Ben's Playlist - Friday, April 1, 2011

Sun Is Shining - Paul McCartney
Headphones - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Count Me In - Trout Fishing in America
I Want To Push Buttons - Lunch Money
Just the Way You Are - Bruno Mars
Take A Bow - Leona Lewis
Jewish Cowgirl [Remix] - The Mama Doni Band
Yonder Comes a Freight Train - Laura Cantrell
TV - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, March 31, 2011

Daddy Fox - Brendan Taaffe
Sunshine - DeVotchKa
Soft Things - Brady Rymer
Sing About the Sun - Dog on Fleas
Green Submarine - Flannery Brothers
My Best Friend - Weezer
Shpilkas - Bunny Clogs
Sand In My Sandwich - Princess Katie and Racer Steve
Be Thankful For What You Got - Yo La Tengo

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Lonely Days Lonely Nights - The Bee Gees
Hero - The Okee Dokee Brothers
With My Own Two Hands - Ben Harper
My Body - Young the Giant
Let's Go! - Flannery Brothers
Pork and Beans - Weezer
Butter - Bunny Clogs
Baby Brother - Keith Munslow
For Pete's Sake - The Monkees
Messy Room Song - The Hipwaders

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 20, 2011

The Rockford Files - Mike Post
Jump Up and Down - Flannery Brothers
Do The Turnout - Deedle Deedle Dees
Scootdootdoodlydoo - Billy Kelly
Six Months in a Leaky Boat - Split Enz
Obsessed By Trucks - Justin Roberts
Saskia Hamilton - Ben Folds & Nick Hornby
Blueberry Pie - Dog on Fleas
Bicycle - Frances England
Banana Stand - Ratboy Jr.
Cookies & Milk - Royal Order of Chords and Keys

Ben's Playlist - Monday, March 28, 2011

Is It Chanukah or Hannukah? - Ruby and Ava Lockner
(Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads
Linus and Lucy - Asylum Street Spankers
Even Numbers - They Might Be Giants
This Is Hip - John Lee Hooker
Bushel And A Peck - Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem
Outside Inside - Pop-Ups
Big Kite - Flannery Brothers
It's Close Enough - Billy Kelly
Quite Early Morning - Pete Seeger

Ben's Playlist - Friday, March 25, 2011

Kick - INXS
Things You Want - The Hipwaders
Draw - Luv Clowns
Smooth Operator - Sade
How Do You Build a Robot? - Recess Monkey
Scootdootdoodlydoo - Billy Kelly
Neighbors - Okee-Dokee Brothers
Five Monsters In My Family - ScribbleMonster
Science Is Real - They Might Be Giants
Stratus And Cumulus - Tom Glazer
My Imagination - Baze And His Silly Friends
I Might Be Lying - Steve Weeks

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, March 24, 2011

Loser Like Me - Glee
Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani
Mexican Hat Dance - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
Mighty Milo - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Run - Mr. G
Growl Growl - Deedle Deedle Dees
Superball - Magic Kids
The Thing That Helps Me Get Through - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Rock Lobster - Billy Kelly
Tube Sox - Princess Katie and Racer Steve

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Be Yourself - Grenadilla
Sunday Morning - GMG Jam
De Colores - Pete Seeger
Say It Loudly - The Not-Its!
Rock and Roll - The New Standards
Macaroni and Cheese - Bill Harley
I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas
Brave New World - Weezer
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Danke Shoen - Wayne Newton
The Daylight Strong - The Figgs
My Keyboard - Quiet Ones
The Race Is On Again - Yo La Tengo
Ain't Nothin' But a Party - Dirty Dozen Brass Band
No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
Say, Say, Oh Playmate - April Smith & The Great Picture
Nonagon - They Might Be Giants
Motion, Motion Everywhere - Tom Glazer & Dottie Evans
Ruling Me - Weezer

Ben's Playlist - Monday, March 21, 2011

I Still Believe - Frank Turner
Honest Kid - Princess Katie and Racer Steve
E Eats Everything - They Might Be Giants
Dreamer - Supertramp
Worms - Dog On Fleas
Drum! - The Deedle Deedle Dees
Scootdootdoodlydoo - Billy Kell
Meet Me Halfway - The Black Eyed Peas
I Might Be Lying - Steve Weeks
Can't Get Enough of You Baby - Smash Mouth

Ben's Playlist - Friday, March 18, 2011

Picky Eater - Brady Rymer
Ice Ages Are Fun - Board of Education
Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
There's A Beat - Treehouse 10
Froggie Went A Coutrin' - Joanie Leeds (Featuring Secret Agent 23 Skidoo)
Kapalua Bay - Didi Pop
Baby Lee - Teenage Fanclub
We R Who We R - Ke$ha
Daddy Fox - Brendan Taaffe
Brush Brush Brush - Of Montreal

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, March 17, 2011

Blueberry Pie - Dog on Fleas
Do The Turnout - Deedle Deedle Dees
Hey Hey Hey - Michael Franti & Spearhead
In My Room - Beach Boys
Just Bein' With You - Brady Rymer
My Imagination - Baze And His Silly Friends
Roam - The B-52s
Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse
Time Out To Rock - The Not-Its!
What's Your Name? - Meredith Brooks

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Change My Luck - The Not-Its!
De Colores - Pete Seeger
Don't Like Change - Brady Rymer
Goods - Mates of State
Honey Honey - Feist
I Meant To Do That - Jeremy Plays Guitar
My Funny Valentine - Ella Fitzgerald
Root Down - Beastie Boys
Spiders in My Breakfast - Harmonica Pocket

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Baby U - Dog On Fleas
Brimful of Asha - Cornershop
Everything's Controlled By the Brain - Doc Dauer
Growl Growl - Deedle Deedle Dees
I Love My Library - Lunch Money
Not Fast Cheetah - Recess Monkey
Octopus - Artichoke
Rock Out! - Uncle Rock
Shake! - Flannery Brothers
Tommy Got In Trouble - The Bazillions
What's On Your Shirt? - The Jimmies

Ben's Playlist - Monday, March 14, 2011

Bat Bada Bing - Cat & A Bird
Clocks - Coldplay & Buena Vista Social Club
Finiculi Finicula - Hollow Trees
Fire And Rain - James Taylor
I Want An Alien for Christmas - Fountains of Wayne
Robot Pirate - Ratboy Jr.
Small Car - Marvin Pontiac
ÜBerlin - R.E.M.
Wake Up Clarinet - Oran Etkin

New and a Half Men!

No Sheen? No problem!

Charlie Sheen is now unseen. His TV show's Malibu mansion lacks one man.

But how to fill that space? And how to explain it, in a way that doesn't insult the viewing audience of TWO AND A HALF MEN (I know, there's a double entendre in that very statement).



It's been well-established that Alan Harper and Charlie Harper and siblings. Could there be a "cousin" Harper? Possibly. But I have another scenario that could energize the show in whole new directions and possibly, ratings-dependent, keep the show moving for a 10th season and beyond.

Evelyn Harper (Holland Taylor's character) is a much-married realtor. It's entirely realistic that Evelyn could quickly fall in love. Swept off her feet by a wealthy man (call him Richard Johnson, since the show is built on loving penis jokes), they wed in Vegas. And wouldn't you know it? His wealthy, disapproving son (call him Richard Jr. or Little Dick) comes to visit - and wants to stick around to make sure Evelyn doesn't abscond with his father's estate.

And Dick needs a house! Luckily, Charlie Harper and his bride are living it up in France. Evelyn pulls some swift negotiations and Dickie boy takes over the Malibu estate. Of course, there's a catch - new stepbrother Alan comes with the house. Pretty much over a barrel, Dickie finds himself living the California lifestyle, complete with a new house, new housemate, maid, nephew, and a whole world to explore.

For Richard? On the high end, I could see Malcolm McDowell. On the low end, there's Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica). The point is, the character becomes either a semi-regular - or a plot device, who can then be killed off after a few episodes. Because if he and Evelyn get divorced, then there's no real motivation for Dick to keep Alan around the house. But if it was in his father's will, well, that's another story.

As for Dick Johnson? Rob Lowe is apparently tied up with PARKS AND RECREATION. There were rumors of John Stamos, who has experience piggybacking onto another long-running hit (ER).



But I would go in another direction. How about career TV star Scott Baio? He's even the exact age that the character would need to be. And he's from New York, which fits the "fish out of water" nature of the character. And HIS fortune? He put up the money for some nerdy friends who had an idea for an Internet startup company - called Google.

It's almost a win-win for Warner Brothers and CBS. They can cast TWO new regulars for less than half the price of Charlie Sheen - and possibly get another 2-3 seasons of their warhorse series.

Think about it, Warner Brothers.

And you're welcome.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, March 11, 2011

Bicycle - Frances England
Burnin' Up - Jonas Brothers
Hang On - Weezer
Hole Hearted - Extreme
It's Raining Again - Supertramp
Marshmallow Farm - Recess Monkey
Rolling In the Deep - Adele
Unicorn - Dr. Dog
We Could Be Pen Pals (w/Molly Ledford) - Billy Kelly
What's On Your Shirt? - The Jimmies

I guess Bieber fever is over and the Jonas Brothers are back.

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, March 10, 2011

Africa Land - Ziggy Marley
De Colores - Pete Seeger
One Wasn't Enough - Flannery Brothers
Michael Jackson Medley - Primate Fiasco
Teenage Dream (Glee Cast Version) - Glee
Villa Villekula Hula - Monty Harper
Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
Five Monsters In My Family - ScribbleMonster
Do The Turnout - Deedle Deedle Dees

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Willy Won't - Debbie and Friends
Seven - They Might Be Giants
Promise of a New Day - Paula Abdul
Opposite Day - Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
The King Of Calibar - Bill Harley
Say It Loudly - The Not-Its!
I Have A Little Dreidel - GrooveBarbers
I Can't Let Go - The Hollies
Dreamer - Supertramp
At the Timeshare - The LeeVees

Ben's Playlist - Tuesday, March 8, 2011

All The Animals - Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Bicycle - Frances England
Muppets/Mahna Mahna - Primate Fiasco
Birds - The Submarines
Man On The Moon - R.E.M.
Look Through Any Window - The Hollies
Tube Sox - Princess Katie and Racer Steve
Things Behind the Sun - Nick Drake
Down To Earth - Peter Gabriel

Ben's Playlist - Monday, March 7, 2011

What Is An Animal? - Marais & Miranda
California Gurls - Katy Perry
Li'l Things - Strange Kidz
Cows - The Suburbs
I Shall Sing - Grenadilla
Popcorn Tree - Music For Aardvarks Presents David Weinstone
Mexican Hat Dance - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
Neighbors - Okee-Dokee Brothers
Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani
Moonshot - Roy Handy & the Moonshot
Everyone Everywhere - Baze And His Silly Friends

Music For the Whole Mishpocha

Mama Doni Band Rocks the Sabbath

Whenever I think "jewish music," the two things that come to mind are klezmer and liturgical. Neither one does anything for me.

For the past few years, New Jersey's Mama Doni (a.k.a Doni Zasloff Thomas) has added a dance beat to jewish children's music. Her group, the Mama Doni Band, has played hundreds of shows across the country sharing semetic songs and hebrew-slated highlights.



March 22 marks the release of their newest "challah-day" album, Shabbat Shaboom, with 40-plus minutes of ethnic music with a positive flavor.

Like their previous CD, "Chanukah Fever," the new release presents a selection of songs based around a secular concept. In this case, "Shabbat Shaboom" comments on all things related to Friday night services - going to the temple ("Synagoguersize"), saying the prayers ("The Sabbath Queen"), and having a chicken dinner with your family ("Chicken A La Tango").

From a 2007 start as the music teacher for her children's preschool, Doni has expanded into a full-fledged frontperson for a traveling band of Jewish minstrels, performing at JCCs and temples from coast to coast. I stumbled across the band on a clip from E! Television's "The Soup," technically a credit to boast about - even if the band is overshadowed by the antics of the morning show hosts on the program where they were performing.



But you can't go wrong on any children's CD where the lead singer befriends a chicken meant for the family dinner. Doni also tackles candle-lighting, families ("My Mishpocha"), and ends the disc with traditional blessings. Children will come for the music and stay for the message. As the Jews would say, that's a mitzvah.

Ben's Playlist - Friday, March 4, 2011

One Of Us - Joan Osborne
Battleship Chains - Hindu Love Gods
Colors - John & Mark
Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald
Song of the Passaic - Fountains of Wayne
TiK ToK - Ke$ha
Get Me Out Of Here - Bill Harley
Dog Days Are Over - Florence And The Machine

Ben's Playlist - Thursday, March 3, 2011

Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna
Doing It Right - The Go! Team
De Colores - Pete Seeger
I Wanna Be An Action Figure - Daddy A Go Go
Oh My Heart - R.E.M.
Somebody To Love - Justin Bieber
Octopus - Artichoke
Everything's Controlled By the Brain - Doc Dauer
I Want to Hold Your Ear - ScribbleMonster
More Cowbell - Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
You Have A Heart - Readeez

Ben's Playlist - Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Time (The Dirty Bit) - Black Eyed Peas
Birds Fly Away - Theresa Andersson
Halo / Walking On Sunshine - Glee
K-I-D-S - Luv Clowns
Hey Hey Hey - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Muffin Man - Ella Fitzgerald
All Around the Kitchen - Pete Seeger
High Hopes - Primate Fiasco
Baby's Getting Up - Casper Babypants
Wimoweh - Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights
Summer Holiday - Chris Isaak