Dashboard Confessional's <I>Dusk and Summer</I>
Photo: Vagrant Records

A Dash of Heartbreak: "Reason to Believe," "Secret's in the Telling," "Rooftops and Invitations" ... yep, sounds like a new Dashboard Confessional album all right. Dusk and Summer took Chris Carrabba three years to create, with help from producers Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan) and Don Gilmore (Avril Lavigne, Duran Duran), so make sure you've got extra Kleenex. If you're in DC's demo, show your student ID at a nearby Best Buy and the disc will only cost you $6.99.

Let's Get Active: Kurupt and Daz Dillinger threw a collar on Snoop Dogg and yanked him onto Cali Iz Active, Tha Dogg Pound's first full-fledged LP since 2001's, er, 2002. While Snoop is considered an official member this time around and has an executive-producer credit, he only crops up on a couple of tracks. Still, spots by Diddy, Ice Cube, Paul Wall, David Banner, Lady of Rage and Nate Dogg should make up for it.

Block Party: Shawnna's got a pretty impressive guest list of her own, especially for a sophomore artist. The Def Jam singer and "You Hear It First" alum coaxed Ludacris, Lil Wayne, Too Short, Syleena Johnson, Bobby Valentino and even her father, blues king Buddy Guy, onto Block Music. Tracks include "Candy Coated," "Lil Daddy What's Good" and the remix of "Gettin' Some," featuring Luda, Wayne and Short.

How to Sum It Up?: Welsh rockers Lostprophets have been around for almost 10 years, but they still seem to have a hard time speaking succinctly. Their third offering, the Bob Rock (Metallica, Mötley Crüe)-produced Liberation Transmission — which has already spawned numerous import versions — features such longwinded titles as "Can't Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won't Save You This Time)," "Broken Hearts, Torn Up Letters and the Story of a Lonely Girl" and "Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances and Messed Up Chances)."

Björk'd: The Icelandic queen has a handful of box sets already out there, and she's keeping her fans Surrounded with a seven-DualDisc chest. Each one is a 5.1 surround-sound update of one studio record — and her recent soundtrack to husband Matthew Barney's "Restraint 9" — plus respective videos for that effort. The brick package is a work of art in and of itself.

Cases of Mistaken Identity: No, that's not Sammie making a comeback this week, even though we recently reported that the R&B crooner is in fact on the rebound. Rather, it's the Sammies, North Carolina's latest rock hopefuls, whose self-titled debut arrives shortly after one of the group's songs was used on ABC Family's "Wildfire." And no, that's not actress Julia Roberts singing on Men & Mascara — it's country/pop artist Julie Roberts, who mulls if she's "Too Damn Young" but finds room to "Smile" on her second effort. Nor is that U.K. luminaries the Coral dishing up Volcano and Heart this week. It's actually Santa Barbara, California's the Coral Sea whose "Look at Her Face" you may have heard on "Grey's Anatomy."

But that is '80s mainstays Warrant getting Born Again with their first full-fledged set of original studio recordings since 1995's Ultraphobic, albeit without Jani Lane singing. And that is Afroman still enjoying the aftereffects of his 2001 hit "Because I Got High" with yet another similarly titled record, Drunk 'n' High.

Getting Saucy: St. Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras and Cinco de Mayo may be behind us, but that's not stopping this week's roster from getting its drink on. Afroman's already buzzing with his aforementioned Drunk 'n' High, and Julie Roberts is "Chasin' Whiskey" on Men & Mascara, but not to be overlooked are the Moonshine Bandits tossing back a few with Bubba Sparxxx, Celly Cel, Jay Tee and others on Prohibition. And needless to say, there's more than a few cocktails being tipped back on Dr. Dre's Chronicles: Death Row Classics, the two-part "Reggae Spring Break" DVD series and, presumably, Rendezvous in Rio by folk-pop singer Michael Franks.

A Docking of the Docs: Three music documentaries of note this week, beginning with "Let's Rock Again," a snapshot of fallen Clash frontman Joe Strummer taken by friend Dick Rude. The set captures Strummer in the 18 months leading up to his death and features interviews and more. "We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen" is a portrait of the influential San Pedro, California, punks and features interviews with Flea, Ian MacKaye, Thurston Moore, Henry Rollins and tons more. "Look at All the Love We Found: Live - A Tribute to Sublime," on the other hand, isn't a documentary of the '90s stalwarts but a chronicle of a tribute gig staged in Los Angeles last year that featured Unwritten Law, Blackalicious, Los Lobos and other amigos. The bonus CD chips in a handful of tracks that didn't appear on last year's audio comp of the same name.

Song Title of the Week:

"Divine Birthrite (Maiden Voyage of the Grape Ape)" from An Albatross' Blessphemy (of the Peace-Beast Feastgiver and the Bear-Warp Kumite)

Other Notables:

Jonah Smith's Jonah Smith: The buzz is strong with this new New Yorker, who's drawing raves for his rich blend of soul and Americana. His eponymous effort was produced by Lee Townsend (Bill Frisell, John Scofield) and boasts "Little Black Angels," "My Morning Scene" and "Dressed in White."

An Albatross' Blessphemy (of the Peace-Beast Feastgiver and the Bear-Warp Kumite): Much fun to be had on the latest opus by the herky-jerky spazz-outs. In addition to the Song Title of the Week, be on the lookout for "Lysergically Yours, My Psychadelic Bride," "Ballad of the Electric Coyote" and a speedy, three-part "epic."

DJ Spooky's DJ Spooky Presents: In Fine Style - 50,000 Volts of Trojan Records!!!: Not so much a new Spooky record as an effort to show how vintage reggae tunes are largely responsible for much of today's club music, the DJ goes overboard with a two-disc set that culls tunes by Lee Perry, Desmond Dekker, Sly and Robbie and many more. A jolt indeed.

New Releases:

• 7L & Esoteric - A New Dope (Babygrande)
  
• A Life Once Lost - Hunter (Ferret)
  
• Afroman - Drunk 'n' High (Siccness)
  
• An Albatross - Blessphemy (of the Peace-Beast Feastgiver and the Bear-Warp Kumite) (Ace Fu)
  
• India.Arie - Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (Universal)
  Buy Now: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (Universal)
  
• Authority Zero - Rhythm and Booze (Suburban Noize)
  
• Baby Ray - Low Rises (Dren)
  
• Balun - Something Comes Our Way (live; Brilliante)
  
• Hector Bambino - Roc la Familia & Hector Bambino "El Father" Present Los Rompe Discotekas (Roc-A-Fella)
  
• David Benoit - Full Circle (Peak)
  
• Big Mike - Keep It Playa (BCD)
  
• Billy Talent - II (Atlantic)
  Buy Now: II (Atlantic)
  
• Bittersweets - The Life You Always Wanted (Virt)
  
• Brand New Heavies - Get Used to It (Delicious Vinyl)
  
• John Brannen - Twilight Tattoo (Sly Dog)
  
• Héctor Buitrago - Conector (Nacional)
  
• Carpathian Forest - F--- You All!!!! (limited edition; Season Mist)
  
• Ray Cash - Cash on Delivery (Gheto-O-Vision/ Columbia)
  
• Gilbert Castellanos - Underground (Seedling)
  
• Catch 22 - Permanent Revolution (Victory)
  Buy Now: Permanent Revolution (Victory)
  
• Cellador - Enter Deception (Metal Blade)
  
• Cephas & Wiggins - Shoulder to Shoulder (Alligator)
  
• Chevreuil - Capoeria (Sickroom)
  
• The City Drive - Always Moving Never Stopping (Red Ink)
  
• The Coral Sea - Volcano and Heart (Hidden Agenda)
  
• Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer (Vagrant)
  Read: "Secrets? Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba Has A Few About Dusk And Summer"
  Buy Now: Dusk and Summer (Vagrant)
  
• Dead Celebrity Status - Blood Music (Bodog)
  
• Kris Delmhorst - Strange Conversation (Signature)
  
• Jesse DeNatale - Soul Parade (Jackpine Social Club)
  
• Dirty on Purpose - Hallelujah Sirens (North Street)
  
• Dirty Rig - Rock Did It (limited edition with bonus DVD; New Media Studio)
  
• Dr. Octagon - The Return of Dr. Octagon (OCD)
  
• Dry Kill Logic - The Magellan Complex (Repossession)
  
• George Duke - In a Mellow Tone (Bizarre Planet)
  
• Four Tet - DJ Kicks (!K7)
  
• Michael Franks - Rendezvous in Rio (Koch)
  
• Good Riddance - My Republic (enhanced; Fat Wreck Chords)
  
• Graf Orlock - Destination Time Yesterday (Level Plane)
  
• Hacienda Brothers - What's Wrong With Right (Proper)
  
• John Lee Hooker Jr. - Cold as Ice (Telarc)
  
• Ray Wylie Hubbard - Snake Farm (Sustain)
  
• Glenn Hughes - Music for the Divine (Frontiers)
  
• iiO - Poetica (Made)
  
• The Illuminati - On Borrowed Time (enhanced; Liquor & Poker)
  
• François K - Frequencies (Wave Music)
  
• Mike Keneally Band - Guitar Therapy Live (Exowax)
  
• Sammy Kershaw - Honky Tonk Boots (Category 5)
  
• Chris Thomas King - Rise (21st Century Blues)
  
• Jeff Lang - Prepare Me Well: An Introduction to Jeff Lang (Telarc)
  
• Lord Jamar - The 5% Album (Babygrande)
  
• Lostprophets - Liberation Transmission (Columbia)
  Read: "Lostprophets Enlist Metallica Producer But Leave 'Chugga-Chugga' Metal Behind"
  Buy Now: Liberation Transmission (Columbia)
  
• Bobby Lyle - Hands On (Heads Up)
  
• Brad Mehldau Trio - House on Hill (Nonesuch)
  
• Metal Church - A Light in the Dark (Steamhammer)
  
• Moonshine Bandits - Prohibition (Independent Music Network)
  
• Tim O'Reagan - Tim O'Reagan (Lost Highway)
  
• John Ottman - "Superman Returns" original score (Rhino)
  
• Person - Entitled (Echelon Productions)
  
• Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental (limited two-CD deluxe edition also available; Rhino)
  Buy Now: Fundamental (Rhino)
  
• Grant-Lee Phillips - Nineteeneighties (Zöe/ Rounder)
  
• Julie Roberts - Men & Mascara (Mercury Nashville)
  
• The Sammies - The Sammies (MoRisen)
  
• Roger Sanchez - Come With Me (Ultra)
  
• The Seventh Cross - Scorched by the Flames of Vengeance (Candlelight)
  
• Shawnna - Block Music (enhanced; Def Jam)
  Buy Now: Block Music (Def Jam)
  
• Kierra KiKi Sheard - This Is Me (special edition also available; EMI Gospel)
  
• Slabz R Us - Mike Moe, Beltway 8 Boys (BCD)
  
• Jonah Smith - Jonah Smith (Relix Records/ Image Entertainment)
  
• DJ Spinna - Intergalactic Soul (Shanachie)
  
• DJ Spooky - DJ Spooky Presents: In Fine Style - 50,000 Volts of Trojan Records!!! (Trojan)
  Buy Now: DJ Spooky Presents: In Fine Style - 50,000 Volts of Trojan Records!!! (Trojan)
  
• Spores - Imagine the Future (Sidecho)
  
• Takeovers - Turn to Red (Fading Captain)
  
• Tha Dogg Pound - Cali Iz Active (Koch)
  Read: "Snoop, Ice Cube, Xzibit Show 'Cali' Love In DPGC Video"
  Buy Now: Cali Iz Active (Koch)
  
• Theatre of Tragedy - Storm (Candlelight)
  
• Wayman Tisdale - Way Up! (Rendezvous)
  
• Warrant - Born Again (Cleopatra)
  Buy Now: Born Again (Cleopatra)
  
• Peter White - Playin' Favourites (Columbia)
  
• Yip-Yip - In the Reptile House (Saf)
  
• Various artists - A Rough Guide to the Music of Iran (World Music Network)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Ian Anderson - The Ian Anderson Collection (two CDs; Fuel)
  
• Shirley Bassey - An Introduction to Shirley Bassey (Fuel)
  
• Debashish Bhattacharya - Calcutta Slide Guitar 3 (limited edition with bonus DVD; Riverboat)
  
• Björk - Surrounded (seven-DualDisc box set; Rhino)
  
• The Church - Sometime Anywhere (Lemon)
  
• Alex De Grassi - Pure Alex De Grassi (Windham Hill)
  
• Dissection - The Somberlain and Storm of the Light's Bane (two CDs each; The End)
  
• Dr. Dre - Chronicles: Death Row Classics (Death Row)
  Buy Now: Chronicles: Death Row Classics (Death Row)
  
• Dub Specialist - Version Dread: 18 Dub Hits From Studio One (Heartbeat)
  
• Michael English - Greatest Hits: In Christ Alone (Curb)
  
• The Flying Burrito Brothers - Airborne/ Flying Again (Acadia)
  
• Judy Garland - The Essential Judy Garland (Capitol)
  
• John Gorka - Pure John Gorka (Windham Hill)
  
• Michael Hedges - Pure Michael Hedges (Windham Hill)
  
• John Holt - I Can't Get You Off My Mind: 18 Greatest Hits at Studio One (Heartbeat)
  
• The Hot Doggers - Surfin' USA (Sundazed)
  
• The Kickstands - Black Boots and Bikes (Sundazed)
  
• B.B. King - Gold (two CDs; Geffen)
  
• The Knights - Hot Rod High (Sundazed)
  
• J.B. Lenoir - An Introduction to J.B. Lenoir (Fuel)
  
• Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction (limited-edition gold disc; Mobile Fidelity)
  
• Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane - The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (two CDs; Riverboat)
  
• Van Morrison - Pay the Devil (deluxe edition with DVD; Lost Highway)
  
• Nightnoise - Pure Nightnoise (Windham Hill)
  
• Lee "Scratch" Perry - An Introduction to Lee Perry (Fuel)
  
• The Rip Chords - Summer U.S.A.! The Best of the Rip Chords (Sundazed)
  
• Sons of the Pioneers - Classic Cowboy Songs (Varèse Sarabande)
  
• The Specials - Greatest Hits (Big Eye)
  
• Dusty Springfield - Gold (two CDs; Hip-O/ UMe)
  
• Cat Stevens - Chronicles (three CDs; A&M/ UMe)
  
• Liz Story - Pure Liz Story (Windham Hill)
  
• Whitesnake - Gold (two CDs; Geffen)
  Buy Now: Gold (Geffen)
  
• Hank Williams Jr. - That's How They Do It in Dixie - The Essential Collection (Curb)
  
• Various artists - 60's Gold (two CDs; Hip-O/ UMe)
  
• Various artists - The New York Sound: From the East Coast to the Future (BGP)
  
• Various artists - Rockin' Bones: 1950s Punk & Rockabilly (four-CD box set; Rhino)
  
• Various Artists - US Vs. UK Punk (Sanctuary)
  
• Various artists - "Dolemite" soundtrack (Relapse)

DVDs:

• The Afro-Cuban All-Stars - "Afro Cuban Legends" (Kultur)
  
• Paul Anka - "Music Man: The Authorized Biography" (White Star)
  
• Chuck Berry - "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" (two DVDs; four-DVD "Ultimate Collector's Edition" also available; Image)
  
• Chamillionaire - "Littles Presents: The East Coast Shakedown" (Best of Block)
  
• Cro-Mags - "Live in the Age of Quarrel (1986-2001)" (Cro-Mags)
  
• Deep Purple - "Music in Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
  
• The Dillinger Escape Plan - Miss Machine: The DVD (Relapse)
  
• Green Day - "The Ultimate Film Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
  
• Jim Jones - "A Day in the Fastlife" (Koch)
  
• Happy Mondays - "Live in Barcelona" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Led Zeppelin - "Music in Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
  
• The Minutemen - "We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen" (two DVDs; Plexifilm)
  
• My Chemical Romance - "Things That Make You Go Mmmm!: An Unauthorized Documentary" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Nico - "All Tomorrow's Parties: Nico Live" (Hep Cat)
  
• Omar & the Howlers - "Bamboozled: Live in Germany" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Marty Robbins - "Music Anthology" (White Star)
  
• The Skeptix - "Live at CBGB's" (Music Video Distributors)
  
• Slade - "Slade Alive!: The Ultimate Critical Review" (Classic Rock Legends)
  
• Slightly Stoopid - "Live in San Diego: November 25 & 26 2005" (Shout! Factory)
  
• The Smiths - "Under Review" (Sexy Intellectual)
  
• Joe Strummer - "Let's Rock Again" (Image)
  
• Richard Thompson - "1000 Years of Popular Music" (one DVD with two CDs; Cooking Vinyl)
  
• Various artists - "Look at All the Love We Found: Live - A Tribute to Sublime" (with CD; Music Video Distributors)
  
• Various artists - "The Montreux Dream - The Story of the Montreux Jazz Festival" (Kultur)
• Various artists - "Reggae Spring Break Pt. 1" and "Pt. 2" (Music Video Distributors)

Coming Attractions:

July 4:

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

July 11:

• Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (Warner Bros.)
  Preorder: Black Holes & Revelations (Warner Bros.)
  
• Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras From the Illinois Album! (Asthmatic Kitty)
  Preorder: The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras From the Illinois Album! (Asthmatic Kitty)
  
• Thom Yorke - The Eraser (XL Recordings)
  Read: "Thom Yorke Records Album Without Radiohead, Rejects 'Solo' Label"
  Preorder: The Eraser (XL Recordings)
  
• Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 22 (Sony)

July 18:

• Alien Ant Farm - Up in the Attic (New Door)
  Preorder: Up in the Attic (New Door)
  
• The Bronx - The Bronx (digipak; Island)
  
• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Don't You Fake It (Virgin)
  Read: "The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus: You Can Call Them Sellouts"

• Dashboard Confessional
• Tha Dogg Pound
• Shawnna
• Lostprophets
• Lord Jamar

Good Charlotte's Joel Madden (file)
Photo: Ralph Notaro/Getty Images

With just four days to go before the big event, Live 8 is still adding artists — and even a concert, finally nailing down a show in the last G8 nation left on its list.

Moscow has joined the roster of shows taking place on Saturday, aimed at pressuring the leaders of the world's eight industrial powers to relieve debt and offer more aid to Africa (see "50 Cent Drops Off Live 8 Bill — But Destiny's Child And Linkin Park Sign On"). The concert in Red Square will be headlined by the Pet Shop Boys, who will be joined by a number of Russian bands, including Bravo, B-2, Moral Code X, Spleen and Valery Sutkin.

Also signing on for the cause is soul legend James Brown, who will perform on July 6 at the free concert in Murrayfield, Scotland, on the first day of the G8 summit in nearby Gleneagles. Brown joins a bill that will also feature Snow Patrol, Travis and Texas, according to a BBC News report.

And the lineup for the Tokyo show at Makuhari Messe has finally been unveiled, with headline spots by Björk and Good Charlotte, joined by Def Tech, Dreams Come True, McFly, Do as Infinity and Rize.

Due to the overwhelming response in England, organizers announced Tuesday (June 28) that they will release another 55,000 tickets for the show in London's Hyde Park. The tickets will give fans the chance to watch the show featuring Coldplay, Paul McCartney, a reunited Pink Floyd and U2 on giant screens (see "Pink Floyd Get Roger Waters For Live 8; Green Day In For Berlin Show"). The addition brings the potential live audience for the show to more than 200,000.

	Watch Live 8 Reports on MTV Overdrive.

Meanwhile, the promoter of the German Live 8 concert — which has been moved from Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to the Siegessäule — is complaining that stingy German companies are not stepping up to support the show, according to Reuters.

"It is a disgrace that German business does not recognize the relevance of this event and has not gotten involved," promoter Marek Lieberberg said of the show featuring Green Day, Brian Wilson and Audioslave. "The German event in Berlin will be financed solely by foreign sponsors, and I find that embarrassing and shocking."

Free concerts will also be held in G8 nations Canada, France, Italy and the U.S. on Saturday, augmented by a concert in Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a smaller show in England featuring African bands.

MTV, mtvU and VH1 will broadcast from Live 8 beginning at noon on Saturday (see "Live 8 Concerts Will Air On MTV, VH1").

Get involved: Learn about the poverty crisis in Africa, the proposed solutions, and how you can help. Plus find all of our coverage of the international Live 8 concerts and more at our thinkMTV Live 8 hub.

• Good Charlotte
• Björk
• Pet Shop Boys
• James Brown
• Snow Patrol

With so much hype surrounding 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin', it's no surprise that bootlegged copies of the album began circulating last week. As a result, its release date was pushed up from February 11 to this Thursday.

The album features the popular tracks "Wanksta" and "In Da Club," plus "Patiently Waiting" with one of the album's Eminem guest spots and "Many Men," a song that addresses 50's "wanted" status.

Detroit blues-rockers Soledad Brothers roll out their third album, Live, produced by the White Stripes' Jack White and featuring a guest drum spot by the other Stripe, Meg. The Pet Shop Boys offer up some remixes on their Disco 3 EP, and DJ Spinna gathers the likes of Jean Grae, Vinia Mojica and Soulive for Here to There.

Saliva, Nickelback, Chevelle and Hoobastank all come together on the "Daredevil" soundtrack, while on the "Shanghai Knights" soundtrack it's the way-back sounds of the Kinks, the Who and the Dave Clark 5.

Out Tuesday, February 4:

• Alabama - In the Mood: Love Songs (RCA)
• All-American Rejects - The All-American Rejects (DreamWorks)
• Antiseen - Noise for the Sake of Noise (TKO)
• Jay Aston - Alive and Well (Angel Air)
• Dave Attell - Skanks for the Memories (Comedy Central)
• Baptist Generals - No Silver/No Gold (Sub Pop)
• Jason Bivins & Ian Davis - Benthic (Family Vineyard)
• Broken Home - Broken Home (Angel Air)
• Burd Early - Leveler (Western Vinyl)
• Bobi Céspedes - Rezos (Six Degrees)
• Ray Charles - Georgia on My Mind (Prism)
• Nick Curran - Doctor Velvet (Blind Pig)
• Daycare Swindlers - This Is No Way to Make a Living (Vile Beat)
• Didjworks - Tranceformation (Nature Beat)
• Dirt Bike Annie - It Ain't Easy Bein' Single (Dirtnap)
• Diva Destruction - Exposing the Sickness (Metropolis)
• DJ Spinna - Here to There (Rapster)
• Drummonds - Pas de Trois (True Life)
• Baxter Dury - Len Parrot's Memorial Lift (Sanctuary)
• Electric Company - It's Hard to Be a Baby (Tigerbeat6)
• Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage (EP, XL/Beggars Banquet)
• Elefant - Gallery Girl (EP, Kemado/Palm Pictures)
• Bill Evans - Big Fun (ESC)
• Farse - Boxing Clever (Moon Ska UK)
• Frukwan - Life (Empire Musicwerks)
• Funky Lowlives - Cartouche (Stereo Deluxe)
• Gentle Giant - Endless Life (United States)
• Glass Candy & the Shattered Theatre - Love Love Love (Troubleman Unlimited)
• The Good Ship - The Good Ship (Orange Twin)
• Grand Ulena - Gateway to Dignity (Family Vineyard)
• Peter Himmelman - My Best Friend Is a Salamander (Liquid 8)
• The Iditarod - The River Nektar (BlueSanct)
• If Thousands - Yellowstone (Chairkickers')
• Jars of Clay - Furthermore — From the Studio, From the Stage (Essential)
• Joan of Arc - So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness (Jade Tree)
• The Juliana Theory - Love (Epic)
• Quincy Jones - Exodus (Prism)
• Jon Langford and His Sadies - Mayors of the Moon (Bloodshot)
• Keen-O - Nobody Knows How and Why (Materiali Sonori)
• Kenny Lee Lewis - Music of the Steve Miller Band (Liquid 8)
• Loveless & Goodnight Trail - Loveless & Goodnight Trail (Sonic Boom)
• Lupine Howl - The Bar at the End of the World (Beggars Banquet)
• Harry Manx & Kevin Breit - Jubilee (Northern Blues)
• Johnny Marr + the Healers - Bloomslang (iMusic)
  Read: "Ex-Smiths Guitarist Follows Dream Snake, Finds His Voice"
• The Marsalis Family - A Jazz Celebration (Marsalis Music)
• Mixtwitch - Smile for the Money Shot (Moon Ska UK)
• moe. - Wormwood (iMusic)
• Polly Moller - Diogenes (Silver Wheel)
• Mortification - Blood World (Acts 26)
• Moving Units - Moving Units (EP, Palm Pictures)
• Nada Surf - Let Go (Barsuk)
• New Wet Kojak - This Is the Glamorous (Beggars Banquet)
• Faris Nourallah - I Love Faris (Western Vinyl)
• Billy Ocean - On the Run (Planet Media)
• The Orb - Back to Mine (Razor & Tie)
• Oswald - "Pop Goes the Octopus" soundtrack (Nick/Jive)
• Pet Shop Boys - Disco 3 (EP, Sanctuary)
• Ian Pooley - Excursions (Obsessive)
• Suzi Quatro - Wake Up Little Suzi (Go)
• Trevor Rabin - Live in L.A. (United States)
• Radioactive Man - Fabric 08 (Fabric)
• Reunion - Re (Sonar Kollektiv)
• Savoy Brown - Strange Dreams (Blind Pig)
• Blake Shelton - The Dreamer (Warner Bros.)
• Since by Man - We Sing the Body Electric (Revelation)
• Sister Hazel - Chasing Daylight (Universal)
• Snog - Beyond the Valley of the Proles (Metropolis)
• Soledad Brothers - Live (Dim Mak)
• Stiffed - Sex Sells (Cool Hunter)
• Storm - The Unpredictable Amalgamation (Orpheus)
• Subb - Daylight Saving (Stomp)
• The Sun - Love & Death (EP, Warner Bros.)
• Surgin' - Tokyo Rose (Zoom Club)
• Keith Sweat - Live (Elektra)
• Tank - Still at War (Zoom Club)
• Tiga - DJ Kicks (K7)
• Tigersmilk - Tigersmilk (Family Vineyard)
• Uncurbed - Chords for Freedom (Sound Pollution)
• Undead - First Worst & Cursed (Bacchus)
• Ral Partha Vogelbacher - Kite vs. Obelisk (Megalon)
• Walkabouts - Drunken Soundtracks: Lost Songs (Glitterhouse)
• Rick Wakeman - Live (United States)
• Dionne Warwick - Dionne Sings Dionne (Empire)
• Whitmore - Smoke the Roach (Moon Ska UK)
• Wiggles - Magical Adventure: A Wiggly Adventure (Lyons Group)
• Tony Williams - Wilderness (reissue, Ark 21)
• Frank Zappa - For Collectors Only (Go)
• Various artists - 60 Classic Punk Tracks (Simply the Best)
• Various artists - Acoustic Coffee House: A Tribute to Elvis (Reverberations)
• Various artists - Being Black (Spun)
• Various artists - Breathe: The Bluegrass Tribute to the Dave Matthews Band Vol. 2 (CMH)
• Various artists - Chillout: Adventures in Leisure (Vitamin)
• Various artists - Cuba Cha Cha Cha (Orfeon)
• Various artists - Cuba Live: Recorded Live in Cuba (Rounder)
• Various artists - Daredevil: The Album (Wind-Up)
• Various artists - Disney's Princess Sing-Along Album (Disney)
• Various artists - "Gods and Generals" soundtrack (Sony Classical)
• Various artists - Gypsy Swing: The Nashville Tribute to Django Reinhardt (CMH)
• Various artists - Jungle Book 2 (Disney)
• Various artists - Keep on the Sunny Side: Bluegrass Salutes the Carter Family (CMH)
• Various artists - Pure Trance (Varese)
• Various artists - Real Americana (Lakeshore)
• Various artists - "Shanghai Knights" soundtrack (Hollywood)
• Various artists - The String Quartet Tribute to Jane's Addiction (Vitamin)
• Various artists - The String Quartet Tribute to Nirvana (Vitamin)
• Various artists - Tribute to Staind (Big Eye)
• DVD: The Blood Brothers - Jungle Rules Live (ARTISTdirect)
• DVD: Judy Collins - Live at Wolf Trap (Pioneer Entertainment)
• DVD: Widespread Panic - Live From the Backyard in Austin, TX (Sanctuary/Widespread)

February 6:

• 50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin' (Interscope)
  Read: "50 Cent's Album Hitting Stores Sooner Than Planned"
  Buy Now: Get Rich or Die Tryin' (Interscope)

March 4:

• Cursive - Ugly Organ (Saddle Creek)
• Fabolous - Street Dreams (Elektra)
• Hootie & the Blowfish - Hootie & the Blowfish (Atlantic)
• Lil' Kim - La Bella Mafia (Atlantic)
• Special Goodness - Land Air Sea (Control Group)
• Voivod - Voivod (Navarre)
  Read: "Jason Newsted Says His New Band Can Kick Metallica's Ass"

March 11:

• Various artists - Punk Goes Acoustic (Fearless)

March 18:

• Buzzcocks - Buzzcocks (Merge)

March 25:

• Celine Dion - One Heart (Sony)
• Linkin Park - Meteora (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Linkin Park Discuss Meteora, Plan Surreal Video"

• 50 Cent
• Johnny Marr
• Pet Shop Boys
• Jars of Clay
• Nada Surf

Pet Shop Boys
Photo: Sire

Eminem is portrayed as a homosexual in a new song by the Pet Shop Boys.

"The Night I Fell in Love," from the synth-pop duo's Release, due April 23, tells the story of a homosexual boy who falls in love with a rap star backstage at his concert and follows him to a hotel room for a "private performance."

The slow-grooving song does not reference Eminem or his Slim Shady or Marshall Mathers monikers, but the lyrics clearly spell out the star's identity.

"I said we could be secret lovers/ Just him and me," Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant sings on the tune. "Then he joked/ Hey man, your name isn't Stan, is it?/ We should be together." A later verse says, "I asked why have I heard so much about you being charged with homophobia and stuff, and he just shrugged."

Tennant, who is homosexual, said in a statement that if Eminem's music is going to be provocative, he is going to be provocative back.

"Eminem's defense of the homophobic lyrics on his albums has always been that he's not speaking as himself, he's speaking as a character, and he's representing homophobia in America," Tennant explained. "I thought it would be quite interesting to take that method and just to imagine a scene where a boy meets a famous rap star backstage at his concert and is surprised to discover he's gay and ends up sleeping with him. Just to present rap in this homosexual context. I mean, there obviously are gay rap stars."

Eminem was not available for comment, but MTV News played "The Night I Fell in Love" for his mentor and producer, Dr. Dre, who is referenced in a line from the song: "We joked about Dre and his homies."

"We needed another song anyway," Dre joked. "They just gave us a concept. Oh my God. I hope they can stand the backlash. That's funny as hell."

Although it is possible The Eminem Show, due June 4 (see "The Doc's Diagnosis: Eminem Still Crazy"), will have a retaliatory track from the rapper — he's gone after everyone from Britney Spears to Limp Bizkit in the past — Tennant was not intending to start a war of words. "I like Eminem's records," he said. "I think he's brilliant."

Release is the eighth studio album from the Pet Shop Boys, who are perhaps best known for their first single, 1985's "West End Girls." The duo's new record, which features former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr on several tracks, strays a bit from their signature style.

"The sounds we've used aren't really dance sounds," Pet Shop Boys' Chris Lowe said. "We found that the songs that we liked the most that we'd written weren't really dancey, and, having made that decision not to take dance elements, it was very liberating in terms of songwriting. It gave us a lot more freedom to experiment."

The Pet Shop Boys will kick off a tour in support of Release on May 14 in Miami.

Pet Shop Boys tour dates, according to their publicist:

• 5/14 - Miami, FL @ Jackie Gleason Theater
• 5/15 - Melbourne, FL @ Maxwell C. King Center
• 5/16 - Altanta, GA @ DeKalb Atlanta Center
• 5/18 - Washington, DC @ Nation
• 5/19 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
• 5/21 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
• 5/22 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
• 5/23 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
• 5/25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
• 5/26 - Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
• 5/27 - Detroit, MI @ State Theatre
• 5/28 - Chicago, IL @ Rivera Theatre
• 5/30 - Denver, CO @ Auditorium Theatre
• 6/1 - Dallas, TX @ Bronco Bowl
• 6/2 - Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater
• 6/4 - San Diego, CA @ Copley Symphony Hall
• 6/5 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
• 6/7 - Los Angeles, CA @ Universal Amphitheatre
• 6/8 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
• 6/9 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

For a full-length interview with Dr. Dre, check out "Dr. Dre: At Home In The Studio."

— Corey Moss, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway

• Pet Shop Boys
• Eminem
• Dr. Dre

Brandy, Babyface, the Village People, KC & the Sunshine Band and A Taste of Honey have been added to the list of performers to be featured on "American Bandstand's 50th ... A Celebration!," joining Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Cher, Alanis Morissette and KISS. The special, to air May 3 on ABC, will also include appearances by 'NSYNC, Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Jennifer Lopez and Whitney Houston, and an all-star band featuring Little Richard, the Go-Gos' Jane Wiedlin, the Bangles' Susanna Hoffs and Debbi Peterson, Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood, Leif Garrett, Spinal Tap's Michael McKean and others. ... 'NSYNC has another TV appearance in store before then, as their IMAX movie, "'NSYNC: Bigger Than Live," is set to air April 25 on the WB network. The hour-long special, which documents their No Strings Attached tour, features hits such as "Bye Bye Bye," band interviews, and the guys' dance moves captured by seven different camera angles. ...

Xzibit, Ice-T, Kurupt, Tha Liks, Ras Kass and former members of Zapp are among the performers scheduled to honor late funk king Roger Troutman at "An Evening of Still More Bounce: The Celebration" in Los Angeles on April 25, the third anniversary of Troutman's death. Still More Bounce: A Tribute to Roger Troutman is due May 14 and features the above artists along with Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Defari and Chico Debarge, who is hosting the April 25 tribute. ... Jennifer Lopez has inked a three-year first-look feature film development deal for her Nuyorican Productions company through Columbia Pictures, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Both J. Lo's label, Epic Records, and Columbia are owned by Sony. ...

Mary J. Blige canceled a concert scheduled to take place Tuesday in Milan in response to warnings of possible terrorist threats against U.S. citizens in several Italian cities, according to the Associated Press. ... Pet Shop Boys will hit the road next month for a 20-date North American tour to promote their latest album, Release, due April 23. The outing kicks off May 14 in Miami and stops in New York City for three shows (May 21-23) before wrapping with a two-night stint in San Francisco on June 8 and 9. ... Mark "Marky Mark" Wahlberg will next feel the cinematic vibrations in the actioner "The Italian Job," which will be directed by former video auteur F. Gary Gray ("Friday," "Set It Off"), according to Variety. ...

Patti Smith was forced to revise her spring touring plans after Jay Dee Daugherty, her drummer for 27 years, was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Daugherty's leg was crushed when he was hit by a motorist making an illegal turn, and he isn't expected to recover fully until late summer. ... Former Squeeze frontman Glenn Tilbrook has lined up a tour of the U.S. in support of his first solo album, The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook. Kicking off at McNears Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, California, on Friday (April 12), the tour will hit Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Toronto and New York City before wrapping up in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 27. ... Timo Maas supporting his recently released debut studio album Loud with a five-week tour beginning May 3 in San Francisco and ending June 9 in Boston. MC Chickaboo, who appears on Maas' latest single, "Shifter," will accompany the German DJ on the trek. ...

04.10.02

Alicia Keys is thinking about her next album. The five-time Grammy winner will start writing the LP in July, she said at Urban Aid 2 in New York on Tuesday. ... Guitarist Aaron Kamin returned to duty with the Calling Tuesday in Melbourne, Australia, after suffering a severe electric shock during sound check in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 4 that forced the group to cancel that evening's show. In a post on the band's Web site, singer Alex Band said Kamin was "pale as a ghost" after receiving the jolt and "had gotten the strings of the guitar melted in the palm of his hand and fingers." ...

"The Kingpin" of New York radio, Funkmaster Flex, is readying his new album, 60 Minutes of Funk, Volume 5: The Mixtape for release sometime this year. "I always go for the big dogs: DMX, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, Fat Joe. Those are the people I wanna have, and those are the people I'm going to continue to have," he said on Tuesday. ... Blink-182 fans will get an even closer look at the band on May 7 when the group releases the home video "Urethra Chronicles II: Harder Faster Faster Harder," the sequel to 1999's "Urethra Chronicles." The package will include interviews, tour highlights and videos for "The Rock Show," "First Date" and the original version of "Stay Together for the Kids," featuring footage of a wrecking ball slamming into a house which was removed by the group's label after the events of September 11. ...

Counting Crows' Adam Duritz appears on "Songs About You" from former Dogs Eye View singer Peter Stuart's first solo album, Propeller, which is available at his official Web site, www.peterstuart.com. ... Goo Goo Dolls have announced a handful of dates for their upcoming tour in support of their latest release, Gutterflower. The outing thus far kicks off in Long Beach, California, on Saturday and finishes up in Chicago on May 29. ...

"Top Dog/Underdog," a play by Suzan-Lori Parks which features Mos Def in a starring role, was awarded the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for drama. ... Rufus Wainwright has a cameo role in the April 30 episode of NBC's "Frasier." Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the romantic crooner will be disappointed, however — only Wainwright's voice takes the spotlight, as he plays a teenage boy named Jeremy who phones in to Dr. Crane's radio show. ...

Ill Niño frontman Cristian Machado is featured as a guest vocalist on "One," a track from Soulfly's next album, III, due June 25. ... The Violent Femmes are reissuing their 1983 self-titled debut, which featured time-tested classics such as "Blister in the Sun" and "Kiss Off," as a double-CD set, according to the Los Angeles Times. The second disc will feature 26 tracks, 23 of which have never been released.

• Brandy
• Xzibit
• *NSYNC
• Jennifer Lopez
• Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boys
Photo: Sire

Music fans wondering "What's a Wotapalava?" will have to wait until next year to find out. The gay-themed summer touring festival has canceled 18 shows this July and August because organizers were unable to find an appropriate high-profile headliner, according to the tour's publicist.

Originally, Sinéad O'Connor had agreed to take top billing, but on May 30 she dropped off the tour because of "unforeseeable family commitments." After spending a month searching for a replacement, Pet Shop Boys member and Wotapalava founder Neil Tennant postponed the event, which was suffering from poor ticket sales, until next year.

"We have made this decision with the greatest of reluctance," Tennant said in a statement. "But it seems impossible to proceed without a complete lineup of artists. We look forward to coming to America next year." In addition to O'Connor, the festival was scheduled to feature Pet Shop Boys, Soft Cell, the Magnetic Fields and Rufus Wainwright on its main stage. A second stage would have included DJs such as Junior Vasquez and Danny Tenaglia.

• Pet Shop Boys
• Sinéad O'Connor
• Soft Cell
• Magnetic Fields
• Rufus Wainwright

Pet Shop Boys
Photo: Sire

Just in time for their Wotapalava festival tour, Pet Shop Boys will reissue five of their studio albums with full-length bonus CDs of remixes, alternate versions and unreleased material.

Each of the July 3 reissues — Please (1986), Actually (1987), Introspective (1988), Behavior (1990) and Very (1993) — will include a disc titled Further Listening and a 36-page booklet with lyrics and descriptions of every song by Pet Shop Boys Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe. Bonus tracks include the Introspective-era "Nothing Has Been Proved" and "So Sorry, I Said," unreleased demos of tunes later recorded by Dusty Springfield and Liza Minnelli, respectively. The Very bonus disc features a live version of Blur's "Girls and Boys." With a new studio album in the works for 2002, Pet Shop Boys will embark on the gay-themed Wotapalava tour on July 13 with Rufus Wainwright, the Magnetic Fields and others (see "Sinead O'Connor, Pet Shop Boys Tour In Wotapalava Festival"). Sinéad O'Connor dropped out of the tour days after it was announced, citing family commitments.

• Pet Shop Boys

Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant  
Photo: EMI

Pet Shop Boys member Neil Tennant has announced the dates for his Wotapalava festival, which will feature his band along with Sinéad O'Connor, Soft Cell, Rufus Wainwright and Magnetic Fields.

The 17-date amphitheatre tour will begin July 13 in Miami's Bayfront Amphitheatre and zigzag across the country to conclude August 11 at Woodlands Pavilion in Houston.

The antithesis of Ozzfest, Wotapalava — an English expression meaning "what a fuss about nothing" — is a gay-themed event sponsored by PlanetOut.com and Gay.com. One dollar from each Wotapalava ticket, which range in price from $40 to $70, will benefit a national gay-advocacy group and local charities (to be announced later).

"Wotapalava will be a celebration of individuality and the freedom to be what you want to be," Tennant said in a statement. "This is not exclusively an issue of sexuality. It's about having the power to live as you want." Beside the main performances, Wotapalava will feature a second stage of lesser-known, yet-to-be-announced acts. Following the headliners' final encores, the event will turn into an after-hours dance party featuring renowned club DJs.

Busy as they've been organizing Wotapalava, Pet Shop Boys have found time to write the music and lyrics for "Closer to Heaven," a West End musical that opens May 31 at the Arts Theatre in London. Wotapalava dates, according to the event's publicist:

• 7/13 - Miami, FL @ Bayfront Amphitheatre
• 7/15 - Atlanta, GA @ HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
• 7/18 - Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach Amphitheatre
• 7/20 - Boston, MA @ FleetBoston Pavilion
• 7/21 - Washington, DC @ Merriweather Post
• 7/22 - Holmdel, NJ @ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
• 7/25 - Burgettstown, PA @ Post-Gazette Pavilion
• 7/27 - Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheatre
• 7/28 - Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
• 7/29 - Tinley Park, IL @ Tweeter Center
• 7/31 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
• 8/3 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
• 8/4 - Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
• 8/5 - Chula Vista, CA @ Coors Amphitheatre
• 8/8 - Dallas, TX @ Smirnoff Music Centre
• 8/10 - Schertz, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
• 8/11 - Houston, TX @ Woodlands Pavilion

• Pet Shop Boys
• Sinéad O'Connor
• Soft Cell
• Rufus Wainwright
• Magnetic Fields

Oasis'<BR>Liam Gallagher
Photo: Sony/Epic

Oasis and the Pet Shop Boys have agreed to donate their performance fees from this summer's tragic Roskilde Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark, to several international charities and to efforts to increase safety precautions at other music festivals.

A portion of the bands' performance fees, minus expenses, will be used to "improve safety at future festivals," according to a joint statement issued by Oasis, the Pet Shop Boys and Roskilde organizers that was posted on each of their official Web sites Monday (December 18).

The two bands had been slated to play Roskilde on July 1, but they dropped out after nine concertgoers were fatally injured during a stampede and melee in front of the stage during Pearl Jam's set June 30.

Shortly after the festival ended, a dispute broke out between Roskilde chief Leif Skov on one side, and the Pet Shop Boys and Oasis on the other, over the fees the bands were to receive for performing at the show.

Skov would not pay any of the bands that failed to perform at the concert, choosing instead to donate the fees to a special fund to aid the families of those who died, The Copenhagen Post reported July 5.

At the time, Skov said he expected the bands to file suit to collect their full fees, which they would have been able to do contractually, had police authorities chosen to suspend the festival prior to their performances, which they did not.

Despite the June 30 tragedy, several other acts — including the Rollins Band, Flaming Lips, Femi Kuti and Chumbawamba — chose to perform as scheduled July 1.

The Pet Shop Boys already had received half of their agreed fee, while Oasis had yet to be paid anything, according to the Post. Skov refused to release details of the fees, describing them only as a "considerable amount." An American rep for Oasis reached Monday did not know the amount the group was to receive for playing Roskilde, or how much of that money would be donated to the various charities.

Roskilde Festival spokespersons were unavailable to comment at press time.

The money likely will go to the Roskilde Tragedy 2000 Fund, which has been established by the festival's organizers to develop health and safety measures for handling large crowds at music concerts and other cultural events.

The rest of Oasis' and the Pet Shop Boys' fees also will be divided among five groups: War Child, which aids children in war zones and refugee camps; the SOS Children's Village, which provides homes for orphaned and destitute children; Freemuse, which advocates and supports artists' freedom of expression worldwide; The Hunger Site, a click-to-donate Web site that provides food via the Mercy Corps and America's Second Harvest; and Human Rights Watch, which is dedicated to protecting human rights around the world.

The 2001 Roskilde Festival is scheduled for June 28 through July 1.

Oasis — whose latest release, the live double album Familiar to Millions, has sold only 20,000 copies in the U.S. to date — hopes not to see a repeat of the Roskilde tragedy during the band's series of South American festival dates in mid-January.

Oasis will take the stage at Brazil's massive Rock in Rio concert January 14, just prior to Guns N' Roses' scheduled set. Oasis then will travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to play alongside Neil Young at the Hot Festival on January 18, followed by an appearance at the Caracas Music Festival in Venezuela on January 21.

Oasis are mulling tentative plans for a U.S. summer 2001 tour with the Black Crowes, although dates and venues have yet to be lined up.

• Oasis
• Pet Shop Boys

The Pet Shop Boys got some good news this holiday season as the British duo reportedly accepted an undisclosed amount in its libel suit against author Roger Scruton.

• Pet Shop Boys