Paris Hilton's <I>Paris</I>
Photo: Warner Bros.

If "Stars Are Blind" whetted your appetite for more Paris Hilton music, get ready to have your patience tested. Fans — and curious observers — will have to wait two more weeks to get their hands on Hilton's debut album, Paris. The disc, previously set for August 8 release, has been pushed back to August 22. ...

A $1.5 million breach-of-contract lawsuit has been filed against Beyoncé, her mother/manager Tina Knowles and Wear Me Apparel Corp, the company Knowles is collaborating with for her House of Dereon clothing line. Icon Entertainment CEO Greg Walker filed the suit in New York State Supreme Court Wednesday, claiming he has not been fully paid for securing the $15 million deal between Knowles and Wear Me Apparel. ...

Britney Spears followed up her mysterious May 22 poem "Remembrance of Who I Am" with a new message in the "Stream of Consciousness" section of her Web site. "In some ways, people are like animals," Spears wrote in a post titled "Tigers." "We all hunger for the same things: Love, lust, danger, warmth and adventure." Spears explains her fascination with tigers in the note posted Tuesday, leading off with a quote from the William Blake poem "The Tyger" before revealing, "I'm mesmerized by tigers. Their eyes, their stripes, their constant quest for survival. ... They pull you in and make it difficult to look away." ...

Remy Ma has been added to the lineup for Jamaica's Saddle to the East 2006, and she'll be bringing dancehall DJ Bounty Killer along for the ride. Elephant Man, Green Lantern, Wayne Wonder and others are also slated for the August 26 event, which will benefit Upliftment Jamaica, a nonprofit that provides health, education and social services for the country's impoverished parishes. ... A Jane's Addiction compilation titled Up From the Catacombs will land in stores on September 19. The disc will feature 16 cuts, all plucked from the band's discography — there will be no fresh or unreleased tracks on the record. Look for it to include the songs "Been Caught Stealing," "Summertime Rolls," "Classic Girl," "Three Days" and "Just Because." ...

Haley Joel Osment, 18, was hospitalized early Thursday (July 20) after his car hit a brick pillar and flipped over, The Associated Press reports. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the actor, who was alone and driving a 1995 Saturn, apparently lost control of the car while driving through a Los Angeles suburb at 1 a.m. Osment was conscious and talking after the crash and was taken to a hospital near the site of the accident. ... Two days after the U.K.'s National Enquirer retracted published reports that Britney Spears' marriage to Kevin Federline was in trouble, the tabloid offered an undisclosed payment to settle a libel suit filed by Kate Hudson, the AP reports. Hudson sued the Enquirer over an October story that stated the actress was "way too thin" and that her mother, Goldie Hawn, planned to confront her about her weight. Publisher American Media Inc. also acknowledged in a London court Thursday that the allegations were false and agreed to print an apology. ...

Jessica Biel promised she's a "cheap date" — good news for the man who forked over $30,000 Tuesday night to take her to lunch. Biel volunteered her company in an auction to raise money for Colorado teen Molly Bloom, who lost her left leg in a prom night limousine accident, The Rocky Mountain News reports. The winning bid came from a Denver businessman who would only identify himself as "John." ... Harmony for Humanity, the fifth annual edition of Daniel Pearl World Music Days, will be held October 6-15. The event, named after and inspired by the journalist who was kidnapped and killed in Pakistan in 2002, aims to unite musicians in a network of concerts promoting hope and solidarity. The World Music Days committee includes R.E.M., Elton John and Russell Simmons. Head to music-days.org for more information on how you can take part in the Harmony for Humanity event. ...

Recent "You Hear It First" band Dirty on Purpose kicked off a summer tour in support of their debut album, Hallelujah Sirens this week. The 29-date trek hits North Manchester, Indiana, on Thursday and wraps up August 29 in Washington, D.C. ... The reunited Murder City Devils join Pretty Girls Make Graves, Band of Horses, Minus the Bear and Helio Sequence among the bands on the lineup for Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party. The two-day event kicks off July 29 at 3 p.m. For directions and ticket information, head to CapitolHillBlockParty.com. ... The Veils have posted "Advice to Young Mothers to Be," the first single from their upcoming album Nux Vomica, at MySpace.com/theveils. The band is currently touring Europe. ... Former Village People policeman Victor Willis pleaded no contest to drug possession charges Wednesday, the AP reports. Willis, who was arrested in March — and already faced a bench warrant for failing to appear for an October sentencing for another drug charge — will remain in custody until September 1, at which time a judge will decide whether the singer should be sentenced to prison or a residential drug treatment program.

07.19.2006

August 20 is going to be a big night for Kevin Federline. Britney Spears' rapper/dancer husband will make his network-television performance debut on Teen Choice 2006, closing the awards show with "Lose Control" from his upcoming Playing With Fire album. Jessica Simpson, who is up for three Teen Choice prizes, will be co-hosting the show with "Employee of the Month" co-star Dane Cook. The event will air live on Fox. Teen Choice votes are being accepted until August 11 at TeenPeople.com. ...

T.I. has signed on for another film role, and this time the rapper/actor will be playing a used-car salesman. The movie, tentatively titled "For Sale," will be the first film project from T.I.'s Grand Hustle Entertainment, Variety reports. It's set at an unpopular used-car lot in Atlanta. ...

Tired of the theme song to Showtime's pot-centric series "Weeds"? Perhaps star Mary-Louise Parker was too. The show's opening tune, "Little Boxes," will be reinterpreted each week of its upcoming second season by different artists, including Death Cab for Cutie, Elvis Costello, Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis, Tim DeLaughter of the Polyphonic Spree, Regina Spektor and Ozomatli. Guests on the second season — which kicks off August 14 — will include Zooey Deschanel and Snoop Dogg, who will star as himself and record a song about smoking on the show. ... The All-American Rejects announced Tuesday that they are canceling the remainder of their Canadian tour — which included shows in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver — after doctors ordered frontman Tyson Ritter to rest his voice. The band hopes that a week off the road will help Ritter's throat, and the Rejects intend to play their next scheduled show, a July 26 gig at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California. They made the announcement via a post on their Web site and concluded by pledging to make up the Canadian dates "later this year." ... Los Angeles is the place to be Saturday if you're an electronic-music fan. Paul Oakenfold, the Crystal Method, Deep Dish, John Digweed, Christopher Lawrence and other big names will be taking over four city blocks downtown from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. the following morning. Ten thousand attendees are expected for the five-stage Giant Village block party. ...

Hot Hot Heat have been added to the roster for this year's Hedgpeth Festival, set to take place July 28 and July 29 in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Primus and the Flaming Lips are headlining. ... KT Tunstall has lined up a two-month North American headlining tour, which kicks off September 8 in Philadelphia and will hit cities including Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Nashville and Cincinnati before finishing up October 11 in Providence, Rhode Island. Tunstall will be featured on the PBS music series "Soundstage" on July 27. ... Former Savage Garden singer Darren Hayes wed his boyfriend of two years last month in a civil union in London, he announced on his Web site Monday. "As so many of you have given me your heart and soul over the past 10 years I thought it only fitting that I too return the respect and inform you of the most significant event in my life," Hayes wrote. He called June 19, the day of the ceremony, his "happiest day." ... There certainly are a lot of people out there who can relate to Daniel Powter's rotten 24 hours. The Canadian singer/songwriter's label announced that "Bad Day" has become the best-selling digital single in the U.S. to date, with nearly 1.7 million downloads. Powter kicked off his first U.S. tour Monday. ... Ashlee Simpson is stepping into the shoes of Christina Aguilera and Carrie Underwood — as a spokesperson for Skechers footwear. Simpson, who will promote the line through 2007, says she has something in common with the shoes. "Like me, they are not afraid of taking chances and having fun." ...

Ozzy Osbourne leads a panel of artists and music-industry players presiding over the sixth annual Independent Music Awards. Cyndi Lauper, Buddy Guy, Fatboy Slim, Afrika Bambaataa, Beenie Man, Tim Panotta of Sugarcult and Paul Oakenfold are among the judges for the competition, which honors achievements in genres from heavy metal to gospel. This year marks the first Sing Out for Social Action prize, awarded to politically conscious performers. Entry forms for interested musicians are available at IndependentMusicAwards.com. Submissions are due by August 25. ... The governor of Arkansas is preparing to pardon Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards for a 31-year-old reckless driving charge, The Associated Press reports. Richards was pulled over July 5, 1975, and paid a $162 fine. A clemency petition has been filed and now Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who plays bass in a band called Capitol Offense, will have the option of wiping Richards' record clean in 30 days. ... Pacific Northwest indie rockers Band of Horses have announced a fall U.S. tour. The 24-date trek kicks off in their hometown of Seattle on July 28, hits New York a whopping four times and finishes off back in Seattle for a two-night stand at the Showbox on November 4 and 5.

• Paris Hilton
• Britney Spears
• Russell Simmons
• R.E.M.
• Dirty on Purpose

LL Cool J’s <i>Todd Smith</i>
Photo: Def Jam

Cool as Ice: He's been there, back, there again and back again a few more times, but LL Cool J apparently still wants all the help he can get. The guest list for his Todd Smith LP speaks to the hip-hop icon's impressive stature: Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Teairra Marí, 112, Ginuwine, Freeway, Lyfe, Ryan Roby, Mary Mary and Juelz Santana. That's not to mention producers Jermaine Dupri, the Neptunes, Scott Storch and Bink. Or the extra boost Ne-Yo gives LL with a bonus-track remix of the up-and-comer's "So Sick." Or Jesus, L.A. Reid and his barbers Jay and John, all of whom get props (and with respect to Christ, they are mad props indeed) in the credits.

Judas Mae C a Cutie?: Looking for some indie pop and a few tips on how to shoot a short film? Look no further than Death Cab for Cutie's "Directions" DVD, which is rife with videos — one for each track on the band's recent Plans, plus clips for two unissued cuts — as well as director's instructions, commentary, behind-the-scenes action, original sketches, alternate endings and production stills (each video has at least one bonus feature). The band enlisted a crew of rookie directors to handle the clips, although noted auteur Lance Bangs is the one behind "Talking Like Turnstiles."

L.A. punks the Mae Shi are going a similar route with their first DVD, "Lock the Skull, Load the Gun," for which they enlisted a fleet of art students and friends to direct 32 videos. Their video disc also has a documentary surrounding their Celebration tour, including footage of house parties, bar mitzvahs and other joyous shindigs.

The tone is just slightly more somber on Pimp C's "Pimptaliation" DVD, which, despite the funny title, documents the rapper trying to get back on his feet after being released from jail. Lightening the mood a little are Young Jeezy, Scarface, Lil' Flip and Pimp C's erstwhile UGK bud Bun B, all of whom head to the studio to record with C.

But who's more preoccupied with "breaking the law" than Judas Priest? The metal gods' "Live Vengeance '82" was tucked into limited runs of their 2004 Metalogy box set, but now the video's seeing a proper release as a standalone disc bursting with concert takes of "Screaming for Vengeance," "The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)" and "Living After Midnight."

Eagles Have Landed ... Again: Some of the new Eagles of Death Metal songs on Death by Sexy sound harmless (and hilarious) enough — "Cherry Cola," "The Ballad of Queen Bee and Baby Duck" — but rest assured, the so-called Dream Boys do have an ulterior motive (see for reference some other Sexy songs, like "I Gotta Feeling [Just Nineteen]" and "Bag O' Miracles"). The LP was recorded in 12 days by Eagles drummer Josh Homme (a.k.a. Carlo Von Sexron, J. Ho or, most recently, Baby Duck) and his Queens of the Stone Age amigo Alain Johannes.

Trackin' All Over the World: Everyone seems to be taking matters into their own hands this week. Ex-Nine Inch Nails drummer Jerome Dillon wrote, produced, performed and arranged almost every note of his new project Nearly's debut, Reminder. Based on a dream that haunted Dillon and broken into three four-song "movements," the record was laid to tape across the globe, from a hotel room in Amsterdam to a beach in Australia.

Another recent globe-trotter is Mr. Anonymous — better known as onetime Samples drummer Jeep MacNichol — who headed to Kingston, Jamaica, three times to craft his eponymous debut. There he hooked up with Sly and Robbie, Bounty Killer and members of Black Uhuru and the English Beat, who helped MacNichol "hang out under the palm trees ... and write lyrics all afternoon."

And there's good reason why the title to the latest effort by Paris' Gotan Project — Lunático — doesn't sound especially French. Not content recording around their villa natale, the quartet hauled its production equipment to Buenos Aires' Studio ION, a throne usually reserved for tango nobility. Ushering in some top Argentinean talent, GP also tapped Calexico for the first jingle, "Amor Porteno."

Speaking of 'Lexico, their fifth opus, Garden Ruin, slides into stores in digipak form and boasts songs like "Letter to Bowie Knife," "Panic Open String" and "Bisbee Blue." CD-buying fans, keep your eyes peeled: The initial pressing of the disc has a code that lets you download exclusive unreleased material online. Vinyl fans, rejoice: The black circle contains the exclusive-tracks code, plus a second code that enables you to download all of Garden Ruin gratis.

Song Titles of the Week:

"." from Pretty Girls Make Graves' Elan Vital

Other notables:

Built to Spill's You in Reverse and Christopher O'Riley's Home to Oblivion: An Elliott Smith Tribute: Fans will surely relate to "The Wait," having been patient for new BTS material for the past five years. But that song is actually featured at the end of the indie-rock heroes' new record; the first cut, "Goin' Against Your Mind," is only a couple of minutes long. Frontman Doug Martsch welcomes new guitarist Jim Roth and an organ-playing Sam Coomes over the course of the 10 tracks, which also includes "Conventional Wisdom," "Just a Habit" and "Mess With Time." Speaking of Coomes, right around the time he started up his still-thriving Quasi in 1996, he partnered with Elliott Smith for a separate project, Heatmiser. As it turns out, Smith is being hailed this week by noted pianist O'Riley, who previously gifted Radiohead with two sets of solo tributes. Hear O'Riley accent the classical-music influences in Smith songs like "Cupid's Trick" and "Stupidity Tries," and read his touching liner-note essay saluting the late, great songwriter.

Imaad Wasif's Imaad Wasif and Mountain Con's Sancho Panza: Occasional Yeah Yeah Yeahs collaborator and tour opener Wasif pulls a self-titled record out of his sleeve this week. Venturing into solo territory for the first time, the Alaska! and New Folk Implosion agent found inspiration in classical Eastern music, Swedish artist Hilma af Klint and a book by Truman Capote to craft songs like "Into the Static," "Tomorrow Is Ours" and "(Dandelion)." Rock band Mountain Con — actually five musicians and one DJ — also go the literary route with Sancho Panza, named after a character from Cervantes' "Don Quixote" who was promised an island for traveling with the klutzy adventurer.

Lucero's The Attic Tapes and Lambchop's The Decline of Country and Western Civilization Part II: The Woodwind Years: The Memphis, Tennessee, country-folk fellas have cranked out five proper releases, but early in their career they eked out a handmade set Alternative Press called "one of the top five home recordings ever." The new, spruced-up version has three additional early demos and two rare 7-inch tracks, including the band's cover of Jawbreaker's "Kiss the Bottle." Over in Nashville, like-minded country-folksters Lambchop have an archival collection all their own (we'll save space by not repeating the title). This set culls singles, B-sides, unreleased tracks and more from the band's 1994-1999 era, and a second comp spanning the latter years is due in the near future.

New Releases:

• The 303s - Lines of Parallel Minds (Cult Hero)
• Aloha - Some Echoes (Polyvinyl)
• Ark - State of the Ark (Rebel Group)
• Attacker - The Unknown (Sentinel Steel)
• Jeff Bates - Leave the Light On (RCA)
• Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet (Dim Mak)
• The Black Angels - Passover (Light in the Attic)
• Robert Bradley - What About That: New Year's Eve in Bloomington (two-CD live set; Kufala)
• Bratz - Genie Magic (Hip-O)
• Buckcherry - 15 (Eleven Seven)
• Built to Spill - You in Reverse (Warner Bros.)
  Buy Now: You in Reverse (Warner Bros.)
• Bullets and Octane - In the Mouth of the Young (RCA)
• Calexico - Garden Ruin (digipak; Quarterstick)
  Buy Now: Garden Ruin (Quarterstick)
• Crystal Skulls - Outgoing Behavior (Suicide Squeeze)
• The Danger O's - Little Machines (Blackout!)
• Brigitte DeMeyer - Something After All (BDM)
• Dixie Witch - Smoke & Mirrors (Small Stone)
• Drive By - I Hate Everyday Without You Kid (Riot Squad)
• Eagles of Death Metal - Death by Sexy (Downtown)
  Read: "Eagles Of Death Metal Frontman's 'Soft Boomerang Of Love' Takes Center Stage In Clip")
  Buy Now: Death by Sexy (Downtown)
• Eulorhythmics - Extended Play (All Natural)
• Euphoria - Precious Time (digipak; Zoë)
• Feathers - Feathers (Gnomonsong)
• Fightstar - They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (Deep Elm)
• Juan Diego Flórez - Sentimiento Latino (Decca)
• Sue Foley - New Used Car (Ruf)
• Gotan Project - Lunático (XL/ Beggars Banquet)
• Tre Hardson - Slimkid3's Cafe (Reggae Lounge)
• Hit the Lights - This Is a Stick Up ... Don't Make It a Murder (Triple Crown)
• Jesu - Silver (EP; Hydra Head)
• Toby Keith - White Trash With Money (Show Dog Nashville)
• Knights of the New Crusade - Knight Beat(Alternative Tentacles)
• Albert Lee - Road Runner (Sugar Hill)
• LKN - Postulate 1 (Greyday)
• LL Cool J - Todd Smith (enhanced; Def Jam)
  Read: "With Blige, J. Lo, Foxx On Board, LL Cool J's New LP Is A Guest Fest"
  Buy Now: Todd Smith (Def Jam)
• Benny Mardones - Let's Hear It for Love (Warrior)
• Edwin McCain - Lost in America (Vanguard)
• Mecca Normal - Observer (Kill Rock Stars)
• Mint - Magnetism (Funzalo)
• Moneen - The Red Tree (digipak; Vagrant)
• Mono - You Are There (Temporary Residence)
• Mountain Con - Sancho Panza (Hidden Peak)
• Mr. Anonymous - Mr. Anonymous (Kab America)
• Tim Murphy - Ain't No Shame (Big 7)
• Nearly - Straight to Nowhere (Kufala)
  Read: "Ex-NIN Drummer Welcomes You To His Nightmare — Reznor Responds"
• Negative Trend - Negative Trend (2.13.61)
• New Bruises - Transmit! Transmit! (Kiss of Death)
• Lee Newman - Happy Together: The '60s Songbook (SLK)
• On Thorns I Lay - Angeldust (Black Lotus)
• Christopher O'Riley - Home to Oblivion: An Elliott Smith Tribute (World Village)
• Parts & Labor - Stay Afraid (Jagjaguwar)
• Pinetop Seven - Beneath Confederate Lake (Empyrean)
• Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Nothing but the Water (Hollywood)
• Daniel Powter - Daniel Powter (Warner Bros.)
• Pretty Girls Make Graves - Elan Vital (Matador)
  Buy Now: Elan Vital (Matador)
• Punchline - 37 Everywhere (Fueled by Ramen)
• Raffi - Quiet Time: Songs for a Pause, a Cuddle or a Nap (Rounder)
• Josh Ritter - The Animal Years (digipak; V2)
• Rosesdead - Stages (One Day Savior)
• Saves the Day - Sound the Alarm (Vagrant)
• Mark Schatz - Steppin' in the Boiler House (Rounder Select)
• Scissorfight - Jaggernaut (Tortura)
• Shonen Knife - Genki Shock! (digipak; Glue Factory)
• Throttlerod - Nail (Small Stone)
• Vandermark 5 - Free Jazz Classics Vol. 3 and Vol. 4 (Atavistic)
• Peter Walker - Young Gravity (Dangerbird)
• Imaad Wasif - Imaad Wasif (Kill Rock Stars)
• Whysall Lane - Whysall Lane (Blackball)
• Wilderness - Vessel States (Jagjaguwar)
• Tom Zé - Estudando O Pagode (Luaka Bop)
• Various artists - 5rc Sur la Mer Samp-le-Mer (5 Rue Christine)
• Various artists - Headbangers Ball: The Revenge (two CDs; Roadrunner)
• Various artists - "La Mujer de Mi Hermano" soundtrack (Nacional)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Avail - 4AM Friday, Dixie and Over the James (Jade Tree)
• The Beatles - The Capitol Albums Vol. 2 (available as four-disc, limited-edition brick or longbox set)
• Brian Eno + David Byrne - My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (enhanced; Nonesuch)
• Grateful Dead - Built to Last, Dead Set (two CDs), In the Dark and Reckoning (digipaks; Rhino)
• Tish Hinojosa - Retrospective (Varèse)
• Judas Priest - The Essential Judas Priest (two CDs; Columbia/ Legacy)
• Lambchop - The Decline of Country and Western Civilization Part II: The Woodwind Years (Merge)
  Buy Now: The Decline of Country and Western Civilization Part II: The Woodwind Years (Merge)
• Lucero - Attic Tapes (Liberty & Lament)
• Queen - Stone Cold Classics (limited edition; Hollywood)
• Saving Jane - Girl Next Door (Universal)
• Various artists - Journey Into Paradise: The Larry Levan Story (two CDs; Rhino)
• Various artists - The Tommy Boy Story, Vol. 1 (two CDs; Rhino)
• Various artists - Ultimate Disco 2 (Madacy)

DVDs:

• Death Cab for Cutie - "Directions" (Atlantic)
  Read: "Death Cab For Cutie Taking A Page From 50 Cent's Playbook "
• Judas Priest - "Live Vengeance '82" (Columbia/ Legacy)
• The Mae Shi - "Lock the Skull, Load the Gun" (5 Rue Christine)
• Pimp C - "Pimptaliation" (Asylum/ Rap-A-Lot)
• Sun Ra Arkestra - "Live in Oakland" and "Live at the Roadhouse" (Transparency)

Coming Attractions:

April 18:

• The Dresden Dolls - Yes, Virginia ... (digipak; Roadrunner)
• NOFX - Wolves in Wolves Clothing (Fat Wreck Chords)
  Buy Now: Wolves in Wolves Clothing (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Various artists - "Coachella" (Epitaph)

April 25:

• Godsmack - IV (Republic)
  Read: "Godsmack Finishing Up 'Killer' Fourth LP, Working On Football Theme"
  Buy Now: IV (Republic)
• Rihanna - A Girl Like Me (Def Jam)
  Read: "Rihanna Getting In Touch With Her Rock Side For Next LP"
• Taking Back Sunday - Louder Now (Warner Bros.)
  Read: "Taking Back Sunday Say Debuting At #800 Wouldn't Bother Them")

May 2:

• Lil' Flip - I Need Mine (Sony Urban)
• Mobb Deep - Blood Money (Interscope)
  Read: "Mobb Deep, 50 Cent Get Tattoos To Prove Their Loyalty"
• Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (J)
  Read: "Pearl Jam, Post-'Therapy': 'The Sex Is Better Than Ever!' "
• Thursday - A City by the Light Divided (Island)
  Read: "Thursday Frontman Says He Doesn't Want To Exploit My Chemical Romance, But ..."
• Tool - 10,000 Days (Volcano)

• LL Cool J
• Death Cab For Cutie
• Pimp C
• Eagles Of Death Metal
• Calexico

MTV Exclusive: Pretty Girls Make Graves Photos

• Pretty Girls Make Graves

SXSW 2003 Highlight Photos

• D4
• Death Cab For Cutie
• The Flaming Sideburns
• Idlewild
• Me First and the Gimme Gimmes