WTF Is MTV2 Doing Now...

Late night channeling surfing prompted me to do some research on MTV's latest attempt to restore order and purity to their networks. Apparently their bringing back some nostalgic clips of failed cartoons and 90's music videos to the late night MTV2 timeslot. For me, that's better than reality shows and no music videos whatsoever. Here's the article that was apparently already written last month. (I don't get MTV/MTV2 with my normal cable anymore. Damn recession.)

From MTVU.com:

MTV2 LEGIT Resurrects Classic ’90s Shows
Posted June 12th, 2009by mtvU

In the ’90s, MTV released a string of shows that, although short-lived, quickly became cult classics.

The channel is finally giving in to demand and bringing many of those great shows back from the dead. MTV2 LEGIT showcases groundbreaking talents from shows that defined MTV in the 1990’s like Beavis & Butthead, Celebrity Deathmatch, The State and clips from Liquid Television including Aeon Flux and The Maxx.

MTV2 LEGIT opens the MTV archive and delivers a whole decade’s worth of music videos and on-air promos, including Denis Leary rants and awkward rides with Jimmy The Cab Driver, plus commentary from Method Man, Redman, Tom Morello and more.

To relive all these cult faves and more, tune in to MTV2 on Friday nights at 10PM ET.

- MTVU.

Okay, I'm going to place a bet and say this won't last past the summer. Who wants bet against me? Despite all this, I enjoyed these two videos that were played in their entirity last night, with some comentary from members of 311, The Roots, and Street Sweeper Social Club.

Foo Fighters - "Big Me"

Foo Fighters - New Music - More Music Videos

R.E.M. - "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?"

R.E.M. - New Music - More Music Videos

Meh. I hate copyrights.

Vintage Video: (Summer Favorites - Part 2)

Ah, alas - Part 2. This one is a little more serious of a song than "Been Caught Stealing". Although, the gang does joke around before they start playing once they hear a request for a Southern Rock anthem. Listen for the Nine Inch Nails plug, too. This is one of many covers Nirvana played during their MTV Unplugged set on November 18, 1993.

Nirvana - "Plateau" (Meat Puppets Cover)


"Plateau" is a beautiful song. I always think of some sort of biblical journey through a desert or a plain when I hear the tune and listen to the lyrics. I think it's a self-realization song. Kurt's vocals suit it very well, adding a slightly depressing tone to it, rather than the upbeat Meat Puppets version. It was nice to have those dudes join Nirvana onstage. This performance, 15 years after it was recorded, is still haunting. Watch the entire unplugged: it's especially creeping during the final song (Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?") and Kurt's last scream. Looks painful. Big time spooky.

R.I.P. Kurt Cobain.

Vintage Video (Summer Favorites - Part 1)

Ever get really into a song during some point in your life when it's either really irrelevant to your current situation or not even remotely modern? I find myself digging into the past with old school alternative videos from the late 80's and early 90's more and more often these days. There's a lot to be learned and admired from these artists and their videos. They were creative, not terribly flashy, and pretty unique for their time.

I've got about 9 or 10 of these that I'll be posting. But basically, these are some songs from over the past summer that really stuck out to me. And these videos (whether official or not) are cool concepts. The first one belongs to LA's own Jane's Addiction.

Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing (1990)


Nothing wrong with a little theft to spice up your life. It's also cool to have your girlfriend be into the same criminal mischief. Perry Farrell, Dave Navaro and the rest of the gang in this alt. rock quartet offer up an idea for excitement - just make sure you don't wind up in trouble with the law. Check out the sweet dance fest that goes on in isle 7.

P.S. Try not to be totally freaked out by this cross-dresser.