Ne-Yo's <i>Because of You</i>
Photo: Def Jam

If you happen to be an anarchist, you probably observe May Day, which commemorates a number of historical revolts worldwide and is also known as International Workers' Day.

These days, the SoundScan charts sure could use a revolt — the music industry is lucky if it sees the best-selling album of the week push six-figure sales (as both Avril Lavigne and Nine Inch Nails did last week — all the more power to 'em).

It's wicked unlikely, but this week could see another revolution of sorts. Canadian songstress Leslie Feist, who cracked open her solo career in 1999 but really impacted with 2004's Let It Die, is facing off against Ne-Yo, the hugely popular R&B songwriter who is doing the sophomore-effort thing with Because of You.

If you're looking to prove that Ne-Yo's already got this contest in the bag, just look at the numbers he put up the last time around: His 2006 debut, In My Own Words, has sold almost 3 million copies worldwide and opened on the Billboard albums chart at #1.

While Ne-Yo was joined by Ghostface Killah and Peedi Peedi on that LP, this time around he has Jay-Z propping him up on "Crazy" and Jennifer Hudson aiding him on the duet "Leaving Tonight."

But even with those guests, could Ne-Yo's confidence be shaken? After all, he's changed the album title a handful of times — first it was Outta This World, then Because of You, then Know Me, then Because of You all over again. Plus, the album's first single — the title track — hasn't fared especially well on the charts so far.

That could open up the playing field a little for Feist's The Reminder, which The New York Times has declared as "the album that should transform her from the darling of the indie-rock circuit to a full-fledged star, and do it with no compromises."

The whole thing's up on her MySpace page already — and it's been in stores overseas for a week — but that hasn't quelled the buzz. Her stylish new "1234" — directed by Patrick Daughters (Death Cab for Cutie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) — has our interest piqued, and even Best Buy is hyping the album as, ahem, "A strong sophomore effort from an acclaimed Canadian indie-rocker." There we go.

Swinging into the competition is Spider-Man and the heroic accompanying soundtrack to his new flick. The Killers, Snow Patrol, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Wolfmother, the Flaming Lips and other well-known cool kids step onto the "Spidey 3" CD, crafting fresh songs to sling to.

If those bands are too mature for your tastes, look no further than Another Side, the debut disc by "High School Musical" and "Jump In!" star Corbin Bleu. Early birds get an extra treat — initial copies come with a DVD featuring performances from "High School Musical: The Concert," as well as an interview and more.

World-music goddess Angelique Kidjo has also catered to the kids' crowd in the past — believe it or not, her song "Ife" appeared way back when on the soundtrack to "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls." Kidjo's lauded catalog includes seven albums, but she's spiced up her latest, Djin Djin, by bringing guests Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel and Josh Groban into the fold.

Rush have more than twice as many studio albums to their name than Kidjo, but they've also enlisted some new blood — specifically, producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver) — for Snakes & Arrows. The first 25,000 copies of the band's first studio LP since 2002's Vapor Trails — which peaked at #6 on the Billboard albums chart — will be released in Warner Music's Music Video Interactive format and feature 5.1. surround sound, hi-res audio, a video documentary, special booklet and deluxe packaging.

Tori Amos is also giving her new one the special-edition treatment, bolstering select copies of American Doll Posse with an added DVD chock-full of bonus material. Infamous Amos takes a bite out of the Bush administration this time around, mutating into a series of Greek goddesses along the way. Among the 23 stark song titles are "To George," "Mr. Bad Man" and "Fat Slut."

Fellow '90s stalwarts Dinosaur Jr. are also hoping to climb into the pack this week with Beyond, their first effort in a decade and first in almost two decades with arguably their best lineup: J Mascis, Murph and Lou Barlow. Some songs are classic Mascis — "Been There All the Time," "I Got Lost" — while two were written by Barlow ("Back to Your Heart," "Lightning Bulb").

Speaking of songwriting, Brooklyn, New York's Ari Hest turned to Gary Louris (Golden Smog, Jayhawks) to co-write "Bird Never Flies," a song featured on Hest's latest opus The Break-In. Mostly recorded in Santa Monica, California, with producer Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Crowded House), the set includes "Bird Never Flies," "Big Ben" and "When and If."

One gang that might not make the cut this week are Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. While the critics love 'em, the loud garage-psych rockers' last effort — 2005's Howl — peaked lower than its 2003 predecessor, Take Them on, on Your Own. And despite a recent U.K. tour with the Killers, there hasn't been much build behind their new Baby 81, which marks drummer Nick Jago's studio comeback. The band does have something to say this time around, though — the album title refers to Abhilasha Jeyarajah, the 81st victim taken to Kalmunai hospital in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami. Nine couples claimed the 4-month-old baby was theirs, and controversy ensued until DNA tests finally confirmed who the real parents were. In about a week, BRMC will know if they have a home — on the charts, that is.

Song Title of the Week:

"Un Jour Parfait Pour Poisson de Banane" from Les Sans Culottes' Le Weekender

Other Notables:

Paul Duncan' Above the Trees
Ari Hest isn't the only voice piping up from Brooklyn this week — neighbor Duncan also has something to say as he dishes up his third release. While Duncan tinkers with everything from pedal steel to banjo to glockenspiel, he's joined by a small army of co-conspirators, including members of Grizzly Bear, Tortoise, Cursive and more. Issued on the hep label Hometapes, the LP features "Memory Curves," "Parasail" and "Red Eagle."

Patrick Wolf's The Magic Position
Like Duncan, this London singer/songwriter also likes playing around with a wide variety of instruments — autoharp, theremin and ukulele among them. For his own third outing, the 6-foot-4-inch performer gets together with the legendary Marianne Faithfull for "Magpie," and keeps his pop deliberately off-kilter on songs like "Secret Garden," "Get Lost" and "Accident & Emergency."

The Flesh's Firetower
Also pushing the damaged-pop envelope are these arty dudes, who assembled in NYC in 2002 but now call Brooklyn and Philadelphia home. R&B, dub, goth and punk sounds also seep into the release, which is the band's most layered one yet — it relied heavily on overdubs and multi-tracking, and also ushered in classical musicians to add strings and horns to a few songs. Slap the Flesh some skin when they're on tour with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists next month.

New Releases:

· 65 Days of Static - The Destruction of Small Ideas (Monotreme)
· Acute - Arms Around a Stranger (Help)
· ALO - Roses & Clover (Brushfire) [Buy]
· Tori Amos - American Doll Posse (special edition comes with DVD; Epic) [Buy]
Read: "Tori Amos Forms Anti-Bush Posse By Mutating Into Greek Goddesses"
· Joan Armatrading - Into the Blues (429) [Buy]
· Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81 (Red Ink) [Buy]
· Corbin Bleu - Another Side (initial copies come with bonus DVD; Hollywood)
· Bockman - Chasing Dragons (Co-Opt)
· Doyle Bramhall - Foodland (Yep Roc) [Buy]
· Michael Bublé - Call Me Irresponsible (Reprise)
· Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond (Fat Possum) [Buy]
· The Dreadful Yawns - Rest (Exit Stencil) [Buy]
· Paul Duncan - Above the Trees (Hometapes)
· The Fall of Troy - Manipulator (Equal Vision) [Buy]
· Feist - The Reminder (CherryTree/Interscope)
· The Flesh - Firetower (Gern Blandsten) [Buy]
· Fort Knox Five - Reminted (Fort Knox) [Buy]
· Frog Eyes - Tears of the Valedictorian (Absolutely Kosher) [Buy]
· Robbie Fulks - Revenge (Yep Roc)
· Girl in a Coma - Both Before I'm Gone (enhanced; Blackheart) [Buy]
· Ari Hest - The Break-In (Red Ink) [Buy]
· Kalli - While the City Sleeps (One Little Indian) [Buy]
· Angelique Kidjo - Djin Djin (Razor & Tie) [Buy]
· Chantal Kreviazuk - Ghost Stories (Nettwerk) [Buy]
· Miranda Lambert - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Epic) [Buy]
· Les Sans Culottes - Le Weekender (Vibratone)
· Kimberley Locke - Based on a True Story (Curb) [Buy]
· Jon McLaughlin - Indiana (with bonus CD; Island)
· Ne-Yo - Because of You (Def Jam) [Buy]
Read: "Ne-Yo Getting To Know Jennifer Hudson While He Waits For Britney"
· Protest Hill - The City Echoes Our Hearts (Latest Flame)
· The Puppini Sisters - Betcha Bottom Dollar (Verve Forecast)
· Rush - Snakes & Arrows (limited edition feature MVI format; Atlantic) [Buy]
· Blake Shelton - Pure BS (Warner Bros.)
· Skull Time - Skull Time (Latest Flame) [Buy]
· Through the Sparks - Lazarus Beach (Skybucket) [Buy]
· Ben Weaver - Paper Sky (Fugawee Bird) [Buy]
· Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position (enhanced; Universal) [Buy]
· Various artists - New Arrivals: Volume Two (MPress)
· Various artists - "Spider-Man 3" soundtrack (Record Collection)
Read: " 'Spider-Man 3' Soundtrack Features Killers, Snow Patrol"

Notable Reissues and Archival Material: · Paul Carrack - One Good Reason (American Beat) [Buy]
· Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Armed Forces; Blood & Chocolate; Get Happy!!; Goodbye Cruel World; Imperial Bedroom; King of America; My Aim Is True; Punch the Clock; The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years; This Year's Model; Trust (Hip-O) [Buy]
· John Eddie - John Eddie (American Beat) [Buy]
· Ian Gillan - Gillan's Inn - Deluxe Tour Edition (two CDs; Immergent) [Buy]
· Marcia Griffiths - Reggae Anthology: Melody Life (two CDs; VP) [Buy]
· David Johansen - In Style (American Beat) [Buy]
· Mr. Big - Live at the Hard Rock (American Beat)
· Billy Squier - The Tale of the Tape (American Beat) [Buy]
· Peter Wolf - Long Line (American Beat)
· Warren Zevon - Preludes: Rare and Unreleased Recordings (two CDs; New West) [Buy]
· Various artists - Body & Soul: Hip Hop Love (Time Life)
· Various artists - Dirty Dancing - Twentieth Anniversary Edition (with DVD; Time Life)

Music DVDs: · Barbara Mandrell - "Best of Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters Show" (two DVDs; Time Life) [Buy]
· Charlotte Martin - "Something Like a DVD" (Dinosaur Fight) [Buy]
· Rush - "A Show of Hands," "Exit Stage Left" and "Grace Under Pressure - 1984" (Island/Mercury) [Buy]
· Santana - "Hymns for Peace: Live at Montreux 2004" (Eagle Vision) [Buy]
· The Soft Machine - Volume Two (Water) [Buy]
· Frank Zappa - "Classic Albums: Apostrophe/Over-Nite Sensation (Eagle Vision) [Buy]

Coming Attractions:

May 8: · Björk - Volta (Atlantic) [Preorder]
Read: "Tsunami, Timbaland Help Shape Bjork's Forthcoming Volta"
· Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Strength and Loyalty (Full Surface/ Interscope) [Preorder]
Read: "Bone Thugs Dropping Two New LPs; Second Disc To Feature Dre, Kanye, Mariah"
· Elliott Smith - New Moon (two CDs; Kill Rock Stars)
· Bobby Valentino - Special Occasion (Def Jam) [Preorder]
Read: "Bobby Valentino Looks Out For The Ladies With New Album, Jean Line"

May 15: · Megadeth - United Abominations (Roadrunner) [Preorder]
· Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight (Warner Bros.) [Preorder]
Read: "Linkin Park Finish Apocalyptic Album, Revive Projekt Revolution Tour"
· Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (enhanced; Nonesuch) [Preorder]

May 22: · Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life (with bonus DVD; Hellcat) [Preorder]
· The Bravery - The Sun and the Moon (Island) [Preorder]
· KRS-One and Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives (Koch)
· Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long (Octone) [Preorder]
Read: "Maroon 5 Back With 'Harder' Album After Adam Levine Gets Sick Of Partying"
· Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain (Epic) [Preorder]

• Ne-Yo
• Feist
• Tori Amos
• Corbin Bleu
• Dinosaur Jr.

Britney Spears and Matt Lauer
Photo: NBC

Britney Spears has a plan to combat reports in the tabloid media: "I need to come up with my own magazine and say the real deal," the singer told Matt Lauer in an interview that aired on "Today" and "Dateline NBC" Thursday. With Sean Preston, a baby on the way and her music career to stay on top of, a foray into publishing is unlikely to happen, but Spears is venting about the press anyway. "I can't go anywhere without someone judging me," the tearful singer said, adding that the February incident in which she was photographed driving with then-4-month-old son Sean Preston on her lap was not a big deal. "I did it with my dad. I'd sit on his lap and I'd drive. We're country." And the time she tripped with Sean in her arms and ended up on the cover of the New York Post? "Accidents happen!" she responded. "There will be plenty more oopses. I'm not perfect. I'm human." Despite reports that her marriage is in trouble, the singer called Kevin Federline an "amazing" husband. "He cares so much and his heart is awesome." Spears said. She also credited Federline with helping her cope while she deals with the pressures of being in the public eye. "I'm an emotional wreck right now." ...

Look out, Beyoncé: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have their eyes on you. The animal-rights group secretly placed a winning bid to an eBay auction that granted the victor a dinner with the singer, according to The Associated Press. At the dinner Wednesday in New York, members of PETA approached a reportedly shocked Knowles about using fur coats in her clothing line, although they were eventually booted from the restaurant. ...

Snow Patrol have realigned their 2006 tour schedule after it was put on hold due to singer Gary Lightbody's severe throat problems. The band will play Boston's Bank of America Pavilion on August 15, after which it'll kick off a full-fledged jaunt September 6 in Atlanta. The fun ends September 28 at San Diego's House of Blues. ... Prince surprised outdoor music lovers in Brooklyn, New York, Thursday night, showing up for a cameo at Maceo Parker's show at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Even Parker — a saxophonist and longtime James Brown collaborator who joined Prince on his Musicology tour — wasn't expecting the very special guest, The New York Times reports. ...

John Mayer and Sheryl Crow are joining forces for a tour that kicks off August 24 in Pittsburgh. The 27-date tour will make stops in cities including Boston, Cincinnati, Seattle, Denver, San Diego and Houston before wrapping up October 12 in Tampa, Florida. ... The July 14 date on this summer's Ozzfest, which was scheduled to take place at the Float-Rite Park in Somerset, Wisconsin, has been canceled. The Ozzfest camp didn't give a reason for nixing the date. ... Heavens, the side project of Alkaline Trio frontman Matt Skiba and F-Minus bassist Joe Steinbrick, will release their LP, Patent Pending, September 12. The Epitaph release will feature "Counting," "Dead End Girl" and "True Hate." ...

Pixies frontman Frank Black has lined up a handful of solo dates for August, giving him a chance to headline his own shows in between opening for the Foo Fighters on their acoustic trek. Black will hit the road August 9 in Salt Lake City and swing through Indianapolis; Omaha, Nebraska; Santa Cruz, California; and Wellfleet, Massachusetts. The tour wraps up August 31 in Sacramento, California. Black's Fast Man/ Raider Man double-disc drops Tuesday. ... Sensitive rockers Rainer Maria have announced plans for an extensive U.S. tour in support of their fifth studio album, Catastrophe Keeps Us Together. The 36-date trek kicks off July 14 in Phoenix and runs until September 1 in San Diego. The Format will headline all dates, except for an August 5 gig at Lollapalooza. Catastrophe hit stores in April. ...

On Friday (June 16), a Manhattan judge issued an arrest warrant for Boy George after the troubled singer didn't show up in court, AP reports. George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, was supposed to explain why he wants to change his sentence for falsely reporting to the police that his apartment had been burglarized. After O'Dowd made the false claim in March, police discovered cocaine in his apartment. ... Just how New Year's Eve 1998 finally brought an end to questions about what it'd be like to party in 1999, Sunday should resolve any lingering concerns among Beatles fans over what would happen to Paul McCartney when he's 64. Macca hasn't revealed his birthday plans yet, but AP reports that the Beatles Story Exhibition in McCartney's Liverpool hometown is throwing down with a karaoke contest, balloons, cake and more. ...

If Dinosaur Jr. have reunited, then why is J Mascis excavating Dino bones with another set of backing musicians? Well, for a good cause, of course. To benefit the far-reaching humanitarian organization Amma, Mascis is ganging up with members of Broken Social Scene, including frontman Kevin Drew, for a one-off gig in Toronto. The show goes down at the Mod Club on June 23. ... Selling 14 millions albums worldwide isn't enough to satisfy the Barenaked Ladies, apparently. The Toronto band has a new LP, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, slated for release September 12 through its own Desperation Records imprint. The Ladies are planning to release two digital versions of the set that same day: one with two additional tracks not on the standard CD, and another 27-track deluxe edition. ...

Philadelphia's Mewithoutyou have completed work on their third album, Brother, Sister. The record was produced by Brad Wood (who helmed their breakout 2004 LP, Catch for Us the Foxes) and features guest vocals by Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate, the Fire Theft) on two tracks. Sister is due in stores September 26. ... The Reverend Horton Heat will stage a traveling musical revival with his long-running psychobilly band this summer. The tour launches June 30 in Tempe, Arizona, with 45 gigs scheduled through late September. The band is also slated to appear December 1 in Irving, Texas. Danish rockers Horrorpops will open on most dates, along with California's Throw Rag. ...

EMI North America agreed Thursday to pay $3.75 million to settle a pay-for-play investigation by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, The New York Times reports. The gubernatorial candidate had been probing radio air time traded to benefit artists including Gorillaz, Coldplay and Beenie Man. Spitzer announced settlements with Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group last year. Investigators are now expected to focus on the conduct of radio corporations, including Clear Channel Communications and CBS Radio. The Federal Communications Commission is also investigating payola claims in radio broadcasting.

06.15.2006

Red alert: Jessica Simpson sports a fiery new 'do on the July cover of Maxim magazine, which hits stands Thursday (June 15). In the issue, the singer/actress makes a promise that has been uttered by others before her: "I will never do another reality-TV show. Been there, done that." In addition to revealing that guys with vivid imaginations send her "through the rafters" and that she likes kissing with her eyes open, Simpson also let fly her admiration of Ashlee: "My sister has the most perfect [breasts] and skinniest legs," she said. ...

Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé, AC/DC, Chamillionaire, T-Pain, Cyndi Lauper and D4L are among the artists who were honored with the Recording Industry Association of America's inaugural Master Ringtone Sales Awards. In a ceremony on Wednesday, 84 gold (500,000 downloads), 40 platinum (1 million downloads) and four multi-platinum certifications were awarded for the music people hold dearest to their hearts — the tracks they don't mind hearing every time someone calls them. The RIAA has been certifying albums gold and platinum for 47 years, and added ringtones to the mix with Wednesday's announcements. ...

Tom Cruise has topped Forbes magazine's celebrity power list, beating out the Rolling Stones, Oprah and U2. Cruise, who the magazine says is "Hollywood's most bankable actor" after having made $67 million last year, previously held the spot five years ago. ... Ruben Studdard was awarded $2 million Thursday (June 15) after suing his ex-manager for misappropriating Studdard's money and credit cards, according to The Associated Press. A judge in a Birmingham, Alabama, court awarded the "American Idol" winner $1.5 million in punitive damages and $500,000 for his actual losses. ...

If you'd planned to secure a table at one of Jay-Z's 40/40 Clubs with a bottle of Cristal, better consult the drink menu. Jay will no longer serve the pricey champagne name-checked in many hip-hop songs — including Hov's own "Hard Knock Life" and "Dead Presidents II" — following statements made by the managing director of Louis Roederer, the company that produces Cristal, in a recent interview with The Economist. "It has come to my attention that the managing director of Cristal, Frédéric Rouzaud, views the hip-hop culture as 'unwelcome attention,' " Jay said in a statement. "I view his comments as racist and will no longer support any of his products through any of my various brands including the 40/40 Club, nor in my personal life." ... Having wrapped production on their second album in Las Vegas, the Killers have headed to London to mix the record. Co-producers Flood and Alan Moulder are overseeing the mixing for the still-untitled sophomore LP, which is tentatively due later this year. ...

After a one-day hearing that was closed to the public, a Vietnamese court upheld child molestation charges and a three-year jail sentence for British former glam rock star Gary Glitter on Thursday, according to a Reuters report. The sentence against Glitter, 62, born Paul Francis Gadd, will be imposed from the November 19, 2005, date the disgraced rocker was arrested while trying to leave Vietnam and will require him to be deported upon release. Glitter reportedly shook his head as the judge read the evidence against him — he was convicted on March 3 of sexually molesting two 11-year-old girls — and screamed, "No justice here in Vietnam. ... They did not listen to the defense at all," as he was lead out of the courtroom. Meanwhile, The Boston Globe reports that the National Football League has asked teams to stop playing Glitter's popular game-day anthem, "Rock and Roll Part 2," to pump up crowds. ...

Los Angeles County prosecutors have declined to file charges against Eric Wright Jr. — a.k.a. Lil' Eazy-E — in connection with his arrest Saturday on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon, L.A. CBS affiliate KCAL reports. According to the district attorney's office, there was not enough evidence to prosecute Wright, who was released from jail Sunday. The 22-year-old rapper is the son of late N.W.A member Eazy-E. ... After dueling lawsuits failed to resolve the matter, the U.S. International Trade Commission has launched a probe into whether Apple's iPod infringes on Creative Technology's patent for its Zen MP3 player, according to Reuters. The world's #2 MP3 player maker's complaint alleges that Apple imported into the U.S. and sold iPods that infringe on Creative's "Zen" patent, which covers the user interface on its Nomad and Zen models. Creative said it has asked the ITC for a permanent cease-and-desist order against Apple. A ruling is not expected before next year. In June, Apple filed a second patent infringement lawsuit in the U.S. against Creative, which earlier had filed patent complaints against Apple in a federal court.

Just when you thought Ozzfest couldn't get any freakier, the festival's organizers have added the Bros. Grim Sideshow, billed as "the world's greatest collection of human oddities, strange people and novel entertainers," to the tour's Village of the Damned for nine of the trek's stops. The Bros. Grim Sideshow will be part of the festivities in San Antonio (July 11); Chicago (July 16); Detroit (July 19); Columbus, Ohio (July 21); Indianapolis (July 23); Buffalo, New York (July 27); New York (July 29); Boston (August 1); Raleigh, North Carolina (August 9); and the festival's final stop, West Palm Beach, Florida (August 13). ... "Gabba Gabba Hey! — A Punk-Rock Musical," inspired by the songs of the Ramones, will open in London on July 31 for a one-week run of shows set to conclude August 5. Described as "a postmodern fairy tale about the redeeming power of love," the musical will feature 18 classic Ramones tracks, including "I Wanna Be Sedated," "Beat on the Brat" and "Blitzkrieg Bop." Tommy Ramone, the production's musical director, will be appearing each night during the brief run. ...

Dredg vocalist Gavin Hayes will take the stage with Dan "The Automator" Nakamura at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, California, on Sunday. The duo will be performing selections from Nakamura's Lovage and Handsome Boy Modeling School projects. Hayes will also join Dredg to perform at a benefit to help Day One Symphony pay medical bills following a car accident. The show is set for July 7 in San Francisco. ... Thrice frontman Dustin Kensrue has announced plans for a 10-date club tour in support of his forthcoming self-titled solo acoustic debut, which took two years to complete. Ben Nichols of Lucero and Yellow Red Sparks will open on the trek, which kicks off July 27 in Philadelphia with dates scheduled through August 6 in San Francisco. ...

Primus frontman Les Claypool will be touring this summer in support of his solo LP, Of Whales and Woe, with several gigs sprinkled on off-nights throughout a run with his revived Oysterhead side project. The next stop on the trek, which is already in full swing, is set for Sunday in St. Louis, Missouri, following two appearances at this weekend's Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The tour runs through July 22 in Cleveland. ... After months of rumors, Poison the Well have confirmed their split with Atlantic Records. The band continues to work on new material and plans to release an album early next year.

The reunited Germs — with actor Shane West filling the shoes of deceased frontman Darby Crash — are adding more shows to their plate. The band will play three Warped Tour dates, including July 4 in Phoenix. Other cities on the docket include Chula Vista (July 6) and Pomona (July 7), both in California; Detroit (July 25); Chicago (July 26-27); New York (July 29); Boston (July 30); and Washington, D.C. (August 5). ... The Ataris have parted ways with Columbia Records, according to frontman Kris Roe. In a post on the band's MySpace page, Roe said the Ataris made their decision after several people they originally worked with at the label left and, according to Roe, rumors have been circulating about a merger between Columbia and Epic. "Our newfound freedom might cause a slight delay in the release of Welcome the Night," the band's forthcoming LP, he wrote. "We consider ourselves fortunate to be able to release our next album under the best possible circumstances."

[This story was originally published at 8:40 a.m. ET on 06.16.2006]

• Britney Spears
• Prince
• John Mayer
• Sheryl Crow
• Dinosaur Jr.

Cam'ron's <i>Killa Season</i>
Photo: Diplomat /Asylum Records

'Tis the Season: Cam'ron fans have been waiting to hear Killa deliver on the Jay-Z disses he not-so-subtly previewed earlier this year with a press conference and video spoof for the songs "Lick It or Not" and "Wet Wipes." Cam milks the press conference for all its worth, including it on a DVD accompanying the limited-edition run of Killa Season. That version also has behind-the-scenes footage of Cam's recent movie of the same name, plus two bonus songs.

Rac-A-Fellas: Pick up your copy of the Raconteurs' Broken Boy Soldiers debut in Japan and you'll find a bonus song, "The Bane Rendition." If you're searching for Jack White's other band in Australia, you'll have to look under "S" instead, since the group has to go by the name the Saboteurs down there for copyright reasons. But if you're in the States, you'll find the record in its 10-track splendor. Songs include "Steady, As She Goes," "Store Bought Bones" and "Intimate Secretary."

Milian Dollar Baby: If you were ahead of the ball, you might have requested a copy of Christina Milian's So Amazin' over iTunes, netting you two bonus songs and a couple of unreleased mixes of the first single, "Say I." But that's OK if you didn't, since all versions of the Cool & Dre-produced record are enhanced with the "Say I" video. And the singer adds a little hustle to her flow on "Who's Gonna Ride," featuring Three Six Mafia.

Stankonia: The third whiff from Hoobastank has a seven-minute songs with flutes ("More Than a Memory") and a vocal contribution from an actual barking sergeant. But if that's not enough reason to pick up Every Man for Himself, a limited-edition version comes with a bonus tee (no, it's not scratch and sniff), and both editions are enhanced with some video treats.

Lean on Them: Hip-hop artists seek help from big-name producers on virtually every record, but this week sees a bunch of rock acts canoodling with members of other bands. Rookies Rock Kills Kid cozy up with ex-Drive Like Jehu member Mark Trombino for their major-label blast-off, Are You Nervous? (should they really be the ones asking that question?). Five albums in, Mason Jennings looks for a shot of adrenaline from Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock, whose Glacial Pace imprint is putting out the Minneapolis singer/songwriter's LP (which unlocks additional content on MasonJennings.com). And another singer/songwriter, Marykate O'Neil, enlisted Jill Sobule to co-write and perform on much of her new one, 1-800-Bankrupt.

Cure keyboardist Roger O'Donnell, whose The Truth in Me was made entirely on a Moog, beckoned Postal Service member Jimmy Tamborello and Notwist keyboardist Martin Gretschmann to remix two tracks from the record. O'Donnell's second record also christens his new label, 99 X Out of Ten. Run Run Run — a band that cites the Cure as a big influence — hook up with Bauhaus' David J for their debut LP, Endless Winter. J, Z Trip and Madonna producer Marcus Brown bolster the limited-edition double-disc version of the record with remixes, while the album itself huddles together some tracks from the Los Angelinos' self-released EPs.

Age Discrimination: None of the Finals are more than 25 years old, which should give their John Naclerio (My Chemical Romance, Brand New)-produced debut, Plan Your Getaway, an even younger appeal. Instrumentalist Mike Oldfield sold more than 16 million copies of his Tubular Bells record when he was still in his teens, and his performances from eight years later are captured on the DVD "Live at Montreux 1981." And singer/songwriter/super-producer T Bone Burnett — who hasn't released a solo LP in 14 years — is making up for lost time by simultaneously releasing the new DualDisc The True False Identity and the compilation Twenty Twenty: The Essential T Bone Burnett.

Song Title of the Week:

"My Electric Underwear" from Whirlwind Heat's Types of Wood

Other Notables:

Ashley Parker Angel's Soundtrack to Your Life vs. Radioinactive's Soundtrack to a Book: Where's Soundtrack of Our Lives when we need them? Surely they'd break the stalemate between this week's two soundtracks that technically aren't. The former O-Town singer's "There and Back" TV show has led him to happiness, as he plainly states on "I'm Better," "Feel So Alive" and "Perfect Now." Radioinactive, a member of avant-garde hip-hoppers the Shapeshifters, is anything but simple on his Book, for which he culled a synthesizer built in 1975, a robot from '78 and a recording made by a cult leader in '82. Radio's charming cover photo — it's a shot of him as a kid, playing with a droid — gives him even more of an advantage.

Depeche Mode's reissues vs. Dinosaur Jr.'s reissues: While they weren't exactly from the same era — DM got off to an earlier start in 1980 — both bands peaked artistically in the late '80s and reveled in the doom and gloom throughout. Now their best works are being remastered for all you fancy-pants fans: DM's Speak & Spell, Music for the Masses and Violator are being dished out again, this time with a bonus DVD of 5.1 and enhanced-stereo mixes, DVD-only B-sides and remixes, a short film about the making of the record and deluxe packaging with lyrics and hard-to-find pics. Dinosaur Jr.'s notable Green Mind and Where You Been have three bonus tracks apiece, but alas, no extra disc. Also due this week is frontman J Mascis' self-explanatory Live at CBGB's: The First Acoustic Show, an unreleased LP limited to just 5,000 copies and available only at the Coalition of Independent Music Stores. The 1993 gig — at which Mascis played a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Every Mother's Son" — clinches him the brass ring.

The Wedding Present's Search for Paradise: Three songs from last year's Take Fountain, plus a heap of remixes and B-sides, constitute the U.K. band's second release since reuniting in 2004. Tacked onto the set is a DVD containing a film that accompanies a live acoustic version of "Perfect Blue," behind-the-scenes stuff and clips for "Interstate 5," "I'm From Further North Than You," "Ringway to Seatac" and "Don't Touch That Dial."

The Twilight Singers's Powder Burns: No less than Ani DiFranco and Joseph Arthur helped Greg Dulli and his Twilight Singers with their fourth effort, Powder Burns, which they partially documented in New Orleans with Neville Brothers (and Joseph Arthur) collaborator Mike Napolitano. That location alone brings extra weight to songs like "Toward the Waves" and "Underneath the Waves."

New Releases:

• Ashley Parker Angel - Soundtrack to Your Life (Universal)

Buy Now: Soundtrack to Your Life (Universal)

• Bananarama - Drama (The Lab)

Buy Now: Drama (The Lab)

• The Bank Robbers - Tomorrow Belongs to Me (No Milk)
• Bal-Sagoth - The Chthonic Chronicles (Candlelight)
• Ignacio Berroa - Codes (Blue Note)
• Big 10-4 - Testing the Atmosphere (Universal)
• The Blue Bloods - Death of a Salesman (I Scream)
• T Bone Burnett - The True False Identity (DualDisc due same day; Columbia)
• Cam'ron - Killa Season (limited-edition version with DVD and two bonus tracks due same day; Rap-a-Lot)
  Read: "Mixtape Monday: LL Cool J Stays Hungry, Cam'ron Delivers A Preview"

Buy Now: Killa Season (Rap-a-Lot)

• Crackjaw - Giants From the Stereo (I Scream)
• Paul Di'Anno - The Living Dead (with DVD; Cleopatra)
• Dir En Grey - Withering to Death (Warcon)
• Dirtie Blonde - Dirtie Blonde (Jive)
• Dissection - Reinkaos (The End)
• Don Caballero - World Class Listening Problem (Relapse)
• Tim Easton - Ammunition (New West)
• The Finals - Plan Your Getaway (EP: Stab Me)
• Gigi - Gold & Wax (digipak; Palm Pictures)
• Hawnay Troof - Dollar and Deed (two CDs; Retard Disco)
• Hillstomp - The Woman Who Ended It All (In Music We Trust)
• Hoobastank - Every Man for Himself (limited-edition version due same day; Island)
  Read: "Hoobastank Find Inspiration For New LP In Scott Weiland's Cold Shoulder"

Buy Now: Every Man for Himself (Island)

• Ignite - Our Darkest Days (Abacus)
• The iOs - In Sunday Songs (Kanine)
• Mason Jennings - Boneclouds (Epic)
• Lotus - The Strength of Weak Ties (Harmonized)
• The Marked Men - Fix My Brain (Swami)
• Mary Lee's Corvette - Love Loss & Lunacy (digipak; Western Force)
• David Mead - Tangerine (Tallulah)
• Melvins - Houdini Live: A Live History of Gluttony and Lust (Ipecac)
• Minutes Til Midnight - Godless Regardless (EP; self release)
• Christina Milian - So Amazin' (enhanced; Island)

Buy Now: So Amazin' (Island)

• Misery Index - Discordia (Relapse)
• Mower - Not for You (Suburban Noize)
• Charlie Musselwhite - Delta Hardware Co (Real World)
• Neaera - Let the Tempest Come (Metal Blade)
• Roger O'Donnell - The Truth in Me (99 X Out of Ten)
• Marykate O'Neil - 1-800-Bankrupt (Nettwerk/ 71 Recordings)
• The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers (V2/ Third Man)
  Read: "Jack White: Don't Call The Raconteurs A Side Project")

Buy Now: Broken Boy Soldiers (V2/ Third Man)

• Radio 4 - Enemies Like This (Astralwerks)

Buy Now: Enemies Like This (Astralwerks)

• Radioinactive - Soundtrack to a Book (Stranger Touch)
• Rock Kills Kid - Are You Nervous? (Reprise)
  Read: "Rock Kills Kid Bring Music From Windowless Room To Radio"

Buy Now: Are You Nervous? (Reprise)

• Run Run Run - Endless Winter (Song and Dance)
• Russian Circles - Enter (digipak; Flameshovel)
• Sam Roberts - Chemical City (digipak; Secret Brain/ Fontana)

Buy Now: Chemical City (Secret Brain/ Fontana)

• Saviours - Crucifire (Level Plane)
• Sinister - Afterburner (Candlelight)
• This Is Hell - Sundowning (Trustkill)
• The Twilight Singers - Powder Burns (One Little Indian)
• Unwed Sailor - Circles (EP; Burnt Toast)
• Ben Vaughn - Ben Vaughn Presents: Designs in Music (Soundstage 15)
• Viking Skull - Born in Hell (456 Entertainment)
• Vreid - Pitch Black Brigade (Candlelight)
• The Wedding Present - Search for Paradise (with bonus DVD; Manifesto)
• Whirlwind Heat - Types of Wood (Brille)

Buy Now: Types of Wood (Brille)

• Whitestarr - Luv Machine (Contango)
• The Wonder Stuff - Suspended by Stars (Reincarnate)
• The Year Of - Slow Days (digipak; Morr)
• Benjamin Zephaniah - Naked (One Little Indian)
• Zyklon - Disintegrate (Candlelight)
• Various artists - "Over the Hedge" soundtrack (Epic)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Cannonball Adderley Quartet - Why Am I Treated So Bad (Blue Note)
• T Bone Burnett - Twenty Twenty: The Essential T Bone Burnett (two CDs; DMZ /Columbia /Legacy)
• Serge Chaloff - Boston Blow Up (Blue Note)
• Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses, Speak & Spell and Violator (deluxe editions with a bonus DVD for each; Rhino)

Buy Now: Music for the Masses, Speak & Spell and Violator (Rhino)

• Dinosaur Jr - Green Mind and Where You Been (remastered with bonus tracks; Rhino)
• Hallows Eve - History of Terror (two CDs plus bonus DVD; Metal Blade)
• Hanson - 20th Century Masters: The Best of Hanson - The Millennium Collection (Universal)
• The Jazz Crusaders - At the Lighthouse (Blue Note)
• Stan Kenton - Sophisticated Approach (Blue Note)
• J Mascis - Live at CBGB's: The First Acoustic Show (limited to 5,000 copies, only on sale at Coalition of Independent Music Stores; Rhino)
• Material Issue - 20th Century Masters: The Best of Hanson - The Millennium Collection (Universal)
• Lou Rawls - Tobacco Road (Blue Note)
• Johnny Rodriguez - 20th Century Masters: The Best of Hanson - The Millennium Collection (Universal)

Music DVDs:

• America and Friends - "Live at the Ventura Theater" (Cleopatra)
• Louis Armstrong - "King of Jazz" (Music Video Distributors)
• Blondie - "Live 1978" (Eagle Vision)
• Chick Corea Akoustic Band - "Rendezvous in New York" (Image)
• Chick Corea & Origin - "Rendezvous in New York" (Image)
• Culture Club - "Live in Sydney" (Eagle Vision)
• Dublin City Ramblers - "Favourite Irish Folk Songs" (Doonaree)
• Duran Duran - "The Ultimate Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
• Herb Ellis - "Live" (Music Video Distributors)
• Little Feat - "Little Feat & Friends in Jamaica: Burgers & Paradise" (Hot Tomato)
• G.B.H. - "Charged on Stage: City Baby Attacked by Rats" (Music Video Distributors)
• Ray Gallen - "Irish Heartbeat: A Bodhrán Tutorial" (Doonaree)
• Journey - "Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour" (Columbia)
• Mike Oldfield - "Live at Montreux 1981" (Eagle Vision)
• Lee Scratch Perry - "Lee Scratch Perry in Concert: The Ultimate Album" (Music Video Distributors)
• Amalia Rodrigues - "The Spirit of Fado" (Music Video Distributors)
• Randy Sabien - "Live in Minneapolis" (Music Video Distributors)
• Sham 69 - "Hersham Boys" (Music Video Distributors)
• Shaskeen - "Irish Pub Session" (Doonaree)
• Stiff Little Fingers - "In Concert: Handheld & Rigidly Digital" (Music Video Distributors)
• Liz Story - "Solid Colours" (Music Video Distributors)
• Thin Lizzy - "Rock Milestones: Thin Lizzy's Live and Dangerous - The Essential Albums of All Time" (Classic Rock Legends)
• Brian Torff & Manfredo Fest - "Some Call It Jazz" (Music Video Distributors)
• The Toy Dolls - "Our Last DVD?" (Music Video Distributors)
• The Ernie Watts Quartet - "Live" (Music Video Distributors)
• Various artists - "The Best of the Beat Club, Volume 1" and "Volume 2" (Eagle Vision)
• Various artists - "Jazz Shots From the East Coast, Vol. 1" and "The West Coast, Vol. 1" (Music Video Distributors)
• Various artists - "Jazz Voice: The Ladies Sing Jazz, Vol. 1" and "Vol. 2" (Music Video Distributors)

Coming Attractions:

May 23:

• Angels & Airwaves - We Don't Need to Whisper (Geffen)
  Read: "Tom DeLonge Spills More About Angels & Airwaves' Plans For World Domination"

Buy Now: We Don't Need to Whisper (Geffen)

• Don Omar - King of Kings (Universal)
  Read: "Reggaeton Star Don Omar Out To Spread Latino Unity"

Buy Now: King of Kings (Universal)

• The Walkmen - Hundred Miles Off (Record Collection)

Buy Now: Hundred Miles Off (Record Collection)

• The Charlatans UK - "Live at Last" (Standing Room Only)
• Les Claypool - Of Whales & Woe (digipak; Prawn Song)
• Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom (Ipecac)

Read: "Norah Jones Curses Up A Storm For New Mike Patton Project"

• AFI - Decemberunderground (Interscope)

Buy Now: Decemberunderground (Interscope)

• Head Automatica - Popaganda (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Daryl Palumbo Spreads Head Automatica Popaganda"

Buy Now: Popaganda (Warner Bros.)

• Paul Oakenfold - A Lively Mind (Maverick)

Buy Now: A Lively Mind (Maverick)

• Cam'ron
• Raconteurs
• Christina Milian
• Ashley Parker Angel
• Hoobastank

Perry Farrell performs on Sunday at Lollapalooza
Photo: Getty Images

CHICAGO — OK, it wasn't the traveling festival that defined a generation a decade ago. But Lollapalooza — a pair of shows in downtown Chicago on Saturday and Sunday — seemed reinvigorated in its new setting despite withering heat, dust storms and some performers' inappropriately dark stage clothing.

(Click here for photos of Weezer, The Pixies, The Killers and more at Lollapalooza 2005.)

Scorching sets by the Killers, the Pixies, Weezer, Spoon, Louis XIV, a reunited Dinosaur Jr. and the Arcade Fire were among the weekend's highlights. But with 60 performers on six stages, whether you were into hippie jams (Blue Merle, Widespread Panic), Latintronica (Los Amigos Invisibles), psychedelic freakouts (the Dandy Warhols, the Warlocks), or new-wave power pop (OK Go, the Changes), festival co-founder Perry Farrell had something for each of the nearly 66,000 people who showed up over both days — even if the lineup lacked the diversity of past Lollas in favor of lots of indie rock played by (mostly) young white guys.

Rather than the usual outdoor sheds Lolla has played in the past, this year's festival was located among four baseball fields in the middle of the Chicago waterfront's sprawling Grant Park. With the four main stages alternating activity at opposite ends of the field all day, attendees ebbed and flowed like a large dusty amoeba. By early Saturday, the field was filled with couples, clusters — and families.

Yes, families. With free attendance for kids younger than 10, strollers appeared as hip a fashion accessory as lip rings. Parents with shorties in tow steadily rolled over to Kidzapalooza, located in a shady grove off the main drag. Kid-friendly performers, an instrument "petting zoo" where wee ones could try out real rock gear, and a tentful of professional stylists sculpting punk hairdos offered diversions for the strollerpalooza set.

Saturday's early performers hit a thematic get-back groove, ranging from the Beatles-y pop of Chicago's Redwalls and the psychedelic goth noise of Los Angeles' Warlocks to the electronic jams of France's M83 and the Dead 60s' Clash-inspired dub-reggae rock.

Pleasant surprises included former Porno for Pyros guitarist Pete DiStefano's kids-stage set of acoustic songs from his new album. While some tykes looked a bit bewildered during "Hypocrisy," their parents perked up when Farrell emerged to jam on a few Porno songs. In addition to "Pets" (who knew it could be a children's song?), the pair unveiled the new "Agua." Farrell — wearing a striped shirt, brown pants and a short, dazzling clownlike tie — said the tune, written while he vacationed in Samoa, was about "being like a dolphin and swimming away when people try to talk to you." This time the kids nodded while parents looked confused.

Former Chicagoan Liz Phair got off to a rocky start, seeming nervous and somewhat out of step with her band on "Supernova" and the midtempo title track from her upcoming album, Somebody's Miracle, due in October. But Phair hit her groove a few songs in with the decidedly family-unfriendly "F--- and Run."

Across the field, meanwhile, the Kaiser Chiefs were throwing down a sweaty "I Predict a Riot" during which singer Ricky Wilson climbed up a lighting rig to get a better view of the growing crowd. Dashboard Confessional's emo set was nearly drowned out by the shambolic Brian Jonestown Massacre, who punctuated their allotted hour of whispered dreamy folk pop (and repeated slagging of Dashboard) with long bouts of tuning up and knob-twiddling by frontman Anton Newcombe.

Unlike past Lollas, this year's event was light on sideshow diversions, DJs and hip-hop. A far-flung side stage featured Cypress Hill DJ Muggs' mash-up set, a b-boy breakdance demonstration and sparsely attended DJ sets over the weekend from Mark Farina, Z-Trip and Chicago house legend Derrick Carter.

The main stages, though, drew huge late-afternoon crowds for Cake, the Bravery and buff old-school punk Billy Idol. When Billy yelled "Sweat, sweat, sweat!" during "Dancing With Myself," it wasn't hard for the audience to comply as the temperature rose to a steamy 95-plus degrees. Listeners got a brief break when a light rain fell, but by the time Ohio duo the Black Keys took the stage an hour later for a blistering set of Delta blues, the only thing to remind the weary crowd of water were the two huge inflatable ducks onstage with Primus.

It was a rough night to be New York's Walkmen, with most of the crowd checking out the sunset gig by alt-rock gods the Pixies. The crowd chanted along to alterna-hits such as "Bone Machine" and "U Mass" and shouted out the choruses to lesser-knowns like "Caribou" and "I Bleed." A surprisingly large contingent also threw up six fingers during "Monkey Gone to Heaven" in conjunction with the line, "And the devil is six." As the sun set behind Sears Tower, profusely sweaty singer Frank Black sang about "big, big love" in "Gigantic," making for a postcard-perfect end to a long peaceful day in the grass.

But not before the day's only main-stage hip-hop act, the reunited Digable Planets trio, lost out attendance-wise to show closers Weezer. Rivers Cuomo and company hit a home run with a mix of classics ("Undone — The Sweater Song") and recent hits ("We Are All on Drugs," "Beverly Hills"). If the Pixies are the unofficial rulers of the aging alternative nation, Lollapalooza's national anthem is "Buddy Holly," which even the weariest 'Paloozers were crooning as the night wound to a close.

Sunday

With news that Sunday's temperature would creep dangerously past 100 degrees, it seemed probable that day two's crowd would be thinner — and it was, at first. While many families stayed away, diehards slathered on sunscreen, guzzled water and bopped along to OK Go's unironic noontime rendering of their hit, "You're So Damn Hot." Sunday's only mainstage hip-hop performer, conscious poet Saul Williams, mesmerized the lunchtime crowd with a flaming set of rhymes about black identity and antimaterialism complemented by a thick stew of piano samples and DJ Ad Lib's beats.

Following a set by reunited indie-rock legends Dinosaur Jr., Farrell used a midday slot to debut his latest project, Satellite Party. The unlikely mash-up of No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal and former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt played a meandering set of jam-funk originals with such titles as "Revolution Solution" and "Flash Mob," with Farrell musing aloud about space travel and parties among the planets.

Just when it seemed the 33,000 brave souls who endured another scorching day had nothing left in them — although, surprisingly, only 60 people were treated for heat over the course of the weekend — Montreal's Arcade Fire turned up the temperature another notch. Dressed in black like an Amish party band, the nine-piece group played a manic set of songs from their 2004 debut, Funeral. Singer Win Butler was treated like a conquering hero when he jumped into the audience after a lovely extended take on "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)," wading all the way to the rear as the crowd parted before him and offered hundreds of sweaty high fives and hugs.

Unlike Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara (who succumbed to the heat during their set), Las Vegas' Killers seemed unfazed by the setting sun's glare as natty singer Brandon Flowers worked the stage in a plaid jacket over a black T-shirt and tight black pants. He barely broke a sweat during "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" and worked what looked like the weekend's biggest crowd into a frenzy during their hit "Smile."

Though Flowers and company were wisely booked for the day after their nemeses in the Bravery, you could be forgiven for thinking things were going to get ugly when Jonestown Massacre's Newcombe was spotted sitting onstage during the Dandy Warhols' set of droning freak rock. Although portrayed as his arch enemies in last year's acclaimed rock documentary, "Dig," the Portland band invited Newcombe to join them for a long rambling take on the Massacre's "Oh Lord" and "Jesus," thus confounding at least some Dandy fans.

Farrell was surely smiling somewhere as the sticky night ended with Death Cab for Cutie's emo anthems and Widespread Panic's second set of extended improv rock bouncing off one another from opposite ends of the park. He'd earlier envisaged a satellite party in space, and now, rather than emptying out into a generic parking lot, his people were instead wandering through Grant Park's urban oasis, stopping to gaze at majestic Buckingham Fountain's changing colors and temporarily transforming at least one corner of Chicago into an earthbound version of his cosmic dream.

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Weezer
• The Pixies
• The Killers
• Spoon
• Louis XIV

The Killers' Brandon Flowers (file)
Photo: Getty Images

After last year's false start, Lollapalooza has stacked the deck for its return. Among the acts who will headline the now-sedentary two-day affair in Chicago on July 23 and 24 are Weezer, the Killers, the Pixies, a reunited Dinosaur Jr., Widespread Panic and Dashboard Confessional.

The show will take place at Hutchinson Field in Grant Park with around 30,000 fans expected each day. Also on board are former Chicagoan Liz Phair, the Dandy Warhols, Cake, the Arcade Fire, Billy Idol, Kaiser Chiefs, the reunited Digable Planets, Tegan and Sara, Kasabian, the Bravery, Louis XIV and the Walkmen.

Organizers are promising 60 bands on five stages. According to the festival's producers, 2,000 $35 tickets offered for presale recently sold in about 80 minutes, with regular tickets priced at $85 for a two-day pass. Ticket prices will eventually rise to between $100 and $115. Children under 10 will be admitted for free when accompanied by a paying adult, and some kid-friendly activities are promised on site. Through the festival's official Web site, producers are asking visual artists and inventors of "man-made machines" to submit works for use during the show. In addition the usual array of art, vendor booths and food, non-music diversions on tap include a runway fashion show.

Lollapalooza's organizers are also planning on shooting a movie of the event and have asked fans to submit stories and photos to a historical area on the Lolla Web site.

The rest of the lineup announced on Friday includes G. Love & Special Sauce, Blonde Redhead, the Black Keys, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Z-Trip, Los Amigos Invisibles, M83, VHS or Beta, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Soulive, Ambulance Ltd., Shout Out Louds, Blue Merle, the Warlocks, DeSol, World Leader Pretend, the Redwalls and the Changes.

The revival of Lollapalooza comes one year after the festival was canceled due to poor ticket sales for a bill that was to feature Morrissey, PJ Harvey, Modest Mouse, String Cheese Incident, the Flaming Lips and Sonic Youth (see "Lollapalooza Canceled; Organizers Cite Poor Ticket Sales"). Its resurrection comes at a time when two-day "destination" festivals such as Bonnaroo and Coachella have become increasingly popular.

• Weezer
• The Killers
• The Pixies
• Dashboard Confessional
• Dinosaur Jr.

Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis
Photo: MTV News

Good news for graying record-store clerks, and for anyone who wants to see a long-absent band that casts a stegosaurus-sized shadow over today's indie-rock: The original lineup of Dinosaur Jr. has reunited for a full slate of U.S. dates.

In the past few weeks, the band had stirred the long-dormant hopes of fans when it was announced that they would be playing a handful of shows in the U.K. and Japan (as well as reissuing their seminal first three albums, 1985's Dinosaur, '87's You're Living All Over Me and '88's Bug). Now all three Dinos — guitarist/singer J Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph — have put aside the differences from their contentious breakup.

"There's definitely some tension," Mascis said. "We haven't spent too much time together, but hopefully things won't be too bad. Lou and I have played together a few times over the years, so we're getting along a little better and we just thought we'd try out playing again."

Barlow left the band in 1989 after long-simmering tensions with Mascis, and Murph followed suit several years later. Mascis soldiered on under the Dino moniker, scoring a hit with "Feel the Pain" (off 1994's Without a Sound,) and even had a little band named Nirvana open a tour for them in 1991. Barlow gained indie notoriety first with his band Sebadoh and later with the Folk Implosion, who landed an unlikely top 40 hit with "Natural One" (from the soundtrack to the 1995 film "Kids"); Mascis has released a couple of solo discs in recent years. But neither really regained the level of acclaim they shared during Dino's halcyon days. So is the band hoping to pull a Pixies and rejuvenate their careers with an ultra-successful reunion tour? Not really.

"Those old records, they're like pictures — like going back and looking at a photo album," he said. "They remind me of a time and place. But these are just shows. We have no plans to make a new record. I'm just trying to make it through a show."

Dinosaur Jr. tour dates, according to their publicist:

• 7/7 - Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
• 7/8 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
• 7/9 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
• 7/10 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
• 7/11 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
• 7/13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 7/14 - New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage
• 7/15 - Boston, MA @ Avalon
• 7/19 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
• 7/20 - Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo
• 7/21 - Covington, KY @ The Madison Theater
• 7/22 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave/ Eagles Club
• 7/23 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Quest
• 7/24 - Chicago, IL @ Grant Park (Lollapalooza)

• Dinosaur Jr.

Madonna (file)
Photo: Rick Rowell/ABC

Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie were spotted on the streets of London Thursday night dressed as a nun and the pope for a kabbalah party to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim, which commemorates the day Queen Esther saved the Jewish people living in ancient Persia from extermination. "Yes, she was dressed as a nun and Guy was dressed as the pope," Madonna's publicist, Liz Rosenberg, said. "Some Catholic groups are saying stuff, but Purim is a joyous holiday occasion. Madonna and Guy had a great time drinking and dancing. It's funny, because she said that she was happy that the pictures of her are out there because her father would be so proud. She said that when she was a girl she wanted to be a nun and she guesses that she's still a nun at heart." ...

Forget Xzibit, P. Diddy now wants to pimp your ride. The hip-hop mogul is extending his Sean John brand into the automobile industry with a new line of custom-designed aluminum rims dubbed "Sean John Wheels," according to The Associated Press. The rims, which are expected to retail for $700-$3,000 each, will hit stores next month. ... The bulk of her legal struggles behind her, Courtney Love may be back to making whoopee again, at least on film. The singer is in the running to play "Deep Throat" star Linda Lovelace in an upcoming biopic named after the infamous adult-film actress, according to Daily Variety. ...

The White Stripes' still-untitled follow-up to 2003's Elephant is due June 14, V2 Records has announced. ... If you can't wait to hear Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee's upcoming star-studded solo album, Tommyland: The Ride (August), just wait until you hear what the tattooed rocker has in mind for an encore. "My next album is going to be an all-dance record," he said. "I've been DJing a lot lately and I want to make one just for the club kids. I've been recording beats and I'm going to work on it after the Mötley tour." ...

Despite being one of the most celebrated acts of the college-rock era (or perhaps because of that), Dinosaur Jr. never performed on national television. But now that the band has re-formed with its original lineup — frontman J Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph — to play a couple of overseas summer festivals, it's also going to make the leap to living rooms across the country when it performs on "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" on April 15. The following night, J Mascis + the Fog, plus, as a press release puts it, "VERY special guests," will take the stage at Los Angeles rock club Spaceland. ... Between the time he spends with girlfriend Parker Posey, not combing his hair or recording his new album, Cold Roses, you'd think Ryan Adams would like to savor what little free time he has. But that's not the case. Because according to a post on Ryan-Adams.com, the messy-mopped troubadour will be hitting the road with his new band, the Cardinals, for a string of dates starting April 27 in Northampton, Massachusetts, and running until May 9 in Asheville, North Carolina. Cold Roses is due in stores on May 3. ...

Cave In frontman Stephen Brodsky has a new side project called the Octave Museum. The band features Brodsky on vocals and guitar, Johnny Northrup of Thee Electric Bastards on bass and Kevin Strongbow of Scissorfight on drums. The band's set to make its live debut in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 20. Meanwhile, a collection of mostly unreleased Cave In demos should hit stores this summer through the band's former label home, Hydra Head. ... Billy Idol is kicking off a tour to support his first album of new material in more than 10 years, Devil's Playground, starting April 9 in Philadelphia. In addition to new tunes such as "Scream," "Bodysnatcher" and "Super Overdrive," expect to hear fresh takes on classics "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell." The 31-date tour wraps in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on May 27. ...

03.25.2005

According to sources close to both MCs, T.I. and Lil' Flip were involved in a melee on the streets of Houston on Thursday. Sources say T.I. was at a local radio station telling listeners he was going to be out in Lil' Flip's 'hood of Cloverland. When T.I. and his crew finally arrived in the area, Flip and his entourage confronted them; a fight ensued, but no one was injured and no arrests were made. Representatives for Tip and Flip declined to comment. ...

On the eve of the 10-year anniversary of Eazy-E's death, the rapper's label has announced it will re-release Eternal E: The Best of Eazy-E with the addition of a DVD of videos. The Gangsta Memorial Edition of the album, due in stores August 30, will feature the 16 tracks released on the 2003 version, along with videos for Eazy's "We Want Eazy," "Only If You Want It," "Eazy-er Said Than Dunn" and "Neighborhood Sniper," and N.W.A's "Appetite for Destruction," "100 Miles & Runnin' " and the title track from the group's landmark gangsta rap album, Straight Outta Compton. ... Testimony in the Michael Jackson trial on Friday continued to center around fingerprint evidence found on the adult material seized from Neverland. Fingerprint testimony had started on Thursday but had mostly focused on the techniques of the science instead of the evidence found. On Friday, though, detectives testified that five prints found among the "adult material" were identified as the accuser's, two were from the accuser's brother, and 12 were identified as Jackson's. "I can't take anymore," Judge Rodney Melville joked about the dry testimony when he ended court 15 minutes early. Meanwhile, Jackson attorney Brian Oxman returned from his brief hospitalization for pneumonia. ...

Showing she definitely just wants to be "Friends" with hubby Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston filed for divorce on Friday (March 25), citing irreconcilable differences, The Associated Press reports. Pitt and Aniston were married in July 2000; the Hollywood power couple had announced a separation in January via a joint press release. ... Farnsworth Bentley celebrated his birthday with a few hundred of his closest friends Thursday night at New York's Cielo, where he also screened his BET "Rip the Runway" hosting debut. Among those in attendance were Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Common, Jean Grae, Pharoahe Monch, DJ Absolut, Black Sheep's Dres, Miri Ben-Ari, the Alchemist, and "America's Next Top Model" winner Eva Pigford and her former fellow contestants Yaya and Toccara. ... Later that night, Just Blaze kept the party jumping over at club Table 50, where he acted as the house DJ. While Just spun early '90s classics from Brand Nubian, N.W.A, and others, Q-Tip, one of the top MCs of that era, got on the mic and acted as hype man. Farnsworth, 3LW and Irv Gotti were a few of the luminaries who popped up on the scene. ...

This week, 50 Cent became the first artist since 1964 to score four simultaneous top-10 hits on Billboard's singles chart. "Candy Shop" and "Disco Inferno" — from his chart-topping album The Massacre — and the Game's "Hate It or Love It" and "How We Do" tracks, which feature 50 on guest vocals, are sitting at #1, #5, #6 and #8, respectively. The Beatles were the last act to achieve such a feat, with songs dominating the chart's top five spots. ... In his latest crusade against violence in rap music, the Reverend Al Sharpton has asked the FCC to deny airplay for 90 days to artists who encourage or take part in violent acts, according to The Associated Press. Sharpton also wants to target radio stations that encourage this type of violence by having them fined and their licenses reviewed. So far, the FCC has declined to comment. ...

While in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to play the tsunami-aid concert Force of Nature on March 18, Will.I.Am toured the area to view the devastation, and has since decided to help rebuild the area more directly. The Black Eyed Peas rapper has hooked up his charitable foundation, the Will.I.Am Foundation, with Octogon, LLC and Force of Nature to construct new homes in the region. "Seeing the disaster with my own eyes has been life-changing," he said in a statement. "Seeing the children on the street and families displaced makes it clear that we need ... to help rebuild the homes lost." ... The African Well Fund will launch its third annual Build a Well for Bono's Birthday fund-raiser on March 27 at the Hard Rock Cafe in San Diego — the same night and city where U2 kick off their Vertigo Tour. The AWF raises funds to build wells in African countries like Uganda and Ethiopia, where clean drinking water is scarce. Donations will be collected until March 10, Bono's birthday. For more information, check out AfricanWellFund.org. ...

The Flaming Lips and the Pussycat Dolls rocked out Thursday night to usher in the new Mazda MX5 Convertible at an event called "Hot in the City" at New York's Gotham Hall. Those in attendance included Ashanti, Danger Mouse, Carson Kressley, and actresses Samaire Armstrong and Bree Turner (Lindsay Lohan's co-stars in her upcoming film "Just My Luck"). ... A live DVD of Ben Harper playing with the Blind Boys of Alabama at the historic Apollo Theater in New York's Harlem is slated for release on Tuesday, according to Harper's official Web site. ...

U.K. rapper and grime poster child Dizzee Rascal is gearing up to tour North America for the first time, in support of his most recent album, Showtime. Dizzee's trek starts March 30 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and wraps April 30 in Chicago. ... Just because Guided by Voices broke up doesn't mean that former leader Robert Pollard is slowing down his deluge of releases. He's just released a four-song EP called Zoom and is prepping reissues of the band's 1986 debut EP, Forever Since Breakfast (due Tuesday), on hand-numbered red vinyl with bonus tracks. For true collectors, look for the rare, vinyl-only live album from 2000 recorded under the name Hazzard Hotrods (October), which was improvised live in a video store in 1990. December will bring another massive compilation of GBV songs, Suitcase 2, with more than 100 never-before-heard versions of classic and unreleased songs. And look for albums by the side projects Moping Swans and the Circus Devils in May. ...

• Madonna
• Diddy
• Courtney Love
• The White Stripes
• Dinosaur Jr.

Coldplay (file)
Photo: Capitol Records

Coldplay will kick off their "biggest-ever world tour" on June 27 with a series of outdoor stadium shows in the U.K. According to a message sent out to subscribers at Coldplay.com, the band will be announcing further details of its tour in the coming weeks. For the first time, the group also publicly mentioned a release date — or at least a release month — for its still-untitled third album, writing that it would be released in June. ...

In day two of the Michael Jackson trial, journalist Martin Bashir tried to be excused from testifying, but his attempt failed when the judge decided he could choose which questions to answer or not. The prosecution played his documentary "Living With Michael Jackson," which the judge instructed the jurors to consider some parts of as evidence, other parts as hearsay. Jackson dabbed at his eyes during the playing of the documentary, and he threw up his hands seemingly in frustration during Bashir's testimony. Jackson's attorney also told jurors that Jackson would take the stand. ...

In a reunion slightly less likely than last year's Pixies capitulation, indie rock heroes Dinosaur Jr. will get together for the first time in 15 years to play the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan (July 29-31). Singer/guitarist J Mascis has reportedly ended his decade-plus feud with bassist Lou Barlow, and the pair are expected to rejoin drummer Murph for a string of summer theater and festival shows in Europe, tentatively followed by North American dates, according to a spokesperson at Merge Records, which is reissuing the band's first three albums on March 22. ... Red Hot Chili Peppers have written 35 songs for their next album and will hit the studio this month to record them. "We're so in love with the songs we wrote," singer Anthony Kiedis said. "We're working really hard." ...

Jennifer Lopez is now "enemy number one" for PETA, which plans to target the singer in a new campaign since her clothing line Sweetface uses so much fur. Animal-rights activists plan to storm her Times Square record singing at Virgin Records on Tuesday (March 1) by showing film footage of animals being skinned alive juxtaposed with images of J. Lo dressed in fur in her latest video. The footage was shot during an investigation of fur farms in China. "There is nothing remotely 'sweet' about the torture deaths of animals killed for fur," PETA's Dan Mathews said in a statement. ... Mötley Crüe will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The rockers will arrive via choppers. ...

The upcoming flick "Batman Begins," which explains the origins of the elusive Bruce Wayne and other aspects of the iconic superhero, will hit screens on June 17 in both regular theaters and IMAX theaters. ... Singer/pianist John Legend will head to Miami this month to headline one of the three Sunset Sessions for the M3 Music Summit, a gathering that merges music, technology, art, fashion and multimedia. Legend will perform on March 24 at the Doubletree Surfcomber Hotel. ... The Recording Industry Association of America filed its latest round of copyright-infringement lawsuits on Monday, targeting 753 people it suspects of illegally distributing songs online. Since September 2003, the RIAA has sued 9,100 individuals and settled with more than 1,900, according to an RIAA spokesperson. ...

The estate of late Damageplan/ Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott will most likely be split right down the middle between his brother, Damageplan/ Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, and his father, country and western songwriter Jerry Abbott, according to the Dallas-Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Abbott family's lawyer, Steve McClure, told the paper Dimebag had no formal written will at the time of his death. This, however, has not fueled familial bickering over his assets, which were estimated at $700,000, McClure said; that total does not reflect Dimebag's music-publishing rights, a value yet to be determined. Paul will more than likely serve as the administrator of his slain brother's estate. Meanwhile, Paul appeared onstage with Disturbed and Anthrax during a benefit concert honoring Dimebag's memory in Chicago on February 23 — the first time he performed since the onstage murder of his brother on December 8, 2004. ...

Alter Bridge, the band that's made up of old Creed boys plus singer Myles Kennedy, are set to headline the fifth Jägermeister Music Tour, kicking off in New York on March 29. The group will be joined by Chevelle tour alums Future Leaders of the World and Texas newcomers Submersed. ... Post-punk legends Gang of Four are heading out on a reunion tour of North America in May. The band — singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bassist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham — recently played a string of U.K. shows, the group's first since 1981. Following their May 1 date at the Coachella Festival in Indio, California, Gang of Four will play a pair of dates at the Fillmore in San Francisco May 2-3, then trek across the continent before winding down in Philadelphia on May 21. ...

Barenaked Ladies have finished the pilot for their sketch-comedy series for FOX. "It's us getting into strange situations, hijinks, we slap the stick occasionally," singer Steven Page said recently. The Ladies are also writing their next album as well as music for a production of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" at the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. ... The Wonder Stuff are about to strut some new stuff — the U.K. band, known for such bouncy alt rock hits as "The Size of a Cow," "Cartoon Boyfriend" and "Don't Let Me Down, Gently," is back with its first new studio album in 12 years, Escape From Rubbish Island, due out March 22. The group is also heading out on the road, starting April 4 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The 23-date trek winds up May 8 in New York. ...

2.28.2005

Apparently Britney Spears doesn't want any beef with Paris Hilton — or her lapdog, Tinkerbell, either. In the wake of her boast, "I think my dogs are so much cuter than Tinkerbell," Spears has now released a statement on her Web site saying, "I was just being silly and of course I think that Tinkerbell is very cute." The pop diva even hopes to set up a play date for their miniscule canines. ...

Jury selection continued on Monday (February 28) in the perjury, obstruction and false-statements trial of rapper Lil' Kim. On Friday, several potential jurors who had voiced critical opinions about the musician's lifestyle (one responded in a juror survey that "crime seem[ed] to be part of the hip-hop culture") were ousted from consideration by U.S. District Judge Gerald Lynch, according to New York Newsday. Lil' Kim is accused of lying to a grand jury about a February 21, 2001, shooting she allegedly witnessed outside New York radio station Hot 97, which involved her two bodyguards. ... R&B singer/producer Gerald Levert was arrested Friday in Cleveland after confronting police at a downtown intersection, according to The Associated Press. Levert was cited on charges of driving under the influence and impeding the flow of traffic, then arrested on charges of obstructing official business, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer after he stopped his vehicle near where another motorist had been pulled over by police. Levert and the driver of another vehicle approached the officer and demanded to know why the other vehicle had been pulled over. They were told to leave but refused, and Levert became agitated and allegedly shoved an officer, who used pepper spray to subdue him. ...

Sum 41 might be taking the mature route on their new album, Chuck, and the video for their new single, "Pieces," may feature lead singer Deryck Whibley wandering the streets of Los Angeles all by his lonesome, but that doesn't mean they're above a good old dirty play on words: hence, the Go Chuck Yourself Tour. The first few dates of the North American trek have been announced, and the first two — April 7 and 8 in Toronto — are actually makeup shows from the gigs Sum canceled when Whibley fell ill with blistered vocal cords. The first U.S. date is April 12 in Buffalo, New York, with other shows scheduled for Philadelphia; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; and Kansas City, Missouri. Unwritten Law and Hawthorne Heights will open. ... Handsome Boy Modeling School are taking their curriculum on the road beginning March 28. The hip-hop duo will kick things off in Los Angeles and will tour from April 1-8 with Buck 65, and from April 9-20 with k-os, with the trek ending in New York. ...

Missed Morrissey on his tour? Don't get depressed — Morrissey feels your pain, so he's releasing a live CD and DVD from the tour behind his recent release, You Are the Quarry. The DVD, "Who Put the 'M' in Manchester," was filmed on May 22, 2004, at the singer's homecoming/birthday show in Manchester, England; while the CD, Live at Earls Court, was recorded at the end of the tour. Both will hit stores on March 29. ... Tiffany, the flame-haired 1980s teen pop sensation, is back ... again. This time, she's teamed up with new electronic dance act Second Sun for a duet, "He Said She Said," on their album Inside Out. The LP is set to drop on April 19. ...

Black Sabbath tributes by metal bands are a dime a dozen, so the newest disc of musical homages, Everything Comes & Goes: A Tribute to Black Sabbath, is definitely a change of pace. Due April 5, the nine-track disc will feature reinventions of Sabbath songs by a collection of unusual suspects including electronic laptop artist Four Tet, Japanese noise group Ruins and beatmaking Björk collaborators Matmos. ... Meanwhile, Kieran Hebden will release his fourth Four Tet album, Everything Ecstatic, on May 31. ... Los Angeles alt-rock club Spaceland — at the heart of the Silver Lake scene — is about to turn 10 years old, and to celebrate, a missing-in-action Silver Lake band is reuniting, and possibly for more than one night only. Lutefisk, who last played five years ago for Pop Defect's farewell gig, "return with fresh skills, new guitars, and a love of loudness that has never wavered," guitarist Beale Dabbs said. The show, on March 5, also includes local bands Sissybar, Velouria, Buck, Longstocking and a few "surprises." Just remember who else is from Silver Lake — and you might have an idea of who could swing by. ...

The Eagles are preparing to release their entire original vinyl Asylum Records catalog in one box set. Eagles Box, a limited-edition, nine-disc set, will include their seven chart-topping albums released between 1972 and 1980, featuring such singles as "Hotel California," "Life in the Fast Lane" and "Desperado." The set, which will hit stores on March 15, will also feature the debut of the band's "Please Come Home for Christmas/ Funky New Year" single on CD. ... Dan Snaith may have lost his moniker Manitoba in a lawsuit from Handsome Dick Manitoba, but it won't stop him from making music. His debut under the name Caribou, The Milk of Human Kindness, will hit shelves April 19. ...

• Coldplay
• Dinosaur Jr.
• Jennifer Lopez
• John Legend
• Red Hot Chili Peppers

K-tel's <i>Gimme Indie Rock</i> LP

K-tel, the compilation specialist whose catalog includes Masters of Metal, Neon Nights and The Magic of ABBA, has closed its U.S. branch and filed for bankruptcy.

K-tel International USA, a subsidiary of music distribution giant K-tel International, ceased operations at its Maple Plain, Minnesota, headquarters on Monday and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the company said in a statement. The company's other subsidiaries, including Dominion Entertainment, K-tel Entertainment UK and K-tel DVD, will continue operating.

The U.S. branch is the third K-tel International holding to close in recent months, following Dominion Vertriebs GmbH in Germany and K-tel Marketing in England. The three companies combined for 99 percent of the $15.7 million K-tel lost in its last fiscal year.

In its statement, K-tel blamed most of the U.S. branch's losses on one of its largest customers, music retailer Trans World Entertainment, charging that it had not been making payments. A lawsuit filed by K-tel USA against Trans World is before a federal court in St. Paul, Minnesota.

K-tel International also announced Wednesday that it plans to minimize its reliance on licensed material from major record labels by developing new products from its own Dominion catalog, which includes music by the likes of Patsy Cline and Percy Sledge.

The company formed in the late '60s and released its first album, 25 Polka Greats, in 1971. The label mostly focused on pop and classic rock, but also released compilations featuring disco, comedy and other genres.

K-tel reached its heyday in the late '70s, but by 1985, it was forced to file for bankruptcy. However, the label made a strong comeback by becoming part of the American stock exchange and launching subsidiaries, including K-tel USA and Cold Front, a dance and electronic label. K-tel has even reached out to younger listeners with the 2000 release of Gimme Indie Rock Volume One, which included tracks by the Flaming Lips, Yo La Tengo and Dinosaur Jr.

• The Flaming Lips
• ABBA
• Yo La Tengo
• Dinosaur Jr.

Former Dinosaur Jr. frontman J. Mascis has secured a new record deal with Ultimatum Records, and the label plans to issue his new album, titled "More Light" and credited to J. Mascis & The Fog, in late October.

For "More Light," Mascis' first effort since his 1996 solo album, "Martin + Me," and Dinosaur Jr.'s final release, 1997's "Hand It Over," the singer-guitarist has enlisted the aid of Guided By Voices leader Robert Pollard and ex-My Bloody Valentine guitarist Kevin Shields.

Shields, who has been touring and recording with Primal Scream recently (see "Primal Scream Unveils Live Agenda, Talks Guitar Army"), engineered "More Light" and plays on several tracks: "All The Girls," "Does The Kiss Fit," and "Where'd You Go," the first single from the album. GBV's Pollard also guests on three songs: "All The Girls," "I'm Not Fine," and "Same Day."

"Where'd You Go" will be sent out to college radio outlets in mid-September, and an accompanying video for the track is tentatively set to be shot in early August.

Mascis plans to head out on the road in support of "More Light" in October and November, with another headlining stint planned for January and February of 2001.

• Dinosaur Jr.
• Guided By Voices