LookGirl goes pop: Welcome to the jungle

Monday, March 17, 2008

Welcome to the jungle

With only one episode remaining in Candice Bushnell's new series "Lipstick Jungle," I can safely say that it's really not that good. It's improved from being stupid enough to offend to being utterly non-offensive in every way, which is a good thing, I guess, but which has rendered the show totally unremarkable. It's not as wildly unbelievable or smugly self-satisfied as "Cashmere Mafia," but it's just as far-fetched. Lindsay Price plays a likable young designer who's swept off her feet by - no kidding here - Andrew McCarthy, who has enough money to drop $50 million on a painting. I meet those kinds of guys everyday, don't you? Brooke Shields plays a film producer who is trying to balance her family and career - yawn. And Kim Raver plays a magazine editor having an affair that began as sexual harassment. It's all very "Unfaithful," but not nearly as well-acted. So, all in all, if you haven't caught an episode yet, don't worry, you haven't missed much. You're safe sticking to "Sex and the City" reruns.

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I'm into R.E.M., but not actively so anymore. They're kind of like that favorite shirt that I don't wear anymore but that I can't bear to part with. I've picked up their new album, but I can't get myself to listen to it yet, despite the rockin' reviews. To me they'll always be best way back when, and sometimes it's hard to go back. But despite that, one of my favorite tracks is a later tune, "E-bow the Letter." It's darker than most of their stuff, and much more modern. It's sad and sophisticated and not at all shiny or happy, just like I like it.

We can't believe season two is really over, what are we going to do all summer without "The Hills"? We'll have to get our fill by scanning the magazines at the drug store, which are amazingly quick to keep up with every petty insult and fake breakup that happens to our favorite girls. All in all this season rocked; what could top a trip to Paris? So what was everyone up to as the season closed? Audrina was considering moving out of the guest house of Lauren's pad because she's upset at how Lo treats her and feels excluded. We don't blame her, Lo is none to nice to simple Audrina. Meanwhile, Heidi and Spencer made up from their fake breakup, which was as anti-climactic as watching butter melt in the microwave. Who really cares anymore? I wish someone would let Heidi and her fake boobs walk on over to another show. We're thinking "Flavor of Love."

Lost 5/28: Another season come and gone, and another awesome season finale. The seasons may have their ups and downs, but the season finales always rock. This one was just as emotional as last year's with some more favorites seemingly dead. Michael is a for-sure goner, and Jin is most likely gone, but there's a possibility he survived the explosion. Creepy Claire is still stalking the survivors, acting like the undead Charlie and Shannon who came before. The finale also marked the return of Walt, who has grown seemingly four feet since we last saw him. Desmond and Penny found eachtother at last, and Sawyer proved himself to be more of a man than Jack. All in all a pretty rockin' way to leave things til next year.
Gossip Girl 5/19: After a half season of catfights, cheating and revelations about Serena's inner demons, we were kinda disappointed with the season finale. They seemed to wrap things up with Georgina pretty quickly and efficiently. One minute she's there, the next she's being carted off by her parents. So anticlimactic! The show then plodded along through Lily's wedding to Barf, I mean Bart, and ended with a mind-boggling breakup between Serena and Dan, and Chuck going back to his women-chasing ways. Eh, not impressed.
Survivor 5/11: So Amanda must not be very likable. This is the only conclusion I can draw about her after she lost in the finals for the second straight time. She won challenges, fought off adversity and managed to be the nice guy in a sea of sharks, yet that still got her nowhere. What's up with that? That left Parvati to get the win, and the million dollars. She definitely played a good game, and was the driving force in the alliance that ultimately carried her to the end, but we're just not down with people who hook up for money. Not cool.

Doolittle: The PIxies are a great underrated band. Frank Black and the Deal sisters are good on their own, but you really have to return to the source for the best music. "Gouge Away" is a great rock song, and "La La Love You" is a great love song.
Concert in Central Park: Paul Simon's early '90s return to Central Park was even better than the first time with Art Garfunkle. He brought Ladysmith Black Mambazo with him for the killer "Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes."
American Beauty: The Grateful Dead inspire strong dislike in a lot of people, and I've never been able to figure out why. You don't have to like their music, but is it really bad enough to hate? I don't think so, especially after listening to the first three tracks on this album. There's nothing better on a Sunday morning, especially the incredible "Sugar Magnolia."
Check Your Head: It's hard to believe that The Beastie Boys are elder statesmen of music, I still remember when "Fight for Your Right to Party" came out and everyone in my fifth grade class thought it was a great joke. This album, their third, doesn't have one low point. Check out "In 3s," especially for their shout-out to women, which is sadly missing in a lot of music by men.
Hatful of Hollow: I love British bands, and to my mind The Smiths rank just after the Rolling Stones and The Beatles as the best ever. This compilation has favorites like "This Charming Man" and "How Soon is Now" as well as lesser-known gems like "This Night has Opened My Eyes."
Kaya: Being into Bob Marley is practically a cliche by now, but it's hard not to. This album is filled with sweet, happy songs, a far cry from some of the more political albums. It has my favorite of his songs on it, "She's Gone," which I recommend downloading immediately.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: I really miss Lauryn Hill, but if this is the only testament we have of her talent, it's not too shabby. The Fugees were great, but Lauryn Hill on her own was even better. Some of the tracks are reminiscent of Stevie Wonder. "Ex Factor," reportedly written about Hill's relationship with Wyclef Jean, is one of my favorite songs ever.
When the Pawn Hits...: I don't know that I'd want to hang out with Fiona Apple, she seems a bit intense, but that's great for her music. This album, her second, revealed her to be a major talent. The songs are innovative, different and emotionally revealing. It's hard to top the lyric: "I'm tired of whys, choking on whys, just need a little because" on the standout track 'Fast as You Can."
Disintegration: This was The Cure's most commercially successful album because of the overplayed "Love Song" and "Lullaby." But the album as a whole sets the most forlorn, beautiful mood, especially the gorgeous "Pictures of You" and "Plainsong."
Abbey Road: This is my favorite Beatles album, it's such a complete arc it's a great listen. The last half especially, starting with "You Never Give Me Your Money," really stands apart, that track especially being the best on the album. And the lead-in to "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" is one of the best ever.