American Idol Recap: Born To Be Mild

This week our Idols were mentored by musical genius... Quintin Tarantino? OK, so he's a huge fan of the show, even going so far as to guest judge on season three. And he's a master of using music to set the scene in his films. He's also really weird, so he and the judges should get along great. Too bad Megan left already... Anyway, this week's theme was Songs From The Cinema, and we got the best of the sappy ballads that soundtrack the big love scenes and end credits.

Opening the show is Allison Iraheta, with the massive Aerosmith single from Armageddon, "Don't Want To Miss A Thing." The opening verse was really nice, her vocals had that mixture of tenderness and gruffness that Pink does so well. But she doesn't quite have the lungs of Steven Tyler, and the chorus was a bit more shouty than powerful. All in all, it was a truly solid performance and I hope my pink-haired sister is safe this week.

Still stuck in a ballad rut, Anoop Desai has figured out what America wants and is going to give it to her. Bryan Adams' Robin Hood theme "Everything I Do (I Do For You)" was really well sung, and he did have some great vocal inflections at places. But despite the fan fervor online, I found it no better, no worse, than his usual balladeering self. I need a really powerful connection to sell me on that many slow, sweet love songs.

Adam Lambert has never done anything boring in his life. I imagine picking up toilet paper at the supermarket even features a few lines in high pitched falsetto, and a dramatic kick at the cart rack. He's a rock star in a way not even last year's hot winner could have imagined. Adam kicked things into overdrive with an electric performance of "Born To Be Wild" that rocked, his stage presence is beyond that of any contestant in the five years I've been watching. It can be over the top, it can be dramatic, but it's never dull.

Look, it's some more Bryan Adams. This time it's "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman" from Don Juan and Matt Giraud is the panty-drop-worthy hottie handling vocals. The opening was really awesome, the soulful vocals over the piano really sold me an emotional connection. But then the guitar broke in, Matt started losing the melody and a really lovely performance went south. He jumped the train on the bridge, and drowned under the weight of his own runs.

Gokey forces an emotional connection with me, and I feel violated. I'm guessing "Endless Love" was chosen with his late wife in mind, but it's beyond sappy and only barely works as a duet. Solo, and with that shouty thing he does when he his emotion chip starts kicking in, it needed either less harp, or less Danny. I'd prefer the latter.

Kris Allen picked the most fucking beautiful ballad of the last ten years and connects emotionally with it. Yeah, I've been playing the "emo-connect" card all recap just so I could salivate over this performance. "Falling Slowly" won the Oscar for best original song in 2008, and it well deserved it. It's haunting and has great melody and lyrics. And Kris just took this sinking boat and pointed it home, thanks to the background singers harmonizing with him at just the right moments. He is amazing, and may have just sailed into the top spot on my favorites this season. Adam, Allison, it's your moves. And Randy can suck my left testicle...

Lil Rounds, how could you? You choice "The Rose" (smart idea avoiding the cliched Whitney/Celine songs) and really gave it a hot arrangement. Huge props for that, you haven't showed that much versatility yet. BUT, and this one is almost as big and hot as yours, you never really committed to the vocals, the generic "session singer" sound didn't work over the traditional first half, and was even less convincing over the amazing gospel ending. That vamp could have cemented you a place in my top ten Idol performances of 2009, instead you just ending any chance of me voting for you. Ouch, that came out harsher than I wanted it to.

The bottom three should be Anoop, Danny and Lil, but it will probably be Anoop, Matt and maybe Allison. There is no way Lil is leaving, one diva always lasts to the top four and the final singer has never gone home outside of a finale episode. I hate to say it, but Matt may be singing for the Judges Save tonight. Sorry, my beautiful boy. At least I still have Kris to look at. He was the best of the night.

My Top Twenty: "Paint It, Black" - The Rolling Stones

Song: "Paint It, Black"
Artist: The Rolling Stones
Album: Aftermath
Year: 1966
Highest Billboard Hot 100 Chart Position: #1
Players: Mick Jagger -vocals, credited songwriter; Brian Jones - sitar, acoustic guitar; Keith Richards - background vocals, electric guitar, credited songwriter; Bill Wyman - bass, electric organ; Charlie Watts - drums; Jack Nitzsche - piano; Andrew Loog Oldham - producer

I could write scads about this middle-eastern flavored classic Rolling Stones single. From the moment Brian Jones launches into a sitar (one of the most recognizable intros in rock music) through the dark, menacing lyrics and driving drums, the Stones have never been harder, cooler or more enticing. I've never been a huge fan of the British band, but between this song, "Gimme Shelter" and "Start Me Up" I have to give them props.

But that's not why this song is one of my Top Twenty Favorite Songs Of All Time. I have a little story about this song. Wanna hear it?

It was about a year ago at Strawberry's on a Karaoke Thursday. I was there with the guy who had dumped me a few weeks prior. We tried to stay friends, so this was the second time I had grabbed the mic with him post-breakup. After a lackluster attempt at Kanye earlier in the night, I was debating what song to try next. He had told me that I wasn't a rock fan, which annoyed me because I pride myself on loving all music. I was in a combative mood, so I picked "Paint It, Black" and worked that motherfucker out. It felt so good to just let loose with a rock strut and, while I'm no Mick Jagger, I think I did a kick-ass job.

Since then, I've taken to doing "Gimme Shelter" on Rock Band every time my gang of friends gather. But if they had "Paint It, Black" I would revisit that moment of attitude-drenched glory. And the next time I go out for drinks and amateur tunes, I may just do it again.



And this conclude my series of Top Tweny Songs Of All Time. Watch for a new series, The Essentials, to start later this week.

Since I Can't Find The New Bat For Lashes Anywhere In Harrisburg...

Bat For Lashes' newest disc, Two Suns, has been out since last Tuesday. But I've checked the usual shops in the 'burg, (Best Buy, Borders and Target) and nobody has it. Same thing happened with Marianne Faithfull, I had to wait a week before I could find it. I don't know what the deal is with that, if it wasn't for the fact I greatly prefer to have the booklet and all that, I'd just hit the iTunes. They love the Natasha Khan's ethereally spooky chamber pop and have MP3's stocked and ready for download.

While I wait for Two Suns, I stumbled onto a BBC Radio 1 performance by the lovely Ms. Khan. She covers "Use Somebody" (by every Brit's favorite rockers, King Of Leon) with her delicate vocals, an organ and tambourine. It's very pretty, and a great follow up to her Lo Fi mix of my current favorite song, "Daniel." Of course, if I had the album, perhaps I would have a different favorite song. Download both MP3s at Stereogum, and listen to "Use Somebody [Live Lounge Cover]" below.



Ah, what the hell. Enjoy my Favorite Song Of 2009 (So Far) too...

VIDEO: St. Vincent Makes An "Actor Out Of Work" Cry On Command

I've been remiss in posting St. Vincent-related news. I do apologize. Her flawed Marry Me was one of my favorite albums of 2007 but I hear the new disc, Actor, is even better. The lead single "Actor Out Of Work" is wonky, fuzzed out guitar magic with Annie Clark's multi-layered vocals stealing the show. The video is acting class 101, Annie walks into a warehouse full of actors (probably out of work) and makes them cry. Perhaps her overly dramatic lipsynch was too much insane beauty to handle? It's not as emo as it sounds... Watch: (found via Stereogum)

David Cook Is Just As Hot Going Backwards As He Is Forwards...

My beloved Cookie told me (well, the whole crowd actually) at his concert that he was filming a new video for the second single from his recent self-titled disc. "Come Back To Me" finds him in solid mid-tempo power rock arena, a place his voice can swell on the emotional chorus. The video features the scruffy faced Idol winner walking backwards out of the bathroom, joining his band before heading out the woods and back to the airport, where his horrible, terrible, unworthy girlfriend is getting on a plane and leaving him. He's willing to wait until she "finds everything you need... when you find you, come back to me." Aww, he's so sweet. In the meantime, honey, he can find comfort in these arms. Just saying... Watch:

American Idol Recap: As Years Go By...

This week the Idols sang song released in the year they were born. Because nothing says fresh and modern like songs as old as the artist singing them. Anyway, let's take a look at the almost all 80s babies singing some old school stuff.

Danny Gokey went back to 1980 for a really bad arrangement of "Stand By Me." It was boring in the beginning and shouty at the end. The pre-song package made him come off as douchier than usual, which is quite an accomplishment! The Good Christian Widower should be in trouble, but since the judges gave him a tongue bath of praise, he's so safe.

Truthiness alert: my mind wandered so much during Kris's "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" that I didn't write any notes. Re-watching it, it still left no impression. He's cute, but the original version is so obnoxious and he did nothing to improve it. A bad week for an other wise good performer.

Oh, Lil! You can sing, but that's not enough. Tina Turner has so many imitators (Beyonce springs to mind,) and you came off as the lowest of them. Plus the vocals were very shouty, and "What's Love Got To Do With It" needs more sass, less scratch... iness. Sorry, rhyming is not my gift. Girlfriend is in danger, Idol fans love a diva but she is not living up to the standards set by Fantasia or Syesha.

I see Anoop's "True Colors" and that's why I am ambivalent about him. He explained his disgusted reaction after last weeks god-awful song and Kara's very accurate observations about it. But he did not apologize, which was either an oops or a diss. Anyway, I loved his ballads before, but this time he was boring. Cyndi sold that song with emotion and her unique voice, Anoop doesn't have that connection that is required for this song.

Scott finally picked a more upbeat song than usual, the Survivor power ballad "The Search Is Over." He also stepped outside the box playing an electric guitar. But his vocals suffered, it was a little screechy. I enjoyed his "punk" side, but his singing was pretty punk, too.

Here is the reason I love Allison: she can take a beautiful, slow, moving song like "I Can't Make You Love Me" and keep it beautiful with making it boring. She has such a studio-ready voice, the subtle inflection of smoke is beautiful. She may be my favorite, but I'm not sure she can win.

Poor Matt Giraurd! His comments got cut short because the show was running long. It's OK, because his Stevie Wonder cover was sexy smoothness and I am here to tell him all about it. He has that pretty white boy soul thing down pat, and if being my "Part Time Lover" is all he can offer, I will take it! My baby sis says he should not have worn the hat, but I told her it's just one more thing he can take off for a seductive strip tease. Oops, did I say that out loud?

Adam got a standing ovation from Simon, which was perfect since he did his entire performance sitting down. Everything about "Mad World" was stunning, the lighting, his stage presence that didn't require movement and his beautiful falsetto made a dramatic statement proving his artist swagger is more than merited. I kinda love the Scary Homosexual Rocker...

The bottom three should be Scott, Anoop and Lil. It will probably be Alison, though, not Anoop. Going home: Scott.

American Idol Recap: Pick A Theme, Any Theme...

This week the Idols had to choose from "Top iTunes Downloads" meaning pretty much every song ever, excepting the Beatles. Because they are too important/greedy to have songs available for download. Anyway...

Anoop Desai decides to try something fresh and modern, like an old Usher song that wasn't much of a hit. "Caught Up" requires some frsh dance moves and killer runs to work, this was karaoke of the worst kind. Ick.

Megan Joy tries to lull us into a sense of contented highs with some Marley, mon. It's a song that she could try to kill, with that meandering vocals of hers. But instead she just lulls us to sleep.

Danny Gokey is better on mute. I discovered this by accident when I got a phone call from my Gay Best Friend and muted the sound whilst we chatted. He's really hot, but so much hotter when he isn't shout/singing at me.

AHHHH! I love Alison Iraheta, and she nailed No Doubt's "Don't Speak." Yes, that dress was fug as sin, but her showmanship and killer smoked-up pipes made up for it one-hundred fold.

Scott McIntyre attempts to cinch the deal on his Adult Contemporary kingship. His Billy Joel cover was his best so far, but still incredibly boring. As usual...

I thought Matt Giraurd started rough, but his version of "You Found Me" got better as it went on. I like him with a rock song, even if everybody else hated it.

Lil Rounds needs a song choice coach! She picked a diva song, but totally the wrong diva song. "I Surrender" is one of the most boring and old fashoined of the Celine Dion catalog. She sang her ass off, but she needs to pick a song that is worthy of her pipes.

I still cannot decide how Adam Lambert made "Play That Funky Music" almost work. His voice is rediculous, as always, but that song choice was really dumb. But still, it was fun and enjoyable.

Kris Allen turns out the best performance of the night with an understated vocal turn on "Ain't No Sunshine." It was seriously hot, he came out of no where to become a frontrunner. And this is the second instrument he's played, proving he is a artist to be reckoned with.

Megan went home, deservedly. Alison should not have been anywher near the bottom.