Soundscape #60: “Television has proved that people will look at anything rather than each other” —Ann Landers
November 2nd, 2007I read somewhere that the average American watches about 4 hours of TV every day. Which is quite a bit if you think about the short number of hours people spend at home in the first place. It’s a comforting thought when you are in the world’s most boring meeting and you can daydream about whether William Shatner is better in Star Trek or Boston Legal. Noone can deny the power of TV; it’s pervasive in the most insidious ways. It’s no surprise that people sometimes take cues from their favourite TV character (”what would [insert name] do?”). And it’s definitely no surprise to read about heated debates in the news about some parent groups lobbying against the broadcast of some programmes because they are worried about their kids picking up the “wrong” ways.
There’s just something about the box that draws people in—and not let go.
Don’t get me wrong; I love TV. I love eating chips and watching the latest season of Boston Legal or Gilmore Girls. I love old TV shows like MASH and Northern Exposure (which in my opinion is the best show ever, bar none, period, etc). I used to be a walking TV guide and would go straight home after work on Wednesdays, for example, just because Heroes was on. I would check out the TV guides in advance just so I know what to watch for the coming week.
I miss those days! Ever since my new job, I haven’t had that luxury for a long long time. It’s all I could do to catch an episode here and there but damn I need my TV!
Playlist:
1. (0:00) The Go! Team - Grip Like A Vice (Proof Of Youth)
2. (4:01) We Are Scientists - This Scene Is Dead (With Love And Squalor)
3. (7:45) The Hold Steady - Chillout Tent (Boys And Girls In America)
4. (11:25) Headlights - TV (Kill Them With Kindness)
5. (14:03) The Broken West - Down In The Valley (I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On)
6. (17:55) Death Cab For Cutie - Tv Trays (You Can Play These Songs With Chords)
7. (21:59) Gigolo Aunts - The Big Lie (Minor Chords And Major Themes)
8. (25:27) Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Timorous Me (The Tyranny Of Distance)
9. (30:00) Teenage Fanclub - Speed Of Light (Songs From Northern Britain)
10. (33:53) Wolf Parade - I’ll Believe In Anything (Apologies To The Queen Mary)
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