Dashboard Confessional's <i>The Shade of Poison Trees</i> album cover
Photo: Vagrant Records

With Amazon's new DRM-free digital-music store up and running — and the first flurry of holiday releases descending on stores — we thought we'd pull together our own virtual record warehouse for all the music lovers out there. Happy hunting!

Rock:

Dashboard Confessional, a.k.a. Chris Carrabba, is already 16 songs into his next LP, but first he has his fifth album, The Shade of Poison Trees, to worry about. The effort finds him returning to his earlier acoustic sound and was recorded over the course of 10 days in Florida with producer Don Gilmore (Good Charlotte, Linkin Park).

But it's doubtful DC will have much on Bruce Springsteen, who is kicking it with the E Street Band on disc for the first time with Magic. The Boss slipped out a vinyl version of his 15th studio outing last week, presumably so it would get Grammy Award consideration, however he made another last-minute adjustment by tacking "Terry's Song," a tune dedicated to recently deceased longtime assistant Terry Magovern, onto the CD.

Matchbox Twenty are hoping their hits collection Exile on Mainstream can climb into a decent spot on the Billboard albums chart — to give it some extra oomph, Rob Thomas and the crew have tacked six new Steve Lillywhite-produced tracks onto the set in the form of a bonus EP. Still, it's fair to say that some music fans are happy now that one of the most ubiquitous bands of the last 10 years has finally been "exiled."

And do the Cult still have appeal? They're about to find out as their first album in six years, Born Into This, hits stores. Don't be scared off by the "Savage Edition" of the disc — it has five bonus cuts ... and a sticker!

Rap:

It's hardly Kanye West vs. 50 Cent, but given the dearth of rap releases this week, we'll settle for a lesser hip-hop face-off. Boyz N Da Hood — whose self-titled debut made a big splash upon its release in 2005 — are counting on Yung Joc to help their new one equal those heights. The Atlanta squad's Back Up N Da Chevy has a couple of guest spots by Joc, and Rick Ross and Ice Cube also rear their heads.

Meanwhile, Soulja Boy is shooting for strong numbers with his solo debut, the clunky-titled Souljaboytellem.com. The rap/dance sensation — who managed to slip a performance of his red-hot "Crank That" tune into the VMAs — also features "Soulja Girl," "Bapes" and "Yahhh" on his first disc.

R&B:

Another rookie is stepping out this week: J. Holiday, who has already been riding two singles: "Be With Me" and "Bed." The crooner is also trying to make the ladies swoon with "Laa Laa" and "Betcha Never Had" — could Tuesday (October 2) turn out to be his new holiday?

Trey Songz is hoping to have his own Trey Day at record stores as his second LP drops. The singer gets help from some friends in high places, including Jim Jones, Danjahandz, Bryan-Michael Cox, Dre & Vidal and R. Kelly, who helps Trey get his "Grub On" by producing the hilariously named track.

Last but not least, Sharon Jones has a few years on her R&B peers — she's 51! — but the Georgia singer is finding herself in the limelight thanks to her Dap-Kings backing band recently lending its skills to Amy Winehouse and Kanye West. Their 100 Days, 100 Nights album is saddled with an hourlong bonus disc playfully titled Binky Griptite's GhettoFunkPowerHour.

Indie Rock:

PJ Harvey has been on a major label, Island, for almost her entire career, but she's nevertheless regarded as one of the most revered queens in indie rock. She takes a turn on her first studio outing since 2004's Uh Huh Her, forgoing electric guitar altogether and writing the entire album on piano. Harvey is shadowed by Eric Drew Feldman (Frank Black, the Polyphonic Spree) and Dirty Three drummer Jim White over the course of the 11 songs, which include "Dear Darkness," "When Under Ether" and "Grow Grow Grow."

While Harvey is deep into her career, Chicago psych-pop squad the 1900s are only getting started — they're stepping up with their Cold & Kind debut this week. Oddly enough, the septet's violin player, Andra Kulans, is also a part of the Quartet Parapluie, who have performed with everyone from Kanye West to Clay Aiken. The Fleetwood Mac-esque band features keys, piano, strings and more.

But if you're starving for some throwback indie rock, look no further than Hungry Beat, a compilation surrounding '80s Scottish post-punks Fire Engines. Listed by Franz Ferdinand as one of their biggest influences, the short-lived but recently reunited band's entire output can be found on the 16-track set, which encompasses their short LP, three singles and alternate takes.

Metal:

Rhino has put together one of the most symbolic metal releases ever: The Heavy Metal Box, a limited-edition set that has four CDs but, better yet, comes in a faux amplifier box with a Marshall knob that turns up to 11. Fitting for the nod to Spinal Tap, the package also features a song by the band, in addition to a litany of classics by Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Slayer.

While its packaging pales in comparison, Megadeth's Warchest is even more extensive, as it too has four CDs but tosses in a DVD as well. With more than six hours of tuneage by Dave Mustane's band of ever-revolving bros, the set — adorned by a 3-D ammunition belt on the front — boasts 33 unreleased cuts.

On the new-metal front, Om put on the brakes with Pilgrimage, its latest slice of doom. Recorded by Steve Albini and mastered by his Shellac bandmate Bob Weston, the album features just four songs — the fourth is actually a reprise of the first! — and enough chanting to make you think you've been transported to Tibet.

Soundtracks:

There's something in store for everyone this week, even fans who love listening to movie music. The "Dan in Real Life" soundtrack has 11 new compositions by Norwegian folk/pop luminary Sondre Lerche, including seven cue cuts from the Steve Carell comedy, as well as a collabo between Lerche and Regina Spektor ("Hell No") and a song by A Fine Frenzy ("Fever").

And hard-core muzos are frothing over the re-release of David Bowie's very rare 1993 effort, The Buddha of Suburbia, which he made as a complement to the BBC-produced miniseries based on the novel of the same name. While only the title song — featuring Lenny Kravitz on guitar — was used in the miniseries, Bowie said in a recent press release, "This album may well have been one of the most enjoyable projects that I've been involved with."

Holiday Music:

Tempting as Carnie Wilson's Christmas With Carnie and Vickie Winans' Happy Holidays From Vickie Winans may sound, if you're in the market for holiday music, look no further than Oh Santa!: New and Used Holiday Classics From Yep Roc Records. Tracks by the Apples in Stereo, Cities and Minus 5 will keep your indie cred in check as you're slapping bows onto gift bags.

Here are few more tips to keep in mind while you're stocking up on new discs:

Don't Count Your Vines Before They Hatch
· Remember "Get Free"? How about warbling Vines frontman Craig Nicholls? If you do, you probably recall critics dubbing them "the next Nirvana" — well, it looks like "the next Strokes" would have been more appropriate, as their former label Capitol has assembled the portentous The Best of the Vines.

Ungdomskulen Aren't as Scary as They Sound
· Sure, the Norwegian band is raucous and has a new album that sounds equally threatening — Cry-Baby — but its name actually means "middle school" in Norwegian.

Don't Mix Up Siouxsie and Mariee Sioux
· Siouxsie, who has collaborated in the past with the Banshees and Creatures, is dropping her first full-fledged solo release, Mantaray. Mariee Sioux is a folk singer/songwriter whose Faces in the Rocks is coming out through Grass Roots.

Don't Judge an LP by Its Cover
For the Kids Three! looks like a soft children's album, but it's actually loaded with some choice artists. Of Montreal, O.A.R., Moby, Blitzen Trapper and Rogue Wave also contribute to the disc, which is helping benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

Song Title of the Week:

"Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus" from Emery's I'm Only a Man

Album Cover of the Week:

Sunburned Hand of the Man's Fire Escape

Other Notables:

The Most Serene Republic's Population
The Canadian collective started making a name for itself by touring with Feist and Broken Social Scene, and the band is teeing up its next release on the Arts & Crafts label that is also home to those other acts. Produced by the band and inspired by its hometown of Milton, Ontario, the album features 13 tracks that seem to have a colorful story behind each, like "Sherry and Her Butterfly Net," "The Men Who Live Upstairs" and "Humble Peasants."

Ryan Bingham's Mescalito
The 25-year-old Texas singer/songwriter has found himself rubbing elbows with Ryan Adams and Willie Nelson as part of the Lost Highway roster, and now he's hoping to measure up to some high expectations with his first-ever album. Produced by and featuring guitar work by former Black Crowes member Marc Ford, the LP features "Ghost of Travelin' Jones," "Take It Easy Mama" and "Southside of Heaven" — not to be mistaken with Slayer's "South of Heaven," of course.

Demander's The Unkindness of Ravens
The Hold Steady tourmates hail from New York and have already made their mark with a five-song EP and an intriguing animated video, for their song "Hollis." Now it's time for the requisite debut album, The Unkindness of Ravens, which sounds like a proggier version of Sleater-Kinney or Fugazi. Tracks include "GMT," "Baixo," "Elijah" and "TKO Ravens."

New Releases:

· The 1900s - Cold & Kind (Parasol)
· The 5 Browns - Browns in Blue (Sony Classics)
· Amplified Heat - How Do You Like the Sound of That (Arclight)
· Apollo Heights - White Music for Black People (Manimal Vinyl)
· Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Scared Famous (Hall of Records)
· Ryan Bingham - Mescalito (Lost Highway)
· Boyz N Da Hood - Back Up N Da Chevy (Bad Boy)
· The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Bringing It All Back Home Again (The Committee to Keep Music Evil)
· Bring Back the Guns - Dry Futures (Feow!)
· Brooks & Dunn - Cowboy Town (Arista)
· Peabo Bryson - Missing You (Peak)
· Care Bears on Fire - I Stole Your Animal (available on iTunes and CDBaby.com; Daisy Explosion)
· Cross Canadian Ragweed - Mission California (Universal South)
· The Cult - Born Into This ("Savage Edition" comes with five bonus tracks and a sticker; Roadrunner/ New Wilderness)
· Will Dailey - Back Flipping Forward (CBS)
· Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees (digipak; Vagrant) [Buy Now]
Read: "Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba Is Back To His Old, Prolific Self"
· Demander - The Unkindness of Ravens (self-release)
· Division Day - Beartrap Island (Eenie Meenie)
· Emery - I'm Only a Man (Tooth & Nail)
· Erasure - Storm Chaser (EP; Mute)
· Falling Up - Captiva (BEC)
· Felix Da Housecat - Virgo Blaktro and the Movie Disco (Nettwerk)
· Five O'Clock Heroes - Bend to the Breaks (High Wire)
· John Fogerty - Revival (Fantasy)
· Ari Gold - Transport Systems (Gold 18)
· Merle Haggard - The Bluegrass Sessions (McCoury Music)
· PJ Harvey - White Chalk (Island) [Buy Now]
· Richard Hawley - Lady's Bridge (Mute)
· J. Holiday - Back of My Lac (Capitol)
· Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (with bonus CD; Daptone) [Buy Now]
Read: "Sharon Jones Is Finally In The Spotlight — Thanks To Amy Winehouse Stealing Her Band"
· Junius - Junius (Radar/S.A.F.)
· Rob Kendt - I'm Not Sentimental (Ruby)
· Stacey Kent - Breakfast on the Morning Tram (Blue Note)
· Annie Lennox - Songs of Mass Destruction (Arista)
· Darlene Love - It's Christmas. Of Course (Shout! Factory)
· Kevin Michael - Kevin Michael (Atlantic)
· Mobius Band - Heaven (Misra)
· The Most Serene Republic - Population (Arts & Crafts)
· Nightwish - Dark Passion Play (Roadrunner)
· Om - Pilgrimage (Southern Lord)
· Over the Rhine - Snow Angels (Great Speckled Dog)
· The Pipettes - We Are the Pipettes (Cherry Tree)
· Prong - Power of the Damager (13th Planet)
· Chuck Prophet - Soap and Water (Yep Roc)
· Raccoon - Another Day (Another Label)
· John Ralston - Sorry Vampire (Vagrant)
· Rosetta - Wake/Lift (digipak; Nocturnal)
· The Sadies - New Seasons (Yep Roc)
· Saint Bernadette - In the Ballroom (Exotic)
· Mariee Sioux - Faces in the Rocks (Grass Roots)
· Siouxsie - Mantaray (Decca)
· Skeletonwitch - Beyond the Permafrost (Prosthetic)
· Soldiers - End of Days (Trustkill)
· Soulja Boy - Souljaboytellem.com (Interscope)
· The Spill Canvas - No Really, I'm Fine (Sire)
· Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Magic (Columbia)
· Sunburned Hand of the Man - Fire Escape (Smalltown Supersound)
· Take - Earthtones & Concrete (Inner Current)
· Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez - Live From the Ruhr Triennale - October 2005 (Train Wreck)
· Trey Songz - Trey Day (Atlantic) [Buy Now]
· Trolleyvox - Your Secret Safe/ Luzerne (two CDs; Transit of Venus)
· Ungdomskulen - Cry-Baby (Ever)
· Nico Vega - No Child Left Behind (EP; MySpace)
· Frankie Valli - Romancing the '60s (Motown)
· We Are Wolves - Total Magique (Dare to Care)
· We the Kings - We the Kings (S-Curve)
· Phil Wickham - Cannons (INO/Columbia)
· Tim Williams - When Work Is Done (Dovecote)
· Carnie Wilson - Christmas With Carnie (B3E)
· Vickie Winans - Happy Holidays From Vickie Winans (Destiny Joy)
· Zimbabwe Legit - House of Stone (pH Music/ Pro Se)
· Various artists - For the Kids Three! (Nettwerk)
· Various artists - Global Drum Project (Shout! Factory)
· Various artists - Oh Santa!: New and Used Holiday Classics From Yep Roc Records (Yep Roc)
· Various artists - "Dan in Real Life" soundtrack (Capitol)
· Various artists - "The Heartbreak Kid" soundtrack (Plan R)
· Various artists - "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?" soundtrack (Atlantic)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· David Bowie - "The Buddha of Suburbia" soundtrack (Capitol/EMI)
· David Byrne - Live From Austin TX (New West)
· Cake - B-Sides and Rarities (Upbeat)
· J.J. Cale - Rewind: Unreleased Recordings (Time Life)
· Chicago - The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition (limited-edition two-CD set; Rhino)
· Charlotte Church - The Charlotte Church Collection (three CDs; Sony Classics)
· Depeche Mode - Exciter and Ultra (each set comes with DVD; Rhino)
· Celine Dion - These Are Special Times: Collector's Edition (with DVD; Columbia/Legacy)
· Bob Dylan - Dylan (also available as a three-CD box set and a limited-edition three-CD box set with red cloth; Columbia/Legacy)
· Fire Engines - Hungry Beat (Acute)
· Eliza Gilkyson - Live From Austin TX (New West)
· Amy Grant - Greatest Hits (special edition comes with DVD; Sparrow/ EMI America)
· Faith Hill - The Hits (special edition comes with DVD; Warner Bros. Nashville)
· Mick Jagger - The Very Best of Mick Jagger (deluxe edition comes with DVD; Rhino)
· Matchbox Twenty - Exile on Mainstream (with bonus EP; Atlantic)
· Martina McBride - White Christmas (RCA)
· Megadeth - Warchest (box set with four CDs and one DVD; Capitol/EMI)
· Buddy Rich - Time Out (Lightyear)
· Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs (Capitol/EMI)
· Ike & Tina Turner - The Ike & Tina Turner Story: 1960-1975 (three-CD box set; Time Life)
· The Vines - The Best of the Vines (Capitol)
· Various artists - The Heavy Metal Box (limited-edition four-CD box set; Rhino)
· Various artists - Welcome to Miami: 30 Sizzling Dance Tracks (two CDs; Water Music)

Music DVDs:

· Trace Adkins - "Greatest Video Hits" (Capitol)
· Asia - "Fantasia: Live in Tokyo" (Eagle Vision)
· The Beatles - "The Unseen Beatles" (BBC Warner)
· Dierks Bentley - "Video Hits" (Capitol)
· David Byrne - "Live From Austin TX" (New West)
· Glen Campbell - "Good Times Again" (Time Life)
· Celtic Woman - "A Christmas Celebration: Live From Dublin" (Manhattan)
· Elton John - "Elton 60: Live at Madison Square Garden" (two DVDs; Island/Mercury)
· Mahavishnu Orchestra - "Live at Montreux 1974-184" (Eagle Eye)
· Ramones - "It's Alive: 1974-1996" (two CDs; Rhino)
· Various artists - "Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story" (Stax)
· Various artists - "Stax/Volt Revue: Live in Norway" (Stax)

Digital Releases:

· Scott Walker - And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball? (limited-edition CD hits stores October 9; 4AD)

Coming Attractions:

October 9:
· Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus (Atlantic)
· Jennifer Lopez - Brave (Epic) [Preorder]
· She Wants Revenge - This Is Forever (Geffen)

October 16:
· Eve - Here I Am (Geffen)
Read: "Eve Fulfills Her 'Fantasy' With Robin Thicke, Says She's Still Cool With Dr. Dre"
· Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light (Interscope)
· Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vols. I & II: Fire & Water (Vagrant)

October 23:
· Seether - Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces (Wind-Up)
Read: "Seether Frontman Won't Respond To Amy Lee's Attack: 'I Just Refuse To Lower Myself To That Level' "
· Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead (Serjical Strike/ Reprise)
Read: "System Of A Down Frontman Serj Tankian On Intimate Solo LP: 'I Believe In It' "
· Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride (Arista)

• Dashboard Confessional
• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• Bruce Springsteen
• PJ Harvey
• Trey Songz

Kim Porter and Diddy
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

Diddy and girlfriend Kim Porter are splitting up, just months after she gave birth to twin girls, the couple announced Tuesday (July 10), according to The Associated Press. In a recent cover story in Essence, the two declared love for each other, although he admitted he was an "ex-player" and wasn't ready to marry Porter. "Do you really think that God meant for a man to have just one wife?" he said in the magazine. Diddy and Porter already had a son when he was seeing Jennifer Lopez, but Diddy eventually reunited with his former girlfriend, even after she took him to court seeking increased child-support payments. ...

More artists have been added to the bill for this year's Bumbershoot festival, which will be held September 1-3 in Seattle. Fergie, John Legend, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, (+44) and the Apples in Stereo are the latest acts to join the bill, with Head Automatica, Menomena, the Bouncing Souls and others climbing onboard as well. This festival is being anchored by the Shins, Wu-Tang Clan, Crowded House and Panic! at the Disco. ...

Justin Timberlake, T.I. and Usher made Stuff magazine's "30 Power Guys Under 30" list, which also includes actors Seth Rogen and Jake Gyllenhaal; athletes LeBron James, Reggie Bush, Tom Brady and Roger Federer; and blogger Perez Hilton. T.I. shares his secret to staying on top in the magazine's August issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday. "You must create a demand and then supply it," he explained. "You make so the market can't function at its best without you." ...

A Springfield has been chosen to host the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie" — but is it big enough to handle the hype? Vermont's Springfield — a small town of 9,300 people that has a 100-seat movie theater — will host the movie on July 27, thanks to an online poll it wasn't even invited to take part in at first, AP reports. A local Chamber of Commerce executive appealed for the town to be included, after which a video shot by a 17-year-old cameraman was submitted for consideration. The clip — which features a talk-show host dressed as Homer chasing a pink doughnut through the town — drew 15,367 votes, earning the town the premiere. ...

Alicia Keys is targeting October 23 as the release date for her next album, As I Am, according to Billboard. Keys debuted "The Thing About Love," one of the songs featured on the effort, at the Live Earth concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Saturday. ... Raekwon is polishing off his next solo LP, Ice Water: Polluted Water, for an August 28 release. Method Man will pay a visit on the disc, but Wu-Tang Clan members aren't the only ones getting involved: Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Three 6 Mafia, Remy Ma and Jagged Edge are also on the VIP list. ...

Next time you strap on your "Guitar Hero" ax, you might want to have a top hat handy too — Slash will appear as an avatar in "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock." The Velvet Revolver guitarist, who is chipping in an original song for the game, will appear as a boss battle character. Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" will also be featured in the game. ... Nicole Richie can breathe a little easier, at least for now — her lawyer has forced another delay in her DUI trail, People reports. "The trial will not happen [Wednesday]," Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Jane Robison told the outlet. "Richie's attorney filed a motion ... stating that their key witness, a drug expert, was unavailable for trial." Both sides have been called to court Wednesday to discuss the motion — but either way, the trial will be delayed for at least another day. ...

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is printed, so there's no going back on the ending, but fans are calling on author J.K. Rowling to "Save Harry" — even if he's already destined to die. In an online petition launched by British book retailer Waterstone's, Rowling is being asked to keep the series going past this seventh installment, whether Harry survives the finale or not. "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle famously killed off Sherlock Holmes, yet brought him back after years of demand from his fans and publishers," Waterstone's Wayne Winstone said. "Couldn't the same happen for Harry Potter?" ...

Avril Lavigne's alleged plagiarism ordeal has been grabbing headlines left and right, but fellow Canadian artist Chantal Kreviazuk isn't about to keep piling on the singer. On Tuesday, the singer/songwriter issued a statement retracting statements she made to Performing Songwriter Magazine in which she doubted Lavigne's writing abilities. "When I saw the track listing to Avril's new record, it caught my attention that she had the same title as a song I had sent her a while back. When I heard it, I immediately realized that it was a coincidence. The songs have nothing in common. I have always maintained that the song on Avril's album is completely different, having no similarity in melody or lyric, and Avril has in no way stolen my song. I simply never said that or thought it. My statements and any inference from my statements, which call into question Avril's ethics or ability as a respected and acclaimed songwriter, should be disregarded and are retracted. Avril is an accomplished songwriter, and it has been my privilege to work with her." Curiously, Kreviazuk issued the statement through Nettwerk Music Group — Lavigne is managed by Nettwerk Management. ...

Arcade Fire's Neon Bible and Feist's The Reminder are among the 10 finalists up for this year's Polaris Music Prize, which salutes the year's best Canadian LP. The prize — which comes with a $20,000 bonus — will be announced September 24. ... Against Me! have been added to this year's Saints & Sinners Festival. The band will headline the November 3 date, while Glassjaw are all set to close out the event's final night, November 4. Tickets go on sale July 20 for the festival, which will take over the Convention Hall Complex in Asbury Park, New Jersey. ... Megadeth will be touring the U.S. this fall with Ozzfest 2007 performers In This Moment, as well as the Confession. The trek is set to launch September 4 in Anchorage, Alaska, and is booked through October 6 in Norfolk, Virginia. ...

PJ Harvey — uh huh, her — has pegged September 25 as the release date for her eighth studio opus, White Chalk. Flood and John Parish, who previously collaborated with the singer/songwriter for To Bring You My Love and Is This Desire?, produced the effort, which also features contributions from Eric Drew Feldman and Dirty Three drummer Jim White. She debuted some of the new material at the Manchester International Festival over the weekend. ... Watch out, CNN — Michael Moore has you in his sights. The controversial director appeared on "The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer" on Monday to discuss his new movie "Sicko," only to find his interview prefaced by an unsavory segment on the flick by CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who attempted to dispel some of the film's points about the U.S. health care system. Moore erupted after that, refuting the segment and bashing the network for its news coverage in the lead-up to the Iraq war. The director's Web site quickly posted an extensive point/counterpoint response to Gupta's segment following the Monday interview. On Tuesday, Blitzter's program aired the more subdued second part of the interview. ...

The Cure, who are in the midst of recording their 13th studio LP, have decided to make it a double: A two-CD set will hit stores in October. While not much is known about the yet-untitled offering, the disc's new melodies will deal with relationships, politics, religion and materialism. A fall North American tour will follow. ... Moby has some fresh beef with the organizers of the Live Earth concerts — he's chiding them for selling meat at the shows. In a post on the vegan musician's blog, he says livestock breeding and the gases the animals emit is a huge contributor to greenhouse gases, according to a United Nations statistic. "The one thing that still stuns me ... is that almost no one in the 'stop global warming' camp talks about the environmental ramifications of animal production," he said. ...

Pogues guitarist Philip Chevron has been diagnosed with throat cancer, according to a post on the band's Web site. He will not join the Pogues on their North American tour this fall. A statement on the group's site read: "This decision to suspend his live work has the complete support of the other Pogues who wish him a good and complete recovery. Though it is not yet known when Chevron will return to live work, it is hoped that he will again be available towards the end of this year." ... A Beatles monument will be constructed in Hamburg, Germany, where the band launched its international career, BBC News reports. ... Want an iPhone? You might want to hold off on eBay for the moment — ABC News reports that Apple may be coming out with a cheaper Nano version of the device by the end of the year. "Our channel check suggests Apple is coming out with a second phone, a much cheaper one, in 4Q07," JPMorgan analyst Kevin Chan wrote in a note that was released Tuesday (July 10). He added that the new iPhone would be sold for about $300 and that as many as 40 million of them could be sold by the company next year.

07.09.2007

Beyoncé made a surprise visit in an emergency room Sunday after her St. Louis show — two people were injured at the concert when pyrotechnics reportedly spilled into the front row, according to The Associated Press. Darryl Williams, head nurse at the hospital, told AP that Beyoncé, who met with the victims for 45 minutes, "was just very concerned about the people injured in the audience. [Her visit] was unannounced and we kept it very low-key so that she could spend time with them." A spokesperson for Barnes-Jewish Hospital told the news service that the injuries were minor and both victims were expected to make full recoveries. A spokesperson for Music World entertainment, which represents the singer, did not comment to the news service. ...

Taking a page out of Kanye West's book, the equally dapper T.I. hosted an album-release party over the weekend for T.I. vs. T.I.P. at the Louis Vuitton store in Atlanta's posh Buckhead district. (West struck first with LV, recently holding his 30th birthday bash at the store's New York branch.) Big Boi, Jazze Pha, Jermaine Dupri, Polow Da Don, Mya and Young Jeezy attended the festivities. ...

If Maroon 5's red-hot "Makes Me Wonder" song has you wondering when the band will be hitting a city near you, you're in luck. Adam Levine and his cohorts — with Swedish punks the Hives in tow, weirdly — will swing through 28 North American cities in support of their recently released It Won't Be Soon Before Long album. The jaunt begins September 29 in Detroit and ends November 10 in Las Vegas. ...

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Chairman Julian Bond took a swipe at Jay-Z over the weekend during the group's annual convention in Detroit, according to the Detroit Free Press. "There are certain words that ought not to be spoken, and the N-word is just one of them," he said in regards to the symbolic "burial" of the term to be staged with Kurtis Blow and others at the city's Hart Plaza on Monday (July 9). "I heard somebody say that when Jay-Z talks about ho's, he gets a gold record. When Don Imus talks about ho's, he gets fired," he later remarked. "We believe in equal justice and equal justice for everyone." ...

The Virgin Festival is ratcheting up the theatrics — Panic! at the Disco have been added to the fest's second day, set for August 5 at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course. Explosions in the Sky and Dan Deacon have also climbed onboard. ... Finally, Bloc Party are scheduled to headline a real block party — Chicago's Hideout Block Party, that is, on September 7. The band has lined up a slew of September and October dates, taking the indie-rockers from Montreal on September 9 through the States, down to Mexico City for a gig on the 19th, then back up through the States and into Canada again — and then finally to the Theatre at Madison Square Garden for a closing gig on October 3. Might want to bring a TripTik for that one, guys. ...

Jurors will be able to hear from a security guard who testified controversially in 1993 that he heard Phil Spector say all women should be shot in the head, AP reports. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler had previously chosen not to allow the testimony but reconsidered when prosecutors raised the issue again. Fidler said he thought before that the testimony wouldn't be admissible because the remark was made too long ago and wasn't specific to the shooting death of Lana Clarkson — who died after a bullet was fired through her mouth. But he changed his mind upon further research. "In this case, you have a woman who is shot in the head. It is highly particularized," he said. ... Almost 19 million people watched Live Earth on NBC and its affiliates, AP reports — far short of the 2 billion event organizers had hoped for. On the other hand, the organizers' estimate was also supposed to include online viewers, whereas the 19 million figure only includes viewers who watched at least six minutes of the telecasts. ...

Amid all the Live Earth happenings over the past week, Axl Rose found time to vent about why Guns N' Roses wouldn't be performing at the event's Rio de Janeiro installment. "We were not asked until the last couple weeks while we were on tour in Australia and have upcoming sold-out dates already rescheduled in Japan," he said in a press release issued Friday. "I was asked to perform individually with Lenny Kravitz by the promoters and Mr. Gore. As we were working this out, Lenny unfortunately became injured and temporarily canceled his involvement from the event." Rose claims he wasn't made aware that Kravitz's performance was reconfirmed until it was too late. "Guns N' Roses or I were not asked to play anywhere else, such as Japan or Australia (as we are already in the regions on tour), and in which we have formally offered to perform, but the offer of our involvement was declined." ...

Did Madonna's onstage hookup with gypsy punks Gogol Bordello at Live Earth London over the weekend leave you scratching your head? This might shed some light: Frontman Eugene Hutz, who starred alongside Elijah Wood in "Everything Is Illuminated," has been working with Madge on her directorial debut, "Fifth & Wisdom." "It was super-fun and perfectly respectable, and it ended up being quite a collaborative project," he told Billboard.com about the flick. ...

J.K. Rowling is taking Harry Potter on the road. The author will launch the Open Book Tour in October, answering fan questions and signing copies of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" during three events for schoolchildren and one special evening gathering for a lucky group of Harry Potter fans. Students from select schools will be randomly chosen at the start of the new school year for the Los Angeles (October 15), New Orleans (October 18) and New York (October 19) student events, while readers of all ages can enter at Scholastic's Harry Potter site beginning July 30 for a chance to score one of 1,000 tickets to Rowling's evening tour stop at New York's Carnegie Hall on October 19. ...

Diana Ross performed at Tao Restaurant in New York on Sunday night as part of a charity auction hosted by the New York Giants' Michael Strahan. Ja Rule, Nicole Murphy, and Dawn Richards of Danity Kane also made appearances at the event, which raised over $300,000 for the Supportive Children's Advocacy Network and was sponsored by the Dreier LLP law firm. ... Prince played three shows over 12 hours in his hometown of Minneapolis from Saturday into early Sunday, ending his live streak when police shut down his early morning homecoming show at the legendary First Avenue club — featured in "Purple Rain" — 70 minutes into a 24-song set, AP reports. After playing 15 songs, Prince pulled the plug on the show — which didn't start until nearly 2:45 a.m. — announcing, "The authorities say we gotta go. We always listen to the authorities. I promise I'll be back." Prince played a 45-minute set at Macy's for his fragrance launch early Saturday, followed by a full concert at the Target Center. ...

Nicole Richie is due in court on Wednesday to answer a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, but dad Lionel Richie isn't coming down hard on his daughter, who he said is "just in an unfortunate situation." The singer, who spoke to the AP at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, said Nicole is sorry for her mistakes. "She keeps apologizing to me," he said. "I told her, 'You're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing to your father at this age.' " Because Richie's case contains an allegation of a prior DUI conviction, she faces 90 days in jail and a suspension of driving privileges if found guilty. ... As for the Nicole Richie pregnancy reports, Lionel told People that he's a little out of touch ("Nicole, baby, call me!") and isn't sure whether he has a grandchild on the way. "I don't know if I'm going to be grandpa," he said. "I don't know if I'm ready to be called grandpa." ...

Foo Fighters will strike back on September 25 with Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace, their sixth studio album. Aside from rocking a totally grammatically correct title (Dave Grohl hates stodgy commas) the album will feature 12 tracks, with titles such as "The Pretender," "Long Road to Ruin," the emo-baiting "Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make-Up Is Running)" and "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners," no doubt a tribute to the two Tasmanian miners who, while trapped in a collapsed mine, listened to songs by the band until they were rescued — and later met, and shared a beer with, Grohl and company. ...

Clay Aiken tangled with a fellow passenger on a flight to Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday morning, AP reports, leading to an FBI investigation but no arrests. The FBI told Tulsa World that there was a dispute on the aircraft between a male former "American Idol" contestant and a woman on the plane, but would not confirm Aiken's identity. The argument allegedly began over the male passenger's putting his foot on the woman's armrest, and the female passenger reportedly gave the man "a minor shove." There were no injuries reported, though Aiken did joke onstage Saturday night that he'd been beaten up by a girl earlier in the day. ...

Afeni Shakur — Tupac's mother — lost a North Carolina guest home in a fire late Friday night, according to local outlet News 14 Carolina. The blaze completely destroyed the property, which is part of a larger estate owned by Shakur, but according to the report, no one was injured. In a statement, Shakur thanked authorities and community members for responding to calls for help. "I would sincerely like to thank the professional and volunteer firefighters and our neighbors who quickly came to our rescue and helped extinguish the fire," she said. "We are truly blessed to have their vigilant and neighborly care. We were fortunate that no one was at the home at the time." ...

Drowning Pool have teamed up with the organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and 15-year-old YouTube video producer Lizzie Palmer for the This Is for the Soldiers campaign, encouraging young people to support the Lane Evans Mental Health Care Reform bill, legislation extending health-care benefits for veterans. ... Snow Patrol keyboardist Tom Simpson was arrested Saturday in London following the band's performance at Live Earth, on charges of failing to appear in court on drugs charges, U.K.'s ITV News reported. Simpson was released from custody on Sunday, in time to headline the T in the Park festival in Scotland after agreeing to appear in court in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday. The keyboardist missed the band's Saturday night performance at Ireland's Oxegen fest.

• Diddy
• Fergie
• John Legend
• Justin Timberlake
• T.I.

Jim Jones' <I>Hustler's P.O.M.E.</I>
Photo: Koch Records

Fightin' New Releases: After casting their ballot in the midterm elections on Tuesday (November 7), music lovers will head to a second voting booth: the record store. It's there that they'll show support for either the incumbent candidates or challenging hopefuls. Will it be four more weeks for Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere or OK Go's Oh No? Will Jim Jones and the Foo Fighters throw the bums out? Expect results Wednesday — of next week.

The Challengers:

Jim Jones' Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment):
· Synopsis: The junior rapper from New York is hoping that support from high-profile campaign contributors like Lil Wayne, Cam'ron and Juelz Santana leads to strong voter turnout. With hometown shout-outs on "So Harlem" and elsewhere, he would even have Hillary Clinton up against the wall in the Big Apple.

Various artists' Now That's What I Call Music! 23:
· Synopsis: This series has served almost as many terms as now-departed Senator Strom Thurmond did, but with help from Justin, Beyoncé and Christina, it still has youth on its side. Jessica and Nick are reunited once again here as well — with "A Public Affair" and "I Can't Hate You Anymore," respectively — which should get this candidate even more headlines.

Foo Fighters' Skin and Bones:
· Synopsis: Fans have been urging the Foos for years to run with a live album, and now they're finally entering the race with this tour companion set. Bonus iTunes contributions including a "Skin and Bones" video and "Ain't It the Life" tune fill the band's coffers, but the fact that the accompanying DVD isn't coming for three more weeks could hurt this contender in a dead heat.

PJ Harvey's The Peel Sessions 1991-2004:
· Synopsis: Sure, this CD is no spring chicken — the material is culled from more than a decade's worth of appearances on the late British DJ's radio show — but now these recordings are finally up for a vote. Twelve tracks — including a cover of Willie Dixon's "Wang Dang Doodle" from 1993 and an even rarer performance of "That Was My Veil" from '96 — will pique fans' interest, but candidate Harvey might not see a big turnout until she puts out her in-the-works studio album.

Isobel Campbell's Milk White Sheets:
· Synopsis: Her recent Ballad of the Broken Seas collaboration with Mark Lanegan won over a new voting bloc, but Campbell has an even more prominent supporter on her side in ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha, who lends a few licks to this LP. The Belle and Sebastian singer also has endorsements from Vaselines' Eugene Kelly and Soup Dragons' Jim McCulloch, who add extra life to the sparsely arranged songs.

Blowoff's Blowoff:
· Synopsis: Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü, Sugar) and Richard Morel (producer of Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous") got their campaign off to a late start, as they bumped this release a few times. But they're running on a split ticket — both musicians share equal responsibilities in writing and performing — and are appealing to voters ranging from rock hounds to electronic-music lovers. Don't write this race off yet.

The Incumbents:

Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere - Deluxe Edition:
· Synopsis: Statesmen Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse scored a Barack Obama-like triumph across a wide-ranging demographic with their debut album when they ran in early May. Now they're up for re-election with a limited-edition version, which has a bonus DVD, 3-D album art and a 92-page booklet. With the elderly constituency finally getting the message — "Crazy" is finally making it to adult-contemporary radio — expect some Gnarl-y gains.

James Blunt's Back to Bedlam:
· Synopsis: Despite being well-loved by a wide range of the population, Blunt's positive campaign could be wearing thin. There's been a negative-publicity backlash building against "You're Beautiful" — "to call it 'overplayed' would be like saying Washington is 'influenced by special interests,' " goes the slogan — but a bonus disc encompassing a full gig in Ireland from last year could win over his voter base.

OK Go' Oh No:
· Synopsis: The pop-rockers pulled off an underdog victory of immense proportions by winning over the blogosphere with their viral videos, and now they're hoping for another jolt of approval with their re-election bid. Core supporters will be pleased with a number of new proposals on the bonus DVD, including a performance of "C-C-C-Cinnamon Lips" from public-access TV, 180 fan re-creations of the unforgettable "A Million Ways" clip, public-service announcements and a video game.

Nirvana's "Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!" DVD:
· Synopsis: The band ran with this ticket more than a decade ago — in 1994, when the Republicans retook Congress, actually — but history has treated the candidate well, and it's likely Nirvana will return to office. They don't really have a new message, per se — just five extra performances from an Amsterdam gig — but these days, Nirvana almost always sit well with the voters.

Dave Matthews Band's The Best of What's Around, Vol. 1:
· Synopsis: Will DMB's positive campaign — telling voters to "Hunger for the Great Light" and promoting the "American Baby" — play well with voters? Early poll data indicates yes, and a bonus disc with eight concert cuts should mean that the band will surge down the homestretch.

Pavement's Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition:
· Synopsis: More or less destined to win the indie-rock vote is this pivotal album from 1995, the band's most scattered but one many aficionados consider their most beloved candidate. A staggering 21 bonus tracks on a second disc — including 18 unreleased outtakes, BBC studio session and concert recordings — could even win over some red-state voters outside its home state of California.

Song Title of the Week:

"Thumbs Down Lampit" from Microwaves' Contagion Heuristic

Other Notables:

Josef K's Entomology: This band suffered a similar fate as experienced by Josef K himself, one of author Franz Kafka's doomed characters. Formed in Scotland in the late '70s, the band recorded three studio albums, only one of which ever saw release. But while K (previously named TV Art) didn't last long, their succulent, infectious pop has, meriting another look back at their oeuvre. This 22-track overview culls 7-inch tracks, "Fun 'N' Frenzy" and more.

Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museum's Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museum: You might know Brodsky best as the frontman of post-rock princes Cave In, but he's been sneaking out solo LPs for a while now, starting with 1999's Expose Your Overdubs. His third endeavor finds him boosted by Scissorfight drummer Kevin J. Strongbow and Thee Electric Bastards bassist Johnny Northrup, but the results aren't nearly as deafening as what those bands have put out. Expect lo-fi pop and much to be heartbroken about on "Red Headed Butterflies," "Spirals in Her Eyes" and other tracks of purple prose.

Holy Smokes' Holy Smokes Talk to Your Kids About Gangs: Consisting of seven musicians from various corners of the Earth — the Ladies' Zach Hill and Rob Crow, the Advantage's Carson McWhirter and others — the end product is what you might expect: a cacophony of chaotic noise-rock and free jazz. Listen for trumpets, toys and gadgets on "Don't Squab on God's Tracks," "If You Pull It Out, You Better Use It" and "Too Many Wives (All You Need Is Blood)."

New Releases:

· 31Knots - Polemics EP (Polyvinyl) · 36 Crazyfists - Rest Inside the Flames (DRT) · Acute - Selections (EP; Help) · Arsis - United in Regret (Willowtip) · Mickey Avalon - Mickey Avalon (MySpace/Universal) · Black Elk - Black Elk (Crucial Blast) · Blackmore's Night - Winter Carols (Locomotive) · Blowoff - Blowoff (Full Frequency) · Bon Savants - Post-Rock Defends the Nation (E to the I Pi Music) · Bowling for Soup - The Great Burrito Extortion Case (Jive);
Read: "Bowling For Soup's Latest Muse? A Mouse In A Burrito" · Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museum - Stephen Brodsky's Octave Museum (Hydra Head) · J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton - The Road to Escondido (Reprise) · Isobel Campbell - Milk White Sheets (V2) · The Chelsea Smiles - Thirty Six Hours Later (Acetate) · Danava - Danava (digipak; Kemado) · Linda Draper - Traces Of (EP; Planting Seeds) · Dredg - Live at the Fillmore (Interscope) · El Goodo - El Goodo (Empyrean) · El Perro del Mar - El Perro del Mar (The Control Group) · Europe - Secret Society (Sanctuary) · The Evens - Get Evens (Dischord) · Benjy Ferree - Leaving the Nest (Domino) · Foo Fighters - Skin and Bones (RCA) · Josh Groban - Awake (Reprise) · Holy Smokes - Holy Smokes Talk To Your Kids About Gangs (Skin Graft) · Ill Niño - The Under Cover Sessions (limited-edition digipak EP; Cement Shoes) · Jim Jones - Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) (Koch);
Read: "NFL Players Shooting Jump Shots During Games? Blame Jim Jones" · Josef K - Entomology (Domino) · Shanna Kiel - Orphan (Thick) · Librarians - Alright Easy Candy Stranger (Postfact) · Lithops - Mound Magnet (Thrill Jockey) · Microwaves - Contagion Heuristic (Crucial Blast) · MoZella - I Will (Maverick) · Nonpoint - Live and Kicking (with DVD; Bieler Bros.) · Sally Nyolo and the Original Bands of Yaoundé - Studio Cameroon (Riverboat) · Jon Oliva's Pain - Maniacal Recordings (Locomotive) · One Night Band - Way Back Home (Stomp) · Owen - At Home With Owen (Polyvinyl) · Polar Goldie Cats - Feral Phantasms (Up) · The Punks - Unanimous Bangers (Kill Rock Stars) · The Residents - The River of Crime: Episodes 1-5 (with bonus CD; Cordless) · Alejandro Sanz - El Tren de los Momentos (Warner Music Latina) · Stars Are Falling - The Consequence of Revenge (Blood & Ink) · Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra - One With Everything (live; New Door) · SugarLand - Enjoy the Ride (Mercury Nashville) · Tech N9ne - Everready: The Religion (Strange) · Joaquin Torres - Joaquin Torres (Universal Latino) · Keith Urban - Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing (Capitol) · Dionne Warwick - My Friends & Me (Concord) · Various artists - A Raga for Peter Walker (Tompkins Square) · Various artists - Laguna Beach: Summer Can Last Forever (Interscope) · Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 23 (Sony) · Various artists - This American Life: Stories of Hope & Fear (two CDs; Shout! Factory) · Various artists - "A Good Year" soundtrack (Sony Music Soundtrax/ Legacy) · Various artists - "Shout! The Mod Musical" soundtrack (Rhino) · Various artists - "Stranger Than Fiction" soundtrack (Columbia/ Sony Music Soundtrax)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Cannonball Adderley - Riverside Profiles (two CDs; Riverside) · Louis Armstrong - Legends of American Music: The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong (box set with two CDs and one DVD; Time Life) · Chet Baker - Riverside Profiles (two CDs; Riverside) · Bee Gees - The Studio Albums 1967-1968 (six-CD box set; Rhino) · Tony Bennett & Bill Evans - The Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Album (Fantasy) · James Blunt - Back to Bedlam (limited-edition version with bonus CD; Atlantic) · Anne Cochran - This Is the Season (Fuel) · Marshall Crenshaw - The Definitive Pop Collection (two CDs; Rhino) · Dick Dale and His Del-Tones - Surfers' Choice (Sundazed) · Bobby Darin - The Definitive Pop Collection (two CDs; Rhino) · The Dirt Band - Make a Little Magic/ Jealousy (BGO) · Bill Evans - Riverside Profiles (two CDs; Riverside) · Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere - Deluxe Edition (with DVD, digipaks and 3-D version of album cover; Downtown) · Merle Haggard - 10 Top 10's Live (with DVD; Compendia) · PJ Harvey - The Peel Sessions 1991-2004 (Island) · Jack's Mannequin - Everything in Transit (with DVD; Maverick) · Kitaro - The Essential Kitaro (two CDs; Domo) · Loverboy - Keep It Up/ Lovin' Every Minute of It (Beat Goes On) · Manhattan Transfer - The Definitive Pop Collection (two CDs; Rhino) · Dave Matthews Band - The Best of What's Around, Vol. 1 (two CDs; RCA) · Memphis Slim - Fuel Presents an Introduction to Memphis Slim (Fuel) · Mighty Baby - Jug of Love (Sunbeam) · Thelonious Monk - Riverside Profiles (two CDs; Riverside) · Wes Montgomery - Riverside Profiles (two CDs; Riverside) · OK Go - Oh No (limited-edition version with DVD; Capitol) · Pavement - Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition (with bonus CD; Matador) · Frank Sinatra - Vegas (box set with four CDs and one DVD; Rhino) · Al Stewart - The Definitive Pop Collection (two CDs; Rhino) · Storyville - Bluest Eyes (Varèse Sarabande) · Sublime - Everything Under the Sun (box set with three CDs and one DVD; Geffen) · Frank Zappa - Trance-Fusion (Zappa) · Various artists - Blue Lights in the Basement: A Body + Soul Collection (Time Life) · Various artists - Only Hits (Rhino) · Various artists - Ruf Records Anthology - 12 Years of "Where Blues Crosses Over" (two CDs; Ruf) · Various artists - Serious Times (two CDs; XL)

Music DVDs:

· Andrea Bocelli - "Under the Desert Sky" (Sugar) · Bobby Darin - "Seeing Is Believing" (The Music Force) · Waylon Jennings - "Nashville Rebel" (RCA Nashville/ Legacy) · The Make-Up - "In Film/ On Video" (Dischord) · Ricky Martin - "MTV Unplugged" (Sony International) · Nirvana - "Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!" (Geffen) · The Pixies - "loudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies" (MVD Visual) · Rush - "Rush in Rio" (Rounder) · The Who - "The Vegas Job: The Who Live in Vegas Reunion Concert" (Passport Entertainment) · Andy Williams - "In Concert Series: Andy Williams" (Passport) · Various artists - "Carson Country" (Delta) · Various artists - "Harry Smith Project Live" (Shout! Factory)

Coming Attractions:

November 14: · Army of Anyone - Army of Anyone (Firm); Read: "Army Of Anyone Want To Be Judged By Their Fifth Album, Not Their Debut" · Fat Joe - Me, Myself and I (Virgin); Read: "Fat Joe On September Release: 'Bet The Kitchen Sink On Me' " · The Game - Doctor's Advocate (Geffen); Read: "Game Says Song On New LP Makes Him 'The One-Man N.W.A' " · Plus-44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating (Interscope); Read: "Plus-44 Address Blink Breakup On LP, Want Fans To 'Hear The Truth' " · Tenacious D - "The Pick of Destiny" soundtrack (Epic)

November 21: · Jay-Z - Kingdom Come (Roc-A-Fella); Read: "Jay-Z's 'Retirement' Is Finally Over: New Album Due In November" · Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies (Roadrunner); Read: "Killswitch Engage Turn On The Heavy For Glass-Shattering As Daylight Dies" · U2 - U218 Singles (limited-edition; with DVD; Interscope)

November 28: · Incubus - Light Grenades (Epic); Read: "Incubus' Mike Einziger Lends Agent Sparks A Hand Making The Best Brunch LP Ever" · Ying Yang Twins - Chemically Imbalanced (TVT) · Young Buck - Buck Tha World (Interscope)

• Jim Jones
• Foo Fighters
• Nirvana
• Gnarls Barkley
• OK Go

<I>American Idol Season 5 Encores</I>
Photo: RCA

Idolatry: Everyone knows Katharine and Taylor are battling it out Tuesday night (May 23), but if you were rooting for Elliott, Paris, Kellie or another "Idol" contender, the compilation "American Idol Season 5 Encores" will give you a chance to hear the finalists once again. Covers of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight & the Pips give the collection plenty of soul, although Chris Daughtry adds some rock edge with his take on Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive."

While the "Idol" contenders' best-known tunes belong to other people, so do the theme songs to entertainers on the other end of the spectrum: WWE wrestlers. This week's other big compilation, WWE: Reckless Intent, isn't as heavy on the metal as you might think: Alongside tracks by Killswitch Engage, Brand New Sin and P.O.D. are Three 6 Mafia, who add some hop with "Some Bodies Gonna Get It," and Silkk the Shocker, who chips in "Never Gonna Change."

Touched by Angels: Call them a "rebirth," a "supergroup" or "the greatest rock and roll revolution for this generation," as singer Tom DeLonge himself did, but whatever the case, Angels & Airwaves finally descend with We Don't Need to Whisper this week. If you pre-ordered through the A&A site, you might have received a copy signed by the band, but if you're still looking for something extra, pick up the U.K. edition, which has bonus live versions of "Start the Machine" and "Do It for Me Now."

Don We Now: After teaming up with Jennifer Lopez and Fabolous the last time around, Don Omar is back with King of Kings, which probably gives you an idea of how important the rapper considers himself to the reggaetón movement. This time around he's roped in Juelz Santana ("Conteo"), Beenie Man ("Belly Danza") and Mackie Ranks ("En Su Nota") for his 18-track affair, which is mostly sung in Spanish.

Tickle Her Pink: Liking Pink's I'm Not Dead but still dying to "Get the Party Started"? Look no further than the singer's "Live in Europe," a DVD that packs in all her pre-"Stupid Girl" singles, plus a heap of additional performances. Furthered by an on-the-road doc, the video has more than 25 live songs plus spots by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Peaches.

Dixie Cats: The Dixie Chicks know better than anyone what it's like to carry a heavy burden, but they share the load a little on their politically charged Taking the Long Way. Famed rock producer Rick Rubin sat behind the decks, while John Mayer adds a searing lick to "I Hope," co-written by blues legend Keb' Mo'. Sheryl Crow also lent her songwriting skills, though the Chicks get deeply personal by touching on everything from infertility to Alzheimer's, from which singer Natalie Maines' grandmother suffers.

Getting a Boost: Harlem, New York's Purple City tapped Jim Jones to executive produce and appear on their latest LP, The Purple Album, which also features B.G., Max B. and Boot Camp Click. Mr. Collipark is all over Da Muzicianz's record of the same name, producing a smattering of songs and appearing on the last two, "Mr. Collipark Speaks" and "Gyrate." And Lil Wayne, Jazze Pha, Bun B, Baby and 8Ball beef up the second record by Memphis underground fave Yo Gotti, whose Back 2 Da Basics also features "Full Time" from "Hustle & Flow."

On the rock side, Sufjan Stevens embellishes his pals Serena-Maneesh's self-titled debut, playing flute and marimba while his sisters Elvira and Hilma contribute vocals and bass, respectively. Another breakout indie troubadour, Devendra Banhart, furthers the second record by Vetiver — a.k.a. Andy Cabic, who is also a member of Banhart's live band. And two more solo stars are bumping up rookie Sierra Swan: James Blunt, who took her on tour recently, and Aimee Mann, who chimes in on "Get Down to It" on Swan's Ladyland. And one of the most iconic singer/songwriters of all, Leonard Cohen, mentored Hawaiian artist and Berklee College of Music grad Anjani Thomas for her major-label debut, Blue Alert, which was co-written and produced by Cohen.

As far as indie stuff goes, Mike Patton proves that Dub Trio really are "Not Alone" by appearing on that song on the noise act's enhanced New Heavy. Liars' Julian Gross directs one of the six videos that appears on the DVD accompanying Bedroom Walls' All Good Dreamers Pass This Way. And Antony and Bonnie "Prince" Billy surface on Black Ships Ate the Sky, the new album from Current 93, a collective headed up by David Tibet and also featuring Ben Chasny of Bonnie "Prince" Billy labelmates Six Organs of Admittance.

Branching Out: How apropos for Michelle Branch to debut her new project, the Wreckers, on "One Tree Hill." Now that she has, it's time for her and Nashville singer/songwriter Jessica Harp to trot out Stand Still, Look Pretty, the limited edition of which comes with a bonus DVD.

Also finding a new mouthpiece — actually, let's make that a bullhorn — are punk heroes Marky Ramone, Jerry Only (Misfits), Dez Cadena (Black Flag), Ivan Julian (Richard Hell & the Voidoids) and Misfits collaborator John Cafiero. Their new team, Osaka Popstar, roll out their eponymous debut this week, which — like the Wreckers' LP — comes with a bonus DVD loaded with videos, animation and more.

Two members of the Mother Hips and Cake drummer Todd Roper have gone on to form Sensations, whose Listen to My Shapes debut drops this week. And Dave Shettler of the Sights has joined forces with members of the Paybacks and Cyril Lords to form SSM, a raggedy Detroit band that's also chalking up a self-titled debut.

We Salute You: Everyone knows how much Def Leppard love their sugar, but David Bowie and the Kinks too? 'Pears so, as the U.K. arena-rockers hail those artists — plus Thin Lizzy, T. Rex and Roxy Music — on Yeah! Still, that's not as unusual as Urge Overkill, the Four Tops, the Monkees and Crooked Fingers covering Neil Diamond; all the recordings have been out before, but now they've been compiled as Forever Neil Diamond. Less surprising is another torch singer, Michael Bolton, who brings us his self-explanatory Bolton Swings Sinatra this week.

Song Title of the Week:

"Sometimes the Line Walks You" from Murder by Death's In Bocca Al Lupo

Other Notables:

PJ Harvey's "PJ Harvey on Tour - Please Leave Quietly" DVD: She's been around for seven album cycles, but the celebrated chanteuse finally has a concert video to call her own. Consisting mostly of performances from 2004 — including the rare tracks "Uh Huh Her" and "E♥ol" — the DVD also has a revealing, 28-minute interview and diary footage from the usually reserved Harvey.

Art Brut's Bang Bang Rock and Roll: If you didn't see last year's critics polls, you probably don't know about U.K. sensations Art Brut, whose debut LP finally arrives in the States this week. The chic artistes have added three exclusive cuts to the U.S. version: "These Animal Menswear," "Really Bad Weekend" and "Maternity Ward."

Mission of Burma's The Obliterati: They've been around for 26 years — well, just six, if you subtract the slightly lengthy hiatus — but Boston's MOB finally have a third studio LP to their name. Initial pressings have a bonus DVD featuring high-def, multi-angle footage from the band's November 2004 gig at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts. Prepare to be obliterated.

New Releases:

• Jackie Allen - Tangled (Blue Note)
  
• 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)
  
• Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock and Roll (Downtown)
  Buy Now: Bang Bang Rock and Roll (Downtown)
  
• As Far As - Open Letter to the Damned (Octone)
  
• Bedroom Walls - All Good Dreamers Pass This Way (Baria)
  
• Blöödhag - Hell Bent for Letters (Alternative Tentacles)
  
• The Blood Brothers - Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck (enhanced EP; V2)
  Buy Now: Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck (V2)
  
• Michael Bolton - Bolton Swings Sinatra: The Second Time Around (Concord)
  
• Bronze Nazareth - The Great Migration (Babygrande)
  
• Susan Cagle - The Subway Recordings (Columbia)
  Read: "Susan Cagle Has A Major-Label Deal But Still Sings In NYC Subway"
  
• The Cairo Gang - The Cairo Gang (Narnack)
  
• The Classic Crime - Albatross (Tooth & Nail)
  
• Slaid Cleaves - Unsung (Rounder)
  
• Coachwhips - Double Death (with DVD; Narnack)
  
• Current 93 - Black Ships Ate the Sky (Durtro)
  
• Da Muzicianz - Da Muzicianz (TVT)
  
• Damone - Out Here All Night (Island)
  Read: "Damone Rock On Despite Label Drama, Near-Death Experience"
  Buy Now: Out Here All Night (Island)
  
• Def Leppard - Yeah! (Mercury/ Universal)
  Buy Now: Yeah! (Mercury/ Universal)
  
• Delaware - Lost in the Beauty of Innocence (Metropolis)
  
• Ditty Bops - Moon Over the Freeway (Warner Bros.)
  Buy Now: Moon Over the Freeway (Warner Bros.)
  
• Dixie Chicks - Taking the Long Way (Columbia)
  Buy Now: Taking the Long Way (Columbia)
  
• Doro - Warrior Soul (Locomotive)
  
• Dr. John - Mercernary (Blue Note)
  
• Dub Trio - New Heavy (enhanced; ROIR)
  
• End of Fashion - End of Fashion (Capitol)
  
• Entity - Locked Doors (D1)
  
• Escape the Fate - There's No Sympathy for the Dead (EP; Epitaph)
  
• Evermore - Dreams (Velour)
  
• Five Horse Johnson - The Mystery Spot (Small Stone)
  
• Jeffrey Foucault - Ghost Repeater (Signature)
  
• The Hacker - A.N.D. N.O.W. ... (Uncivilized World)
  
• Halifax - The Inevitability of a Strange World (Drive Thru)
  Buy Now: The Inevitability of a Strange World (Drive Thru)
  
• Halou - Wholeness & Separation (Vertebrae)
  
• The Heavy Blinkers - The Night and I Are Still So Young (Cooking Vinyl)
  
• Danko Jones - Sleep Is the Enemy (Red Ink)
  
• Judge Jules - Proven Worldwide (Koch)
  
• Kidz Bop - More Kidz Bop Gold: The Greatest Hits of All Time Sung by for Kids (Razor & Tie)
  
• Knut - Alter (Hydra Head)
  
• Less Than Jake - In With the Out Crowd (special edition comes with bonus DVD and MP3 disc; Sire/ London/ Rhino)
  Buy Now: In With the Out Crowd (Sire/ London/ Rhino)
  
• Liquid Soul - One-Two Punch (Telarc)
  
• Marion Meadows - Dressed to Chill (Heads Up)
  
• Mission of Burma - The Obliterati (initial copies come with bonus DVD; Matador)
  Buy Now: The Obliterati (Matador)
  
• Nino Moschella - The Fix (Ubiquity)
  
• Murder by Death - In Bocca Al Lupo (Tent Show)
  
• Ocrilim - Anoint (I & Ear)
  
• Don Omar - King of Kings (Universal)
  Read: "Reggaeton Star Don Omar Out To Spread Latino Unity"
  Buy Now: King of Kings (Universal)
  
• Osaka Popstar - Osaka Popstar and the American Legends of Punk (enhanced; Rykodisc)
  
• Phoenix - It's Never Been Like That (Astralwerks)
  Buy Now: It's Never Been Like That (Astralwerks)
  
• Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Nothing but the Water (digipak with DVD; Ragged Company)
  
• Purple City - The Purple Album (Babygrande)
  
• Raised Fist - Sound of the Republic (Burning Heart)
  
• Carl Hancock Rux - Good Bread Alley (Thirsty Ear)
  
• Steven Seagal & Thunderbox - Mojo Priest (Ark 21)
  
• Sensations - Listen to My Shapes (Camera)
  
• Shooting at Unarmed Men - Yes Tinnitus (Too Pure)
  
• SSM - SSM (enhanced; Alive)
  
• Sierra Swan - Ladyland (Interscope)
  
• Anjani Thomas - Blue Alert (Columbia)
  
• VCR - Power Destiny (Side One Dummy)
  
• Vetiver - To Find Me Gone (Dicristina Stair)
  
• Rhonda Vincent - An American Bluegrass Girl (Rounder)
  
• Scott Walker - The Drift (4AD)
  
• The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off (Record Collection)
  Read: "Want A Bob Dylan Album You Can Dance To? Try The Walkmen"
  Buy Now: A Hundred Miles Off (Record Collection)
  
• The Wreckers - Stand Still, Look Pretty (limited-edition version with DVD also available; Maverick)
  Buy Now: Stand Still, Look Pretty (Maverick)
  
• The Yellowjackets - Twenty Five (two-CD live set; Heads Up)
  
• Yo Gotti - Back 2 Da Basics (TVT)
  Buy Now: Back 2 Da Basics (TVT)
  
• Various artists - Big Star, Small World (Koch)
  
• Various artists - Give 'Em the Boot V (Hellcat)
  
• Various artists - Healing the Divide (digipak; Anti)
  
• Various artists - WWE: Reckless Intent (Columbia)
  
• Various artists - American Idol Season 5 Encores (RCA)
  Read: "Forget The Competition — 'Idol' Top 12 Unite For 'Encore' Comp"
  Buy Now: American Idol Season 5 Encores (RCA)
  
• Various artists - "The Break Up" soundtrack (Hip-O)
  
• Various artists - "Prairie Home Companion" soundtrack (deluxe limited edition with DVD also available; New Line)
  
• Various artists - "X-Men: The Last Stand" soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande)
  

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Will Ackerman - Pure Will Ackerman (Windham Hill/ Legacy)
  
• Jim Brickman - Pure Jim Brickman (Windham Hill/ Legacy)
  
• Roy Buchanan - The Definitive Collection (Polydor)
  
• Candlebox - The Best of Candlebox (Rhino)
  Buy Now: The Best of Candlebox (Rhino)
  
• Johnny Cash - Personal File (two CDs; Columbia/ Legacy)
  Buy Now: Personal File (Columbia/ Legacy)
  
• Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton (two-CD deluxe edition; Polydor)
  Buy Now: Eric Clapton (Polydor)
  
• The Miles Davis Quintet - The Legendary Prestige Quintet Sessions (enhanced four-disc box set; Prestige)
  
• Delaney & Bonnie - Home (Stax)
  
• Pat DiNizio - This Is Pat DiNizio (Fuel)
  
• Sammy Hagar - Marching to Mars (Geffen)
  
• John Lee Hooker - The Definitive Collection (Hip-0)
  
• Mark Isham - Pure Mark Isham (Windham Hill/ Legacy)
  
• Kansas - Works in Progress (with DVD; Compendia)
  
• Gladys Knight & the Pips - Gold (two CDs; Hip-O)
  
• Leadbelly - The Legend of Leadbelly (Empire Musicwerks)
  
• Huey Lewis & the News - Greatest Hits (available with DVD; Capitol)
  Buy Now: Greatest Hits (Capitol)
  
• Luciano - Gold: The Very Best of Luciano (Jet Star)
  
• John Jacob Niles - An Evening With John Jacob Niles (Empire Musicwerks)
  
• Harry Nilsson - A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night, Everybody's Talkin': The Very Best of Harry Nilsson, Son of Schmilsson (RCA/ Legacy)
  
• Poison - The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock - Deluxe Tour Edition (with DVD; Capitol)
  Buy Now: The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock - Deluxe Tour Edition (Capitol)
  
• Pete Seeger - American Favorite Ballads, Vol. 4 (Smithsonian Folkways)
  
• Lionel Richie - Time (MCA)
  
• Diana Ross - Diana (MCA)
  
• Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia - Well-Matched: The Best of Merl Saunders & Jerry Garcia (Windham Hill/ Legacy)
  
• Shadowfax - Pure Shadowfax (Windham Hill/ Legacy)
  
• Garnett Silk - Rule Dem: The Roots of the Reggae Messiah (Trojan)
  
• George Strait - Ten Strait Hits (MCA)
  
• Tears for Fears - Songs From the Big Chair (two-CD deluxe edition; enhanced; Mercury/ Universal)
  Buy Now: Songs From the Big Chair (Mercury/ Universal)
  
• Tuck & Patti - Pure Tuck & Patti (Windham Hill/ Legacy)
  
• Uriah Heep - Look at Yourself (MCA)
  
• Muddy Waters - The Definitive Collection (Geffen)
  
• Faron Young - An Introduction to Faron Young (Fuel)
  
• Various artists - Best of '60s Soul (Madacy)
  
• Various artists - Big Band: Remixed + Reinvented (Sunswept)
  
• Various artists - Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways (Smithsonian Folkways)
  
• Various artists - Eisenhower Blues: Post-War Urban Classics From the Eisenhower Era (1952-1960) (Empire Musicwerks)
  
• Various artists - The Essential Hollywood (two CDs; Columbia)
  
• Various artists - Forever Neil Diamond (Shout! Factory)
  
• Various artists - Irie Reggae Hits: Best of Dancehall (Time Life)
  
• Various artists - Punk Rock! 20 Classic Punk Bands From the World of Mystic Records (Varèse Sarabande)
  
• Various artists - Road Tested: The Ultimate Driving Album (Time Life)
  
• Various artists - West Coast Sock Hop: The Arvee Records Story (Empire Musicwerks)
  

Music DVDs:

• 16 Horsepower - "Live" (Alternative Tentacles)
  
• America - "America In Concert: Live at the Sydney Opera House" (Rhino)
  
• Faith No More - "You Fat Bastards: Live at the Brixton Academy, London/ Who Cares A Lot: Greatest Videos" (two DVDs; Rhino)
  
• Oscar Peterson - "London Concert 1964" (E Jazz Lines)
  
• Pink - "Live in Europe" (La Face)
  
• PJ Harvey - "PJ Harvey on Tour - Please Leave Quietly" (Island)
  
• Uli Jon Roth - "Historic Performances Volume I & II: The Electric Sun Years" (Steamhammer)
  
• Uli Jon Roth, Jack Bruce and UFO - "Legends of Rock: Live at Castle Donington" (Steamhammer)
  
• Son Volt - "6 String Belief: Son Volt Live" (Transmit Sound/ Legacy)
  
• Tears for Fears - "Scenes From the Big Chair" (Mercury/ Universal)
  
• Muddy Waters - "Classic Concerts" (Hip-O)
  
• Wendy O. Williams - "Bump N Grind: Wendy O. Williams Live" (Cherry Red)
  
• Various artists - "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" (two-DVD special edition; Warner)
  

Coming Attractions:

May 30:

• 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"

June 6:

• AFI - Decemberunderground (Interscope)
  Preorder: Decemberunderground (Interscope)
  
• Head Automatica - Popaganda (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Daryl Palumbo Spreads Head Automatica Popaganda"
  Preorder: Popaganda (Warner Bros.)
  
• Paul Oakenfold - A Lively Mind (Maverick)
  Preorder: A Lively Mind (Maverick)
  

June 13:

• The Futureheads - News and Tributes (Vagrant)
  Preorder: News and Tributes (Vagrant)
  
• Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang (Aftermath)
  Read: "Busta Making An Even Bigger Bang With Em, ODB, Neptunes, Rick James"
  Preorder: The Big Bang (Aftermath)
  
• Shadows Fall - Fallout From the War (Century Media)
  
• Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (Geffen)
  Preorder: Rather Ripped (Geffen)
  
• Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope (two-CD limited-edition also available; Sire/ London/ Rhino)
  Preorder: Begin to Hope (Sire/ London/ Rhino)
  

• Angels & Airwaves
• Don Omar
• P!nk
• The Walkmen
• Dixie Chicks

50 Cent is set to make his motion-picture debut in a semiautobiographical film called "Locked and Loaded," Billboard reports. Terence Winter, a writer and executive producer on "The Sopranos," is writing the screenplay, in which 50 will portray a former drug dealer who tries to put his criminal past behind him to pursue a career on the mic. ...

Usher, Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones and Mary J. Blige are a few of the artists slated to perform at the Ray Charles tribute concert "Genius: A Night for Ray Charles," which will take place on October 8 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The event, which will be taped to air later on CBS, will be hosted by Jamie Foxx. Ticket prices are between $45 and $75. ...

Lindsay Lohan gets a little revealing in the new issue of GQ, on newsstands next week. Of her well-publicized curves and the tabloid debate "Are they real?," she said that it makes her uncomfortable when people talk about her breasts, though judging by the photos accompanying the story, she's not terribly uncomfortable highlighting them in poses. "What are they trying to do by saying I'm 'baring it all'?" she asked the magazine. "I'm wearing a normal top that my friends have worn. Go pick on someone else. It's getting a little old. Like, I didn't get implants — deal with it!" And on her relationship with "That '70s Show" actor Wilmer Valderrama, she said that it's getting serious. "This is my first boyfriend," she said, "and we're just starting to talk about what we're going to say in interviews and stuff. And it's cool, but I've gotten a lot of feelings toward him really fast, which I'm not used to ... I can be kind of negative, sometimes, with the whole boyfriend situation. I get very insecure. Just because there are a lot of girls who like him." ...

Ketchup lovers Lindsay Lohan, William Shatner and Mia Hamm are among the stars sounding off on the thick red condiment for Heinz Ketchup's "Celebrity Talking Labels" campaign. Available at your local grocery store now and for a limited time only, the bottles' labels feature quips like "Fixes Burgers at Warp Speed" (Shatner) and "Burger-licious" (Lohan). A portion of the proceeds from the series will go to a number of charities including the Mia Hamm Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. ... DMX, Trick Daddy, Nate Dogg and DJ Quik are among the guest artists who came out for Ludacris' forthcoming album, Red Light District. Due November 23, the album is the Atlanta MC's follow-up to 2003's Chicken-N-Beer. ...

DMX was due to be arraigned on drug and weapons charges Tuesday (September 21) in Queens County criminal court, but his hearing has been adjourned until October 13. The charges stem from an incident in June at New York's JFK Airport in which he and another man attempted to steal a car. If convicted, X faces up to seven years in jail. ... An assault hearing for rapper Beanie Sigel scheduled for Monday was postponed until November 3. The charges stem from an altercation in January 2003 in which the MC allegedly punched a man in the face. Sigel is still scheduled for sentencing on October 8 on federal gun charges and has a January 12 date set for his retrial on attempted-murder charges. ...

PJ Harvey is hitting the road again for a monthlong North American tour. The trek will kick off on October 1 in Minneapolis and end in Mexico City on November 2. ... There's a new album on the way from the Lemonheads. Singer Evan Dando, who had been touring with the re-formed MC5, wrote on his Web site, "After doing 42 shows I decided to leave the tour. I need to finish writing the next Lemonheads record. The MC5 tour inspired me greatly and I'm now ready to get back to working on my own music." The Lemonheads' last album, Car Button Cloth, was released in 1996. ...

Sprint PCS has launched BlingTones, which the company is calling the first mobile-phone record label. BlingTones offers Sprint phone owners original beats from hip-hop producers like Rockwilder, Hi-Tek and Jay Dee that can be downloaded directly from phones or through the company's Web site. ... DJ Spooky "That Subliminal Kid" has collaborated with Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo, Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid and producer Meat Beat Manifesto for his next release, Drums of Death. "This project is about rhythm dialog, building bridges between scenes and styles," Spooky said. "Slayer was one of the only rock bands on early Def Jam, and they influenced my style." ...

For the next two weeks, R.E.M.'s new album, Around the Sun, will be streamed on MySpace.com, marking the first time an album is "leaked" on a social portal and not an exclusive music destination. Besides previewing the band's music, the site also offers links to tour dates, mobile ring tones, photos and other features. R.E.M.'s latest is due in stores on October 5. ... A new Fishbone collection is coming out on DVD. "Critical Times: The Henhouse Sessions" will feature the band recording new material at the Hen House, a free community recording studio, via multiple DV cameras. Songs include "Last Dayz," "Critical Times," "Demon in Here" and "Skank N' Go Nutts." It's due out October 5. ...

09.20.2004

A November 4 release has been set for Ruben Studdard's upcoming gospel album, the start of a barrage of "American Idol" music. Clay Aiken's holiday record is due November 16, Fantasia's debut album is due November 23, Kelly Clarkson's sophomore set will follow November 30, and Diana DeGarmo's debut will round things out on December 7. ...

At least half of Metallica know what they'll be doing in early 2005: entering the studio. In two separate newspaper interviews, guitarist Kirk Hammett and drummer Lars Ulrich said that the band plans to log studio time sometime after the completion of its North American tour on November 20. ... Vanessa Carlton will embark on a 17-date tour next month in support of her new album, Harmonium, due November 9. The singer/pianist is bringing a full orchestra with her on the outing, which begins October 21 in Minneapolis and ends November 21 in Portland, Oregon. ...

Like Slipknot? Old enough to drive? Fluent in German? If you meet those three qualifications, then head on over to the German version of eBay, where you can bid on an official Slipknot Mercedes-Benz. The car features the Slipknot logo on its hood and doors and was used to promote the band's latest album, Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses). Bidding — in Euros — was at the equivalent of $1,473.30 as of press time. ... Like countless bands before them, Yellowcard are getting in on the live DVD market. "Beyond Ocean Avenue: Live at the Electric Factory," in stores November 2, features concert footage taken from the band's two sold-out performances at Philadelphia's Electric Factory in May. Also included on the DVD is the "Beyond Ocean Avenue" documentary, a behind-the-scenes look at the band's rise to fame. ...

The Reverend Al Sharpton, Styles P and Marsha Ambrosius, one half of Floetry, all took the stage Sunday night at the Anthony Hamilton and Angie Stone concert in New York. ... The ill-fated Field Day festival is having another go at it. A year after plans for a two-day festival in a pasture on Long Island, New York, were downsized to a miserable, rain-soaked single-day affair at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, promoter Andrew Dreskin has gotten permission from the town of Red Hook, New York, to put on the show next July. Although bands have yet to be confirmed, he hopes to get Radiohead, Beck and the Beastie Boys — all of whom played Field Day in 2003 — to return. ...

P. Diddy, Dame Dash and the rest of the music moguls may need to make room for one more. Joe Simpson, father and manager of Jessica and Ashlee, has formed JT Records, named for Joe and his wife, Tina Simpson. The first act signed to the imprint, to be distributed by Ashlee's label Geffen, is the band Barefoot. ... California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order on Friday demanding the state chief information officer develop a policy regarding the illegal use of peer-to-peer file-sharing applications on state computers. Schwarzenegger, much to the delight of the recording industry, is the first state executive to enact such an order. ...

"Something the Lord Made," the HBO television movie starring rapper Mos Def as surgical pioneer Vivien Thomas, picked up three Emmy awards Sunday night, including one for outstanding Made for Television Movie. While he didn't win, Mos Def had been nominated for Outstanding Actor for a Made for Television Movie. ... Television are re-forming for a concert at New York's Roseland on October 2, and Patti Smith and her band will share the bill. ...

Former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra plans on joining Ministry onstage in the next few days to perform some tunes by Lard, Biafra and Ministry singer Al Jourgensen's side project, which released two albums in the '90s. The five-date string of shows begins Friday in Los Angeles. Ministry are on the road to support their latest album, Houses of the Molé, which dropped in June. ... Even with three solo albums under her belt, Moldy Peaches member Kimya Dawson remains relatively unknown, but a crop of her friends, including Third Eye Blind's Stephan Jenkins, Vanessa Carlton, Daniel Johnston and GN'R/ Primus drummer Brain, is trying to change that. They all appear on Dawson's fourth LP, Hidden Vagenda, due October 5. ...

Brooklyn, New York, production team/record label DFA — a.k.a. Death From Above — will release DFA Compilation #2 this November. The 18-track LP collects music previously released on a series of 12-inch singles over the past two years. Artists on the album include the Rapture and LCD Soundsystem. ... Collective Soul are returning after a four-year hiatus with Youth, due November 16. The album's first single, "Counting the Days," was released to radio earlier this month. ...

• 50 Cent
• Usher
• Lindsay Lohan
• Ludacris
• DMX

Franz Ferdinand (file)
Photo: Domino

Franz Ferdinand, the Killers, Wilco, Dizzee Rascal, Ghostface Killah, Loretta Lynn, PJ Harvey, TV on the Radio and My Morning Jacket are among the 73 artists nominated to the "Long List" for the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize.

The list, which will be whittled down to 10 finalists in late September, was selected by a panel of 20 "Listmakers" that features several prominent recording artists: Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba, Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, Jack Black, John Mayer, Norah Jones, the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am, System of a Down's Serj Tankian, the Roots' Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, the Cure's Robert Smith and others.

To be eligible for the prize, which has become an honor for outside-the-mainstream artists, albums must have been released between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004 and must not have been certified gold (for sales of more than 500,000 units) at the time of the nomination (see "John Mayer, Chris Carrabba, ?uestlove, Norah Jones Sign On For Shortlist Prize").

More than half of the nominees included in this year's Long List are from independent record labels, while 15 nominees hail from the U.K. The list also includes artists from 11 countries, including France (Phoenix, Air), Australia (the Sleepy Jackson), Mexico (Café Tacuba), Japan (Melt Banana) and Ireland (Simple Kid).

As interesting as the list itself are details about which Listmaker nominated which records. Norah Jones nominated albums by Devendra Banhart and Loretta Lynn. John Mayer tapped quirky singer Nellie McKay, while Serj Tankian chose Cape Verdean vocalist Cesaria Evora. Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson went for the innovative rock sounds of Wilco and TV on the Radio.

Also on the list are veterans David Bowie and Neil Young, as well as comparative newcomers Jem, the Fiery Furnaces, the Secret Machines and Iron & Wine. The final solo album from the late Clash singer Joe Strummer is also nominated.

MTV2, the project's television sponsor for the third year, will air a special including concert footage from the awards ceremony, while XM Satellite Radio, this year's radio sponsor, will award the winner with a check for $10,000:.

The winner of the prize — which went to singer/songwriter Damien Rice for his album O last year, to N.E.R.D. in 2002, and to Sigur Rós in 2001 — will be announced during a multi-artist concert at the Wiltern in Los Angeles on November 10.

The 2004 "Long List," according to the Shortlist Organization:

• TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
• Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
• Wrens - Meadowlands
• PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
• Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
• Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress
• Scarling - Sweet Heart Dealer
• Oceansize - Effloresce
• Keb' Mo' - Keep It Simple
• The Killers - Hot Fuss
• Bob Schneider - I'm Good Now
• Patty Griffin - Impossible Dream
• David Bowie - Reality
• Muse - Absolution
• Cesaria Evora - Voz D'Amor
• Eagles of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal
• Bebel Gilberto - Bebel Gilberto
• Buckethead - Bucketheadland 2
• Bad Acid Trip - Lynch the Weirdo
• Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Streetcore
• Blonde Redhead - Misery Is a Butterfly
• Phil Kline - Zippo Songs
• Blanche - If We Can't Trust the Doctors
• Ghostface Killah - The Pretty Toney Album
• Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
• Neil Young - Greendale
• Holly Golightly - Truly She Is None Other
• Macy Gray - The Trouble With Being Myself
• Cee-Lo - Cee-Lo Green Is the Soul Machine
• Rufus Wainwright - Want One
• Dizzee Rascal - Boy in Da Corner
• Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me
• Magnetic Fields - i
• Patti Smith - Trampin'
• Fiery Furnaces - Gallowsbird's Bark
• The Secret Machines - Now Here Is Nowhere
• Dead Prez - Revolutionary But Gangsta
• Slum Village - Detroit Deli: A Taste of Detroit
• Amel Larrieux - Bravebird
• Josh Ritter - Hello Starling
• Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing In the Hands
• Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell
• Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
• Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter - Oh, My Girl
• Jem - Finally Woken
• Juana Molina - Segundo
• The Sleepy Jackson - Lovers
• Café Tacuba - Cuatro Caminos
• Non Prophets - Hope
• A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder
• Teitur - Poetry & Aeroplanes
• Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething
• The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
• Air - Talkie Walkie
• Ty - Upwards
• Elbow - Cast of Thousands
• Galactic - Ruckus
• My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves
• Simple Kid - 1
• Julieta Venegas - Si
• Travis - 12 Memories
• Gary Jules - Trading Snake Oil for Wolftickets
• Van Hunt - Van Hunt
• Snow Patrol - Final Straw
• The Honorary Title - Anything Else But the Truth
• Dios - Dios
• Phoenix - Alphabetical
• The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
• Keane - Hopes and Fears
• Jaylib - Champion Sound
• Melt Banana - Cell-Scape
• Peaches - Fatherf---er
• The Coral - Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker

• Franz Ferdinand
• The Killers
• Wilco
• Ghostface Killah
• Dizzee Rascal

Paris Hilton (file)
Photo: John Shearer

For those who were worried sick about Tinkerbell, rest easy — she's been found and is safe. Paris Hilton's Chihuahua went missing last Wednesday, and after a week away from her owner — and with a $5,000 reward offered, according to posters displayed all over the West Hollywood area — the pet is being pampered once again. ...

Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, R.E.M. and the other bands performing at upcoming Vote for Change concerts in swing states will unite for one special final show in Miami in October. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, John Fogerty, Bright Eyes, Ben Harper, Jurassic 5, Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, My Morning Jacket and Death Cab for Cutie will also perform at the show. ... Besides great football realism, the other highlight of "Madden NFL Football 2005" is the soundtrack. In order to hear the exclusive remixes and pre-release album tracks, however, you had to get the game ... until now. The soundtrack, featuring cuts from Franz Ferdinand, Green Day, New Found Glory and Will.I.Am, is now available on Apple's iTunes music store for 99 cents per song. ...

Dennis "D-Roc" Miles, a guitarist in Ice-T's band Body Count, died Tuesday of mycosis fungoides, a cancer that attacks the lymph nodes and skin. Miles is the third original member of the band to pass away in recent years. ... Former teen pop star Tiffany married English businessman Ben George earlier this month. Tiffany, who has an 11-year-old son from her first marriage, has said the couple plans to have children soon. ...

Incubus will perform with Café Tacuba at the fifth annual Latin Grammy Awards on September 1 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Ozomatli have also been added as performers, while Christina Milian and Wilmer Valderrama are among the latest presenters announced. ... Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea and John Frusciante, Nelly Furtado, Siouxsie Sioux, Gina Gershon and David Blaine were among the celebrities who turned out for PJ Harvey's show Tuesday at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood. ...

AFI are releasing a 13-track retrospective to showcase music from their six releases on indie label Nitro Records. AFI, including rare tracks like those only available on vinyl ("Lower It") and import ("A Winter's Tale"), is due out November 2. ... To coincide with the compilation album Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2, which sold more than 25,000 copies in its first week, Anti-Flag, Strike Anywhere, Midtown and Tom Morello's alter ego the Nightwatchman will embark on a tour primarily consisting of swing states, beginning September 18 in Portland, Oregon. The three-week trek, which also makes stops in Washington state, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania, winds down October 9 in Pittsburgh. ... After drawing an estimated 110,000 fans to their farewell show at Boston's Hatch Shell, indie rockers Dispatch have inked a deal with Universal to distribute their back catalog. The label will also release a CD/DVD that chronicles the November performance. ...

Troubled Libertines singer/guitarist Pete Doherty pleaded guilty to weapons possession in a London court on Tuesday and could face jail time. Doherty, who's been in and out of rehab, was found with a switchblade knife on June 18. Sentencing is scheduled for September 1. Meanwhile, the Libertines played a showcase gig in New York on Tuesday and has another scheduled in Los Angeles on Thursday, in support of their self-titled second album, due August 30. ... Former MTV producer, Shortlist Music Prize co-founder and first-time filmmaker Greg Spotts is releasing a political documentary called "American Jobs," an investigation exploring the loss of American jobs, revealing parallels between plant closures and offshore outsourcing. "While our politicians argue about the relative strength of recovery [of the economy], thousands of Americans are losing their jobs to low-wage foreign competition, and these jobs are never coming back," Spotts said in a statement. The film will premiere at the Seattle Town Hall on September 13 and will also be screened at the Silverlake Film Festival in Los Angeles in late September. Clips can be seen at www.americanjobsfilm.com. ...

God Lives Underwater's 2000 album, Up Off the Floor, which was never released due to record-label entanglements, will finally hit shelves on September 28 through Locomotive Music/ Megaforce Records. "The driving impetus for the songs was quite personal," said singer David Reilly. Bandmate Jeff Turzo got married and, he says, "I tried to get clean. So Jeff and I started out with a very positive writing perspective. My being clean lasted about three months and as it deteriorated, the songs became about a struggle and not any kind of victory, and then eventually about a denial and a total loss. I am happy to see this record finally released." ... John Mellencamp is including two new songs on his upcoming career retrospective. The two-CD Words & Music: John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits will be more expansive than his previous best-of, The Best That I Could Do (1978-1988), issued seven years ago, and will include such digitally remastered hits as "Jack and Diane," "Hurts So Good," "Pink Houses," "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.," "Wild Night" and "Peaceful World," as well as liner notes written by Rolling Stone's Jann Wenner. ...

8.17.2004

The identity of a man who died at the final Phish concert over the weekend in Coventry, Vermont, has yet to be determined. The man, who appears to be in his early 20s, wandered into a fellow concertgoer's tent and died, according to The Associated Press. His body was found early on Monday morning, and an autopsy was scheduled to determine his identity. The man was carrying no identification. ...

Justin Timberlake — GQ's cover boy for its September issue — tells the magazine that he's not sure he's obligated to join 'NSYNC in the studio for another album and that he wants to go in a different direction. "I don't know, I don't know," he said when it was suggested that he's contractually bound to regroup with the boy band. "You're never contractually obligated to do anything. I think A Tribe Called Quest [have been] contractually obligated to do another album for like 10 years." Instead of being a b-boy, Timberlake hopes to go back to his roots. "Maybe a little Southern rock, you know? Try that on for size." ... Mase will promote his new album, Welcome Back, on August 24 by making an in-store appearance at New York's Virgin Megastore in Times Square. ...

Jennifer Lopez is returning to "Will & Grace" for the season premiere. She's reprising her role as, well, herself, from a story line that originated last May as the season concluded with the singer bumping into Karen (Megan Mullally) in Las Vegas and agreeing to sing at her wedding. Now, J. Lo returns in the episode "FYI: I Hurt, Too," airing September 16, after completing a fictional summer tour, along with her pal Jack (Sean Hayes), who accompanied her as a backup dancer. Though Lopez is trying to relax, Karen tries to get Jack to help her get the singer's attention for her newly written song, "I Hurt, Too." Jack will continue his backup-dancer career in the season's second episode, when Janet Jackson guest stars. ... A real-life backup dancer is trying to make the most of her experience as well. Former Michael Jackson dancer Tatiana Thumbtzen — who made headlines for kissing him onstage in 1988 — has written a tell-all book called "The Way He Made Me Feel" (a reference to the video in which she appears), and she's offering it for sale on her Web site. Her rep says the book is about "her life in Hollywood, her many years as a model, and her relationship with Jackson." ...

Blink-182's Mark Hoppus, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea and John Frusciante are among the acts scheduled to perform at the Ramones' 30th anniversary party September 12 at the Avalon Theatre in Hollywood. Henry Rollins, Rancid's Tim Armstrong, Pete Yorn, Rooney's Robert Carmine, Bad Religion's Brett Gurewitz, the Sex Pistols' Steve Jones, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' Dicky Barrett and Ramones producer Daniel Rey will also join Marky and Johnny Ramone at the place where the Ramones played their last show in 1996. The Dickies and "two very special unmentionable bands," according to RamonesWorld.com, will also perform, and former drummer Tommy Ramone will speak. ...

Make that two albums in 2004 for Royce Da 5'9". On the heels of his Death Is Certain LP, which arrived in stores earlier this year, the Detroit native has another LP scheduled for October 26. He's naming his latest M.I.C. ... For now it looks like Twista's remix LP is on hold, but the fastest MC in the universe is releasing a reissue of his album Kamikaze on October 19. The retooled version will feature two new tracks. ...

Fat Joe has set a release date of November 16 for his next solo LP, Things of That Nature. Joe has been in Miami finishing up work on the project. ... T.I. is still recording his Urban Legend album, but the fiery wordsmith has set a release date of December 7 for the opus to be in stores. ...

Fans seeking refunds for VIP-ticket packages to Christina Aguilera's canceled summer tour got a small win on Tuesday. A hearing had been scheduled in Worcester, Massachusetts, Tuesday regarding the assets of the company that provided the ticket packages, since FansRule had gone bankrupt. The judge denied a motion from the company's former trustee that his fees be made a priority over repayment of fan refunds. ... Starting this fall, there are even more ways to taste like Jessica Simpson. Following the launch of her Dessert Beauty line, the singer now has a new collection called Taste, which will be available at Sephora, QVC and Nordstrom stores as well as online at www.dessertbeauty.com. Taste has three products — Kissable Fragrance, Powdered Sugar Kissable Body Shimmer and Plumping Fragrance Lip Gloss. ...

A Christmas card made by Kurt Cobain when he was 6 years old sold at auction for $16,200 on Saturday. Another item, a drawing of former president Ronald Reagan made by Cobain when he was in high school, fetched $14,400 at the auction, held by Julien Entertainment Inc. in Monterey, California. Also auctioned off was an MTV Video Music Award, won by Nirvana at the 1992 VMAs. ... Franz Ferdinand, the Killers and Morrissey are among the bands scheduled to perform at KROQ's Inland Invasion concert, set for September 18 in Devore, California. Others on the bill include Death Cab for Cutie, Devo, X, Siouxsie, Tears for Fears and Billy Idol. Tickets go on sale Saturday. ...

The fourth installment of the Take Action! benefit album features contributions from NOFX, Taking Back Sunday, Coheed and Cambria and Shadows Fall, among others. Proceeds from the album, due October 5, will benefit the National Hopeline Network (www.hopeline.com), a suicide-prevention and crisis-hotline network. ... Mos Def, Lou Reed, Robin Williams, Paul Simon, Sean Penn, Patti Smith, and Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal have signed on to deliver musical and spoken-word performances to celebrate the American Civil Liberties Union at its Freedom Concert on October 4 at New York's Avery Fisher Hall. Additional performers will be announced in coming weeks. Tickets go on sale August 28. ...

Barenaked Ladies will release the holiday album Barenaked for the Holidays on October 5. Tracks include both Christmas tunes like "Do They Know It's Christmas" and "Jingle Bells" as well as Hanukkah songs, including "I Have a Little Dreidel," "Hanukkah Blessings" and "Hanukkah O Hanukkah." ...

• Christina Milian
• Green Day
• Incubus
• PJ Harvey
• Pearl Jam

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and his wife, Skylar, are getting divorced, the band said on its Web site. The couple have been separated since March and have quietly been undergoing divorce proceedings. They will share custody of their two children. ...

Every Time I Die singer Keith Buckley was arrested at Sunday's Ozzfest stop in Bristow, Virginia, for drinking in an area that was off-limits. He was released 30 minutes after police led him off in handcuffs. Fans at that show wondering why the crowd broke into the "Ole" soccer chant during Black Sabbath's set should know that it was the work of the SOC, or "Shirts Off Crew." A revolving lineup composed of members of second-stage acts including Slipknot, Atreyu, Bleeding Through and Lamb of God, the SOC can be seen running backstage and through the crowd urging concertgoers to go shirtless. ... On this day in 1969, Neil Armstrong took "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" and his colleague Buzz Aldrin spoke the first words from the moon from inside the lunar module: "Tranquility base. The Eagle has landed." Fifteen years later, Aldrin landed on the podium at the first MTV Video Music Awards, immortalized as the MTV Moonman, the award handed out to the lucky winners. ...

Roc-A-Fella Records continues to beef up its roster. The newest member of Dame Dash's team is N.O.R.E., who just inked his deal. ... Franz Ferdinand, the Streets, Joss Stone and the Basement Jaxx are among the artists shortlisted for this year's U.K. Mercury Music Prize, which honors the best album of the year from the genres of pop, rock, jazz and classical music. The Streets was also nominated in 2002. Last year, Dizzee Rascal took home the pop award. An independent panel of judges selects the albums on the shortlist and then meets on the night of the Nationwide Mercury Prize Awards on September 7 to choose the winner. ...

After cracking down on students for illegally downloading music, several universities across the country are taking a different approach: making legal downloading more accessible. On Monday, Napster announced that it has signed agreements with six more universities, including Cornell, George Washington, and Miami to offer students access to its download program, according to Reuters. Penn State University and Rochester University were the first schools to offer this service to students. ... One school is taking music downloading to the next level, however, handing out iPods to all new students. Beginning this fall, Duke University will give each incoming freshman a brand new iPod, paid for by the university. The iPods will be loaded with school calendars and other information, and the school hopes students will use them to download class materials. ...

Tony Hawk is catching some air ... airwaves, that is. The pro-skateboarding legend is the first host on Sirius Faction, a new channel on Sirius satellite radio for extreme-sports enthusiasts. Broadcast from a custom-designed studio at Hawk's new practice facility in California, the show features interviews, music and commentary without any commercials. ... Duran Duran continue working on their new album, due out in October, and have most recently teamed up with producer Dallas Austin (Pink, Janet Jackson). "This is an incredible experience, you can't pay for the history," Austin said in a statement. "I am a word-for-word, lyric-for-lyric fan. They are all super musicians! And we're all Astronauts!" ("Astronaut" is the title of one of the tracks the band is working on with Austin). The album also features songs the '80s heartthrobs worked on with producer Don Gilmore (Good Charlotte, Linkin Park). "Duran Duran really like to experiment," Gilmore said in a statement. "They don't like to do things the conventional way." One of Gilmore's tracks with the band is called "Still Breathing." ...

The charges against two members of Ozomatli and their manager have been dropped in an agreement with Austin, Texas, prosecutors. The charges stemmed from the arrests of the three individuals during the South by Southwest music festival earlier this year. On March 18, percussionist Jiro Yamaguchi, manager Amy Sue-Blackman Romero, and bassist Wil-Dog Abers were charged with assault on a public servant, interference with the duties of a public servant, and failure to obey a lawful order, respectively, for violating a city ordinance by performing in the street. ... The Don't Knock the Rock Film and Music Festival kicks off in Hollywood August 12 and features a performance by PJ Harvey and the West Coast premieres of the documentaries "Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel" and "Edgeplay," a film about the Runaways, the influential 1970s girl group that counted Joan Jett and Lita Ford as members. ...

Ex-Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has just returned from a monthlong vacation and is currently back in the studio. In a post on his Web site www.billycorgan.com, the rocker says he's about two months away from completing his solo album, which he is co-producing with Bon Harris. ... If Pierce Brosnan hangs up his James Bond hat, who could be next? Internet bookmakers at Intertops.com are betting on Robbie Williams, who is their favorite to be the next Bond, at 7-2 odds. Odds are also placed for Tom Cruise (80-1), George Clooney (50-1), Ben Affleck (250-1) and David Beckham (100-1). ... The farewell voyage of influential indie rock band Guided by Voices will begin in New York on August 19 and run through New Year's Eve in Chicago. The band's final album, Half Smiles of the Decomposed, will be released August 24. ... Machine Head and Chimaira will co-headline the Road Rage Tour, which also features 3 Inches of Blood and Trivium. The trek kicks off August 3 in Cleveland and dates are scheduled through August 29 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ...

7.19.04

The Britney Spears Foundation Room at the Onyx Hotel (the real Onyx Hotel in Boston) is now open to the public. It was designed by the singer's mother to resemble her daughter's bedroom back home in Kentwood, Louisiana. Two 14-year-old girls from the Boston area won a radio contest and were the first to stay in the room on Tuesday. The room goes for $259 a night with 10 percent of the proceeds donated to the singer's charity. ...

Futures, Jimmy Eat World's follow-up to 2001's breakthrough Bleed American, is due October 19. The band will debut some of the material August 27 at San Diego's Street Scene festival and September 3 at Milwaukee's Summerfest. ... John Mayer is going to raise the roof — literally. The singer/songwriter is teaming up with Habitat for Humanity to build a house on Sunday in San Antonio, Texas, and four fans will get the chance to join him as well as see a concert of his that evening. The home is being built for Angelia Brown, a working mother and cook at a hospital in San Antonio. The contest will run on various radio stations in the Southwest. ...

The soundtrack to the Josh Hartnett film "Wicker Park" will have a decidedly indie bent. Due August 24, the disc will feature tracks by Death Cab for Cutie, the Shins, the Stills, Broken Social Scene, Snow Patrol and Mogwai. The soundtrack will also feature previously unreleased songs highlighted by the Postal Service's cover of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds" and a Johnette Napolitano (Concrete Blonde) and Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails) rendition of Coldplay's "The Scientist." ... Artists in search of potentially unpaid royalties now have more flexibility to audit record companies thanks to a law California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Friday. The law allows artists to conduct annual audits of record companies doing business in California. ...

The Foo Fighters plan to release a double-CD set to follow up 2002's One by One. Frontman Dave Grohl hopes to write one disc of lightweight material and the other of stomping, crashing heavy rock. The band is currently building a studio in Los Angeles to record the album. Their last few discs were created in a studio in Grohl's basement in Virginia. ... PJ Harvey, Nick Cave and Damon Albarn from Blur have written songs for Marianne Faithfull's new album, Before the Poison, due September 27. The disc is the follow-up to 2002's Kissin' Time, which featured collaborations with Beck, Billy Corgan and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp. ...

Saturday's Axis of Justice benefit in Hollywood ended with the "house band" — Serj Tankian and Maynard James Keenan on vocals, Pete Yorn on guitar and vocals, Tom Morello on guitar, Flea on bass and Brad Wilk on drums — covering U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." Each of the musicians played solo earlier in the show, which also featured Jurassic 5. ... Having been described as conceptual, ethereal and emotional, A Perfect Circle may soon add "political" to that list. According to statements made by frontman Keenan at the Axis of Justice concert, he's planning on a civic-minded release for November, the same month an APC remix album is due. Although that album is still coming together, it's expected to include a remix of "The Hollow," a tune off the band's 2000 debut, by former bassist Paz Lenchantin, who is also contributing violin and piano parts to the band's next album. ...

The X-ecutioners and Biz Markie will perform at a Rock the Vote-sponsored kickoff party at the Democratic National Convention in Boston next week. Jon Stewart, Natalie Portman and the Clintons will attend the July 25 show, which will be followed on later nights by Black Eyed Peas (July 27) and Maroon 5 (July 29) concerts. ... Godsmack frontman Sully Erna has pulled out of his deal with the co-owners of Dorsia, the New York nightclub he went in on in 2003. Erna plans to sue his former business partners for improper management, sources close to the band said. ...

The death of Doors singer Jim Morrison, of an apparent overdose in 1971, has been as shrouded in mystery as the demise of Elvis Presley. A new book titled "Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend" by Stephen Davis, author of the classic Led Zeppelin biography "Hammer of the Gods," raises the possibility that Morrison's girlfriend Pamela Courson may have had a part in the singer's death. ... Forget about your regular Friday night poker game, the first Vegas Rock Star Poker Tournament and Sweepstakes is giving fans a chance to put on their best poker face and throw down against rockers Dave Navarro, Tommy Lee and Johnny Rzeznik. The weekend tournament kicks off August 26 at the Palms Casino Resort. Contest entries and more information is available at vegasrockstarpoker.com. ...

• Metallica
• Every Time I Die
• N.O.R.E.
• Franz Ferdinand
• PJ Harvey

Perry Farrell (file)
Photo: Amy V. Cooper

Even though the rug was ripped out from under Lollapalooza this week, former Jane's Addiction frontman Perry Farrell is optimistic that the eclectic music festival he co-founded in 1991 will resurface — and it might be sooner than you think.

"There are a few paths we are considering," Farrell said Wednesday. "I am getting letters back from many musicians, letting me know that if there is a possibility of becoming active, they will come on board again. Our position is thrilling. We can only be saved by the creative ideas we come up with. We feel like a team gathered around their coach, who is coming up with a play for the final seconds of a game."

The decision to scrap this year's tour was made Monday night, when organizers and promoters realized they faced huge financial losses based on poor ticket sales (see "Lollapalooza Canceled; Organizers Cite Poor Ticket Sales"). But by pulling the plug three weeks before the tour was set to begin, Lollapalooza wasn't given much of a chance for ticket sales to improve, as they usually do in the days leading up to a show.

Traditionally, 60 percent of the tickets sold for a stop on the Vans Warped Tour, for example, occur six days prior to the show. Those responsible for Lollapalooza's cancellation, however, didn't have faith that the tour would follow that pattern, or even the one Lolla set last year.

"Last year, walk-ups very much improved our final counts, and this year, we felt walk-ups were even more important. One reason is that with the economy in such a poor state, people don't cast their money that far into the future. Rather, they spend their money much closer to showtime," Farrell said.

"Last year, we sold out many of our shows and played to 20-25,000 people at times. This year, we never got a chance to launch our marketing or the bulk of our press campaign. Our campaign was beautiful and strong. We had aligned with MoveOn.org. We were set to reach out to millions of young voters. We were cut off."

When the lineup for this year's trek was announced, it was met with criticism that not many music fans, especially those in the middle of the country, would appreciate Morrissey, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey and the String Cheese Incident, let alone smaller acts like Broken Social Scene, Sound Tribe Sector 9 and the Dresden Dolls. It was never Farrell's intention to appeal to the lowest common denominator, though.

"I must state that my ambition was never to rip the dollar from the hands of 'pop culture,' " he said. "I'm an enthusiast. I cheer what I consider to be excellent. Mine is to present the alternatives of life that I experience and enjoy. I give people credit for being smart and, at the very least, curious."

The headliners, most of whom were using Lollapalooza to promote recent albums, were left scrambling to set something up in the wake of the tour's demise.

Morrissey, who is currently in London for the two-day Meltdown Festival, may try to fill his summer with sporadic dates in the States, though a full-scale U.S. tour is expected this fall. The same goes for PJ Harvey, though she has a few European festivals to pepper her summer months with. Sonic Youth, who already had several dates scheduled in between their Lollapalooza gigs, will try to add more to their itinerary.

Modest Mouse, who were on tour in Europe when the Lollapalooza announcement was made, are already in the process of lining up a headlining trek, set to begin July 16 in Chico, California. The Flaming Lips plan to go back to Oklahoma to continue work on their long-awaited movie, "Christmas on Mars" (see "Flaming Lips Spew About New Album, Martian Christmas Movie").

As for Farrell, if Lollapalooza remains dormant this year, he plans to go to parties, write a few songs and start thinking about next year's tour.

"Please send the bands you would like to see to Lollapalooza.com," he said.

• Perry Farrell
• Morrissey
• Sonic Youth
• PJ Harvey
• The String Cheese Incident

Perry Farrell (file)
Photo: Wire Image

Three weeks prior to kickoff, Lollapalooza has been canceled.

Organizers cited poor ticket sales as the reason the 31-date, 16-city trek was called off. This year's lineup was set to include Morrissey, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, the Flaming Lips and the String Cheese Incident (see "Lollapalooza Adds Danger Mouse, Von Bondies; Dates Unveiled").

"The sadness upon hearing about the dismantlement of our tour has quickly turned to anger," read a statement from Lollapalooza co-founder Perry Farrell. "To watch something that you put so many hours of love and time into set ablaze sets my pride on fire. But, like the Phoenix, we still intend to rise. Our campaign will continue for the musicians, the artists, and all those attempting to change the world. Our voices will be heard."

The decision to scrap Lollapalooza was made Monday evening (June 21), when organizers and promoters realized they stood to lose several million dollars. In all markets except New York, advance ticket sales were below estimates.

"On the average, the losses, had ticket sales not dramatically picked up — which they showed no indication of doing — the people involved faced losses in the mid-to-high six figures on a per-show basis," said the William Morris Agency's Marc Geiger, another Lollapalooza co-founder.

Fans who purchased tickets will be given refunds.

Geiger said Lollapalooza's plight is indicative of a summer touring season on the slide.

"Lollapalooza is not alone in this," he said. "Everyone from the Dead to Dave Matthews to Norah Jones is suffering. There's not one explanation for this. It might be that ticket prices are too high, which doesn't account for Lollapalooza, because our tickets were priced between $15 and $25. Maybe it's the sundry add-ons [like service charges] that up the cost? Maybe gas prices are too high? Just like the record industry is suffering, the concert business is not exempt.

"After people get through this summer season," he added, "there's going to be a lot of fixing that needs to be done in the concert industry."

Early on in its 13-year history, Lollapalooza built a reputation for eclectic lineups, but as the years wore on it became more well known for having trouble getting off the ground (see "Perry Hits Lollapasnooza Button: Tour Sleeps Another Year"). After 1997's outing with Korn, Tool and Snoop Dogg, the tour had lain dormant until last year, when it returned with a lineup that featured Jane's Addiction, Queens of the Stone Age and Audioslave (see "Jane's Addiction Headline But Audioslave Steal Show At Lollapalooza Launch").

• Perry Farrell
• Morrissey
• Sonic Youth
• PJ Harvey
• The Flaming Lips

PJ Harvey live at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC 10.07.2004

• PJ Harvey

PJ Harvey Photos

• PJ Harvey