Avenged Sevenfold's <i>All Excess</i>
Photo: Warner Bros / Wea

This week's an odd one, with almost too many titles hitting stores to count ... but probably just a few that'll have you reaching for your wallet. Luckily for us, there's enough variety among the litter to have some fun. Let's go.

Video Vipers: Avenged Sevenfold are greasing up a new, self-titled album for an October release, but while that's still in the works, 'Fold fanatics can sink their teeth — or eyes, rather, or ... oh well, never mind — into "All Excess," a new DVD. The title doesn't just allude to the band's hard-partying, c'mon-don't-we-really-look-like-GN'R-now? ways but also hints at what you'll find inside the set: more video bonuses than frontman M. Shadows has tattoos. Piled onto the disc is a documentary, live footage, music videos and segments capturing the making of each of them. "There's footage from some early shows, when we still sucked," Shadows told MTV News' Chris Harris. "[You'll] learn everything about us with this DVD."

Turn the volume knob down a notch or two and you'll be ready for the All-American Rejects, who are teeing up a video set of their own this week. This one's got a funny name too — "Tournado" — but that was actually the band's craftily named trek with Motion City Soundtrack, Gym Class Heroes and others. The resplendently packaged DVD captures the band's gig in the Twin Cities, plus the requisite on-the-road documentary, photo gallery — and a not-so-requisite batch of skits.

Hey guys, wait for us! Underoath are also anteing up with a DVD, the piously titled "777" (well, they are Christians, after all). Frontman Spencer Chamberlain and the crew have dumped onto their disc 75 minutes of unreleased footage from the Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos and other stints, as well as videos and a making-of doc.

So it's Tyson Ritter vs. M. Shadows vs. Spencer Chamberlain. You decide. They all sound like porn stars to us.

Now and Then: Who are we kidding — a quick glance at the listings below will tell you that this week's heaviest hitter is definitely Now That's What I Call Music! 25, and if the set featured more than just previously issued fare, we'd have more to say about it. It doesn't, so we don't.

A Bit of Hip-Hop: With all the rock that's been hitting stores the last two weeks — Smashing Pumpkins, Interpol, Against Me!, etc. — you'd figure rap would want to step up its game on the whole. But that really hasn't been the case (MCs must still be fearing the mighty T.I.) That said, Too Short is plopping a new effort into his massive catalog, and for once the title isn't about chicks or pimps or ego — in a sweet gesture, he's named it I Love the Bay. New York rapper Akir is also stepping up to the plate — well, sorta: His paradoxically named debut, Legacy is back again, thanks to Babygrande, with guest spots by Jean Grae, Immortal Technique and others still intact.

Well, Aren't They Special: When all else fails, there's always the vaults. This week, two ladies and a Guy are back thanks to bonus-track-laden special editions of their noted LPs. Erykah Badu's Baduizm is getting beefed up via B-sides, U.K.-only cuts and more hard-to-find tunes, while sister-in-soul India.Arie's Acoustic Soul is getting similar treatment. Guy's eponymous release is getting a full disc of extras, though ... feeling jealous, ladies? Don't be: As far as reissues go, Garbage have them all beat — the special limited-edition version of their best-of Absolute Garbage boasts a second disc of remixes by Massive Attack, Crystal Method, UNKLE and more.

Chemical Balance: While we're on the subject of electronic music, don't forget the mighty Chemical Brothers. That's right, mighty: While the group's releases have been slipping Stateside — 1997's Dig Your Own Hole peaked at #14 on the Billboard albums chart, followed by 1999's Surrender at #32, 2002's Come With Us also at #32 and 2005's Push the Button at #59 — the group's last five releases have all hit #1 in the U.K. That includes its new one, We Are the Night, which docks at U.S. shores this week. Featured on the effort are legendary Canadian beat poet Bill Bissett, members of Klaxons, Fatlip of the Pharcyde and progressive-rockers Midlake.

Throwing a Changeup: Or maybe we should say "gyro ball" ... either way, if you're looking for something different this week — and happen to like a little rinky-dink team of scrappers called the Boston Red Sox — you'll want to dig your cleats in a little deeper. Music From the Mound is a new compilation curated (supposedly) by Japanese pitching import Daisuke Matsuzaka (a.k.a. Dice-K). Featured on the disc — seriously, don't laugh — is a song called "Gyro Ball" featuring no less than J. Geils harmonica player Magic Dick, onetime Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and Sox TV announcers Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy. The team's charity, the Red Sox Foundation, will be getting all proceeds from the album, which features other anthems for a nation ... Red Sox Nation, that is.

Song Title of the Week:

"Handicapitation" from Birdflesh's Mongo Musicale

Album Cover of the Week:

Winters' Black Clouds in Twin Galaxies

Other Notables:

Los Campesinos!'s Sticking Fingers Into Sockets
This Welsh band came together thanks to a common affection for Super Furry Animals and the Decemberists — which should give you an indication of its indie-pop goodness. Before heading into the studio to record their proper debut with Broken Social Scene producer David Newfeld, Los Campesinos! are bowing with this enhanced EP. Look out for "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives," "You! Me! Dancing!" and other timelessly titled tracks.

Eastern Conference Champions' Ameritown
These guys wish they were from Wales, or somewhere in British, even though the solidly American squad named their album the way they did. The group hooked up with Oasis and Verve producer Owen Morris for this LP and just toured with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club too. And while BRMC aren't from overseas either, they're also all about My Bloody Valentine, Spacemen 3 and other louder-than-thou Brit psych bands. Expect to hear lotsa soaring vocals, heavily distorted psych guitars and big drums on this LP.

Mick Harvey's Two of Diamonds
You might know him from the Bad Seeds or the Birthday Party ... eh, you probably haven't heard of Mick Harvey at all. The longtime (read: decades-long) Nick Cave collaborator has a few things of his own to say, which he details on his follow-up to 2005's One Man's Treasure. Enlisting PJ Harvey pianist/drummer Rob Ellis — oh, and a double-bass, too — Harvey spills his soul on "Slow-Motion Movie Star," "Home Is Far From Here" and "Out of Time Man." So are we!

New Releases:

· A Fine Frenzy - One Cell in the Sea (Virgin)
· Almah - Edu Falaschi (Candlelight)
· Big Shug - Street Champ (Babygrande)
· Birdflesh - Mongo Musicale (Candelight) [Buy Now]
· Bottom of the Hudson - Fantastic Hawk (Absolutely Kosher)
· Colbie Caillat - Coco (Republic)
· The Chemical Brothers - We Are the Night (Astralwerks) [Buy Now]
· The Cribs - Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever (Warner Bros.) [Buy Now]
· Deathspell Omega - Fas (Southern Lord)
· Destroyer Destroyer - Littered With Arrows (Goodfellow)
· Minnie Driver - Seastories (Zoë/Rounder)
· Eastern Conference Champions - Ameritown (Suretone)
· Editors - An End Has a Star (Fader Label) [Buy Now]
· Federation - It's Whateva (Reprise)
· Eliza Gilkyson - Your Town Tonight (Red House)
· Great White - Back to the Rhythm (Shrapnel)
· Emerson Hart - Cigarettes & Gasoline (Manhattan)
· (Hed) p.e. - Insomnia (Suburban Noize)
· Mick Harvey - Two of Diamonds (Mute)
· Ryan James - Directed (High Tail)
· Ben Jelen - Ex-Sensitive (digipak; Custard)
· Eilen Jewell - Letters From Sinners & Strangers (Signature Sounds)
· Lillian Axe - Waters Rising (Locomotive)
· Livin' Out Loud - What About Us (Pyramid)
· Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble - Expectation (with DVD; Kind of Blue)
· Los Campesinos! - Sticking Fingers Into Sockets (enhanced EP; Arts & Crafts)
· The Magic Numbers - Those the Brokes (enhanced; Astralwerks)
· Raul Malo - After Hours (New Door)
· Meat Puppets - Rise to Your Knees (Anodyne)
· Memfis - The Wind Up (Candlelight) [Buy Now]
· MxPx - Secret Weapon (Tooth & Nail) [Buy Now]
· The Rocket Summer - Do You Feel (Island)
· Rooney - Calling the World (Geffen)
· Rose Funeral - Crucify Kill Rot (Candlelight)
· Matt Shulman - So It Goes (Jaggo)
· Slough Feg - Hardworlder (Candlelight)
· Mark Soskin - One Hopeful Day (Kind of Blue)
· Sound the Alarm - Stay Inside (Geffen)
· Strata - Strata Presents the End of the World (Wind-Up) [Buy Now]
· Tech N9ne - Tech N9ne Collabos: Misery Loves Kompany (Strange Music)
· Too Short - I Love the Bay (Up All Nite)
· Suzanne Vega - Beauty & Crime (Blue Note)
· Violent Storm - Storm Warning (Gold Storm)
· Winters - Black Clouds in Twin Galaxies (Candlelight)
· Wise Intelligent - Wise Intelligent Is ... The Talented Timothy Taylor (Intelligent Muzik/ Shaman Work)
· The Phil Woods Quintet - American Songbook II (Kind of Blue)
· Yellowcard - Paper Walls (deluxe edition with DVD due same day; Capitol) [Buy Now]
· Various artists - A Shaman Work Retrospective: Looking Back to Move Forward (Shaman Works)
· Various artists - Daisuke Matsuzaka: Music From the Mound (EMI Catalog Marketing)
· Various artists - FabricLive 34: Krafty Kuts (Fabric)
· Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 25 (UTV)
· Various artists - Toolroom Knights, Vol. 1 (two CDs; Toolroom)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Akir - Immortal Technique Presents: Akir - Legacy (Babygrande)
· Laurie Anderson - Big Science (Nonesuch)
· India.Arie - Acoustic Soul - Special Edition (Motown/Universal)
· Chet Atkins - The Essential Chet Atkins (two CDs; RCA/Legacy)
· Chet Atkins and Les Paul - Chester & Lester (RCA/Legacy)
· Erykah Badu - Baduizm - Special Edition (Motown/Universal)
· Bobby Bare - Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies (two CDs; RCA Nashville/ Legacy)
· George Benson - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Grant Lee Buffalo - Fuzzy (Noble Rot)
· Cheech & Chong - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Confederate Road - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Rodney Crowell - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Detente - Recognize No Authority (MVD Audio)
· The Dramatics - The Very Best of the Dramatics (Stax) [Buy Now]
· Holly Dunn - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Einstürzende Neubauten - Palast der Republik (MVD Audio)
· Freddy Fender - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Ella Fitzgerald - The Very Best of the Harold Arlen Song Book and The Very Best of the Irving Berlin Song Book (Verve)
· Eddie Floyd - The Very Best of Eddie Floyd (Stax)
· Garbage - Absolute Garbage (limited-edition two-CD set; Almo Sounds/ Geffen/ UMe) [Buy Now]
· The Groundhogs - The Best of the Groundhogs (Caroline)
· Arlo Guthrie - The Best Of (Rhino)
· Guy - Guy - Special Edition (Motown/Universal) [Buy Now]
· Robyn Hitchcock - Jewels for Sophia (Noble Rot)
· John Lee Hooker - Jealous (Shout! Factory)
· K-os - Collected (Virgin)
· The Knife - Silent Shout - Deluxe Edition (two CDs and one DVD; Mute) [Buy Now]
· Johnny Lee - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Little Milton - The Very Best of Little Milton (Stax)
· Neal McCoy - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Natalie MacMaster - The Collection (Foreign Media)
· Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy - Cornell 1964 (live; two CDs; Blue Note)
· Gary Morris - Hits (Rhino)
· Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's Texas (limited edition; with DVD; Smith Music Group)
· Louis Prima - Jump, Jive an' Wail: The Essential Louis Prima (Capitol/EMI)
· Rammstein - Völkerball (available as a standard digipak with one CD and one DVD; a special-edition digipak with one CD and two DVDs; or limited-edition photo book with two CDs and two DVDs; Universal) [Buy Now]
· The Rivingtons - Papa Oom Mow Mow: Rockin' R&B and Boss Ballads (Shout! Factory)
· Saxon - Best of Saxon, The Eagle Has Landed and Power & the Glory (Caroline)
· Seals & Crofts - Greatest Hits (Rhino)
· Keely Smith - The Essential Capitol Collection (Capitol/EMI)
· Johnnie Taylor - The Very Best of Johnnie Taylor (Stax)
· Susan Tedeschi - The Best of Susan Tedeschi: Episode Two (Sheridan Square)
· Rufus Thomas - The Very Best of Rufus Thomas (Stax)
· Teddy Thompson - Up Front & Down Low (Verve Forecast)
· UFO - Lights Out (two CDs), Masters of Rock and Obsession (Caroline)
· Manuel Valera - Vientos (Anzic)
· Warren G - Regulate: G Funk Era (two CDs; Def Jam) [Buy Now]
· Various artists - Crickets: Best of the Fading Captain Series 1999-2007 (two CDs; Recordhead)
· Various artists - Freeway Jam: To Beck and Back (Tone Center)
· Various artists - Seriously Good Music: Bollywood, Burleque, Celtic, Gypsy and Reggae (Petrol/EMI)

Digital Releases:

· Seizure Crypt - Hello, My Name Is ... Madness (available through Interpunk and on SeizureCrypt.com)

Music DVDs:

· Aerosmith - "In Performance" (with book; Hurricane) [Buy Now]
· All-American Rejects - "Tournado" (Interscope) [Buy Now]
· Avenged Sevenfold - "All Excess" (Warner Bros.) [Buy Now]
· James Brown - "Mr. Dynamite" (MVD Visual)
· Johnny Cash - "Music in Review" (with book; Classic Rock Legends) [Buy Now]
· Bob Dylan - "The Golden Years 1962-1978" (Chrome Dreams)
· E-40 - "The Best of E-40: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow - The Videos" (Jive/Legacy)
· Donald Fagen - "The Nightfly Trilogy" (three-MVI box set; Rhino)
· Garbage - "Absolute Garbage" (Almo Sounds/ Geffen/ UMe) [Buy Now]
· Green Day - "In Performance" (with book; Hurricane) [Buy Now]
· Green Day - "Rock Case Studies" (with book; Classic Rock Legends) [Buy Now]
· The Moody Blues - "Videobiography" (Classic Rock Legends)
· Nirvana - "In Performance" (with book; Hurricane) [Buy Now]
· Rolling Stones - "Rock Case Studies" (with book; Classic Rock Legends) [Buy Now]
· Jill Scott - "Live in Paris" (Hidden Beach)
· Sublime - "The Ultimate Bundle for the Sublime Fan" (two DVDs and one DVD; MVD Visual) [Buy Now]
· Tanya Tucker - "Tanya Tucker" (MVD Visual)
· Underoath - "777" (Tooth & Nail) [Buy Now]
· Gene Watson - "Gene Watson ... Sings His Greatest Hits" (MVD Visual)
· The Who - "Videobiography" (Classic Rock Legends) [Buy Now]
· Various artists - "60's Rock 'N' Roll Jukebox" (MVD Visual)
· Various artists - "Reggae Nashville Deep Roots Music 1 - Revival/ Ranking Sounds" (MVD Visual)
· Various artists - "This Ain't Your Mom's Hardcore: Volume Two" (MVD Visual)
· Various artists - "The Undagrind" (MVD Visual)
· Various artists - "We Love Ella! A Tribute to the First Lady of Song" (Verve)

Coming Attractions:

July 24:
· Prince - Planet Earth (Columbia) [Preorder]
· Sum 41 - Underclass Hero (Island) [Preorder]
Read: "Sum 41 Kill President In New Song — Deryck Whibley Says It's 'A Metaphor' "
· Tegan and Sara - Con (deluxe edition with DVD due same day; Vapor/Sanctuary)

July 31:
· Common - Finding Forever (Universal) [Preorder]
Read: "Kanye West, Lily Allen Finding Something In Common"
· DevilDriver - The Last Kind Words (Roadrunner) [Preorder]
· Korn - Untitled (deluxe edition with bonus DVD due same day; Epic) [Preorder]
Read: "Korn Are Cracking Up Over Eighth LP's 'Gothic Feel,' Munky Says"

August 7:
· Constantine Maroulis - Constantine (6th Place)
Read: " 'American Idol' Vets Bo Bice, Constantine Maroulis Can't Stop Rockin' "
· Okkervil River - The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)
· UGK - Underground Kingz (two CDs; Jive) [Preorder]
Read: "Ex-Con Pimp C Juiced For UGK Album, Says He Has Lessons To Teach"

• Avenged Sevenfold
• The All-American Rejects
• The Chemical Brothers
• Editors
• Yellowcard

Interpol
Photo: Capitol

On The Record: A Pun About Leaking Would Probably Fit Nicely Here

Poor Interpol. Not only have they been surpassed by Editors, a British band that, to put it kindly, is pretty much a second-rate version of Interpol, but they have to spend every waking minute with bassist/fashion-plate Carlos D, who went from looking like Crispin Glover's angular, sorta-goth cousin to a bolo-tie-wearing cross between Hans Gruber and Snidely Whiplash within the span of roughly one year.

And on top of that, just last week — despite their best efforts and those of their label, Capitol Records — their new album, Our Love to Admire, leaked all over the Internet. This would be a bummer for any band, but for Interpol, it was especially sad. After all, they had just sat down with me for an interview about Love, primarily to talk about how great it was that it hadn't leaked yet.

"Basically, people need to be patient," drummer Sam Fogarino told me. "And nobody wants to do that these days."

Poor, nameless music journalist. Not only did you recently (and perhaps unwittingly) leak tracks from the upcoming Animal Collective album Strawberry Jam, but you awoke last Monday to find yourself the black sheep of the industry, thanks to an e-mail from the band's publicist, Judy Miller, sent to pretty much every other music journalist on the planet, which read, in part:

"Hello friends -

"Sorry to write this one....but.....

"Last week three tracks from Animal Collective's new album leaked. Within minutes, we were able to track the leak to a writer's CD. That person got in more trouble than you care to hear about and was almost fired. The person was also forced to write an apology letter to an entire staff of people and the head of Domino Records along with other penance."

Needless to say, it's been a pretty strange month in the ongoing war between the music industry and piratude of all shapes and sizes, one that kicked off with the whole Jack-White-Calls-Chicago-Radio-Station-And-Bitches-Them-Out-For- Broadcasting-A-Leaked-Copy-Of-His-Album fiasco; included both of the incidents mentioned above; and just recently saw the launch of Thou Shall Not Leak, a blog started by a dude in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that threatens to "post the names ... of those people who've been given the care of having an early copy of a release and have set that responsibility aside and leaked the record they were entrusted with."

It's a battle that no one really seems to be winning, but that's not stopping either side from re-upping their armaments and charging headlong into the fray. Capitol sent me Interpol's Love as a streaming-only file, yet several people have told me that ripping a streaming file is "beyond easy." Last week, "Doomsday Clock," the opening track on the Smashing Pumpkins' upcoming Zeitgeist album, hit the Net, and in response — and as a way to squeeze every last drop of blood out of the stone — Billy Corgan and company announced that there would be four different versions of the album available to fans. And after years of getting burned by peer-to-peer sites, all four major labels are getting behind QTrax, a licensed P2P-er that will offer between 20 million and 30 million songs for download, an announcement most on the other side of the fence greeted with a scoff, since the songs are locked by copy protection and after a few listens, they will direct users to buy the tracks.

So who's wrong and who's right? Well, no one (and probably everyone). On one hand, record labels have been too slow to react to technologies, and as such missed getting in on the ground floor of a brave new business model. They've gotten caught hiding software on CDs that basically spies on consumers. They are out-of-touch and charge too much for CDs. And the Recording Industry Association of America is equally as bad, deciding long ago that carpet-bombing campuses with lawsuits was the best way to discourage downloading.

On the other, everyone else is guilty of being impatient a--holes. People are willing to ignore artists' rights and basically assume that they own the music — and as such, they'll break the law to get their hands on it. And music journalists who leak records — those who the guy behind Thou Shall Not Leak threatens to expose (in his own fairly lengthy way) — are even worse. They are men and women who choose to just chuck professionalism out the window and ruin it for the rest of us.

And maybe people like Sam Fogarino and Jack White are guilty of being a bit old-fashioned, looking wistfully backward and ignoring the fact that — at worst — a leak means they've lost a few thousand in sales (and at best, it's free publicity for their albums). But that doesn't mean they don't have the right to get pissed about it.

After all, we're living in an era where pretty much everybody is to blame for pretty much everything. Whether or not anyone steps up to accept that blame is another story altogether. And a pretty unlikely one at that.

B-Sides: Other Stories I'm Following This Week

Gwen Stefani changes up live gig, temporarily replaces Harajuku-girl accessories with former No Doubt bandmates. (See "Gwen Stefani And No Doubt Surprise Fans With Hometown Reunion.")

I honestly thought "Rupert Grint" was the name of a character in the "Harry Potter" books because I've never actually read one of them. Because I'm not 9 years old. (See " 'Harry Potter' Casting Call Could Help Ron Weasley Find Perfect Shade Of Lavender.")

Andre 3000's pseudo-wedding was a lot like my own, minus the floor-length mink coats, stripper fights and Lukas Haas. (See "T-Pain, Big Boi Watch Andre 3000 Get Hitched In A Kilt — In UGK's 'Anthem' Clip.")

Cleaning Out My Inbox (Or "Interactivity, While A Touchstone Of So-Called 'New Media,' Is Actually Overrated And Kind Of A Waste Of Time")

So it turns out that last week's Bonnaroo-bashing edition of BTTS (see "Henna, Hippies, Hateration: Braving Bonnaroo, In Bigger Than The Sound") actually inspired plenty of hippies to put down their water-filtration devices and pick up their pens (er, keyboards), which was excellent because A) I got lots of e-mails from Boulder, Colorado, and B) It's been awhile since I've been insulted by someone named "MoonShadow."

I've collected some of the less bong-addled ones here for your enjoyment and to prove that not all stereotypes about hippies are correct. (Some, for example, do not grill sandwiches on the engine bloc of their VW van.)

"Wow, man. As a writer for MTV, VH1 or whatever it is and whoever owns whoever, I thought I could expect more of a passionate write-up about such an awesome music festival. Rather, you dissed it. A lot. ... Bonnaroo is the REAL music lovers festival. Along with Coachella. For the people who attend these things, they LOVE what they do and that's why they come back each year. Kinda bums me out that you would want to hate on such an epic festival that brings so many people together to have a good time, enjoy good music, and promote nothing but union and love. Kind of like Woodstock."
-Ashley Amber Schmidt, Boulder, CO

"It's amazing to me you would stay four days for a major network like MTV and you SKIP the HEADLINER?? Widespread Panic, though often tossed aside by mainstream media as a 'Grateful Dead wannabe jam band,' has an amazing and unique style and critics seem to just blow them off completely and ignore their true musical talent and ability. I urge you to attend a show. You missed a good one at Bonnaroo, and for people like me who have children now and couldn't attend, we get pissed when we see others getting paid to go and they skip the best band of the weekend."
-Goulaglenn, somewhere in the wilds of the Internet

"No questions or concerns, just wanted to say that you pretty much encapsulated the experience ... and the Police should have played at midnight since they were skipping out early anyway and thought the entire crowd was from Tennessee! The Lips were much finer. So did you miss the National Geographic photo ops, or just suppressing the photos? My husband and I saw what appeared to be a naked (but painted) lady Friday, and a whole group of guys following her at a distance. Btw, we're from Louisville, too, but forgot our family ice pick."
-Gayle Benton, Louisville, KY

"Just read your article on Bonnaroo. Thanks for the insider tips about the Kings of Leon's jeans. That was a riddle wrapped in an enigma for all the people I know who listen to those guys. I think you missed out on some 'non-jam-band' amazing performances that are worthy of MTV buzz. Specifically, the Galactic late-night show that played opposite the Flaming Lips. I love the Lips and was at the 2003 show he spoke about before 'Fight Test,' but I pulled myself away from them to see Galactic. It was an excellent choice. Those guys debuted their upcoming new hip-hop album with a host of live MCs. That show was an amazing fusion of rock and hip-hop, and everyone in there was dancing their asses off."
-Jonathan Peck, Boston

Questions? Concerns? Carlos D? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com.

• Interpol Spread The Love

• Interpol
• Editors

The Strokes
Photo: Colin Lane

Different Strokes: The cover of the new Strokes album, First Impressions of Earth, depicts a cosmic image not unlike what the beginning of the universe looked like — according to sources, anyway. But it's hardly a back-to-basics effort for the band, which, along with producer David Kahne (Sugar Ray, Fishbone), journey to a galaxy far, far away to explore big ideas and expansive sounds. As if a garage ever existed! Fans who didn't pre-order the disc through the band's Web site — which would have earned them a free "Juicebox" 7-inch — should be on the lookout for the First Impressions deluxe edition, which'll have some enhanced stuff that's so cool we can't even tell you about it. Songs include: "15 Minutes," "Electricityscape" and "Vision of Division."

MOST Wanted OST: One wouldn't expect Happy Madison's slapstick flick "Grandma's Boy" to have a taste-making soundtrack, but that's exactly what Adam Sandler and friends had in store for the companion, which is in stores now. The set features recent material by Paul Wall, Bloc Party, the Futureheads, Fischerspooner, VHS or Beta and Aphex Twin, plus an original song by Kool Keith and a selection from the indomitable Spin Doctors.

The Buzz Is Strong With This One: British hopefuls the Editors made a big splash in their homeland with 2005's The Back Room, but before that record finally gets a Stateside release in April, the band is slipping out a two-part single in the U.K. "Munich Pt. 1" has a cover of Stereolab's "French Disko" on the flip side, while "Munich Pt. 2" is backed by "Find Yourself a Safe Place," a remix of "Munich" by Cicada and a video for the song of the same name. Both could prove to be rather collectible if the British press is right about the Editors (hint, hint).

More Morricone: Mere weeks after Ipecac breathed new life into film composer Ennio Morricone's canon with a two-disc archival compilation "Crime and Dissonance," Sony Classical hath bequeathed another related catalog release: Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone, now made available in the hyper-quadraphonic Super Audio Compact Disc format. Think you might be a classical-music audiophile trapped in an R. Kelly fan's body? This disc should tell you one way or the other.

Behind the Rappers: Dying for some new Kanye and 50 Cent goods, but without all that singing and stuff? Might want to feast your eyes on "Hip Hop Uncensored, Vol. 6: Ready to Sign," an hour-long DVD that guides you along the roads that led the budding rappers to the big time. Also among the bevy of featured rappers is Lil Jon, Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, David Banner, Jadakiss, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Mike Jones and Cassidy.

New Releases:

• 16 Braz - The Transition (Aryell Global)
• Ian Allen - Nova's Lounge (Mia Mind Music)
• Jimmy Amadie - Let Groove (TP Recordings)
• Beast With 2 Backs - The Sharpest Spires (So Snug)
• Tina deVaron - Water Over Stones (IMAH)
• Macka Diamond - Money-O (Greensleeves)
• Eric Durbin - Welcome to Mercytown (Fillerup)
• Imagination Movers - Eight Feet (Red Room)
• Elliott James - Cinematic Life (Wateree)
• JNM - Unaffiliated (JNM)
• Angelo Latona - Unveiled (Mia Mind Music)
• Max Lucado - Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot (Thomas Nelson Pub.)
• Mato Luka & the Sound - Love in a Tornado (PPL/TCI)
• Donald Miller - Through Painted Deserts (Thomas Nelson Pub.)
• Nat - Hidden Adjenda (two CDs; Natalac)
• The Oak Ridge Boys - You'll Never Walk Alone (Laserlight)
• Leslie Ruiz - Leslie Ruiz (Whitaker House)
• Karen Savõca - In the Dirt (Alcove)
• Spicehouse - Tomorrow Is the Answer (Blue City)
• The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth (deluxe edition due same day; RCA)
  Read: "Secretive Strokes To Spread Love Over The Airwaves In 'Juicebox' Clip"
  Buy Now: First Impressions of Earth (RCA)
• Jennifer Terran - Full Moon in Three (Grizelda)
• Triple - Triple (Backroom)
• Mary Sue Twohy - Songs to Hang on Stars (Azalea City Recordings)
• L. Zaide - Planet Chill: Memoirs of a Jazz Band (Rebel Phi)
• Various artists - Best of Zydeco (Mardi Gras)
• Various artists - Disco Inferno: Disco's Greatest Hits (Laserlight)
• Various artists - Moments of Love: Ultimate Love Songs (Style)
• Various artists - Reggaeton Con Rakata (Madacy Latino)
• Various artists - Tributo a Juanes (St. Clair Entertainment Group)
• Various artists - "Grandma's Boy" soundtrack (Epic)
• Various artists - "Mrs. Henderson Presents" soundtrack (Sony Classical)
• Various artists - "Shopgirl" soundtrack (Reincarnate Music)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Love Songs (Laserlight)
• Go West - Greatest Hits Live (Laserlight)
• Level 42 - Greatest Hits Live (Laserlight)
• Bob Marley - Kaya and Soul Shakedown Party (Laserlight)
• The Pointer Sisters - Greatest Hits Live (Laserlight)
• Sarah Vaughan - Great Lady of Jazz (Laserlight)
• Yo-Yo Ma - Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone (SACD; Sony Classical)
  Buy Now: Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone (SACD; Sony Classical)
• Various artists - Classic Soul: Greatest Hits (Laserlight)
• Various artists - Crooners: The Love Songs (Laserlight)
• Various artists - Greatest Hits of the '80s: A Decade of Great Music (Laserlight)
• Various artists - Sultry Soul (Laserlight)
• Various artists - Surfin' USA: Greatest Surfin' Hits of All Time (Laserlight)
• Various artists - "Pink Panthers and Other Spy Themes" soundtrack (St. Clair Entertainment Group)

DVDs:

• Various artists - "All Star Swing Festival" (Delta)
• Various artists - "Hip Hop Uncensored, Vol. 6: Ready to Sign" (Nutz)

Coming Attractions: January 10:

• Morningwood - Morningwood (Capitol)
  Buy Now: Morningwood (Capitol)
• We Are Scientists - With Love and Squalor (Virgin)
• Various artists - "Underworld: Evolution" soundtrack (Lakeshore)

January 17:

• Aaron Carter - Come Get It: The Very Best of Aaron Carter (Jive)
  Buy Now: Come Get It: The Very Best of Aaron Carter (Jive)
• Say Anything - Say Anything ... Is a Real Boy (J)
• Too Short - Pimpin' Inc. (with DVD; Up All Night)

January 24:

• Cat Power - The Greatest (Matador)
• P.O.D. - Testify (Atlantic)
• Yellowcard - Lights and Sounds (with DVD; Capitol)
  Read: "Yellowcard Move To New York, Write LP About Hating Los Angeles"
  Buy Now: Lights and Sounds (Capitol)

• The Strokes
• Editors
• Yo-Yo Ma
• Kanye West
• 50 Cent

AFI, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, More At San Diego's Street Scene

• Kanye West
• RZA
• Wolfmother
• She Wants Revenge
• Queens of the Stone Age