VAGUE SPACE

Season in Review Preview

Ok, so we're less than a month away from the annual Vague Space television season in review, but this preview edition is coming out now because this has been by far the best TV season since I started blogging, and I really don't know how I'm going to sort out these programs into a coherent top 10 list.  Most years, including last year, I'm struggling to even complete a top 10.  In fact, last year's list actually had MTV's horrendous "reality" show The Hills (which I still refuse to admit that I still watch) at #5.  It won't make the top 15 this season, although it could squeak into a top 20 if my list expands that long.  So why is this TV season so much better than last year?  Am I just watching more TV?  Probably a combination of both, but here's the rundown, starting with the returning shows in competition.

Seven shows from last year's Top 10 will be competing again this year, including defending champion Lost, #2 The Office (2006-07 show of the year), #3 Weeds, #4 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, #6 South Park, #7 The Amazing Race (2004-05 show of the year), and #10 30 Rock.  Of these shows, Lost has been at least as good as last year, and Weeds was better.  The Amazing Race had a strong return to form over the course of this year (two seasons), and 30 Rock became one of my favorite comedies.  On the downside, The Office is not what it used to be -- the rampant humor and must-see quality has declined considerably since its season 2/3 peak, although the recent storyline featuring the "Michael Scott Paper Company" was a welcome addition.  It's Always Sunny has also fallen off considerably from its season 2 peak and may not be in the top 10 this year.  South Park has fallen to such a point that I have the entire spring season on DVR and haven't watched an episode yet.  So that's unlikely to make the top 10 unless I actually start watching the shows.  Entourage, which didn't make the list last year because I don't think they actually had new episodes during the season, will also be competing for a slot.

Decemberists on Colbert Report

In their second appearance on one of the best shows on televisions, Colin Meloy and Chris Funk have a quick sit-down with Stephen Colbert before joining the full band for an abbreviated version of "The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid" from The Hazards of Love.  Watch it below...

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves
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New Music Tuesday

Saxon Shore is a post-rock band that's been around since 2001, when the then-duo of Matthew Doty and Josh Tillman released Be a Bright Blue, a great little record on their own label.  They've followed up with 2 more full-lengths plus an EP (the stellar Luck Will Not Save Us from a Jackpot of Nothing) on Burnt Toast Vinyl, an independent label out of Philadelphia.  But it's been four years since their last release and the band's members have all been involved in side projects since then.  Last summer, though, they finished up a new album of music, working with well-known producer Dave Fridmann, but it appears they've had trouble finding a label to release it, so it's only coming out now, and it's self-released.  & Records released it in Japan, but the band is handling distribution from its website for American fans.  The new album is titled It Doesn't Matter, and it's fairly well brilliant.  So take the time to check out the band at Myspace (where you can listen to multiple tracks from the new album) and its website, where you can purchase the album.  And take a listen to the slow build on first track "Nothing Changes."  Absolutely brilliant.

• Download Saxon Shore - "Nothing Changes".mp3

Sonic Youth's new record The Eternal is due on June 9th on Matador.  I actually haven't listened to it yet, but their last album of new material Rather Ripped was rather good.  So I'm definitely hopeful.  Here's their first leaked track.  It's a Kim song, which I tend not to enjoy as much as the Thurston songs, but this definitely hearkens back to old school Sonic Youth, which is definitely a good thing.

• Download Sonic Youth - "Sacred Trixter".mp3
• Buy Early, Get Now on Matador - today!

Spring (or actually Summer) Arrives

Wow.  It got hot fast.  I remember wearing my winter coat and complaining about it a week ago.  And then it hit 90 today.  Not that mind.  I'll take 90 any day over a winter coat, but you know, usually we have a little prep time in between -- something that is typically called "spring."  Of course, that was back before global warming trimmed the number of seasons in New Jersey from the unwieldy four to a much more manageable two -- "Hot" and "Fucking Cold".  And the fucking cold this year was pretty bad - snowy and miserable for all of December and January at least, although things did sort of calm down the last two months and now... "Hot" is here.  So, um, cool?  Yeah, I usually don't have my air conditioner on in April, but there's no way I can sleep tonight without it.  On the bright side, electricity is slightly cheaper than heating gas, so even though I'm going broke trying to regulate my home's temperature, it'll be at a little slower rate in the coming months.

I do need to make a request for my readers -- especially anyone who cooks.  I have been challenged to a "Throwdown" (a la The Food Network's "Throwdown with Bobby Flay") in the coming weeks, which will include celebrity guest judges (or friends of ours), a lot of trash talking, team names, aprons, and, hopefully, a victory by yours truly.  The only problem -- well, not the only problem, but the biggest one, is that I can't cook.  So that will make the winning a little more difficult.  We were going to have a chili throwdown but due to the "Hot" that I mentioned earlier, we were thinking of going a different direction.  But there's very few things that both of us can make, so right now, it's either the chili or buffalo wings or something else we can come up with.  So I'm asking my readers to make some suggestions of what might be a good dish to challenge with, especially one that an amateur might be able to make well.  Any good recipes would be nice too.  And if anyone from central Jersey wants to be on my "team" for the event, please let me know.  You don't have to be able to cook, although that would help.  You will get your own apron.   And anyone is welcome, other than Rudnick, who will not be allowed at the contest site for various reasons.   That is all.  I'm going to go eat some leftover ice cream.  It's fucking hot in here.

Chicago

Here's all you need to know about my mid-week journey to Chicago for business.  On the one night I was there, we ate dinner at Olive Garden.  Seriously.  I flew to Chicago and ate at Olive Garden.  Yeah.  Business travel sucks balls.  Don't let anyone tell you differently.  And nothing against Olive Garden -- the meal was tasty enough -- but the last time I went to one had to be at least 15 years ago, with my parents, and there's probably half a dozen of them within 20 miles of where I'm sitting right now.  So I didn't really need to fly to Chicago to eat at one.  Or the Panera where we ate lunch.  Both days.  Seriously.  Now, admittedly, we were in Downer's Grove, not Chicago (about a 20 minute drive from O'Hare, 30  minutes from the city proper), but we could have driven in to see the city if we wanted to.  Unfortunately, I didn't even have a car and was forced to go wherever the team of engineers from my company chose to eat... which was Olive Garden.  Joy.  We didn't even have to go to some nice Chicago steakhouse -- Guy Fieri's profiled at least a dozen Chicago restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  But no, Olive Garden was the choice.  If I'd had my own car, I would have certainly left them to their own devices and gone into the city, but alas, I caved and spent the night watching The Office re-runs on TBS inside my hotel room.  Woo hoo!  Windy City!  Of course it was freezing and raining the whole night there anyway, so maybe it was all for the best.  At least they had Sam's White Ale on tap.  Believe me, I needed them.

New for '09

This week's New Music Tuesday is going to feature several bands that are new to me this year and have caught my attention for their brilliance.  If you haven't heard of them yet, take a sample and enjoy...

Kestrels

A kestrel is a type of bird, a member of the falcon genus.  Unfortunately, that Wikipedia reference has little to do with the Canadian band whose debut single has been lodged in my Top 10 of the week for a couple months now.  But Kestrels are so unknown, they don't have a Wiki yet.  They do have a blog on CBC Radio 3, from which I discerned that the band is a trio consisting of members of The Got to Get Got and The Medium Mood, only the former I've which I've heard of.  Their debut 7" had only 300 vinyl copies printed, but is available via the Internets.  They are from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and were recently voted best new local band from the Coast (Eastern Canada).  And along with the "Seaside" track I'm sharing below, they have another great song called "On Our Time" on the same 7".  But "Seaside" is an almost perfect flashback to mid-90s alternative song, and perfect for the summer (even if it was released last fall).

• Buy the three tracks on the 7" at zunior.com for only $2.22!
• Buy the vinyl 7"
• Download Kestrels - "Seaside".mp3

The New Yankee Stadium

Well, they've finally replaced the Dump that was the old Yankee Stadium with a $1.3 billion structure that seems to be missing the historic appeal of the ancient building, but has enough upgraded amenities to make you forget about history and simply enjoy the wonder of something beautiful and new.  To those who have never been to the old Yankee Stadium and have heard wonderful stories of its appeal -- well, that's all based on the fact that Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio played on its field.  As far as actually going to a game and trying to enjoy oneself (especially if you're not a Yankees fan), the old stadium was definitely a dump.  Cramped corridors, basic and poorly made food, expensive beers, cramped seating, horrendous bathrooms, not enough parking, too much traffic, and a location in the Bronx that left a lot to be desired.  The new stadium addresses a lot of these concerns -- the corridors are wide and spacious, the bathrooms are a huge improvement, the food is much, much more varied and tastes a lot better, and the Yankees have gone out of their way to make this a fan-friendly environment, with employees stationed all over to help patrons find their way around the rather confusing maze that is the new stadium setup.  Sure, it's still in the Bronx, and they haven't torn down the old Dump yet to make room for additional parking, but I'd say it was a much better experience than attending a game across the street at the old Stadium.  Of course, any time the Yankees lose 22-4 is a great experience, but all in all, it's a good building. 

Idiot Heart

The first single off of Sunset Rubdown's forthcoming third album, Dragonslayer, is one familiar to readers of this blog, but it's here in its brand new album format.  And, well, it's as wonderful as I'd hoped.  I love this freaking song.  Enjoy.

• Download Sunset Rubdown - "Idiot Heart".mp3

Gone Jonny Gone

Well, after a week of speculation and some crazy rumors surrounding Paul Harris and whether or not he intended to have his name entered into the draft, the sad news came out yesterday that Jonny Flynn will not be returning to Syracuse for his junior season.  That pretty much kills our chances for the Final Four next year, regardless of what happens with Paul and Eric Devendorf (who also both look as good as gone right now).  But I don't begrudge Jonny his decision.  He's done what he thinks is best for him, right now, and I wish him luck.  Thanks for two years of absolutely wonderful memories.

Exclusive interview: Jonny Flynn speaks out about NBA decision

I Hear Dead People

Last night's episode was basically one big long shout-out to diehard fans of the show, mixing in humorous Hurley with serious Miles and throwing in a bunch of callbacks to previous episodes while explaining a lot of mysteries and opening the door to next episode's exciting adventure.  It was just, completely, awesome.  If you haven't watched yet, stop reading now.  I don't want to ruin it for you.  If you have... make sure you erase the videotape in case it falls into the wrong hands.