Christina Aguilera
Photo: RCA Records

Veterans Day won't be celebrated for many more months — it falls on November 11, to be precise — but with new releases from Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, k.d. lang and others dropping, it may as well be Tuesday (February 5). While those releases will likely rank high on next week's SoundScan chart, though, there are a few more-MTV-friendly artists we need to talk about first ...

Back To Back To Basics: Christina Aguilera has been milking her last studio album, big time, in the year and a half since it came out. Originally released in August 2006, Back to Basics was chased by a massive world trek; a "tour edition" re-release of the set, with a bonus DVD, that November; and now an exclusive Best Buy package containing two DVDs. The first disc has 90 minutes' worth of footage from two gigs she played at Sydney's Acer Arena in July 2007, while the second is loaded with behind-the-scenes peeks; interviews with the singer, husband Jordan Bratman, her dancers, her musical director and others; and more. SoCal fans should head to the Best Buy in West Hollywood, where Aguilera will autograph the release, marking her first public appearance since she gave birth in January.

Jack Attack: Now this is what you call going green — Jack Johnson recorded his entire new studio album in Hawaii and Los Angeles using analog tape machines powered by solar energy. The singer/songwriter, who will play his first U.S. show in support of Sleep Through the Static in Hawaii on Earth Day, April 22, said in a statement, "Some of the songs on this album are about making babies. Some of the songs are about raising them. Some of the songs are about the world that these children will grow up in; a world of war and love, and hate, and time and space. Some of the songs are about saying goodbye to people I love and will miss." Fans who preordered the album — which is a bit more electric than Johnson's previous releases — through iTunes were gifted with a bonus track, "Goodbye."

Hot Stuff: The last time we heard from Hot Chip — in 2006, when they put out The Warning — they walked away with a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Now the electro-pop collective is hoping for repeat success with Made in the Dark, which was recorded and self-produced at its London studio over the last half-year. The new songs are more rockin' than previous Hot Chip material, and fans who have caught their recent gigs are already familiar with some of them. If you're really into the band, keep an eye out for the two-disc version of Made in the Dark — it has five live-performance videos, including a pair from the Glastonbury Festival. As for the proper CD, tracks include "Bendable Poseable"; "Touch Too Much"; and "Shake a Fist," which samples a Todd Rundgren tune, if you can believe it.

Vetted: Big surprise — albums haven't been selling well in 2008 so far, with last week's Billboard albums chart champ, the "Juno" soundtrack, winding up in the throne with just under 65,000 copies sold. Well, this week will likely bring a hot sales injection into the charts, thanks to the return of some big-name veteran singer/songwriters:

Sheryl Crow
· Grammys won: 10
· Studio LPs released: six
· New album title: Detours
· Takeaway quote: "This is the most honest record I've ever made," she said in a statement.
· Details: With producer Bill Bottrell — who worked with Crow on her massive 1993 debut, Tuesday Night Music Club — back onboard, it could be one of her most successful too.

Lenny Kravitz
· Grammys won: four
· Studio LPs released: eight
· New album title: It Is Time for a Revolution
· Takeaway quote: "I felt like a kid playing in my bedroom, and that's the most important thing you can tap into, that feeling of being free," Kravitz — who also tapped into his opposition toward the Iraq war on the disc — said in a statement.
· Details: The deluxe edition — which has a color cover, instead of a black-and-white one — comes with a bonus DVD featuring an intimate documentary.

k.d. lang
· Grammys won: four
· Studio LPs released: 10
· New album title: Watershed
· Takeaway quote: "It's about self-examination. It's about seeing where I am in the world, and how I do or don't connect to the universe," she told New York's Daily News.
· Details: The limited deluxe edition is a Unibox with cloth wrap and embossed foil stamp, and includes photo cards, two CD sleeves — and more importantly, a bonus CD with four extra songs and an interview.

Young Brood: Superstars aside, there is also a batch of fresher faces on the singer/songwriter side this week. Here's a quick breakdown:

Jason Collett
· Hails from: Ontario
· Studio LPs released: three
· New album title: Here's to Being Here
· Details: Fellow members of the Broken Social Scene, as well as the Stills and beyond, lent Collett their skills for the effort.

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
· Hails from: L.A.
· Studio LPs released: four (as a solo artist)
· New album title: Calibration
· Details: Frequent collaborator John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mars Volta bandmate Cedric Bixler-Zavala and others gave Rodriguez-Lopez a boost.

Kelley Stoltz
· Hails from: San Fran
· Studio LPs released: six
· New album title: Circular Sounds
· Details: "It's called Circular Sounds, which barely defeated The Glass Moustache and Prism Breakout for [the] new album title," he said in a post on his Web site.

Josh Kelley
· Hails from: Nashville
· Studio LPs released: four
· New album title: Special Company
· Details: He recently married "27 Dresses" actress Katherine Heigl!

Lightspeed Champion
· Hails from: London
· Studio LPs released: one
· New album title: Falling Off the Lavender Bridge
· Details: Taste-making producer Mike Mogis, in addition to members of Bright Eyes and the Faint, helped ex-Test Icicles guitarist Dev Hynes with his LP, which has already drawn raves overseas.

Basia Bulat
· Hails from: Ontario
· Studio LPs released: one
· New album title: Oh, My Darling
· Details: The Rough Trade artist teamed with producer Howard Bilerman (the Arcade Fire, British Sea Power) for the album, and one of the songs has already been selected for a Volkswagen ad.

Song Title of the Week:

"I'll Splatter You Like Jackson Pollock" from Gwen Stacy's The Life I Know

Album Cover of the Week:

Clutchy Hopkins' Walking Backwards

Other Notables:

HorrorPops' Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
"We really wanted to get back to the classic new wave feel that we love," singer Patricia Day said in a statement. "And I think our excitement about these songs has made a hell of difference." The movie-obsessed Danish psychobilly punks dish up "Thelma and Louise," "Hitchcock Starlet" and "MissFit" on their latest effort.

Warbringer's War Without End The young Los Angeles thrash-metal band — which has been touring with Exodus and Goatwhore — made its debut album available for free for a limited time on MetalSucks.net. The disc was produced by Bill Metoyer (Slayer, D.R.I.) and features such titular-appropriate songs as "Total War," "Hell on Earth" and "Shoot to Kill."

Sleep Station's The Pride of Chester James
At the center of this orchestral-pop group is one David Debiak, a man who is prone to mental breakdowns and has written songs in the past about necrophilia, humans falling in love with robots and astronauts dying in outer space. This time around, he and his crew utilized an old tape machine, Hammond organs and more for songs like "Tired of Me Now," "Thunder" and "Hello Mr. Coughlin." "This record has weighed heavily on me for quite some time," he said in a statement. "Writing the songs was the easy part — they came naturally. Living and reliving them was far more difficult, but some say that the joy is in the journey."

New Releases:

· Air Traffic - Fractured Life (Astralwerks) [Buy Now]
· Baby Walrus - Baby Walrus (Slumber Party)
· Big Bang - Wild Bird EP (Grand Sport) [Buy Now]
· Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling (Rough Trade)
· Caspa & Rusko - Fabric.Live 37 (Fabric)
· Nick Cave and Warren Ellis - "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" soundtrack (Mute)
· Beth Nielsen Chapman - Prism: The Human Family Songbook (two CDs; Thirty Tigers)
· Jason Collett - Here's to Being Here (Arts & Crafts)
· Chick Corea & Gary Burton - The New Crystal Silence (two CDs; Concord)
· Sheryl Crow - Detours (A&M) [Buy Now]
· Taylor Dayne - Satisfied (Adrenaline)
· Dead Meadow - Old Growth (enhanced; Matador)
· Bill Dixon with Exploding Star Orchestra - Bill Dixon with Exploding Star Orchestra (Thrill Jockey)
· Gwen Stacy - The Life I Know (Ferret) [Buy Now]
· Havoc Unit - h.IV+ (Vendlus)
· Clutchy Hopkins - Walking Backwards (two CDs; Ubiquity)
· HorrorPops - Kiss Kiss Kill Kill (Hellcat)
· Hot Chip - Made in the Dark (also available with DVD; Astralwerks) [Buy Now]
· Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static (Brushfire)
· Kamera - Resurrection (Nettwerk) [Buy Now]
· Josh Kelley - Special Company (enhanced; DNK)
· Kenny G - Rhythm & Romance (Concord)
· Lenny Kravitz - It Is Time for a Revolution (special edition comes with DVD; Virgin) [Buy Now]
· Kronos Quartet and Wu Man - Terry Riley's "The Cusp of Magic" (Nonesuch)
· k.d. lang - Watershed (deluxe limited edition with bonus CD also available; Nonesuch)
· Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off the Lavender Bridge (Domino)
· Omar Rodriguez-Lopez - Calibration (N20)
· Tera Melos - Drugs to the Dear Youth (Sargent House)
· Aidan John Moffat - I Can Hear Your Heart (Chemikal Underground)
· Bob Mould - District Line (Anti-) [Buy Now]
· Nada Surf - Lucky (limited edition comes with bonus CD; Barsuk)
· Ocrilim - Annwn (Hydra Head)
· The Partisan Turbine - The Partisan Turbine (Ferret)
· Steve Reid Ensemble - Daxaar (Domino)
· Gonzalo Rubalcaba - Avatar (Blue Note)
· Salt the Wound - Carnal Repercussions (Rotten)
· Say Hi - The Wishes and the Glitch (two CDs; Rebel Group) [Buy Now]
· School of Language - Sea From Shore (Thrill Jockey)
· Sleep Station - The Pride of Chester James (Eyeball)
· State Radio - Year of the Crow (Nettwerk)
· Kelley Stoltz - Circular Sounds (Sub Pop)
· Otis Taylor - Recapturing the Banjo (Telarc)
· Claude VonStroke - Beware of the Bird (enhanced; limited edition comes with bonus CD; Fabric)
· Warbringer - War Without End (Century Media)
· Winds of Plague - Decimate the Weak (Century Media)
· Yip-Yip - Two Kings of the Same Kingdom (S.A.F.)
· Various artists - Stronger Than All (enhanced EP; Seventh Dagger)
· Various artists - "Honeydripper" soundtrack (Rhino)
· Various artists - "My Blueberry Nights" soundtrack (Blue Note)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Bachman-Turner Overdrive - The Definitive Collection (Mercury Nashville)
· Terri Clark - The Definitive Collection (Mercury Nashville)
· Rosemary Clooney - Sings for Lovers (Concord)
· Chick Corea and Return to Forever - The Definitive Collection (Verve)
· Electric Light Orchestra - The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, Volume 2: Ticket to the Moon (Epic/Legacy)
· Billie Holiday - The Definitive Collection [Buy Now]
· J. Holiday - Back of My Lac (deluxe edition with DVD; Music Line/ Capitol)
· Lang Lang - The Magic of Lang Lang (Deutsche Grammophon) [Buy Now]
· Brian McKnight - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection - The Best of Brian McKnight (Motown)
· Wes Montgomery - Plays for Lovers (Riverside)
· Kelly Price - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection - The Best of Kelly Price (Island) [Buy Now]
· Salt-N-Pepa - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection - The Best of Salt-N-Pepa (Island)
· SheDaisy - The Best of SheDaisy (Lyric Street)
· Jimmy Smith - The Definitive Collection (Verve) [Buy Now]
· They Might Be Giants - Here Come the 123s (Amazon.com exclusive comes with DVD; Disney Sound)
· Mel Tormé - Sings for Lovers (Concord)
· Paul Weller - Wild Wood - Deluxe Edition (Yep Roc)
· Various artists - New Jack Swing Gold (two CDs; Hip-O)
· Various artists - What's Happening in Pernambuco - New Sounds of the Brazilian Northeast (Luaka Bop)

Music DVDs:

· Christina Aguilera - "Back to Basics: Live and Down Under" (two DVDs; RCA) [Buy Now]
· Iron Maiden - "Life After Death" (two DVDs; Universal) [Buy Now]
· Quincy Jones & Friends - "Live at Montreux 1996 - 50 Years in Music" (Eagle Vision)
· Roxy Music - "The Thrill of It All: A Visual History 1972-1982" (two DVDs; Virgin)
· Jill Scott - "Live in Paris+" (Hidden Beach)
· Chris Smither - "One More Night" (Signature Sounds)
· Thin Lizzy - "Live and Dangerous" (UMe)

Digital Releases:

· Boy George - Sold and U Can Never B 2 Straight (Virgin)
· China Crisis - Diary: A Collection and Working With Fire and Steel: Possible Pop Songs, Volume Two (EMI)
· Cutting Crew - The Best of Cutting Crew (SIS/IKN)
· del Amitri - del Amitri (Chrysalis/EMI)
· Devastations - Yes, U (Beggars Banquet)
· Stephen Duffy - They Called Him TinTin (Virgin)
· Brian Eno - Music for Airports (Live) - Bang on a Can (Cantaloupe) [Buy Now]
· The Hooters - Time Stand Still (Megaforce)
· Ferlin Husky - Capitol Collectors Series (Capitol Nashville)
· Killing Joke - Brighter Than a Thousand Suns and Outside the Gate (Astralwerks) [Buy Now]
· Gene McDaniels - The Best of Gene McDaniels (Capitol)
· Pet Shop Boys - Alternative (EMI)
· Ursula 1000 - Undressed ... Remixed (ELS)
· Faron Young - The Complete Capitol Hits of Faron Young (Capitol Nashville)

Coming Attractions:

February 12:
· Michael Jackson - Thriller 25 (with DVD; Epic/Legacy) [Preorder]
Read: "Michael Jackson, Akon Are 'Startin' Somethin' ' On Thriller 25 Track -- Listen To It Here!"
· Metric - "Live at Metropolis" DVD (Last Gang) [Preorder]
· Simple Plan - Simple Plan (Lava/Atlantic) [Preorder]

February 19:
· Foxy Brown - Brooklyn's Don Diva (Black Rose Entertainment/ Koch) [Preorder]
· Mike Doughty - Golden Delicious (ATO)
· Various artists - Kidz Bop 13 (enhanced; Razor & Tie)

February 26:
· Erykah Badu - New Amerykah (Motown) [Preorder]
· Missy Higgins - On a Clear Night (Reprise)
· Janet Jackson - Discipline (deluxe edition comes with DVD; Island) [Preorder]

• Christina Aguilera
• Jack Johnson
• Sheryl Crow
• Hot Chip
• Lenny Kravitz

Madonna
Photo: Gareth Davies/Getty Images

Madonna finalized her massive 10-year deal with Live Nation on Tuesday (October 16), although the exact terms have yet to be disclosed. The deal involves her new studio efforts, tours, merchandise, DVD releases, sponsorships, licensing agreements, fan club, Web site, and TV and film projects. "The paradigm in the music business has shifted, and as an artist and a businesswoman, I have to move with that shift," she said in a statement. "For the first time in my career, the way that my music can reach my fans is unlimited. I've never wanted to think in a limited way and with this new partnership, the possibilities are endless. Who knows how my albums will be distributed in the future? That's what's exciting about this deal — everything is possible. Live Nation has offered me a true partnership, and after 25 years in the business, I feel that I deserve that." She did, however, have some kind words to say about former label Warner Bros.: "I appreciate their hard work and value the many relationships I have developed over the years with the label in the U.S. and around the world. I have an album coming out with them next year, and I'm excited about it. We still have work to do together." And Warner Bros. returned the enthusiasm in its own Tuesday statement: "We congratulate Madonna on her future plans. She is one of the most remarkable artists of our time. We are excited to issue her upcoming album next year. We are also honored to own her catalog of recordings from the past 25 years, as well as to manage her library of songs for an extended period of time. From all of us at Warner Music Group, we thank Madonna for a valued and enduring partnership." Live Nation also announced a new Artist Nation arm that will launch with Madonna and have divisions dedicated to dealing with an artist's recorded music, merchandise, concert tickets, sponsorships, marketing and more. ...

Foxy Brown (real name: Inga Marchand) pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to assault charges stemming from the alleged cell phone-throwing incident that took place in July, The Associated Press reports. The rapper, who is serving a one-year jail term at New York's Rikers Island Correctional Facility for violating her probation, entered the plea in a Brooklyn state Supreme Court. On Friday, she refused to get on a correction-department bus twice for a court arraignment. Brown allegedly hit neighbor Arlene Raymond after they got into a fight over Brown blasting her car stereo outside her home in Brooklyn. ...

One of 50 Cent's employees was arraigned in Hartford, Connecticut's Superior Court on Monday on two counts of carrying a pistol without a permit, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of weapons in a motor vehicle, according to The Hartford Courant. Dwayne "Hove" McKenzie, who has been jailed since early Sunday on $1.5 million bail, is expected to be released as early as Monday after the bail amount was cut in half following the arraignment. The charges stem from incidents over the weekend in which McKenzie, who resides at Fif's Farmington mansion, is accused of pistol-whipping a nightclub promoter. Four days later, McKenzie was found with a 9mm Glock and another handgun when police stopped him in downtown Hartford to serve him a warrant on an unrelated weapons charge. Two months ago, McKenzie lost his right to carry a pistol after firing a gun at a man who robbed him. His cases have been continued until November 6. ...

Need another Shakira fix? The singer has slapped together a live DVD/CD, simply called "Oral Fixation Tour," for release on November 13. The disc immortalizes her l40-city, 2006-'07 world tour — which more than 2.5 million people attended, according to her publicist — and features 17 performances, including ones with Wyclef Jean and Alejandro Sanz. Bonus video clips, behind-the-scenes footage and a documentary capturing her trip to Colombia in support of her Pies Descalzos child-education program are also tucked onto the DVD, while the CD has a batch of live songs. The main program will also be screened at select theaters starting November 12. ...

Talk about "girl power" — the Spice Girls are putting a very feminine touch on their upcoming Greatest Hits set by selling it exclusively at Victoria's Secret stores. The November 13 release will be available elsewhere in downloadable form beyond VictoriasSecret.com, but the physical copies will only be at VS stores or via a pre-order on the aforementioned Web site starting midnight Wednesday and ending midnight Thursday. The group is also taking part in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which tapes November 14 in Los Angeles and airs December 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. ...

Last we heard from Weezer, they were planning to hit the studio in July to record album number six and get it out next year. Now comes news — via a post on frontman Rivers Cuomo's blog — that Geffen has agreed to put out a disc of his favorite demos he recorded from 1992-2007. "I hope you enjoy it. I may also be able to put out more demo CDs in the near future," reads the post. RollingStone.com reports that the collection, due December 11, will be called Alone - The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo. Cuomo's planned book has been postponed to a later date. ...

The Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica, Linkin Park and Chris Cornell are among the big names who'll be featured on the forthcoming Live Earth - The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis CD/DVD package, due November 20. Recorded July 7 at Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore's Live Earth concerts, which served to raise awareness about the climate crisis, the set will also include performances by the Black Eyed Peas, the Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Bon Jovi and John Mayer. Net proceeds will benefit the Alliance for Climate Protection, whose mission is to persuade the public about the importance and urgency of adopting and implementing effective and comprehensive solutions for the climate crisis. ...

It looks like the "Hannah Montana" ticket controversy is spurring the government to act on ticket scalpers. On Monday, a federal judge prohibited the use of automated software to buy mass tickets from Ticketmaster, Reuters reports. The move was provoked by a suit Ticketmaster lodged in April against Pittsburgh's RMG Technologies before tickets for the Miley Cyrus tour went on sale. Ticketmaster argued that the company's software allows scalpers to move ahead of other customers in line and purchase mass amounts of tickets that can be resold at higher prices. "They're cheating consumers out of a fair shot at these tickets, and we're not going to stand for it anymore," said Joe Freeman, a lawyer for Ticketmaster. U.S. District Court Judge Audrey Collins has issued a preliminary injunction against RMG that bars the company from "creating, trafficking in, facilitating the use of or using computer programs or other automatic devices to circumvent" the Ticketmaster Web site's copy-protection system. State attorneys general are also figuring out if ticket resellers have broken consumer-protection laws in at least three states: Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Missouri. ...

U2 are planning quite the birthday bash for their classic LP The Joshua Tree. The album will be reissued in multiple configurations — as a single CD, two-CD package, as a collectible box with an additional DVD, and as a double-vinyl set — on November 20, Billboard reports. Rare material including B-sides, demos, alternate takes and more are expected to appear on the updated versions of the album, which originally came out March 9, 1987. The DVD will reportedly featured a July 4 show held that year at the Paris Hippodrome, in addition to the Brian Eno-produced documentary "Outside It's America." The package housing two CDs and a DVD will also have five portfolio prints, and bandmembers have scribbled up new liner notes for the reissues. ...

Let the jokes begin: Clay Aiken is joining the cast of "Monty Python's Spamalot" on Broadway. The "American Idol" runner-up will play one of the lead roles, Sir Robin — which was previously taken on by David Hyde Pierce — from January 18 through May 4 in the production, which was spawned by "Python" member Eric Idle and directed by the esteemed Mike Nichols. "Let's not lie, the chance to work with legendary creative minds like Mike Nichols and Eric Idle is, on its own, a reason to jump at this opportunity," he told The Associated Press. ...

Don Imus is likely to return to radio December 3 on New York City's WABC-AM, the country's biggest talk-radio station, according to Variety. His deal with the station — also home to another inflammatory jock, Rush Limbaugh — is expected to be finalized this week and will also involve a TV element that could allow him to regain his national platform. ... Idlewild guitarist Rod Jones sustained a hairline fracture in his arm in an accident last weekend, according to a post on the band's Web page. Jones tripped and took a tumble down a flight of stairs backstage at the Carling Academy in Liverpool, England. He iced the injury and still took the stage with the band, fumbling his way through its set. A post-show visit to the doctor revealed it was a minor break, and Jones plans to continue playing with the band on its latest tour. ...

Hot Chip will issue their next LP, Made in the Dark, on February 5. Look for the electronic indie-pop group's third effort to feature 13 cuts, including first single "Shake a Fist," "One Pure Thought" and "Wrestlers." ... The Hellacopters have thrown in the towel, according to the band's MySpace page. In a statement, the band revealed that "the reasons behind this very difficult decision are many and too personal to go into here." Still, the band's seventh and last studio album will be released, sometime early next year. "We feel like we wanna say one last goodbye to you and throw in the towel with a bang, so we're aiming to do a farewell tour through Europe and Scandinavia sometime in the spring." ...

YouTube has come up with a new way to fight video piracy and leaks — by employing new technology that would automatically remove copyrighted material from the site, AP reports. Hoping to appease angered movie and TV studios, the site will feature filtering tools crafted to allow the owners of copyrighted videos to block their material from appearing on YouTube. But if the owners want to keep their copyrighted material on the site, the new technology also allows them to sell ads surrounding it. ...

First Angelina Jolie lost her husband in a movie, now she's losing her son. The actress — who recently played the wife of slain reporter Daniel Pearl in "A Mighty Heart" — will star in Clint Eastwood's "The Changeling," an upcoming drama about a woman whose son goes missing in Los Angeles in the 1920s, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film, based on a true story, will also star John Malkovich. ... The Academy Award for Best Screenplay that Orson Welles won in 1941 for "Citizen Kane" — the greatest movie of all time, according to the American Film Institute — is going up on the auction block. The prize will be displayed at Sotheby's in New York on December 7-10 and sold December 11 for an estimated $800,000 to $1.2 million.

10.15.07

Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds came out way back in September 2006, but he doesn't want you to forget about him this holiday season. The singer has compiled two new gifts for fans: a special edition of the album and a new DVD to boot. FutureSex/LoveSounds Deluxe Edition, due November 27, will feature his "Until the End of Time" duet with Beyoncé and other to-be-named bonus tracks featuring big-name artists. The reissue will also house a bonus DVD with unreleased concert footage, making-of clips, director commentaries and more. The double-DVD "FutureSex/LoveShow Live From Madison Square Garden," on the other hand, will drop a week earlier — and only be available at Best Buy. Expect to see the August 15 concert in full on the disc, as well as before and after footage, song-by-song commentary from JT, backstage clips, interviews and more. ...

Britney Spears is inviting her fans — the ones who haven't been too turned off by VMA performance or new video, at least — to an open casting call for dancers on Monday (October 15) at the Millennium Dance Complex in North Hollywood, California. The tryouts will be held from 5-9 p.m., with "all styles welcome," according to "Access Hollywood." The tryouts will be for an upcoming tour and her next video, although it's not yet known for which song it will be. Spears reportedly planned to hold the auditions last week but was a no-show. ...

Lindsay Lohan has filed a countersuit against a man who accused her of negligence and drinking when she hit his parked van in West Hollywood, California, in October 2005. According to CBS' Los Angeles TV affiliate, the actress is asking for more than $75,000 in damages for the repair of her car and the cost of renting other vehicles after she hit the vehicle owned by Raymundo Ortega, who subsequently sued Lohan for at least $200,000 in damages. She also says Ortega made an illegal U-turn and that he and an unspecified number of defendants were "negligent in the ownership, operation, repairs and maintenance" of his van, according to the suit. As for Ortega's claim that she drove drunk, Lohan says the California Highway Patrol report — which his lawyers have called hearsay — does not support that allegation. The suit says Ortega made the drunk-driving claim "as a battering ram to force a settlement." A trial date for both suits has been set for April 7. ...

50 Cent got real with a roomful of high school students in Connecticut on Friday, which was named "50 Cent Curtis Jackson Day" in Bridgeport, the Connecticut Post reports. More than 50 juniors and seniors from three high schools were invited to Mayor John M. Fabrizi's office for what they were initially told was a discussion with city and school officials about services for young people, but they got a surprise visit from 50, who told them to look past some of his lyrics and judge him by the man he has become. "I say in one of my songs I hate cops. I don't hate cops," he said, reportedly nodding to Bridgeport Chief of Police Bryan T. Norwood. "But I am expressing the feelings of a young boy who sees the cops take his brother away, and hates them for it." When asked how he could rectify his beliefs with some of his other lyrics, he said, "Rap is very competitive. You can't show your vulnerabilities, or another artist will use that against you in their content. Also, you don't paint the whole picture at one time, with one color. I want to show more of my character, but it has to come out over time." 50, who has been in Bridgeport filming a new movie, "Righteous Kill," said he's been wanting to get involved in the city — so he presented a $25,000 check from his G-Unity Foundation to an education program called Hall Neighborhood House. During the events, 50 made two more interesting remarks — he suggested his feud with Kanye West was actually just a marketing ploy ("His label and my label are both owned by Universal Music Group"), and replied to a question about his moniker with a pun: "50 Cent is a metaphor. It means change." ...

Ashlee Simpson might have broken out a few tunes from her upcoming, yet-untitled LP over VMA weekend, but apparently it's not quite there yet. The singer had originally aimed for the LP to come out in November, but her label has now slotted it for a first-quarter 2008 release. ... Taking a cue from Avril Lavigne, Ashley Tisdale is on a mall tour to support her debut album, Headstrong. The "High School Musical 2" star's trek kicked off Sunday in Columbus, Ohio, and runs through November 1 in Dallas. ... Beyoncé is heading to Shanghai. The singer will perform at the Chinese city on November 3 as part of her international tour — despite the fact that she previously had to scrap a show in Malaysia after it was preceded by dress-code problems. China previously canceled a show by boyfriend Jay-Z after calling his lyrics too "vulgar," and officials also told the Rolling Stones in the past not to perform their racier material. Beyoncé is set to play Wednesday in Ethiopia and Saturday in Romania, after which she'll hit Turkey, India, Thailand, Indonesia and then China — first on November 1 at Macau — Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan. ...

Q-Tip brought out Stevie Wonder for his encore Sunday night at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California. The two performed "Superstition," with DJ Scratch from the legendary EPMD on the ones and twos. ... John Legend has pegged February 12 as the release date for Estelle's Shine, the first album to come via his HomeSchool label through Atlantic, Billboard reports. Legend acts as executive producer on the effort, while Wyclef Jean, Will.I.Am, Swizz Beatz and Mark Ronson also contribute production, and Kanye West and Cee-Lo make guest appearances. Legend told the mag he's three songs into his next, yet-untitled album, which he hopes to have out in the summer. ...

Pink knows how to party like an animal. The ardent People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals supporter hosted a party for the activist group's president, Ingrid Newkirk, in Los Angeles over the weekend. The bash, which featured pink champagne and veggie "not" dogs among its offerings, served to boost Newkirk's new book, "Let's Have a Dog Party," and Bill Maher, Kevin Nealon — and Pink's dogs — were also in attendance. In other PETA news, the Suicide Girls will soon be seen in the group's noted "We'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" series — they are posing Monday for photos that will be used in the nude-ad campaign and other advertising efforts. ...

Paris Hilton felt "empty" as a partygoer, and now she wants to "leave a mark on the world," she told Newsweek for its new issue, which hits stands Monday. In the article — called "Ms. Hilton Gets Serious. Please Stop Laughing." — she maps out plans for a five-day trip to Rwanda that will have her visiting schools and health-care clinics. "I'm scared, yeah. I've heard it's really dangerous," she said about going abroad. "I've never been on a trip like this before." Scott Lazerson, founder of Playing for Good — the children's charity the heiress will be traveling with — added that, "She's using her celebrity and the cameras that follow her for the good of humanity." The article also reveals that Lazerson is planning to film the trek and sell it as a reality show, called "The Philanthropist," that would feature other celebrities helping the poor. ...

What's a Radiohead? That's what at least one member of the Bush White House is wondering after Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto revealed that he's a big fan of the band and plans to pick up its new album, In Rainbows, according to The Washington Times. Another deputy press secretary, Scott Stanzel, called himself an "appreciator" of Radiohead's music as well, while National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe added that he's "90 percent sure" he's got a few of their songs on his iPod — although none from 2003's Hail to the Thief, which is widely considered to be a slam on the president. When Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked about the group, she replied, "I don't even know what that is. Is that a band?" ... Kirsten Dunst, Blondie frontwoman? Works for Deborah Harry. The group's singer said she's given Dunst her blessing to take on the role for an upcoming, yet-untitled Michel Gondry flick. "She's probably capable of a lot of things she hasn't been asked to do yet, and doing something that's sort of left of center would be great for her," Harry told AOL's Spinner. "I've met with her a couple of times and hung out with her socially. She's just a sweetie." ...

The Arcade Fire joined none other than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band onstage at a Sunday show in their native Canada, Billboard reports. The indie-rockers joined the more seasoned squad for a rendition of "State Trooper," then performed their own song "Keep the Car Running" with backing from the E Street Band at Ottawa's Scotiabank Place. ... Marilyn Manson's Chatsworth, California, mansion is on the market and can be yours for a cool $1.1 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. The five-bedroom abode features a recording studio, an office-library and a "bonus room." There's also a pool and a covered barbecue. ... Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, who checked into a rehab facility over the summer, botched his lines when he made an unexpected appearance on "Saturday Night Live" over the weekend. Host Jon Bon Jovi did his best to salvage the appearance by bringing his band onstage to play music. ...

More good news for Led Zeppelin fans — not only is the band getting back together for a November 26 reunion gig, but it will soon be shaking up the digital sphere by making its songs available online. On Monday, Zep announced plans to make all their LPs available — as full albums, or à la carte — through all digital-music services on November 13. Their songs will soon be available as ringtones and mobile features in an exclusive deal with Verizon Wireless as well. The band also launched its MySpace page on Monday. In a separate deal, the band is expected to receive $60 million in exchange for lengthening its ties to music publisher Warner/ Chappell Music for at least 10 years, according to The New York Times. ... The Police have put the kibosh on two more shows — their Monday and Tuesday concerts in Manchester, England — due to frontman Sting's throat infection. The band's Friday and Saturday shows, set for Cardiff and London, respectively, will go ahead as planned. ...

Houston rapper Big Moe (born Kenneth Moore) died on Sunday, The Associated Press reports. The 33-year-old rapper, a member of DJ Screw's Screwed Up Click posse, was best known for his 2002 single "Purple Stuff," from his second album, Purple World. ...

Remember the Mighty Mighty Bosstones? Well, the long-dormant ska-core kings will return December 30 for a performance at the Hometown Throwdown in Cambridge, Massachusetts, following "numerous threats of bodily injury from the under-18 crowd," the band joked on its MySpace page. No word on whether the band plans to write and record, but we'll keep you posted. ...

A pair of concerts slated to take place simultaneously in Tel Aviv, Israel, and the West Bank town of Jericho on Thursday — to support the call for a solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict — have been scrapped. The free shows, due to be headlined by Bryan Adams, were called off after Palestinian supporters reportedly said they were threatened over the stance of the show's organizer, the One Voice group, which some Palestinians say ignores their perspectives on lasting peace and Palestinian refugee issues. The Jericho gig was canceled last week, according to a BBC News report, and Israeli organizers followed suit. ...

Universal Music Chairman/CEO Doug Morris is hoping to join forces with other record companies to create an industry-owned music-subscription service to compete with iTunes, BusinessWeek reports. The magazine says Morris has already roped in Sony BMG Music Entertainment as a potential partner and is talking with Warner Music Group as well. The labels control a combined 75 percent of the music sold in the States. Morris also reportedly wants to involve wireless carriers and plans to name the service Total Music. ...

Could Jon Peter Lewis be getting a second wind? The former "American Idol" contestant self-released his first album, Stories From Hollywood, in November 2006 after he didn't have any luck scoring a major-label record contract after participating on the show. But now the disc is getting wider distribution thanks to a new deal with Iowa indie label Authentic Records. Lewis also has a new tour in the works — it starts November 15 in, fittingly, Cedar Falls, Iowa. ...

And just when you thought you'd heard the last from Corey Clark, the former "Idol" contestant faces up to two years in jail and a potential fine of up to $150,000 after pleading guilty to a felony charge of harassment. Four other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal. The harassment charge stems from Clark's violation of a court order by placing calls to his father-in-law in August 2006. Months earlier, his wife, Monica Rodriguez Gonzalez, filed for the order — which banned him from contacting her or eight other people, including their child — after claiming he had abused her. Clark will be sentenced in early November in an Arizona court.

[This story was originally published at 2:28 p.m. ET on 10.16.2007]

• Madonna
• Foxy Brown
• 50 Cent
• Linkin Park
• Miley Cyrus

Menomena

Now that the Austin dust has settled, it's time to gain some perspective on last weekend's South By Southwest madness. Thousands of signed and unsigned bands descended on the Texas city like a swarm of locusts (locusts with demos). Ultimately, there were only a handful of bands truly worth recognizing. While Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and the Stooges may have garnered the most press -- here are some of the bands that may have regrettably slipped through the cracks.

Who: Yeasayer

Where are they from? Brooklyn, New York

Is there a record out? No, not yet. But its debut will be released via Baltimore, Maryland's Monitor Records this coming summer. In the meantime, you can hear a couple of demos on their MySpace page.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? At times, the foursome projected a wholly distinct vibe like a manic Peter Gabriel -era Genesis channeled through Animal Collective but the band also manipulates their collective vocals (yes, they all sing) producing a sweet, harmonious cacophony.

The great moment: Performing the whole time under a green hoodie, front man Chris Keating walked intermittently into the audience frantically slapping his tambourine in the air.

Who: Ra Ra Riot

Where are they from? Syracuse, New York

Is there a record out? The band doesn't have a label yet, so there's only a self-released EP (which, incidentally, doesn't do justice to the live show). But based on the buzz of its SXSW performances this will all change very, very soon. What, you can't hear the labels bidding in the background?

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The six college aged kids create an enormous, hefty sound complete with a cello and violin, not unlike the Arcade Fire or the Olivia Tremor. And singer Wesley Miles croons earnestly but still not emotive enough that it's emo. Ra Ra Riot has enormous potential and considering the band is only a year old, the actualization is inevitable.

The great moment: Guitarist Milo Bonnacci and bassist Mathieu Santos rested their respective foreheads on one another's shoulders while riffing on their instruments.

Who: Jamie T

Where are they from? London, England

Is there a record out? Jamie's debut Panic Prevention is available in Europe on Virgin Records and at this current time, he has no American label.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The cockney cockiness of the Arctic Monkeys meets the disjointed, slurred flow of the Streets meets the middle-finger attitude of the Clash meets the pop sensibility of Lily Allen meets the carelessness of the Fall. Basically, a lot of meetings.

The great moment: When an audience member noted, "This guy is completely wasted." And it was probably true.

Who: Menomena

Where are they from? Portland, Oregon

Is there a record out? The debut I Am the Fun Blame Monster (an anagram for The First Menomena Album) was released on indie label filmGUERRO and features an 80-page flipbook. This year's critically acclaimed Friend And Foe was released on Barsuk in January and it's inarguably one of the year's strongest records.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? The unpretentious side of art-rock. There hasn't been a threesome as competent at playing their respective instruments since Rush. Justin Harris, Danny Seim, and Brent Knopf craft oddly timed, intricate pop songs that are heartbreakingly fragile.

The great moment: When drummer Seim flailed on his kit like the octopus prodigy of Keith Moon.

Who: The Black Lips

Where are they from? Atlanta, Georgia

Is there a record out? There are three indie releases out already but the forthcoming Los Vallentes del Mundo Nuevo, a live album recorded in Tijuana, is their first for Vice Records.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Dirty, dirty rock and roll. The Nuggets -influenced retro-ruckus of the Lips is no revelation but these four rarely sober characters bring the party wherever they go.

The great moment: Considering the band performed thirteen times over the span of four days, there was no definitive great moment. Let's just say that all those live sets culminate into one massive great moment.

Who: The Twilight Sad

Where are they from? Glasgow, Scotland

Is there a record out? Fat Cat Records is currently offering two EPs but the full-length Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters will be out in just a few weeks.

Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Orchestral rock with a honed passion. The guitar, bass, and drums project an aural fullness while singer James Graham's heartfelt, moving vocals soar above it all. Like Snow Patrol with bite, or Mogwai with sensitivity training.

The great moment: When Graham looked down pensively at the floor holding on to the microphone stand with extreme intensity while his band set off power-chord fireworks.

Who: Datarock

Where are they from? Norway

Is there a record out? Yes, but Datarock Datarock is only available on import and via iTunes, although, Nettwerk will release it this coming spring in the US.
Website? Click Here

What do they sound like? Based on the unabashed silliness of the Datarock uniform--a red hoodie, red sweatpants, and mirrored visors--this band is refreshingly brazen about having fun. Their songs reference the dance rock of Franz Ferdinand, the angular zaniness of Devo and the geeky white boy funk of Hot Chip. There wasn't a still person in the room.

The great moment: When front man Fredrik Saroea riled the crowd up into a frantic clap-along.

Watch videos from this year's artists.

VH1 Blog: Complete SXSW Coverage.

• Amy Winehouse
• The Stooges
• Peter Gabriel
• Animal Collective
• Arcade Fire

Busta Rhymes' <I>The Big Bang</I>
Photo: Aftermath

A Cosmic Effort: The stars are aligning for Busta Rhymes' new album — it's his first for Dr. Dre's Aftermath imprint and has a good chance of breathing new life into Bus' career. But the stars are also aligning on the record, what with Nas, Missy Elliott, Will.I.Am, Q-Tip, Raekwon — hell, even Stevie Wonder and the late Rick James — cropping up on there. "You Can't Hold the Torch," Rhymes declares midway through the record. Let's see if he can.

Outta Sight: Be on the lookout this week, as two of the biggest music releases hitting stores are meant for the eyes, not the ears. No Doubt's "Live in the Tragic Kingdom," which found its way into a million VHS players, reaches the DVD format bundled with unreleased home movies, more performances, backstage stuff, promo clips and a slideshow.

"Chris Brown's Journey," on the other hand, is all-new material by the R&B phenom and revolves around a 25-minute documentary featurette, rather than concert footage. Still, there is some live content — two numbers from Clive Davis' pre-Grammy Awards party — plus three videos (with making-of segments for each), bloopers, Easter eggs and "Krumping With Chris," wherein he busts his best moves. The bonus CD has two unissued slices — "So Glad" and a remix of "Run It" — and a software device that lets you do your best Scott Storch and remix "Gimme That."

Sonic Youth probably aren't expecting Kidz Bop-like numbers with their newest opus, Rather Ripped, which is why they've been streaming all 12 tracks for free online. The band returned to what it calls its "OG nucleus" of Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Steve Shelley and Lee Ranaldo, as fifth member Jim O'Rourke was busy studying language and film in Japan. Tracks include "Do You Believe in Rapture?," "Turquoise Boy" and "Or."

Sibling Revelry: Speaking of OGs, "We O.G.'s" is the lead single from the Reyes Brothers — the long-awaited matchup of Sen Dog and Mellow Man Ace. That tune features fellow West Coasters Snoop Dogg and Warren G, while the rest of Ghetto Therapy hosts two Bishops — Lamont and Don Magic Juan — plus Sen's Cypress Hill teammate, B Real.

Also showing signs of brotherly love are Aron and Robert Mardo, whose band goes by their last name. The group's second outing, The New Gun, showcases the unit's new keyboardist and guitarist, but the deaths of nine people close to the group in one month made "The Healing" undeniably grim.

Guitarist Mato Nanji is taking a different approach: While he originally made his band Indigenous a family effort, he's since given his siblings the boot so he can focus entirely on the undertaking himself. The American Indian singer/songwriter did co-write "The Way You Shake" with his sister Wanbdi, but he left the production duties to Steve Fishell (Willie Nelson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band).

Beyond the Stereo: Alas, a handful of this week's releases might actually make you leave your bedroom. Jam titans Widespread Panic are playing their new LP, Earth to America, in its entirety at a free show at New York's Irving Plaza on Tuesday night (June 13). While 100,000 people showed up for the band's 1998 CD release party, expect 1,000 or so of the Panic faithful to help celebrate the band's 20th anniversary.

John Fogerty will drive some fans to cineplexes Tuesday, as the release of his "The Long Road Home in Concert" DVD is being celebrated with one-night-only theatrical showings in eight major cities. Speaking of which, Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" DVD, which sold a fair number of tickets earlier this year, hits the shelves in double-disc form this week.

And so-called "multimedia art-punk terrorists" the Residents are forcing you to get off your couch if you're interested in their River of Crime project, a series of recordings that are only available at Virgin Megastores, Cordless.com or New York's Museum of Modern Art. Modeled after true-crime radio broadcasts, the five episodes were previously available online in serial form.

Spotted: Gwen Stefani sweetening up "All Nighter" on Together as One by reggae hero Elan of the Wailers; Motion City Soundtrack, Plain White T's, Nightmare of You and other pop-punk newcomers giving it up for their favorite caped hero on the Sounds of Superman compilation; Eddie Vedder, Ani DiFranco and Steve Earle showing their mugs in the bonus video content that accompanies the "Dead Man Walking" soundtrack reissue; Replacements Paul Westerberg, Tommy Stinson and Chris Mars coming back together to record their first new material in 16 years for Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of the Replacements; MF Grimm and Angelo from Fishbone hopping onto Krak Attack by underground hip-hop bizarro CX Kidtronik; Origin drummer John Longstreth hitting the toms on Skinless' brutal Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead; and Fountains of Wayne guitarist Jody Porter adding licks to Life in the Shade, the second album by Brookville, the latest venture of Ivy's Andy Chase.

Song Title of the Week:

"Pudgy Young Blondes With Lobotomy Eyes" from Zao's The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here

Other Notables:

Regina Spektor's Begin to Hope: She's made a name for herself by touring with the Strokes, lending her voice to an mtvU commercial and spelling her last name slightly differently than a certain embattled record producer, but will the anti-folk antihero be able to overcome her nemesis, black-metal wizards Spektr? Their Near Death Experience drops this week as well, but expect Spektor's Begin to Hope — limited versions of which boast a five-track bonus disc — to win out.

The Futureheads' News and Tributes: Hurry, 'Heads heads, as only the initial pressings of the U.K. breakout band's second LP will have three bonus tracks that previously appeared on its Area EP. Producer Ben Hillier (Depeche Mode, Blur) holed up with the quartet in his Scarborough studio, where they crafted "Return of the Berserker," "Worry About It Later" and "Favours for Favours."

Final Fantasy's He Poos Clouds: Sometimes the track list just says it all, like this roster by Toronto's very own one-man orchestra. Each song is supposed to correlate with a level in "Dungeons & Dragons," so test your skills accordingly: "Arctic Circle," "He Poos Clouds," "This Lamb Sells Condos," "If I Were a Carp," "I'm Afraid of Japan," "Song Song Song," "Many Lives 49 LP," "Do You Love" and "Pooka Sings."

New Releases:

• The Acacia Strain - The Dead Walk (Prosthetic)
  
• Tony Allen - Lagos No Shaking (Honest Jons/ Astralwerks)
  
• The Alarm - Under Attack (enhanced; Eleven Thirty)
  
• Antler - Nothing That a Bullet Couldn't Cure (Small Stone)
  
• The Bleeding Alarm - Beauty in Destruction (Immortal)
  
• Brookville - Life in the Shade (Unfiltered)
  
• Sam Bush - Laps in Seven (Sugar Hill)
  
• Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang (Aftermath)
  Read: "Busta Making An Even Bigger Bang With Em, ODB, Neptunes, Rick James"
  Buy Now: The Big Bang (Aftermath)
  
• Regina Carter - I'll Be Seeing You: A Sentimental Journey (Verve)
  
• Codetalkers - Now (Collard Green)
  
• Compton's Most Wanted with MC Eiht - Music to Gang Bang (enhanced; Thump)
  
• CX Kidtronik - Krak Attack (Sound Ink)
  
• Dabrye - Two/ Three (Ghostly)
  
• Jamie Davis - It's a Good Thing (with DVD; Unity)
  
• Dropping Daylight - Brace Yourself (Octone)
  
• Elan - Together as One (Interscope)
  
• Every Time I Die - Gutter Phenomenon (with bonus DVD; Ferret)
  
• Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds (Tomlab)
  
• First Nation - First Nation (Paw Tracks)
  
• Foundry Field Recordings - Prompts/ Miscues (Emergency Umbrella)
  
• Frankie J - Un Nuevo Día (Columbia)
  Buy Now: Un Nuevo Día (Columbia)
  
• Futureheads - News and Tributes (limited edition also available; Vagrant)
  Buy Now: News and Tributes (Vagrant)
  
• The Handsome Family - Last Days of Wonder (Carrot Top)
  
• Hot Chip - The Warning (DFA/ Astralwerks)
  
• Glenn Hughes - Music for the Divide (Frontiers)
  
• Indigenous - Chasing the Sun (Vanguard)
  
• Nicki Jaine - Nicki Jaine Live (self-release)
  
• Billy Joel - 12 Gardens Live (two CDs; Columbia)
  Buy Now: 12 Gardens Live (Columbia)
  
• Etta Jones - Don't Go to Strangers (Prestige)
  
• Keb' Mo' - Suitcase (Epic)
  
• Dayna Kurtz - Another Black Feather (Kismet)
  
• Blaine Larsen - Rockin' You Tonight (BNA)
  
• Lil Weavah - Underground Music (BCD)
  
• Mardo - New Gun (House of Restitution)
  
• The Del McCoury Band - The Promised Land (McCourey Music)
  
• Allison Moorer - Getting Somewhere (Sugar Hill)
  
• Morning 40 Federation - Ticonderoga (M80)
  
• Mr. Lif - Mo' Mega (Definitive Jux)
  
• The Playwrights - English Self Storage (Sink and Stove)
  
• Priestess - Hello Master (Red Ink)
  
• Joshua Radin - We Were Here (Columbia)
  
• The Residents - River of Crime (Cordless)
  
• Reyes Bros - Ghetto Therapy (Lightyear)
  
• Roses Are Red - What Became of Me (Trustkill)
  
• Satyricon - Now, Diabolical (enhanced; Century Media)
  
• Shadows Fall - Fallout From the War (Century Media)
  Buy Now: Fallout From the War (Century Media)
  
• Skinless - Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead (Relapse)
  
• Small Sins - Small Sins (Astralwerks)
  
• Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped (Geffen)
  Buy Now: Rather Ripped (Geffen)
  
• Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope (two-CD limited-edition version also available; Sire/ London/ Rhino)
  Buy Now: Begin to Hope (Geffen)
  
• Spektr - The Near Death Experience (Candlelight)
  
• Strays Don't Sleep - Strays Don't Sleep (Hybrid)
  
• Three Days Grace - One X (enhanced; Jive)
  Buy Now: One X (Jive)
  
• The Vibration - Amarilla (Sink & Stove)
  
• Waking Ashland - Telescopes (enhanced; Immortal)
  
• Widespread Panic - Earth to America (Sanctuary)
  
• David Wilcox - Vista (What Are Records)
  
• Trent Willmon - A Little More Livin' (Sony Music Nashville)
  
• Zao - The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here (limited edition with bonus DVD also available; Ferret)
  
• Various artists - Sound of Superman (Rhino)
  
• Various artists - "The Break-Up" soundtrack (Hip-O)
  
• Various artists - "Waist Deep" soundtrack (Def Jam)
  

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Yolanda Adams - Praise & Worship (Verity/ Legacy)
  
• Virginia Bell Armstrong - Praise & Worship (Verity/ Legacy)
  
• Boston - Boston and Don't Look Back (deluxe digipaks; Epic/ Legacy)
  
• Toni Braxton - The Collection (La Face)
  Buy Now: The Collection (La Face)
  
• Brandi Carlile - On Tour (Red Ink)
  
• Twinkie Clark - Praise & Worship (Verity/ Legacy)
  
• Commissioned - Praise & Worship (Verity/ Legacy)
  
• Daryl Coley - Praise & Worship (Verity/ Legacy)
  
• Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook, Vol.1 (Prestige)
  
• Miles Davis All Stars - Walkin' (Prestige)
  
• Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Fit to Be Tied: Great Hits by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (enhanced; Blackheart)
  Buy Now: Fit to Be Tied: Great Hits by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Blackheart)
  
• Jerry Lee Lewis - Legends of American Music: Jerry Lee Lewis - A Half Century of Hits (three-CD box set; Time Life)
  
• Barry Manilow - Live (two-CD special edition; Arista/ Legacy)
  
• Jack McDuff - The Honeydripper (Prestige)
  
• The Replacements - Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of the Replacements (Rhino)
  Read: "Replacements — Well, Some Of Them — Reunite For New Songs"
  Buy Now: Don't You Know Who I Think I Was?: The Best of the Replacements (Rhino)
  
• RuPaul - Reworked (Ruco)
  
• Richard Smallwood - Praise & Worship (Verity/ Legacy)
  
• Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend (two-CD special edition; Volcano/ Legacy)
  Buy Now: Girlfriend (Volcano/ Legacy)
  
• Various artists - The State I'm In (Hip-O)
  
• Various artists - The Very Best of Praise & Worship (Verity/ Legacy)
  
• Various artists - "Dead Man Walking" soundtrack (special edition with DVD; Columbia/ Legacy)
  

Music DVDs:

• Arcturus - "Shipwrecked in Oslo" (Season Mist)
  
• The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - "40th Anniversary" (Classic Rock)
  
• Chris Brown - "Chris Brown's Journey" (with CD; Jive)
  
• J.J. Cale - "To Tulsa and Back: On Tour With J.J. Cale" (Time Life)
  
• DMX - "Ride or Die" (Allumination)
  
• Extreme - "Videograffitti: The Definitive DVD" (A&M)
  
• John Fogerty - "The Long Road Home in Concert" (Fantasy)
  
• The Gipsy Kings - "Live at Kenmore House in London" (Liberation Entertainment)
  
• Jimi Hendrix/ Otis Redding - "Jimi Plays Monterey/ Shake! Otis at Monterey: The Criterion Collection" (Criterion)
  
• No Doubt - "Live in the Tragic Kingdom" (Interscope)
  
• Rush - "Replay X 3" (three DVDs and one CD; Mercury/ Universal)
  
• Therion - "Celebrators of Becoming" (six DVDs; Nuclear Blast)
  
• UB40 - "Live" (Eagle Vision)
  
• Wu-Tang Clan - "Legend of the Wu-Tang: The Videos" (CMV/ Loud/ RCA/ Legacy)
  
• Neil Young - "Heart of Gold" (two DVDs; Paramount)
  
• Various artists - "Dave Chappelle's Block Party" (widescreen edition also available; Universal)
  
• Various artists - "Monterey Pop: The Criterion Collection" (Criterion)
  

Coming Attractions:

June 20:

• Fefe Dobson - Sunday Love (enhanced; Island)
  Preorder: Sunday Love (Island)
  
• Nelly Furtado - Loose (Geffen)
  Read: "Nelly Furtado Hooks Up With 'Distant Cousin' Timberlake, Emerges With 'Sexy' Song"
  Preorder: Loose (Geffen)
  
• Keane - Under the Iron Sea (Interscope)
  Read: "Keane Nearly Followed Breakthrough With A Breakup"
  Preorder: Under the Iron Sea (Interscope)
  
• Madonna - I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (with DVD; Maverick)
  Preorder: I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (Maverick)
  
• Pearl Jam - Live at Easy Street (J)
  
• Obie Trice - Second Round's on Me (Aftermath)
  Read: "Eminem Denies Retirement Rumors; Currently Hard At Work On Obie Trice LP"
  Preorder: Second Round's on Me (Aftermath)
  

June 27:

• Björk - Surrounded (seven-DualDisc box set; Rhino)
  
• Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer (Vagrant)
  Read: "No Reggae Emo, But New Dashboard LP Owes A Lot To Jamaica"
  Preorder: Dusk and Summer (Vagrant)
  
• Lostprophets - Liberation Transmission (Columbia)
  Read: "Lostprophets Enlist Metallica Producer But Leave 'Chugga-Chugga' Metal Behind"
  Preorder: Liberation Transmission (Columbia)
  

July 4:

• Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways (Lost Highway)
  
• Rise Against - The Sufferer & the Witness (Geffen)
  Buy Now: The Sufferer & the Witness (Geffen)
  
• Hans Zimmer - "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" soundtrack (Disney)
  

• Busta Rhymes
• No Doubt
• Chris Brown
• Shadows Fall
• Sonic Youth

Shakira's <i>Oral Fixation, Vol. 2</i>
Photo: Sony

Shak' Attack: Is speaking English such a sin? You'd think so from the neobiblical artwork adorning Shakira's Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 — she's naked (but tastefully camouflaged by a strand of ivy) and holding an apple in Eve-like fashion. The belly-bending singer's joined by executive producer Rick Rubin, Carlos Santana and Argentinean singer/songwriter Gustavo Cerati on her first English-language album in four years, which resuscitates two tracks from Vol. 1 ("Something" and "The Day and the Time"), questions religion ("How Do You Do") and somehow manages to tackle politics by way of disco ("Timor").

Brownie, You're Doing a Heck of a Job: If you've been holding out for Chris Brown's much-hyped self-titled debut, you can slake your thirst this week, but be aware that there's a DualDisc dropping December 13 with all the fixins: video (for "Run It!"), interview, photos, and live and behind-the-scenes footage. Tracks on both versions include: "Ain't No Way (You Won't Love Me)," "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Poppin'."

Don't Blink: Did Ryan Cabrera's marketing team run out of steam after the September release of You Stand Watching? 'Parently so, as he's eking out a DVD this week that has gone virtually unmentioned. But rest assured, fans, "Live at the Wiltern LG" is here, and it's loaded with your faves: "Let's Take Our Time," "On the Way Down," "Last Night" and even a cover of Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al."

Switcheroo: What could INXS possibly mean by calling their new album Switch? Could it be the switch to new singer J.D. Fortune? The switch from reunited rock stars to reality-TV stars, then back once again, hopefully, to rock stars? The switch from Mercury Records to Epic? The switch from audio content to video content, as facilitated by the DualDisc version? We may never know. ("Rock Star: INXS - the DVD" also drops this week.)

Open Wide: Already have plenty of Dave Matthews Band live material, which now officially constitutes more than half their official catalog? Already have Dave Matthews Band live material from the scenic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado? Well, too bad: Weekend on the Rocks has two CDs and a DVD's worth of tuneage from four nights in September. But wait — there's more. No, seriously. On December 13, DMB release The Complete Weekend on the Rocks, an eight-CD-plus-DVD monstrosity that lives up to its name. It won't be copy protected, either, so fans of the typically bootleg-averse Matthews can go hog wild.

A Dark Day in Hell: Will the Darkness fall on deaf ears? That's the question glam fans have been asking since 2003's shamelessly clichéd Permission to Land was followed by rumors of equally clichéd in-fighting, drugs and breakup. It might not be a good sign that the Brits made their entire One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back available on MySpace prior to release, but they do have a Tenacious-D-worthy video for "One Way Ticket."

French Connection: Les gens behind Nous Non Plus — who actually met at the Rhode Island School of Design — manage to be both bilingual and erotic on their self-named record, which includes "Château," "Tant Pis Pour Toi" and the slightly less frou-frou "Lawnmower Boy." Another indie squad, London's Hot Chip, bring their Europe-released Coming on Strong Stateside and tack on three bonuses: "A-B-C," "Hittin Skittles" and "From Drummer to Driver." (Note: Coming on Strong still does contain "Crap Kraft Dinner" and "Down With Prince.")

Book It: Don't read too much into the title to Diplomats & Friends' "The Book of Hip Hop," which is actually a straight-up DVD featuring Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel. If you're looking for something of the literary variety, turn instead to Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer's multimedia "Drift" package. The DVD showcases the duo's poetry/ improv guitar/ film projection project that has been exhibited in various museums, while the accompanying 112-page volume has poetry by the Sonic Youth guitarist and lots more.

Song Title of the Week:

"Pharmacists of the Sun" (Winechuggers' Grand Rapids)

New Releases:

• Chris Brown - Chris Brown (Jive)
  Read: "Chris Brown Dancing His 'Run It!' Straight Up The Charts"
• The Darkness - One Way Ticket to Hell ... and Back (Atlantic)
• The Greenhornes - Sewed Soles (V2)
• Hot Chip - Coming on Strong (DFA/Astralwerks)
• INXS - Switch (DualDisc same day; Epic)
  Read: "INXS Insist Finding J.D. Was An 'Organic' Process, Think 'Angels Got Together' "
• Master P - Living Legend: Certified D-Boy (Gutter)
• Dave Matthews Band - Weekend on the Rocks (two CDs with DVD; RCA)
• The Mob - The Mob (Frontiers)
• Nous Non Plus - Nous Non Plus (Aeronaut)
• Paradise Lost - Paradise Lost (Abacus)
• Rancid Vat - Rancid Vat vs. the Rest of the World (Steel Cage)
• The Samples - Rehearsing for Life (Apache)
• Shakira - Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (Epic)
• Three - Evocations (Arena Rock)
• Robin Trower - Another Days Blues (V-12)
• Winechuggers - Grand Rapids (Arena Rock)

Reissues and Archival Material:

• Black Oak Arkansas - Live at Royal Albert Hall (DualDisc; S'More Entertainment)
• Rick Danko - Cryin' Heart Blues (Other People's Music)
• Garth Hudson - Our Lady Queen of the Angels (Other People's Music)
• Chris Liebling and Speedy J - Collabs 3000: Metalism (enhanced; Mute)
• Richard Manuel - Whispering Pines: Live at the Getaway 1985 (Other People's Music)
• Kylie Minogue - Showgirl (EMI)
• Ennio Morricone - Crime and Dissonance (two CDs; Ipecac)
• Motörhead - Deaf Forever: The Best of Motörhead (DualDisc; Silverline)
• Pro-Pain - The Best of Pro-Pain (Candlelight)
• Dee Dee Ramone - Zonked! (Other People's Music)

DVDs:

• Black Oak Arkansas - "Live at Royal Albert Hall" (S'More Entertainment)
• Ryan Cabrera - "Live at the Wiltern LG" (Atlantic)
• Caribou - "Marino: The Videos" (Caroline)
• Diplomats & Friends - "The Book of Hip Hop" (Image Entertainment)
• INXS - "Rock Star: INXS - the DVD" (Epic)
• Rainbow - "Legends of Rock: The Ultimate Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
• Lee Ranaldo & Leah Singer - "Drift" (with a book; Plexifilm)
• Todd Rundgren - "Liars Live" (Sanctuary)

Coming Attractions:

December 6:

• Eminem - Curtain Call: The Hits (Aftermath)
  Read: "Slim Shady's Phattest, Brightest Compiled For Eminem Hits LP"
• Korn - See You on the Other Side (Virgin)
  Read: "Korn On New LP: 'Sadness,' 'Anger,' 'Darkness' ... 'Kind Of Perverted' "
• Lindsay Lohan - A Little More Personal (Raw) (Casablanca)
  Read: "Lindsay Lohan Album Preview: It Really Is More Personal"

December 13:

• Beck - Guerolito (remix album; Interscope)
• Bo Bice - Real Thing (DualDisc; RCA)
• Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor - Special Edition (Warner Bros.)

December 20:

• Notorious B.I.G. - Duets (Bad Boy)
  Read: "Biggie Duets LP Features Eminem, Snoop, Tupac, Nas, Ludacris"
• Mary J. Blige - The Breakthrough (Geffen)
  Read: "Mary J. Blige's Breakthrough Is Coming Out This Year After All"
• Jamie Foxx - Unpredictable (DualDisc same day; J)
  Read: "Jamie Foxx Has 'Too Many Drinks,' Samples Charles On New LP"
Related Artists
• Shakira
• Chris Brown
• Ryan Cabrera
• Dave Matthews Band
• INXS
]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1515098/20051128/shakira.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1515098/20051128/shakira.jhtml 28 Nov 2005 08:38:00 EST Hot Chip - One Pure Thought

One Pure Thought

• Artist: Hot Chip
• Label: Astralwerks
• Director: Bevis/Trunk/Charlie
• Album: Made in the Dark
]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1653160&vid=262489 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1653160&vid=262489 4 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EDT Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor

Ready For The Floor

• Artist: Hot Chip
• Label: Astralwerks
• Director: Nima Nourizadeh
• Album: Made in the Dark
]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1653160&vid=207878 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1653160&vid=207878 12 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST Hot Chip - Over and Over

Over and Over

• Artist: Hot Chip
• Label: Astralwerks
• Director: Nima Nourizadeh
• Album: Over and Over
]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1653160&vid=93234 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1653160&vid=93234 22 Jun 2006 12:00:00 EDT