okay, it’s time for another “make-up” Music of the Day entry… this one’s more recent, but still a little behind the times… i hope to have another entry up later this week (preferably tomorrow) covering the shiny happy releases from the 24th and 31st because i have a couple of those and have heard a couple more… and then it will look like i’ve caught up…

anyway, this time out, i’ve got some doozies from the latter weeks of July including some rawk music, as well as introspective splendor from a personal favorite… top that off with a couple debuts and cap it all with a surprise hit here at theTRu, which will receive a special little shout out… and that smells like one fantastic day of music… okay, off we go…

Ivoryline – Vessels

the first line of their bio reads… “Ivoryline has been inspired.”… that’s, um, interesting… i guess i’d hope that all band record based on inspiration… but that’s not what they’re talking about and i know this because “inspired” is one of those Christian code words… let me decode it for you… basically, it means that this album is expected to deal directly with the topic of faith… and indeed it does put things clearly and openly… but to be completely honest i don’t know if that’s a new approach for Ivoryline… i don’t even remember what their last album – something about a Lion – from two years ago sounded like or how “clear” or obtuse the lyrics were…

Either way, the album at hand, Vessels, borrows from the same Bible passage from which Jars of Clay took their name… that they have a message of great importance and that they are amazed that it was entrusted to such wounded “vessels” sets the stage for an album of honest and faith-filled lyrics… If you’re concerned about the safety of the lyrics, you can be at ease… if you’re concerned with the quality of music, you can also set your mind at ease… Ivoryline has crafted a nice poppy sound with a hearty dose of rock-tinged riffs along the lines of Anberlin… and now i’ve invested way too much in this quick review… bottom line… it sounds good and if you like the stylings of Anberlin and other modern rock, this is a good choice for you…

House of Heroes – Suburba

i’m always excited to hear what House of Heroes comes up with… if nothing else, i’m always guaranteed that at least five times on the album, Tim Skipper is going to blow me away with his vocal… Suburba doesn’t disappoint in the least and, upon first listen, it immediately jumped into contention for a top spot in my annual top albums list… for fans of rock music, the group brings the ballyhoo on tracks like Independence Day for a Petty Thief and Burn Me Down… however, there’s also a nice touch of harmonies on tracks like So Far Away, which reminds me of The Beach Boys melodically… all in all, it’s another fantastic album from a group that always impresses me…

Andrew Peterson – Counting Stars

Andrew Peterson has a storyteller’s heart… that much is obvious from his music… of course, he’s also written a couple of books and, i believe, is working on the third… but it takes all of fifteen seconds with him before he’s launching into a story of some sort… that’s just the way he expresses his creativity… and when it manifests itself in mellow, heartfelt music, the result is an album-based experience that is unparalleled… once again, he provides stunning visuals lyrically and frames each tale and metaphor with soothing, captivating melodies… give this album a listen and you’ll be swept away along a carefree journey from one man’s perspective as he uncovers the glory of God…

Runaway City – Armored Heart

Here’s a new group… and i’m assuming they’ve released this somewhat independently… i’m kind of at a loss thinking of who exactly to compare them to, but that’s not to say their sound is unique, just that the names of similar bands are escaping me… it’s not exactly polished like Creed, but it’s also not as rough-edged as a 12 Stones… but i think you get somewhat of an idea… production-wise somewhere in between the two… in regards to talent level, probably around that range… taken at face value… there are a couple of pretty good songs on here… i do like Longing and No Escape all right… oh, maybe Kutless?… anyway, it’s not a bad debut…

The Museum – Let Love Win

another newbie to the scene… The Museum looks like your typical Christian rock group complete with a name that starts with “The,” scruffy hair, and those army-style baseball caps… but beyond the ensemble lies a pretty smooth and enjoyable sound… there’s certainly a trendy worship element to the album, a la Above the Golden State and maybe The Longing… Especially on tracks like My Help Comes from the Lord and Allelujah, but they include both vertical and horizontal songs, which, i know falls into the Christian code words category again, but hey, it forms a cross… Anyway, the point is, Let Love In has songs for all occasions… some directed to God, some directed to all of us, for instance, Buy This, which explains that hope and redemption are free gifts and not something you can buy… i like this album and it actually made it onto my iPod…

And now for something completely different… i often check out full album streams on AOL because i don’t get albums as frequently as i used to and it’s pretty cool to see what else is out there from people i don’t get servicing from… sometimes… well, during the week of 27 July, i managed to stumble upon a full album stream of the self-titled release from J Roddy Walston and the Business… despite never having heard of them, i gave it a chance… and i listened to that stream no less than 20 times during the course of that week… very disappointing when it disappeared… now, i can’t necessarily vouch for the lyrical content – but i think it’s pretty clean – but i can most assuredly rave about the down home jam session quality of the music that i simply can’t get enough of… think Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Black Keys… and if you still don’t have a frame of reference, then i’ve now given you three bands worth checking out… seriously… i can listen to this album for hours on end… good, good stuff…

and that’s all for now folks… i hope to be back tomorrow or the next day to talk about the likes of Jeremy Camp, Israel Houghton, and Natalie Grant among others… we’ll see what i can do…

peace… love… bdg…

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i could’ve sworn that i had already written and posted this update, but clearly this was not the case… and now, i’ve got a handful of new releases this week to talk about, too… therefore, yes folks, expect multiple music of the day entries this week… it’s not like i don’t have plenty of ground to make up for given my lack of attention during the top half of this year… anyway, these will probably be quicker takes than normal, but below are notable albums that released in January of this year and a little commentary… later (in a different update), i’ll talk about newer releases… off we go…

Wake Me – Tal & Acacia

honestly, i didn’t expect much from this sister duo who seemingly came out of nowhere… it seemed like a formulaic device to appease the ever-growing market focus on tweenagers thanks to Hannah Montana and my homeboys, the Jonas Brothers… i expected lightweight pop tunes that fizzled out like the soda foam after thirty seconds in an ice-filled glass… and it’s definitely pop and there are some lighter moment, but it’s such an infectious album that i was surprisingly drawn in and caught up in the merry go round that is this album… yes, it does tire if overdone, but Wake Me, it did indeed…

Ocean Eyes – Owl City

here’s a tricky one for me… and albeit, i think the deluxe version of this album released in January whereas the standard version was probably available months earlier… and, while i can’t definitively tell you what differentiates the two versions – i assume there’s a bonus song or two – i can say that this is an album i can go either way on… there’s no denying the success the group has seen and it’s fantastic to see a young group of guys put out popular music with at least a vaguely positive message… but the bottom line for me is that, at their very best, Owl City is a lighter version of Mae… and Mae is great, but Owl City has a ways to go… i don’t dislike it per se, but i don’t listen to it often and often when i do, i make it about halfway through before i’m looking for my copy of The Everglow and changing discs, or playlists, or file folders…

Birds & Cages – Deas Vail

i do like Deas Vail, but they’re not a band that i get too carried away with… i won’t go out of my way to listen to them, but when i do, i feel that it was time reasonably well spent… especially since i work while i listen… Wes Blaylock makes a rather compelling case for loving the band as each time he opens his mouth, he releases a stunning vocal perform… Birds & Cages is about finding freedom and finding yourself… not to get all deep and stuff, it’s also a rather enjoyable release…

To the Secrets and Knowledge – Number One Gun

based on this and the previous two albums, you could easily get the impression that January is the month for modern, mellow rock tunes… yes, this follows suit and doesn’t do too much to distinguish itself from other weeds in the field, but it’s still somewhat impressive that Jeff Schneeweis (your pronunciation is as good as mine) does this all by himself… and, oh, there’s always the cover of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing… well…

Undisguised – Anthony Evans

over the years, Anthony Evans has seemed to have an identity crisis, which really bothered me… he’s been a pretty good R&B vocalist and then shifted to a mediocre (at best) pop star wannabe… and here, he switches things up again and poses as 4 Him minus 3… Undisguised is a collection of popular worship songs and, i hate to say this, it’s entirely skippable… it’s certainly not an album that has me revisiting it often… very vanilla and lacking in anything compelling or even emotional, which is what you might expect from a worship album…

The Golden Rule – Above the Golden State

so this is a six-song EP that, to my knowledge, stands alone rather than leading into a full-length album… the group is a lot of fun and the songs feature some good lyrics about loving others and following the, duh, golden rule… it’s nice, mellow, modern rock, that is soothing and quite enjoyable… and i’m not just saying nice things about them because i want them to say nice things about me… promise…

Losing All – Day of Fire

when Day of Fire came onto the scene, there was much talk of lead singer Josh Brown, his tattoos, and his intriguing backstory… everyone expected some really hard rock tunes from the former lead singer of Full Devil Jacket and there was certainly an edge to it… but, as with all things existing in the realm of pop culture, interest was lost, sales dwindled between releases, and suddenly Day of Fire was an independent band looking for a label home… Losing All was funded by fans, picked up after the fact by Razor and Tie and here we are… there’s still an edge, but that’s mostly due to Brown’s raspy vocals… in the meantime, the band brought in Idol finalist Chris Daughtry as a writer to help create a more marketable sound… (my speculation)… anyway, it’s a pretty good album… i don’t mind listening to it now and again and if you liked the first coupe releases, this one’s even better…

The Good Album – All Star United

Ian Eskelin is larger than life in the world of Christian music… i’ve lost count of how many songs he’s written, artists he’s developed, and albums he’s produced… (and i don’t really feel like doing research right now)… but hey, he’s reunited with the boys of ASU, a crowd favorite, to drop another explosion of the pop-rock sound and biting sarcasm that makes the band legendary… what’s really great about this album (and pretty much any ASU album) is that they don’t take themselves too seriously, but the music is really enjoyable, fun, and light hearted… you may listen to it 15 times before realizing you’ve listened to the whole thing… dude, it’s freaking awesome…

okay, now that’s settled… finally… i can go work on some other things… like more updates and more music…

peace… love… bdg…

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So this week’s mashed potatoes represents something of a renaissance for me in that i’m discussing media that has reminded me why i like each of these delivery vehicles… a movie that was absolutely engrossing and struck an emotional chord… an album that reminds me why music is so powerful… a television show that hits on every level… a book that is inspiring (not in the way you might think)… and last, but not least, a series of commercials – yes, commercials – that gave me at least an hour of entertainment, but represented so much more…

well, what are we waiting for? off we go…

MOVIES: Toy Story 3

Pixar is simply untouchable when it comes to telling stories that resonate with everybody… Toy Story 3 culminates a trio of films that not only bring toys to life, but spurs the imagination of anyone paying attention… these toys find themselves dealing with struggles common to the aging process… we grow old, we search for our identity, we worry about our purpose, and – as represented in this last movie – we come to grips with our mortality…

the gang finds that Andy, their once-faithful owner has grown up and is headed to college… since college kids generally don’t play with Mr. Potato Head and other toys – okay, most college kids (you know who you are) – the gang finds themselves wondering if they’re headed for the trash can or the attic… turns out, they end up with option C, a day care center (a.k.a. retirement home?)… but even that isn’t what it seems and the action begins when Buzz, Jessie, and crew decide they need to escape…

Toy Story 3 is packed with action, filled with the unexpected, and certain to make you fight back a few tears… it’s simply amazing how much emotion can be conveyed through the eyes of toys, how many lessons can be learned about friendship and forgiveness, life and death… one more winner from Pixar…

MUSIC: Wicked Soundtrack

i know, i know… i’m so very late in jumping on this train…i mean, it’s at least five years old by now, right? (seven actually)… hey, i admit, i slept on it – even though many people told me how great it was and a few years ago it was quite popular… (you’re gonna be pop-u-ooo-lar)… and i’ll even admit that it was Glee that got me to check it out… a combination of their version of Defying Gravity and reminders of how absolutely fantastic Kristin Chenoweth can sing…

The songs range from fun and quirky, to serious and inspirational… listening to the album (on repeat for days) has given me a renewed sense of appreciation for music in general and has made me kick myself over and over for not going to see the show on Broadway… i also want to read the book, which has been on my shelf for a few years now, too… Anyway, it’s definitely worth checking out unless you absolutely can’t stand musicals… Stephen Schwartz has a masterpiece here – not that he needs me to tell him that…

TV: Friday Night Lights

in the world of television, there aren’t many shows with better writing, deeper characters, or more gripping plotlines than Friday Night Lights, which recently returned for season four… at least to NBC… i know that it aired previously on DirecTV’s special channel, but those of us without are getting it all now… and given that the main stars of the series “graduated” last season, it’s been amazing to see how fresh and relevant the show has remained…

yes, the show is about football, but that’s simply the premise behind a series that, um, tackles some incredibly difficult themes… this season has included issues of losing loved ones, abortion, and several other moral dilemmas… Also, the show features the most realistic, genuine, and compelling married couple in Coach and Tami Taylor… they argue and fight, but always recognize their love for each other… without giving anything away, the show has proven itself time and time again and this season has provided some of the most powerful moments on screen…

BOOKS: Devil in the White City

Erik Larson has crafted a history book that would’ve made me pay attention in history class growing up… the time is the 1890s and Chicago is on the verge of hosting the World’s Fair… the book, which features some of the finest bit of writing that i’ve read in a while – it’s eloquent and exquisite, describing the scenes in the most compelling ways – explains all the efforts necessary to pull off this enormous event… the fair was the birthplace for many things – Juicy Fruit gum, electrical lighting using alternating current technology, the Ferris wheel, and, oh yeah, American serial killers…

in the shadows of the White City, H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer, set up shop and conducted his dark and devious trade, leaving a body count of at least twenty-seven… Larson juxtaposes these two scenes, brilliantly interweaving storylines in a novel-like presentation that makes it seem somewhat difficult to fathom – much less believe… but true as it is, and dark as it may be, it’s definitely a gripping and chilling tale from the turn of the century… certainly America would never be the same again… i still have about 100 pages to go and i am still captivated by each page… and i just can’t get over how well it’s written… would that i could write like that in my own way…

MORE: Old Spice Commercials

seriously, Old Spice commercials… i can’t say that i was sold on the original airing of the “I’m on a horse” commercial… it did grow on me in a strange and unexplanable way, but even then i thought it was just the sheer idiocy of it all… with the follow up launching a couple weeks ago, the ad team apparently felt that they could do even more… so, for the last two days, the copy writers, camera crews, and social media gurus, basically took over the internet, launching a real-time, interactive campaign that found Old Spice Man answering tweets and comments with customized video spots throughout the day… reportedly, the team produced just shy of 200 videos over the course of two days and garnered an audience of around 6 million viewers… and these, my friends, were almost all comic genius…

i can’t recall a time that i was more okay with a shirtless dude talking at me for hours on end… that he stayed in character and that the writing team was churning out scripts and the video team getting them produced in an estimated rate of seven minutes per spot is simply astounding… unbelievable impact and respect earned, though i’m not sure if it was more for the ad team or Old Spice… either way, some of these are great… (My favorites so far, include @Haley (his daughter), @Demi Moore, and @GStephanopoulos)… the good news is that this success will probably change the way people advertise… other companies will surely launch similar campaigns… the bad news: other companies will surely launch similar campaigns… and they probably won’t be nearly as funny… well done Old Spice and Old Spice Man… and i mean that sincerely…

peace… love… bdg…

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so, it’s another week and, i’ve got another batch of releases to talk about… a couple of worship albums, a couple of rock albums, and one fresh, free mixtape from one of my favorite emcees… (i have a lot of favorites though, so, we’ll just say that he’s really good)… off we go…

now playing: Rain’s ‘A Comin’ – Children 18:3

i first have to point out how absolutely appreciative i am that Children 18:3 used apostrophes in what appears to be an appropriate manner… (the one preceding the “A” is questionable, but it’s not exactly a standard grammatical construct and is, therefore, negotiable)… anyway, i don’t know about rain, but if you listen to this album, there’s plenty of enjoyment a’comin’… (yeah, actually, that looks more right than ‘a comin’)… sorry, i keep getting distracted by that… let that be a lesson to all you rock stars… don’t use punctuation in your band name or album titles… anyway, i’d file this under somewhat aggressive modern hipster rock with pop irony… harder than, say, Jonezetta and OK Go, but with some similar tendencies… in fact there are even times when i’m reminded of MeWithoutYou… but all in all, it’s a rock album that reminds you, the listener, that you, the listener, like rock music… especially when it’s like this… high octane, highly engaging, and highly addictive… i just want to listen to this over and over and over… but that apostophe thing… that will also be stuck in my head…

now playing: A Beautiful Exchange – Hillsong Live

i’ve never been a big Hillsong fan… and if you asked me to tell you the difference between Hillsong Live, Hillsong, Hillsong United and Hillsong Kids, i’m not sure i could… (okay, i know when kids are singing)… Anyway, it’s just one of those things, i guess and once in a while, i hear a song like Mighty to Save and just want to bury myself in everything released by the Hillsong properties, assuming that they’re all profound and amazing just like that song… but usually, i walk away feeling like it’s mostly just another modern praise and worship band, but with accents (actually, most modern praise and worship bands have accents these days)… so, A Beautiful Exchange kind of feels like that to me, too… i know that will draw ire from many of you out there… it is pretty cool to hear Sometimes by Step (Rich Mullins) set to the soundtrack of Disney’s The Lion King, though… hey, we all worship in different ways… i was actually prepared to rave about one really good song on this album, but i can’t seem to find it as i’m listening through again… maybe i’m confusing them with Hillsong United, do they have a new album out, too?

now playing: City on Fire – City of Life Worship

continuing on the worship theme… City of Life Church is apparently one of the most vibrant churches in Florida, sorry, Central Florida… First Baptist of Miami probably has a lock on the Southern tip of the state… so, i confess that i get a little concerned reading press releases about the vibrancy of churches, but i promise that i listened to this album with a clean slate… i only looked up the website because Jeffrey Smith sometimes sounds like Phillips, Craig or Dean from Phillips, Craig, and Dean… or Russ Lee… and only sometimes… and since i brought it up… apparently, they’re all about vibrancy, fire, stirring, and igniting things down there in Central FL… sorry, just had to say something… as for the music, since that’s probably what you actually care about… it’s fine… it really reminds me of when PCD covered Israel Houghton’s Friend of God, but not quite as straight-laced… a little stiff though… it is live and it is mostly original songs… (they do cover Foreigner – who knew they were a praise band? Way ahead of their time… i mean, before Sonicflood even)… i don’t think i would like going to that church much though… but that could just be me…

now playing: Live at the Ryman – Jonny Lang

consider me a slow adopter of Jonny Lang… sure, he’s brilliant, i get that, but if i’m completely honest, his voice irritates me and everything i love about Robert Randolph and the Family Band often feels absent from Jonny Lang projects… the energy, the oomph, the “it” is just not there for me… that said, in this live setting – and a great venue, by the way – more of that gusto comes through as he feeds off of the audience a little bit… i wouldn’t say that i’m a huge fan, but this is definitely the material needed to bridge that gap for me… some of these songs – A Quitter Never Wins to name one – are just gorgeous… (note: this may not be a new release this week… not sure where i saw it listed, but i can’t find it now – it’s new this year though)

now playing: Bible Bus Mixtape – Playdough

i was a little bummed that there wasn’t any hip-hop to discuss today, but then i remembered… Playdough dropped a brand new FREE album today… don’t take it for granted, this mixtape rings in at a half a minute shy of a half an hour… and if you’ve ever liked a Playdough song, you’ll like this album… SeanP mixed the album to provide a smooth ride, but the beats are from all over the place… i’ve only had a chance to give it one quick listen, but it’s guaranteed to drive bus drivers crazy, ’cause from the front to the back, no one’s remaining in their seats… (plus it’s FREE!)..

now playing: Attack of the Wolf King – Haste the Day

i don’t have this album, but AOL is streaming it this week… and if Children 18:3 wasn’t hard enough for you, Haste the Day should suit your listening needs… there’s screaming, double bass drum action, and soaring guitar riffs a plenty throughout this album… i have times and places when albums like this are just right for me, but often times i just don’t remember them afterwards… but it’s GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWD… and i LIIIIIIIIKE IT!!!!! and YOU MIGHT TOOooooooOOooowowwwwoooooo!!!!

that’s all the music of the day… i only see four albums on the release list for next week and i don’t have any of them so, i’ll institute instant replay and revisit albums released in January that i ignored at the time… i think about eight of actually…

peace… love… bdg…

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alright, i’m trying to get things back into the right gear and, since this has always been a music site, that includes music… and the music of the day is plentyful and diverse… the following albums all released today and this is what i think of them all…

Now Playing: Stories – Addison Road

i feel like i’m not supposed to like Addison Road… i suppose i’m not exactly in their target demographic and that’s fine… but, as something of a more upbeat alternative to BarlowGirl and Superchick, i’m strangely drawn to them… that, and i still remember checking out their early work, Breaking Beautifully almost exclusively because it was produced by Barry Blair, who was a founding member of Audio Adrenaline and, more impressively, discovered Bleach… i wasn’t disappointed then, and i’m not now… i specifically enjoy the quirkiness of their pop beats that refuse to conform to standard pop constructs but remain persistently catchy… Stories is no exception and i’m not a bit ashamed to say that i’ve enjoyed the album quite a bit…

Now Playing: Between Two Worlds – Trip Lee

“i’m a snitch man, ain’t ashamed of that”… i haven’t exactly been a fan of Trip Lee and his Reach Records cohorts in the past… in fact, I kind of had him written into the genre corner of the big booty bass, thuggish, southern-crunktafied rap despite not having heard too, too much of his stuff… and sure there’s a brashness and heavier tact to his rap style, but having now listened to Between Two Worlds (as well as LeCrae’s Rebel), my eyes (and ears) have been opened to a lot of freshness that’s left me digging back in my crates for 20/20… don’t get me wrong, it’s not going to be my favorite release of the year or anything, but with bangers like Snitch (the beat is bananas, as the kids say), fun tracks like I Love Music and the light, soulful Yours to Own featuring Jimmy Needham, Between Two Worlds has certainly shifted my perspective a bit…

Now Playing: Blink – Revive

i “sort of liked” the debut from Revive because it was fun, light hearted and the group didn’t seem to take themselves too seriously… i had my doubts about their staying power, however, given Mac Powell’s track record of championing up-and-comers… (we’ll leave it at that)… surprise though it may be, Revive has indeed returned for a second round and, somewhat like the song that never ends, the second verse is the same as the first… once again, there’s a pop-rock tinge to the music that holds a certain appeal, but i suppose what bothers me about the album is that it lacks the clear consistency necessary to offer the band a fully definied identity… at times reminiscent of Nate Sallie, Starfield, and a number of bands from pop-rock-worship-grandness past, Blink is fun, but a little on the random side…

Now Playing: My Life’s Lyric – DeWayne Woods

i’m just going to come right out and say it… DeWayne Woods looks like Busta Rhymes… come on, not even a little?… okay, well, he doesn’t sound at all like Bus-a-Bus… (not surprisingly)… in fact, My Life’s Lyric is actually pretty standard fare for the Gospel genre… a good deal of energy spread throughout as well plenty of touching, inspirational ballads… i don’t know all that much about Woods, but i have enjoyed his melodies, harmonies, and occassion touches of full-on choir moments that sprinkle the landscape of My Life’s Lyric…

Now Playing: Humble Beginnings – Humble Beast

i’m pretty excited about this album if for no other reason than for what it represents… a new outlet for artists like Braille, Othello, Sareem Poems, and Odd Thomas (from whom i hadn’t heard in forever up this point)… Humble Beast is looking to carve out their own niche within the hip-hop community and, judging by this compilation, they’re already off to a good start… also featured on the album are Foreknown Apostolic, with a hot track that has a retro, boom bap feel to it, Theory Hazit and Citizen Aim, who both appear a few times throughout, and Propaganda, another voice that’s been far too quiet lately… yes, it’s only ten tracks, but it’s all good and it’s the promise of plenty more to come… that’s what’s really special about Humble Beginnings… and that’s what makes it worth talking about and picking up…

the last two i’ll mention, i haven’t gotten, but would love (hint, hint)… and they are We Walk This Road by Robert Randolph & the Family Band, which, based on clips, sounds like a real nice mix of r&b, funk, and free jamming, and David Crowder*Band’s Summer Happiness, which fulfills their apparent obligation to release an EP in between each full album… perhaps that means we can expect another full album next year? I haven’t heard clips or anything of this EP yet, but there’s no reason to doubt that it will be a spectacular four-track outing…

and that’s the music of the day…

peace… love… bdg…

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i’m so weak… i really didn’t want to blog this show tonight… i’m all but detached from the entire thing… but here i am, sucked in somehow by the fact that it’s the finals… and hey, Lost disappointed me, maybe Idol will blow me away… (yeah, i don’t really think so either)… anyway, pre-pick goes to Lee… i don’t think he’s better, but i think he’s the chosen one… off we go…

TGIF… (Thank God It’s the Finals)…

now playing: The Last Night – Skillet

Lee DaWiseGuy… first song: The Boxer… i didn’t like this the first time he sang it, but at least this time, i’m staying in the room… it’s really not a good choice for him, but better than last time… Randy yo-yo’s up to saying that it was a great way to start the night, but he needs more energy… Ellen says she wants to give birth to him… Kara says he was connected to it… Simon says it was a kiss on the cheek when it should’ve been a kiss on the lips…

Crystal BoSAWX… first song: Me and Bobby McGee… fantastic (sarcastically)… any song that gives her a chance to scream like she doesn’t care… no, really, she did alright… this was a good choice for her… Randy says it started slow, but it was dope, dude… Ellen says pass the salt… that and she’s compelling… Kara says she loved it last time and this time and her belly is on fire… Simon says this reminded him of when they fell in love with her…

now playing: Line Finish – Tunnel Rats

Lee DaWiseGuy… second song: Everybody Hurts… i think this is going to be a self-fulfilling prophecy… why would the Execs pick this song? what have they got against Michael Stipe?… Lee’s kind of croaking his way through this once-melodic song as though he’d been clubbed in the head like a baby seal… he’s definitely disconnected from the song (and any sense of melody)… Randy says it was better… Ellen says he needs to play to the audience more… Kara loved it… Simon says he went off melody a bit and he needs to really bring the heat for the last song…

Crystal BoSAWX… second song: Black Velvet… i can’t stand this song… and i doubt she’ll redeem it… she’s wearing a black dress… but it doesn’t appear to be velvet… well, the song choices seem to indicate that the judges were giving Crystal a leg up… too bad she just sang it like a trainwreck… speaking of off-key… Randy says it was hot… Ellen says it was fantastic… Kara says she gave it all and you can tell she wants it… (you can tell the executives want her to have it anyway)… Simon says that she took the song and nailed it…

now playing: Goodbye – MuteMath

Lee DaWiseGuy… final song: Beautiful Day… what? how can they make this his lead single?… they’ve totally given up on writing songs specifically for the contestants?… so, let me get this straight… the raspy-voiced rock dude on the final night of competition tries to sing Paul Simon, REM, and U2?… how does that make any sense… and yes, somewhere under all that hot mess is a U2 song… Randy says once again he got his groove back and it was goodonya… Ellen says he’s all growed up and she’s loved watching him… Kara said Bono ate him whole, but he deserved it… Simon says that he made the most of it and he’s what the show was designed for…

Crystal BoSAWX… final song: Up to the Mountain… i’ll give the show one thing… they certainly don’t hide it when they’ve chosen who to champion… last week Casey got the shaft and this week Lee totally got hosed… poor guy… well, this song isn’t exactly great or anything, but it’s actually in her wheelhouse, or should i say comfort zone… it’s a’ight… she totally owned the night tonight, though, compared to the alternative, it’s not really saying much, now is it?… Randy says it was amazing, perfect, and incredible… Ellen says Crystal is in a league of her own and can’t compare to anyone selling records today… Kara says she blossomed… Crystal offers Simon a toast to butter him up… and he responds in kind by telling her it was outstanding… and he’s OUT!

now playing: Leave Right Now – William Young

Alrighty folks… now that that’s over… we’re left with the guilt of watching yet again… and the wonder of how America will break on this vote… clearly, as i’ve said before, Crystal was the surprise favorite for the producers and they weren’t shy about it one bit… i suppose that means that she has a better chance of winning, but i think i’ll stick with Lee… the dark horse from the beginning… the dark horse in the end… and, i suppose, the lesser of two painful musical experiences…

who ya got, folks? i know you watched… stop pretending you didn’t…

peace… love… bdg…

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down to three and i must say we couldn’t have gotten to the end of this season quickly enough… it seems to be the general consensus among even the most diehard of fans… something just hasn’t been working… anyway, this week features Casey, Crystal, and Lee… that’s right, the very three i told you would be left standing at the top of the season… (i also got Big Mike going out at number four right, too)… not that i’m bragging, but they’ll each get to talk about their home towns, pick a song, and have a song picked for them if i remember correctly… alright, enough of this… off we go…

TRES DELINQUENTES…

now playing: The Choice Is Yours – KJ-52

Casey “Sawyer” James… singing Okay, It’s Alright With Me and that was an awkward introduction Ryan… jumping right in with a guitar-wielding blue-eyed soul singer with long hair and longer stares… anyway the title of the song kind of sums up the performance… he’s just there… there’s nothing special about this performance it’s everything he’s done every other week when he’s not expecting to lose… Randy pauses and plays on the song title, wishing Casey brought something better than alright… Ellen echoes that sentiment… Kara emphasizes this as the last chance to impress everyone and he didn’t bring the goods… Simon says it sounded as though he was busking for the goods…

Crystal BoSAWX… singing Come to My Window and if Casey got crushed for picking the obvious song… Crystal should get the same treatment… of COURSE she picks a song where she can play the guitar, the harmonica, and scream here and there… she does the same thing every week too… she sounded like she was busking as well from where i sit… then again, i’ve always felt that way… Randy says it wasn’t his favorite arrangement, but it all worked out in the end… Ellen says Melissa would’ve been proud… Kara wants her to sing for the moment… Simon rounds things out with a final plea for voters to choose Crystal because she’s the most stubborn of all the contestants, or artists, or… whatever…

Lee “Da Wise Guy”… Neal Patrick Harris is on Glee after this… awesome… back to reality, though… Lee is singing Skynard, dude… Simple Man… and it’s a simple arrangement and apparently not that simple to stay on key… he rounds out the trio nicely with another “meh” performance to be honest… had some moments, but overall just lacking some real energy… Randy talks to him like he was a puppy… somebody thinks he can win this… whosa dawg now… who’s my little puppy dawg?… Ellen remarks about how far he’s come… Kara declares him the winner of round one… Simon asks why he picked it… then he says it was the best song choice and he crushed Casey and Crystal…

now playing: Weapon of Choice – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Casey “Sawyer” James… so Kara picked John Mayer’s Daughters for him because his audience is women and girls… probably because his voice sometimes borders on John Mayer (crossed with a bleating lamb)… really Kara prefers when Casey sings the ballads… and that’s alright… the big problem with this performance is that there doesn’t seem to be much of a connection here… Sawyer, i mean Casey, is just singing the song… Randy says it was a great song choice, it fit him like a glove… Ellen says lots of mothers and daughters (and maybe some sons) will vote for him… Kara says that it showed off his artistic side… Simon says that it was a lazy arrangement, which spurs on an argument about emotion versus a wow factor… (i don’t think it had either)…

Crystal BoSAWX… Ellen picked Maybe I’m Amazed by Paul McCartney… and she’s starting on the stairs, suited up in a leather-based outfit… so i don’t know that she’s doing a great job, but i’m not all that excited about it… she’s screaming of course… but she’s screaming about being a man, maybe, and maybe there’s just one woman who can help her, or him, or… okay, whatever… i’m over this… Randy says great song and vocals… she’s in it to win it… Ellen says “she did it”… Kara says she really pushed it and gave the audience some risky business… Simon says he was surprised by the song choice, but she’s got soul and he thinks she’s in the final…

Lee “Da Wise Guy”… Simon has chosen Hallelujah… what a surprise… Simon is convinced that he’ll perform it like no one else… it is a good fit for his vocal if he can keep it under control… oh Jordin Sparks is one of the back up singers? (just playin)… yeah, he did that song well… he’s won the night and probably the whole shebang… best performance of the night by light years… can we all go home now?… Randy says he threw down the real gauntlet and won the whole thing… Lee’s about to cry… Ellen says it was stunning… Kara says he’s what the show is all about… Simon is very proud of him and he’s proven that he’s a fantastic singer and a great person…

ARE WE THERE YET?…

now playing: It’s Not Over – Daughtry

So the judges seem pretty clear on wanting Lee and Crystal dueling next week and if tonight’s performances factor in heavily, that’s probably going to be the case… i mean, Casey just didn’t completely show up tonight… he’s gotta hope that millions of swooning gals fill up the phone banks with calls… i’m going to guess that he disappears though… even though i picked him to win it all, i expected him to compete until the end… i’m going with a Lee and Crystal showdown…

Who have YOU got in YOUR final?

peace… love… bdg…

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four more are left and none of them is Aaron Aaron… by the way, i was travelling last week and i didn’t get a chance to watch Idol live – in fact, i was delayed by quite a while – so i didn’t get to comment on the spectacular job that Harry Connick Jr. did on the show… he’s really some kind of awesome… i expect pretty much the complete opposite showing tonight… Jamie Foxx didn’t impress me much last year and i suspect that he won’t impress me this year… it looks like they’ll be doing a solo performance and then a duet performance… i seem to recall that not going very well last time around either… anyway, off we go…

FANTASTIC? FOUR…

now playing: The Batman Theme – Danny Elfman

Lee “Da Wise Guy”… first up is Lee, singing Kiss from a Rose… from Batman Returns?… i think it was on that soundtrack anyway… well, he’s back on my bad side straight out of the gates… having Jamie’s head up in his grill during rehearsal must’ve really rattled him… he’s amazingly off like no one else could possibly be and still get raving from the judges… well, that’s what i expect anyway… it was awful though… Randy starts things off and says it was, okay, he did nothing with it and it was pitchy in spots, and it didn’t work… Ellen says there was more that could’ve been done with the song, but he’s so good… Kara gets interrupted by some random chicks who want to hear themselves on television, but manages to say that he got lost in the song, but he is still great… Simon says it was totally the wrong song and he tried too hard to sound like the original…

BIG MIKE… apparently, Mike will be tackling Michael Jackson… and he did some shadow boxing with Jamie which earned him a Contestant tee shirt… singing Will You Be There? in a tight leather jacket accompanied by five backup gals, he doesn’t sound good… not one bit… not on the stairs, not without hairs, not on the stage, not on the same page… Randy says that it is a weird night and it just didn’t sound that good… Ellen says something about Free Willy and that he should want to win, not just place… it was predictable… Kara says that he could’ve done that in his sleep and that he played it safe… Simon asks what the heck Free Willy is and that it was confusing, but at least he gave it a hundred percent… Ryan calls Ellen, Dori…

BoSAWX and Da Wise Guy… first duet and i didn’t pay attention to the title… i think it’s Falling Slowly… and it starts out alright… they are uncomfortably standing face to face at center stage trading lines and pretending that their guitars are plugged into anything… then they try to harmonize and prove that they don’t like to share the stage… all the judges liked it, but i didn’t really catch their comments clearly… Crystal is playing with Lee’s guitar and calls him her musical crush…

now playing: Mission Impossible Theme – Lalo Schifrin

Casey “Sawyer” James… singing Mrs. Robinson… with a mini-guitar and his lamb-like vibrato… how is it that it took up until last week for Kara to notice that?… anyway… Jamie asked Casey to seduce him… he must just have eyes that draw everyone in, regardless of their interests… anyway… i like the adjustments he’s made to the arrangement… kind of Jason Castro-ish… and, though it’s kind of safe, he’s all but saved himself with an impressive performance in a hideous teal leather members only jacket… Randy points out the elephant in the room – that Kara is Mrs. Robinson – and then says that it was just alright… Ellen says something about the small guitar and says that it was good… Kara Robinson says that it was a perfect way for him to fight for his life… vulnerable and honest… Simon thought it lacked substance and impact… you know, in that jacket, he really looks like Phil Joel…

Crystal BoSAWX… a classic song from Caddyshack and Kenny Loggins… um… okay… well, she’s got herself a little potty mouth… I’m All Right… and she’s back to dressing like Oliver Twist… okay, i’ll just come right out and say it… this song is just plain stupid… i mean, what on earth is going on with these people?… she’s screaming and warbling through it just fine, but man.. that was dumb… Randy says it wasn’t his favorite performance, but she’s an artist and made it somewhat enjoyable… Ellen says that she made that song better… Kara agrees with the two of them… Simon says that she’s back in the game… oh geesh… her boyfriend is a dork, too… MC Hammer called and even he didn’t want those pants back…

Big Mike and Sawyer… the final duet… a Bryan Adams bro-mance tune… Have You Ever Loved a Woman… that is really odd… Casey has changed and pulled his hair back… Big Mike has changed and left his bald alone… it’s clear that this is your bottom two… that’s just not good… Randy compliments the guitar playing… Ellen apparently has loved a woman… Kara says the duets were better than all the solo performances… Simon parrots Kara… but all of them are still recovering from Ellen’s comment…

THE BIG BORE…

now playing: March (from Raiders of the Lost Ark) – John Williams

okay then, all the judges seemed to agree that individually, the contestants all stunk up the stage, but that the duets were something special… i think it was an entirely lackluster evening, cementing the fact that i’m not likely to care about any albums that come from this year’s contestants… for the sake of tidiness, i’ll make my picks… bottom two: Mike and Casey… going home, i have to say Big Mike hangs up his cleats…

who ya got folks? anybody have a different take?… sound off…

peace… love… bdg…

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We are halfway home, down to a half dozen and to be completely honest, i’m likely to be “half dozin’” as i watch because this show is really off the rails this year… anyway, we press on… it’s Shania Twain week, which i guess means country music? oh, specifically Shania Twain songs… that makes sense, since there are four guys and two girls left… i can totally see Big Mike singing “I Feel Like a Woman“… anyway… let’s go ahead and dig in…

THE MARK OF THE BEAST (SIX)…

now playing: That Don’t Impress Me Much – Shania Twain

Lee “Da Wise Guy”… so, Lee is starting things off, which may be the death of him… singing You’re Still the One… and by singing, of course, i mean growling and screaming… he starts off way off key… screams his way back into reality and hits on and off throughout the performance… Randy says it started off pitchy, but it was pretty good… Ellen says it was better than pretty good, he sang it like no one else would, and he’s cute… Kara says that he didn’t relate to the fact that it was a love song, but he did smile, and it was good… Simon says that it was the right choice, but he made weird faces… Kara cuts him off, he asks to finish, and then the producers cut him off…

BIG MIKE… so, i was thinking that Lee’s performance felt short, as if the show was only a half hour, but then they blasted through about 40 commercials, most of which are for terrible Fox shows… anyway, it’s BIG MIKE time… he’s singing It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing… i’ve never heard it before and i wish that were still the case… he started out on the stairs, lollypopped his way through it and ended with a falsetto… it was alright, but pretty much the same thing he always does… Randy says he’s in the zone of who he is… Ellen recalls Luther Vandross and says it was beautiful… Kara talks about connections again – is she launching a dating website soon or something?… Simon says it was a little wet, meaning girlie…

Casey “Sawyer” James… intersting choice to lead off guy heavy… i probably would’ve mixed the girls into the order a little better… whatever… Casey is singing Don’t and Shania thinks he lacks some inner confidence… he certainly doesn’t lack a vibrato… it’s a slow song, showcasing his vocals quite a bit, kind of like when he dressed up in that white suit a couple weeks ago and sang some other slow song… it’s really good… Randy says it was the best Casey performance ever… Ellen says, actually, it was the best performance you’ve done to date… Kara says it was good, bad, and ugly… and that he’s an artist… Simon agrees with Randy (and, by default, Ellen)… Shania gets an extra hug…

now playing: Up! – Shania Twain

Crystal BoSAWX… she gets all first season Phoebe (from Friends) on Shania talking about her aura and other such nonsense, then she questions her boyfriend’s manhood on national television… singing No One Needs to Know and it’s probably her worst performance, but she’s smiling and she’s everybody’s favorite… i just wasn’t all that impressed… she’s clearly the most talented, but not the most impressive – at least tonight… Randy says it wasn’t his favorite from her, but he liked that it was country… Ellen echoes and pitches Skittles… Kara calls Ellen one of the guys and then agrees that it wasn’t that great… Crystal starts to argue about bigger not being better… Simon agrees that it wasn’t her best and that it lacked conviction… she argues again… and Ryan calls out her boyfriend in the audience…

Aaron Aaron… i’m going to ignore the painfully obvious joke about the lineup order tonight… anyeay, he’s singing You’ve Got a Way With Me next to a giant 50 foot projection of his head… he’s just sitting there on the stool with a stripped down arrangement and his vocals are laid bare… and, i’m sorry, but he’s completely showing just how outclassed he is on this stage… that last note was fine, but the rest of it was skittish at best… Randy says country is his wheelhouse and he did a good job… Ellen says that everyone is doing well and he connected to it… Kara says it was smart to take out the “making love” line… he says that he was singing to his mom, so that makes it a REALLY good choice… Simon says it was really good job and that he’s back…

Siobhan MAGNUS VER MAGNUSON… okay, she gets the pimp spot… and she’s singing Any Man of Mine… and i mean that very loosely… this is horrifying… she’s no where near the right rhythm, key, or anything… this may be the end of the road… finally… oh, here it comes… the huge note and dramatic finish… you know, if that was the entire performance, i would’ve liked it… but she can’t sing the rest of the time… roll out the red carpet judges… Randy loved it… Ellen tries again to make the “Twain – Train” joke, but that she loved it… Kara says that she’s back… Simon says that he liked it and he doesn’t normally like country music, but it sounded like she was giving birth at the end… unbelievable…

THE PIT OF ETERNAL FIRE…

now playing: Nah! – Shania Twain

alrighty, wasn’t that special?… i’m going to go ahead and rank these six performances and then make my pick… and i’m realizing just now that i didn’t pre-predict who is getting the boot… sorry… anyway… here’s the order from worst to first… Siobhan, Michael, Lee, Aaron, Crystal, Casey… just my initial thoughts, anyway… so, who’s going home… bottom three: Michael, Aaron, Siobhan… going home Krystal… SURPRISE!… no, actually, Big Mike gets the Big Boot…

what do you think?… who’s sticking their boots back under their own bed and saying Honey, I’m Home next week?

peace… love… bdg…

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okay, so we’re down to seven… i’m running behind schedule, of course… and this will be, perhaps shorter than last week’s… i’m actually finishing up my thoughts on last week’s episode of LOST simultaneously if you can belive that… anyway… Idol Gives Back week… mentor is Alicia Keys, theme is inspirational songs, and first up is Casey… off we go…

SEVEN UP, DOWN, AND ALL AROUND…

now playing: No One – Alicia Keys

Casey “Sawyer” James… singing Don’t Stop thinking about tomorrow… and he’s got his guitar out… and the vocal’s a little shakey, but he’s got great energy… and it was alright… it’s nothing too special, but it was good… Randy says it’s the same old same old… Ellen says it was good not great… Kara says it didn’t show anyone how different he is from everyone else… Simon said it was emotionless and uninspiring… a lazy song choice…

Lee “Da Wise Guy”… growly boy is gonna sing a Paul Simon song?… singing The Boxer… so, did Alicia not know this song?… speaking of a pocketful of mumbles… i really hope i’m not the only one who realizes just how painful this performance is… or at least ADMITS how painful it is… ugh, that was AWFUL… Randy says he’s a great artist on the verge of a great career… Ellen says it was his best performance by far… Kara says it was really good, he connected to it… Simon says it was way better than Casey… full of emotion, inspiration, and that it was current…

Tim “The Partidge”… singing Better Days by Goo Goo Dolls… and i think this range is gonna be too much for him… he starting out alright… and oh, yeah, it’s gotten away from him… this could be the end of Tim… he really should’ve worked out a new arrangement for this one… Randy says that it just sounded okay and it was like karaoke… Ellen sent this bowl of soup back to the chef… Kara says it was a good choice, but it didn’t work out well… Simon says if it was his first performance ever, it might have worked, but it didn’t work tonight…

Aaron Aaron… singing I Believe I Can Fly… this was out when he was FIVE? man, i feel old… overall, it was a little overdramatic, but not too bad… he’s probably safe… especially after following Tim… it was a solid performance, nothing special, but alright… Randy said it’s a tough song, but he’s got some vocal power… Ellen liked it… Kara said it was a slow takeoff, but a good flight… Simon says it wouldn’t survive on the radio…

now playing: Don’t Stop Believin’ – Glee Cast

Siobhan MAGNUS VER MAGNUSON… oh, i didn’t pay attention to the intro… i often wish i could not pay attention when she’s singing… this is When You Believe by Whitney and, yeah, the Whitney rule still applies… it just wasn’t good and there’s absolutely no excuse for that silly little feather thing in her head… lifeless and blah for me… Randy says it wasn’t a good choice and it wasn’t good… Ellen LOVED it… Kara says it was too much like a musical… Simon agrees with Randy and Kara and mentions how distracting her outfit is… i still think she’s a bloody idiot…

BIG MIKE… oh, Big Mike will be singing Whitney too… wait, what?… oh a different Hero… should’ve gone with the Foo Fighters song… There Goes My Hero… anything is better than a Nickelback song, am i right?… and it’s a bad choice for him because it has a choppy rhythm, which makes him sound out of breath… and despite the strong finish, the rest was just there… it’s good that he showed some range, but i could’ve done without it… Randy says that it was worrisome, but it worked out… Ellen said it was a great job… Kara says sorry, oops… Simon says he sang it pretty well, but it only inspires Spiderman…

Crystal BoSAWX… singing People Get Ready without an instrument… bad move… oh… NO ONE is playing an instrument?… okay… just a capella for the intro… she’s actually got a nice vibe going on here… i daresay she reminds me a bit of Tina Turner… the vocal is a little difficult for her to tame, but she’s doing alright… except for that fiery crash at the finish, she breaks out in tears… Randy gives her a standing O… Ellen says it was beautiful and talked about some weird contraption she brought on stage… Kara says that she schooled all the other contestants… Simon says it was inspirational and in a completly different class than everyone else… her dad, Zoot from the Muppet Show, is there making her emotional…

ARE YOU INSPIRED?…

now playing: Enough for Now – The Fray

and, that’s a wrap… once again, i’m simply not impressed… i suppose this week the bottom three honors should go to Lee, Tim, and Casey… Tim is probably going to go home though…

what do you think?… who inspired you to vote for them or against them?

peace… love… bdg…

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