Before Melodrama Television, there was Music Television. Yes, it's true. Once upon a time in the '80s, MTV actually showed music videos instead of stupid reality shows about stupid people from New Jersey. Back then, one of the early stars was Howard Jones, a British singer/songwriter who knew how make music with machines. Jones will bring back the days of synth-pop when he stops by and plugs in at the cavernous Canyon tonight in Agoura Hills.

While George, Tom, Brian, Davy, John Paul, Quincy, Norah are all well known, Howard is not only keeping up with the Joneses but he's been doing this for nearly four decades after taking piano lessons as a kid. His first album, 1984's "Human's Lib," was a smash in England and made a respectable showing in this country with such hits as "What Is Love?" and "New Song" which, like other Jones tunes, are simple, hook-filled, optimistic singalongs. The next album, 1985's "Dream Into Action," featured the smash single "No One Is to Blame." Jones' videos, meanwhile, continued to stream with regularity on MTV. Read more »

The new one from Lemonade is "Diver" and it's on True Panther Sounds. It's moody techno pop that will make mall mice all dressed in black feel even sorrier for themselves, especially when they realize that nobody cares and the adults destroyed the earth for profit and you'll only pay off your student loans if you work hard, stop eating, save every penny and live to 327. It's music to hang yourself by for people that most of us won't miss, anyway.

The new one by Beachwood Sparks is "Tarnished Gold" and it's on Sub Pop. It's laid back and well rested folk rock - it's been a decade since their last album - maybe they're too well rested. If these guys were any mellower they would achieve silence. The singing is just fine, but the songs? Not so much - it's all sound alike acoustic music - basically, it's harmonies without direction.