Vincent "Don Vito" Margera (file)
Photo: Peter Kramer/ Getty Images

Vincent "Don Vito" Margera's fate on two counts of sexual assault is in the hands of the jury. Tuesday saw the presentation of closing arguments, during which Pamela Mackey, an attorney for Margera -- Bam's uncle -- argued that he had been in his "goofy, outrageous and vulgar" persona during his August 2006 Colorado mall autograph signing, during which he is accused of having groped three young girls. ...

Tony Yayo will stand trial beginning January 10 in connection with the case in which he is alleged to have roughed up the 14-year-old son of Game manager Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond in March. According to Yayo's lawyer, Scott Leemon, the judge combined the cases of Yayo (born Marvin Bernard) and a man known as an "honorary" member of the G-Unit, Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher, who was also allegedly involved in the assualt, but whose relationship to Yayo Leemon declined to discuss. ...

Big brother and little brother teamed up Monday night: Jay-Z made a surprise guest appearance at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston during Kanye West's set at the JAMN 94.5 Monster Jam Concert. Kanye also brought T-Pain — who played his own set earlier in the night — for "Good Life." Lil Wayne, Fabolous, J. Holiday, MIMS and Akon also performed at the concert. ...

Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz broke his foot during the band's performance Sunday night at the Voodoo Music Experience festival in New Orleans. Wentz uploaded a gory close-up photo of his severely bruised and swollen foot to his profile page on FriendsorEnemies.com. "For anyone who was at the Voodoo Fest in New Orleans, you got to see me jump around," he wrote. "Ended up breaking the bone that connects my shin to my foot; no shows will be cancelled. I am currently trying to get a 'rocker' boot so I can have a walking cast. Currently, my foot is the size of a small car. If you see me at a show, come sign my cast." ...

Don't expect to see Britney Spears gracing the cover of Maxim anytime soon — the magazine has ranked her #5 on its list of the Five Unsexiest Women Alive. One slot ahead of her is Madonna, who Spears seems to be emulating these days, and they're followed by Sandra Oh, Amy Winehouse and the list-topper, Sarah Jessica Parker. ... Some people might not find Madge too sexy these days, but according to a new tome, "Madonna: Like an Icon," Tupac Shakur was more than just hot for her in the past — they actually dated. The book's author, Lucy O'Brien, claims the Material Girl dated 'Pac for one year in her mid-30s before the rapper's untimely death. O'Brien quotes a friend close to the singer, saying ultimately, the rapper's friends quashed the fling. "She was going out with him," one of Madge's friends said. "But homegirls were saying to [2Pac], 'I can't believe you're going out with a white girl.' " Madonna was then subsequently dumped, according to the book. ...

Linkin Park's outreach project, Music for Relief, has set its sights on a new challenge: helping Southern California recover from the devastating wildfires. The band has contributed $50,000 to Direct Relief International — a Santa Barbara nonprofit that has been providing medical supplies to victims — and the donation was matched by SanDisk Corporation, a flash-data-storage-card company. "The wildfires are an unfathomable tragedy," LP bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell said in a statement. "Being able to help victims of a natural disaster like the wildfires is exactly why Music for Relief was founded." The band is also encouraging its fans to make their own contributions through the Music for Relief Web site. ...

Common's still riding strong with his latest album, the recently released Finding Forever, but while he's looking forward, his former label is looking backward with a new compilation of early cuts. ThisIsMe Then: The Best of Common, being issued by Relativity/ Sony Legacy, compiles 15 songs from 1992-'97 — but the enhanced disc has four video extras too: for "Take It EZ," "I Used to Love H.E.R.," "Retrospect for Life" (featuring Lauryn Hill) and "Invocation." It's set to street November 27. ... The Roc is in the building: Freeway hosted a listening session at S.O.B.'s in New York Monday night for his sophomore set, Free at Last, due November 20. The Philadelphia rapper previewed collaborations with 50 Cent, Rick Ross and Jadakiss, before Beanie Sigel hit the stage with him to perform their Just Blaze-produced classic, "Roc the Mic." ...

Reggae singer Beenie Man was released from a Kingston, Jamaica, jail on $21,000 bail on Monday after appearing in court on tax-evasion charges, according to The Associated Press. Authorities say the singer (born Anthony Moses Davis) owes about $661,000 in overdue taxes in Jamaica. He's due back in court December 3. ... The estate of late rapper Notorious B.I.G. filed a federal court motion on Monday claiming that prison inmate Waymond Anderson, who once implicated a former police officer in the killing of the rapper, was lying when he recently recanted his testimony. AP reports that the motion seeks access to phone and prison visitation records for Anderson, who is serving a life sentence for murder in a separate case. In an August 20 deposition Anderson said he lied about the alleged police involvement as part of a scam involving the slain rapper's family members and attorneys to win a monetary settlement from the city. The estate argued in its filing that the records will discredit Anderson's story and reveal who was behind his "wholesale assault on the truth." ...

A 20th-anniversary edition of the A Very Special Christmas album — featuring performances by No Doubt, Wyclef Jean, Sting, Run-D.M.C., Jon Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and U2 — will be released November 20. The package benefiting the Special Olympics will also feature the first-ever DVD collection of videos in the series' history, including performances from the 1998 and 2000 Christmas at the White House specials. ... Two anti-poverty groups co-founded by Bono, the ONE Campaign and Debt AIDS Trade Africa, will merge their operations in the U.S. to create a single organization that will be known as ONE. Reuters reports that the organization will continue to focus on poverty-relief efforts in Africa and the U.S., according to a statement from Bono, in which he said, "ONE and DATA are two organizations with the same outrage: Extreme, stupid poverty in the 21st century makes no sense when the resources and technology exist to do something about it. ... What makes sense is to harness these two forces into a single organization and redouble our efforts. One goal. One team." And in yet more U2 news, National Geographic Cinema Ventures will release a new film, "U2 3D," in late January. The movie will play in 3-D only, in select theaters worldwide. Filmed in South America during a series of U2 concerts on their Vertigo Tour, the film is the first live-action movie ever shot, produced and exhibited in digital 3-D, and strove to capture the intimacy between the band and its audience. ...

Slayer and Halloween are a match made in hell, and this year the metal titans have partnered with MySpace to spook fans into buying their new concert DVD, "The Unholy Alliance - Chapter II: Preaching to the Perverted," which also features performances by Lamb of God, Mastodon and more. One of the clips from the DVD, Slayer's performance of their Grammy-winning song "Eyes of the Insane," will stream all day on MySpace TV on Wednesday. ... SoLow.com, which rewards visitors for making the lowest unique bid for prizes it offers, is giving one lucky fan a chance to spend Thanksgiving with the Osbournes. The winner will also get tickets to Ozzy Osbourne's concert in San Diego, as well as a few hundred bucks in cash and a hotel room in Los Angeles. ... Tom Cruise, meet the Sex Pistols. The actor and the notorious punk-rock legends are both slated to appear — and perform, in the case of the Pistols — on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Tuesday night (October 30). Republican presidential hopeful Representative Ron Paul rounds out the odd lineup. ... Forbes has released its list of the top-earning dead celebrities, and Nirvana's Kurt Cobain no longer sits at #1 — that spot now belongs once again to Elvis Presley — the King's estate generated $49 million in the past year, while Cobain's name doesn't even make the list. At #2 is John Lennon, whose drew $44 million in 2007, while fellow Beatle George Harrison takes #4 with $22 million. Other musicians on the list include Tupac Shakur at #8 with $9 million and James Brown at #11 with $5 million. Bob Marley is at #12, having made $4 million this year. ...

In the end, nobody at the University of Florida got zapped. Andrew Meyer, of "Don't tase me, bro" fame, will not face any criminal charges for disrupting an appearance by Senator John Kerry at the university, according to AP. And the two police officers suspended while state officials investigated the incident — which became an instant viral phenomenon that spawned remixes, T-shirts and a short-lived cultural catchphrase — have been reinstated after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement concluded that they acted properly when they tased the 21-year-old. ... If it's good enough for Radiohead, it's good enough for Paste. For the next two weeks, the music magazine will be offering one-year subscriptions to readers for whatever price they decide to pay. There's a minimum payment of $1, but anyone who ponies up more than the $19.95 the magazine typically charges for a year will be thanked in print in a future issue. ...

It's a long way from "Gangsta's Paradise" to "Oh!" but Coolio is willing to make the trip. The rapper has signed on to appear in a reality show called "Coolio & the Gang" for the women's cable network Oxygen that will begin airing in the second quarter of 2008, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The program will follow the Grammy-winning MC as he raises six teens by himself while trying to maintain his rap career and launch a clothing line in what is described as a real-life version of "My Three Sons." ... The Who are about to launch a subscription service for serious fans, who will get access to a huge library of video and audio content for $50 a month. According to a post on the band's Web site, beginning Monday, superfans will get a free, exclusive double-CD (View From a Backstage Pass) of live performances from 1969-'76 that will not be available in stores, a personalized Who e-mail address, discounts in the Who store, exclusive full-length videos, and streaming and paid download access to every Who song ever recorded.

Pierce Brosnan is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for alleged battery stemming from an incident that happened at a mall in Malibu, California, on Friday, TMZ reports. Robert Rosen, a photographer, claims that after he complimented Brosnan on his James Bond films, the actor began cursing and hit Rosen in the ribs. In response, Rosen kicked the actor, he claims.

Entertainment legend Robert Goulet died Tuesday morning in a Los Angeles hospital, AP reports. Goulet, who was 73, had been awaiting a lung transplant after discovering last month that he had acquired a rare form of pulmonary fibrosis. The self-deprecating Goulet was a Broadway star, Grammy Award-winning singer, TV show host and actor, appearing toward the end of his career in films like "The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear," "Beetlejuice" and "Toy Story 2" (he voiced Wheezy the Penguin).

10.29.07

Gwen Stefani, a Southern California native, is reaching out to victims of the wildfires by donating proceeds of her Tuesday concert at San Diego's Cox Arena to local charity the San Diego Foundation, which is helping the community recover from the ongoing disaster. Stefani announced the effort on San Diego radio station 93.3 KHTS on Monday morning (October 29). "San Diego has always been so supportive of me throughout my entire career ... living in Orange County, it has always been like a second home to me," she said on air, according to a press release from her label. "When I heard about the devastation of the fires at first I felt I should cancel my show out of respect, but then it occurred to me there might be a more useful solution." San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders thanked her, according to the press release, saying the Foundation will use the funds to support its After-the-Fires Fund 2007 effort. ...

Kanye West is bringing his ego to the bookshelf. Following in the steps of his mother, Donda — who released her own book about the artist, "Raising Kanye," earlier this year — 'Ye has put his swagger to paper for "Thank You and You're Welcome," which he co-authored with J. Sakiya Sandifer. According to 'Ye's Web site, the book is a collection of "Kanye-isms" — "the creative, humorous and insightful philosophies and anecdotes used in creating my path to success," he said in a post. "It captures the same wit, playful irony, and piercing insight found abundant in my lyrics." It can be preordered on EchoTunes.com. ...

It seems OiNK's demise has given way to a new torrent site, according to Torrent Freak. Called "BOiNK," the site will be hosted by the Pirate Bay and will launch sometime this week. ... Fall Out Boy's Infinity on High will be expanded with five bonus tracks, three of which are live cuts. The embellished set is due November 20. In other re-release news, the Smashing Pumpkins' latest, Zeitgeist, will be re-released and packaged with a full-length DVD documentary, titled "Inside the Zeitgeist." Due in stores Tuesday, the set will also include three bonus cuts: "Ma Belle," "Stellar" and "Death from Above." ...

Since she was 13 years old, Jordin Sparks has been wearing a sexual-abstinence promise ring that her parents gave her — and the "American Idol" winner says she doesn't plan to take it off anytime soon. "I wasn't ever forced into [wearing the ring]," she told UsMagazine.com. "It's all about making the right choice and not putting yourself in that situation." Sparks, who admitted, "Temptation is always there," said her dream guy will have to have "nice teeth. They could be athletic and sing ... and play an instrument." ... Paris Hilton's planned trip to Rwanda caught a snag when Playing for Good, the foundation coordinating the trek, postponed it last week. But the heiress recently insisted to "Extra" that the trip will happen next year. "I feel like there's a lot I can do, and a lot I can do to help," she added. "I know [Rwanda] went through a lot of traumatic experiences, and I feel like if I go there, I can help save some people's lives." ... Lindsay Lohan's planned New Year's Eve party has just gotten a whole lot quieter. While UsMagazine.com reported last week that the starlet would be hosting this year's bash at red-hot Las Vegas club LAX, the news source now says she's backed out. A representative reportedly told UsMagazine.com that she will no longer be hosting the event, as the actress continues to focus on her work and sobriety. ...

Ozzy Osbourne is auctioning off the quad bike that nearly killed him. The 350cc Banshee still has a dented front bar and split rear guard from the 2003 accident, and is expected to fetch $3,000 in an upcoming sale of memorabilia by the star and his wife/manager Sharon. Bidding begins November 30 in Beverly Hills, California, with some of the proceeds earmarked for Sharon's colon cancer charity. ... Metallica played two acoustic performances over the weekend as part of the 21st annual Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. The band's set included a number of covers, including Rare Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate," Garbage's "Only Happy When It Rains," Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms" and Bob Seger's "Turn the Page." John Mayer, Regina Spektor, Neil Young and others also performed at the event. ...

Sum 41 have been forced to cancel the remaining dates on their Canadian trek, as frontman Deryck Whibley is having back problems. Whibley is suffering from a herniated disc and has been ordered by doctors to avoid performing for the next six weeks, according to Pollstar.com. He is recovering at the Los Angeles home he shares with wife Avril Lavigne. ... Taking Back Sunday's Mark O'Connell recently underwent back surgery to remove a broken disc. "A disc broke off my spine, and they had to remove part of it," he wrote in a statement. "Everything turned out really great, just recovering right now and it's hurting a little. They said if I take care of myself really well, I'll be just fine." ...

Natalie Portman can't shake her "Garden State" music jones. The actress is putting together a charity mix tape for iTunes called Big Change: Songs for FINCA, which will benefit the organization that works to alleviate poverty in developing countries, according to Entertainment Weekly. The $7.99 album, due Tuesday, will feature exclusive songs and mixes from Norah Jones, M. Ward, Devendra Banhart, the Shins and Beirut. ...

Country Music Hall of Fame singer/songwriter Porter Wagoner died Sunday from lung cancer at age 80, according to a Reuters report. The Grammy-winning singer, known for his flashy rhinestone suits and blond pompadour hair, had been a member of the Grand Old Opry since 1957 and scored such hits as "Last Thing on My Mind" and "Green Green Grass of Home." He was also known for championing Dolly Parton in the early days of her career by singing a series of duets with the fellow country legend.

• Tony Yayo
• Jay-Z
• Kanye West
• Fall Out Boy
• Britney Spears

Bruce Springsteen's <i>Magic</i>
Photo: Sony

They don't call Bruce Springsteen "the Boss" for nothing.

With Magic, Springsteen's 15th studio album and his first with the E Street Band since 2002's The Rising, the pride of the Garden State freewheeled his way to Billboard's peak, easily notching the eighth #1 opener of his 34-year career.

The Boss faced virtually no competition in his quest for #1, selling more than 335,000 copies of his latest during the record's first week in stores, according to the latest SoundScan totals. The closest threat to the Boss' chart domination, the parents of last week's #1 LP, country trio Rascal Flatts, finished at #2 on next week's albums sales chart, having generated sales of 167,900 (on the nose) for Still Feels Good. Following the Flatts at #3 is another new entry, Matchbox Twenty's retrospective offering, Exile on Mainstream, which sold nearly 130,900 units.

He's got the #1 single in the nation, but 16-year-old rapper Soulja Boy's debut album, Souljaboytellem.com, will have to settle for #4 on next week's top 200, thanks to sales of more than 117,000. That was one of 28 new releases to debut on the chart, and one of five to enter in the top five. R&B artist J. Holiday's Back of My Lac' was another, opening at #5 with 105,000 scans. Annie Lennox's Songs of Mass Destruction is also new to this most recent chart, coming in at #9 with 78,300 copies sold.

Dropping four places to #6 this week is Keyshia Cole's Just Like You, which scanned another 93,900 copies, cutting just in front of Kanye West's Graduation, which slides two spots to #7 with 92,400 sold. Reba McEntire's Reba: Duets takes the #8 slot, with sales reported at 79,600. Rounding out the top 10, with 76,600 copies sold for the week, is the soundtrack to ""High School Musical 2." Surprisingly, 50 Cent's Curtis has been bumped from the top 10 after just three weeks: The album sits in the #17 position, with sales of just under 50,600.

Elsewhere on the chart, R&B artist Trey Songz' latest, Trey Day, just missed the top 10, debuting at #11 with 72,800 scans. Faith Hills' Hits bows at #12, selling 69,300 copies, while Brooks & Dunn's Cowboy Town claims the #13 spot, with 68,900 sold. Rocker John Fogerty's Revival follows at #14, with 64,900 scans, while Dashboard Confessional's The Shade of Poison Trees debuts at #18, with sales of close to 47,600. Alternative country band Cross Canadian Ragweed's Mission California opens at #30, selling 22,600 units.

Rappers Boyz N Da Hood return to the chart with their latest, Back Up N Da Chevy, which bows at #51 with 15,700 sold, while Los Temerarios' Recuerdos Del Alma follows at #59, selling 14,000 units. Wow Hits 2008, a compilation featuring the likes of Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Casting Crowns and more, debuts at #60, scanning 13,800 copies, while P.J. Harvey's White Chalk enters at #65, with 13,300 sold. Cult's latest, Born Into This, trails at #70, with 12,600 copies leaving the nation's record retailers, while The Very Best of Mick Jagger opens at #77, with sales of 11,900. Emery's I'm Only a Man follows Mick at #78, with 11,600 scans, and Nightwish's Dark Passion Play opens at #84, with 10,800 sold.

The soundtrack to "Why Did I Get Married?," featuring contributions from Keith Sweat, Babyface, Musiq and Beyoncé, sold nearly 10,600 units, landing the set at #86. The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition enters the chart at #100, thanks to 7,800-plus scans, and popping up at #143 with 5,500 sold, is Spill Canvas' No Really, I'm Fine. Foxx's Street Gossip follows at #144 with 5,400 copies grabbed up, while Los Creadorez del Pasito Duranguense's Las Favoritas de ... Corridos, Rancheras y Más debuts at #156, selling 5,100 copies.

Reggaetòn specialist Tito El Bambino's It's My Time enters the chart at #167, with more than 4,800 scans, while Gloria Trevi's Una Rosa Blu opens at #169, with just under 4,800 copies sold. Lastly, with 4,000 scans, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings' 100 Days 100 Nights just makes the top 200 cut, coming in at #194.

• Bruce Springsteen
• Matchbox Twenty
• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• J. Holiday
• Annie Lennox

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

R. Kelly, Ne-Yo, More Perform For 'Double Up' Tour In Atlanta

• R. Kelly
• Ne-Yo
• J. Holiday