted by the same Rivers Cuomo who’s always been around: A sleek-geek rocker who’s still unsure and uncomfortable around the ladies. And damn does that make a killer pop song or two.

“Can’t Stop Partying” is sure to catch like a rapid forest fire. Or maybe an unwanted STD of some sort – You can try to fight it, but it’s become a part of you that you can’t escape. Lil Wayne guests on this and raps the song to its completion, while Jermaine Dupri joins Rivers for the writing credit. It’ll pump at college parties, it’ll take over mainstream radio, and hardcore Weezer fans will probably learn to loathe it, but I sure don’t. Call it a guilty pleasure. I’ll take it.

“Trippin’ Down the Freeway” is classic Weezer at its best. It’s sweet and happy. It’s about finding the perfect gal who’s “got the Shirly Applebee look”. It’s upbeat and catchy…doesn’t everyone just want to find Mr. or Mrs. right and then go trippin’ down a freeway? So simple, yet so profound. (Though not a coincidece – what a great driving song!)

Though there will be haters, give “Raditude” a shot before drinkin’ all that Kool-Aid.  If you’re looking for some trendy, pretentious indie to dissect, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the Monsters of Folk record. Or you can wait for Vampire Weekend’s sophomore release in January. But if you don’t hate fun, “Raditude” is a party starter.

Bad Brains – Attitude

Live footage of the Bad Brains performing “Attitude.”

Just ’cause.

R.I.P. Dollhouse

It’s official: Fox has cancelled Dollhouse in the middle of its second season. TEAR

Fox will, however, air the rest of the 13 episodes of the season. The schedule is as follows:

12/4 2 episodes from 8p-10p
12/11 2 episodes from 8p-10p
12/18 2 episodes from 8p-10p
1/8 1 ep @9pm
1/15 1 ep @9pm
1/22 1 ep @9pm (series finale)

Whedon’s stories do tend to continue in comic book form. Both Buffy and Angel have continued telling their story in graphic novels. Maybe Dollhouse will join them?

A fan can dream.

Mad Men Season 3 finale delivers

SCORE (finalllyyyy!). After a semi-slow third season, Mad Men’s season 3 finale delivered to the fullest!

I wasn’t the biggest fan of S3. Some of the storylines seemed to be going nowhere (the school teacher affair? Joan’s husband? Peggy and Duck? Who cares, really.). With a lot of non-sense in the middle of the season, it took away from what viewers really care about: Sterling Cooper, Don’s past, and the back-and-forth teetering of the Draper marriage. While getting lost, we saw less of fan-favorites like Peggy, Pete, and even Roger Sterling himself. And that’s never a good thing in a drama with a nearly perfect ensemble.

Now hey, I’m not drinkin’ the haterade! Season 3 had its memorable moments: the tractor incident, the tension between Don and Roger, the inclusion of the Kennedy assassination. (The penultimate episode was just as fantastic as the finale, in my opinion. Right down to its chillingly perfect final line of dialogue…”And who are you supposed to be?”).

But lets call a spade a spade: the finale was the saving grace of an otherwise subpar season.

Watching the new Sterling-Cooper-Draper-Price unravel was quite exciting, however, my favorite scenes were those between Peggy and Don. The build-up throughout the season was spot-on, and it was amazing to see Peggy finally stand up to Don and call him out for not appreciating her enough. “I don’t want to make a career out of being there so you can kick me when you fail,” she told him. When Draper later visited Peggy at her apartment, he responded with: “I’ve taken you for granted and I’ve been hard on you but only because I think I see you as an extension of myself…And you’re not.” And when he told her he would continue spending the rest of his life trying to hire her if she turned him down? God, that is the payoff that viewers die to see. Perfection.

And Joan. Joanie. The hottie red-headed bombshell. We knew she’d be back! When Roger needed a hand, we all knew who he’d call. And we all were giddy with delight.

Little by little, the puzzle pieces of the new Sterling Cooper Draper Price all fell into place setting up what seems to be a fantastic and drastically different fourth season. But while the work thang started to congeal, life at home for Don was falling apart. And fast: Betty wanted a divorce, Don had to move out, and they had to tell the kids the truth. The scene with the entire Draper family discussing their “new arrangements” was both heartbreaking and realistic, and surely had to have struck close to home for many.

The finale gave viewers what they were wishing and hoping for all season. The payoffs were huge, and the writing and acting were top notch. These men may be mad, but viewers certainly aren’t. What more could one ask for in a Grade A TV show?

FREE stream of Them Crooked Vultures album

It’s true. Here’s my fave, “Elephants.” The rest can be heard by clicking through to YouTube, or by searching for username “themcrookedvultures.”

This album is SICK. Props to Dennis for the tip.

The Office – Subtle Sexuality – “Male Prima Donna”

So at first I wasn’t too hot on this. Even though “The Office” has always had amazing webisodes, this seemed a little tacky. After a few viewings though, I’m now into it. And here’s why:

“The Office” has been lacking for me lately. It’s really become the Jim-Pam-Dwight-and-Michael show. WHAT ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE!? Where’s the love for Creed and Kevo? Gimme a little more Stanley! Most importantly: Kelly Kapoor. “Male Prima Donna” is perfect for Kelly fans, and even gives Ryan plenty of face time.

“The Office” needs to go back in time and write a few more episodes revolving around the supporting cast. Until that happens, we have this video to enjoy:

*edit* YouTube took the video down (Stupid NBC Universal!), so you have to click here to check it out on Hulu.

Two way awesome videos: Christopher Walken covers ‘Poker Face’, and the Weezer Snuggie

I fuckin’ love Walken.

 

Heart Attack Pumpkin Seeds

Made these last night and they were delicioussss.

Take 2 cups of raw seeds.

Melt down 1/4 cup of butter and mix that with 1/2 tsp. of the hot sauce of your choice (we used Frank’s X-Tra Hot). Pour melted butter concoction over the seeds and give it a mix.

Then, combine the following: 1 tsp. of Cayenne Pepper, 1/2 tsp. of Cumin, and 1 tbsp. of Chili Powder. Mix that up nicely and pour that onto the seeds. Mix again.

Bake the shit outta that sucker at 350 for about 45-50 minutes or until the seeds are crispy and delicious. Stir halfway. Stir again if need be.

These suckers are tasty, delicious, and HOT AS HELL!

TLW’s October MUST List

Wanna know the best way to hide the fact that you’re not blogging as much as you should be? Have a MUST LIST that encompasses everything you would’ve blogged about over the course of the past few weeks!

The following books, TV shows, movies, and other bits of obscurity should most definitely be checked out by YOU. With no further adieu, I dig the following:

1. Paranormal Activity

The ‘Little Indie Movie That Could’ is continuing to turn heads and scare audiences silly. With a continued nationwide rollout, the film has steadily grossed almost $20 million and currently has an 86% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. (Not bad for a film that cost only $11,000!)

The movie is original, well-written, and brilliantly acted thanks to newcomers Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston. The kicker? It’s actually fucking scary! This is not one to miss out on in the theaters! Check local listings for showtimes as it’ll continue its reach in the upcoming weeks.

2. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Brown has his fair share of haters, but “The Lost Symbol” is everything you’d want and expect from a Robert Langdon novel, minus Tom Hank’s really bad mullet-thing. In “Symbol,” Langdon is called to Washington D.C. by a friend, only to realize that his friend has been captured by a mad man seeking the portal to The Ancient Mysteries – a hidden vault of wisdom held secret by the Freemasons of America. Langdon must stay ahead of the psycho and uncover the clues in order to save his friend and protect Washington’s many secrets.

Langdon is mainstream fodder by now, but damn is this a page-turner! And it’s cool for the story to finally head to America for a change.

3. “Anvil: The Story of Anvil” DVD

This is the story of two childhood friends and metal heads who have been rockin’ together for 30 years. They’ve inspired bands such as Metallica and Anthrax, and musicians such as Slash and Lemmy, but they never broke or hit the mainstream.  “Anvil: The Story of Anvil” follows the two throughout their everyday lives and tries to examine how a progressive thrash metal band with so much promise never took off.  We see Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner work their boring day jobs while never letting go of their dream. We see remarks from their family, Lars Ulrich, Slash, and fellow co-workers. We see them tour Europe and play to 15 people at a time. In the early 80’s, they once toured with the greats, only to get left behind in the dust waiting for their day to come. But it never did.

The heart and sincerity of this film was quite inspirational. Lips and Reiner’s friendship and the trust they put in each other was touching. Their inability to quit and support from their loved ones truly shined through, creating a very realistic, yet heartbreaking portrayal of one band trying to make it in the harsh, harsh biz that is the music industry. A+ filmmaking. A+ documentary.

4. Survivor: Samoa

Season 19 of CBS’s “Survivor” proves to be a hit after the boring dud that was Tocantins. It’s all about the characters! We’ve got Shambo – the mullet-sporting former Marine Sargeant outcast. We had Ben – an ignorant bar manager from California who told a fellow castaway to go eat “ketchup sandwiches.” And then there’s Evil Russell – a oil company owner who doesn’t really care about the money or who he steamrolls over in order to progress his game (Kudos on finding the Hidden Immunity Idol without any clues! Damn, man!)

Gabon was good, not great. Tocantins was a big letdown. That said, Samoa is proving that there’s still some life to this oldie-but-goodie and that CBS should re-up Jeff Probst’s contract (which expires after Season 20’s All Stars 2!)

According to Samoa, the tribe hasn’t quite spoken just yet.

5. The Noisette’s “Wild Young Hearts”

Friends and fellow readers are probably sick of me talking about this one so I’ll make it snappy. The Noisette’s follow up to “What’s the Time Mr. Wolf?” proves that the sophomore slump is a thing of the past. “Wild Young Hearts” is eclectic,  groovy, and light-hearted. Shingai Shoniwa’s voice is at its best, while the rhythms and retro-melodies are fresh and invigorating. Download “Wild Young Hearts,” “Never Forget You,” and “Saturday Night” to see for yourselves.

Now if only the band will leave Europe behind and come play stateside..

6. Halloween!

Best. Holiday. Ever.

Candy, pumpkin carving, heart attack pumpkin seeds, costumes, scares, ghosts and ghouls and the like – Halloween just kicks ass. ‘Tis the one month I actually enjoy living in New England. I’ve got a huge ass pumpkin waiting to be carved, I’ve got Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Pumpkin Ales on the menu, and a plethora of horror flicks to digest.

October is badass.

7.  Zombieland

It’s bloody, it’s fun, and the opening credits play “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” And it has ZOMBIES! Need I say more?

Woody Harrelson was a badass southerner, Jesse Eisenberg played a coy college kid way better than Cera ever could, and Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone played a sneaky pair of sisters who conned their way to survival. The movie was funny, extremely entertaining, and had a mysteriously amazing cameo that I will not spoil! Everything in this movie fucking worked.

Vampires are out; Zombies are in.

8. Facebook

Screw October, Facebook is in it for the long haul. And I must admit: I am Facebook’s bitch.

The countless hours I spend a week snooping around and being generally nosey could probably be better spent, but damn is it addicting. I’ve got all my friends and contacts in one nice, simple, easy-to-read mini-feed that tells me all I need to know to keep up with your life – and sometimes, too much even!

Basically – if I’m not friends with you on Facebook, I question our chances at friendship as the year changes to 2010. To those without Facebook: It was a nice little run we had and I wish you a lifetime of happiness.

9. Parks and Recreation

When “Parks and Recreation” debuted, it seemed highly doubtful that the show would ever blossom into something of merit. The quirkiness wasn’t quite there, and we weren’t in tune with the characters enough to laugh at their small mannerisms. Upon watching the second season premiere, it was blatantly apparent that this show was going to fight to survive. And if you gave up on it last season, it’s beckoning for you to give it a second chance.

What “Parks” is now accomplishing is truly something to applaud. Utilizing its ensemble cast to the fullest, Amy Poehler and Co. aren’t simply emulating Office-like standards anymore – they’re surpassing them. From Nick Offerman’s deadpan superior Ron Swanson, to intern April Ludgate’s monotone and apathetic  hilarity, “Parks” is truly putting its secondary characters to good use, and that’s something that “The Office” has lots sight of in its past few seasons. (They’re totally overusing Jim, Pam, Andy and Dwight….what about some Kevin and Creed love!?)

Add in the fact that Aziz Ansari and Rashida Jones star in it?  I’d love to hear your reasons for not watching.

10. Foxy Shazam

Foxy Shazam is an up-and-coming band that nicely blends shredding guitars, staccato keys, and amazing singalong choruses with the perfect hint of mild insanity.  Singer Eric Sean Nally dominates the stage and doesn’t give a fuck if you haven’t heard a single song – he grabs ahold of ya and never lets go.

And yeah…he’s mildly insane.

These guys are on the road with The Sounds and literally destroyed their opening spot in New York City. Their first album, “The Flamingo Trigger,” provides you with a hardcore and thrashy, while at times, abstract feel. Their second LP, my favorite – “Introducing Foxy Shazam” is a bit more structured. From avant-garde, to pop rock, to hardcore…I imagine the experimental rock of Foxy Shazam will continue well into their third record, 2010’s “Au Contraire”.

Download: “Dangerous Man”, “Introducing Foxy Shazam,” and “Wanna-be Angel”. Catch ‘em on the road with The Sounds through November 7th.

The real ‘Littlest Winslow’ had a baby?

Jamiee Foxworth gave birth to an even littler Winslow this year?

Who knew! I smell a sister blog name on the riiiise….

Just kidding, just kidding.