Weezer. Yo Gabba Gabba! How could this not being anything but appointment TV, right? I mean, even if it failed, it would have to be something worth viewing.
So, yes, the alternative-rockers that first burst onto the scene with a video inserting themselves into an episode of Happy Days recently taped a video for the show for a new song called "All My Friends Are Insects" that indicates that, yes, you will want to watch. The four guys, all dressed up as insects, rock out with guitars and basses, and in the case of drummer Pat Wilson, as a praying mantis with four drum sticks (what better way to get those hi-hats, I suppose). Entertainment Weekly's Music Mix blog has the behind-the-scenes video from the video shoot, including some muddy sound. (Original hat tip: Pitchfork.)
Seeing Weezer prance around in dorky costumes (what could be more appropriate on October 30?) makes me think that Yo Gabba Gabba! is kinda become a Soupy Sales Show for the new millenium. Sales was known for getting a bunch famous guest stars to come on his show, and the idea that Dean Martin, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, or Frank Sinatra would be willing to get a pie in the face is kinda amusing to me. Now, big stars (or at least medium-sized stars) are willing to come onto YGG and wear silly costumes or dance geekily. When Oprah shows up and does her own Dancey Dance, we'll know they've hit the big time...
Video: "Smile For the Camera" - Datarock (from Yo Gabba Gabba!)
Sorry for another YGG post so quick, but I thought the dancing in the last video I posted from Yo Gabba Gabba! needed more pep and thought this track from Datarock's appearance on the "Super Music Friends Show" fit the bill nicely.
Datarock - "Smile for the Camera" (from Yo Gabba Gabba!) [YouTube]
Video: "Use Your Mind" - Ladytron (from Yo Gabba Gabba!)
The latest (as yet unreleased) Yo Gabba Gabba song is from Ladytron, who lend their electronica stylings to a little ditty I have named "Use Your Mind." That's a(n) (educated) guess of the title, because all the band says on their YouTube page is, "No it's not our song..." as if they wanted to wipe their hands of the thing. While it's not an instant classic, it's not half bad, either. As a dance-inspiring video, though, it's no Beyonce. [Update: That video was taken down, and posted on Nettwerk's page. No disparagement any more, but confirmation of the title.]
Ladytron - "Use Your Mind" [?] from Yo Gabba Gabba! - [YouTube]
Itty-Bitty Review: Music is... Awesome! (Yo Gabba Gabba!) - Various Artists
I am perhaps not the best person to judge a Yo Gabba Gabba compilation, as I've never seen a complete episode aside from the premiere I received on a screener DVD a few years back. (That's what a lack of cable will do.) A soundtrack album -- that's pitched at the true believers, not at the casual fans, right? So, if anything, I started listening expecting not to like it so much.
Wrong. Even if you've never watched an episode and don't know your Brobee from your Muno, you and your preschoolers could definitely enjoy their new compilation Music is... Awesome!. For the most part, the disk alternates songs from the series with those from a list of artists with serious street cred; often they're set up as pairs. So a basic YGG song like "I Like to Dance" is followed up by Beastie Boys collaborator Money Mark doing a cool "Robo Dancing," an angular dance tune with lots of bleeps and bloops. "Don't Be Afraid" is followed by I'm From Barcelona's swirly pop on "Just Because It's Different Doesn't Mean Its Scary." Generally, the best songs are from the guest artists -- the Roots' incredible "Lovely, Love My Family" or Chromeo's funky ode to handwashing "Nice 'N' Clean" or the sunny "Hey, Won't Somebody Come and Play" from The Little Ones (a song which is destined to find its way onto a lot of hipster mix CDs yet is somehow totally appropriate for the 3-year-old in your life). But there are a few decent songs from the YGG folks, even if you're not a fan of the show (the cute "Party in my Tummy," or the shiny pop of "You Can't Always Get What You Want," credited to the Yo Dazzlers, but really just another YGG tune).
You can find the 37-minute CD at the usual places, including Amazon and iTunes. Besides your hipster 30-year-old friend with the chunky eyeglass frames, the album's most appropriate for kids ages 2 through 5.
I'd love to say that Music is... Awesome! is awesome. Unfortunately I can't pull the trigger on that obvious pull quote as some of the YGG tunes are just too dry to enjoy apart from the visuals. But a lot of the music is indeed awesome, which makes it the kids music compilation of the year. Definitely recommended.Video: "That's My Family" (from Yo Gabba Gabba!) - Apples in Stereo
Well, it's not family in particular, but there's only many family types you can describe in exactly 90 seconds. Or at least, in a bouncy pop tune. While it's not quite as incredibly awesome a tune as "We R Super Heroes," the animation for this video for "That's My Family" looks similar in places as the video for "We R Super Heroes." (Unsurprisingly, they share the same illustrator.) This tune's from Yo Gabba Gabba!, and, yeah, while it's an Apples in Stereo song, it sounds like a Robbert Bobbert outtake. Or vice versa.
The Apples in Stereo - "That's My Family" (from Yo Gabba Gabba!) - [YouTube]
Oh, and if you like Apples in Stereo...
Yo Gabba Gabba! Gabba!: Season Two Ends Oct. 12th-16th
In advance of the Yo Gabba Gabba! album being released on Oct. 20th comes word that Season Three the last episodes of Season Two of the TV show will debut the week of October 12th. Musical guests that week include the Roots (yes! "Lovely, Love My Family" finally gets airtime in an actual episode), MGMT, Renee Oliver, Lady Tigra, and Little Ones. And of course Biz Markie and Mark Mothersbaugh return.
Beyond that, you've got Andy Samberg doing whatever it is he does. Gufffaws will ensue. Presumably.
A list of episodes (all episodes are at 1 PM Eastern time) and a behind-the-scenes video featuring MGMT after the jump.
