ODB's <i>Osirus: The Official Mixtape</i>

Kicking off the major new releases of 2005 is a posthumous album from Ol' Dirty Bastard. Some of the late rapper's final recordings will hit stores and stereos this week courtesy of the Osirus: The Official Mixtape.

The album, which ODB had completed a week prior to his death on November 13, is being released through JC Records, a label formed by ODB's mother and his manager. The first single, "Pop Shots," was produced by DJ Premier.

Fans of quirky '90s pop rockers Soul Coughing are in luck this week as the band releases four live albums featuring performances from Tokyo, Berlin, New York and Rennes, France.

The first week of the new year is also the week of the tribute album. If you long to hear "Stairway to Heaven" with a little twang, Whole Lotta Bluegrass: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin delivers for your listening pleasure. Air get similarly bluegrass-infused on Blue Safari: A Bluegrass Tribute to Air. Massive Attack get even more orchestrated on A String Quartet Tribute to Massive Attack, while Evanescence become piano-centric on Eclipse: Piano Tribute to Evanescence.

Out Tuesday, January 4:

• Byrds - Set You Free: Gene Clark in the Byrds: 1964-1973 (Raven)
• Carl Cox - Back to Mine (DMC)
  Buy Now: Back to Mine (DMC)
  
• Walter Egon - Fundamental Roll/ Not Shy (Acadia)
• Julia Fordham - That's Live (Vanguard)
• Jim & Jean - People World/ Changes (Collector's Choice)
• Gladys Knight and the Saints Unified Voices - One Voice (Many Roads)
• Doug Macleod - Dubb (Black & Tan)
• Manuel Guajiro Mirabal - Buena Vista Social Club Presents Manuel Guajiro Mirabal (Nonesuch)
• Ol' Dirty Bastard - Osirus: The Official Mixtape (JC Records)
  Read: "Ol' Dirty Bastard's Final Recordings To Be Released"
• Purity's Failure - Extensions (Goodfellow)
• Royal Crown Revue - Greetings From Hollywood (Kufala)
• Soul Coughing - Berlin/ Amsterdam 1997 (Kufala)
• Soul Coughing - New York, NY 16.08.99 (Kufala)
• Soul Coughing - Rennes, France 03.12.94 (Kufala)
• Soul Coughing - Tokyo, Japan 03.02.97 (Kufala)
• Twinemen - Sideshow (Kufala)
• Leslie West - Guitarded (Voiceprint)
• White Lion - Ultimate White Lion (Deadline)
• With Honor/ The Distance - Split (Martyr)
• Various artists - A String Quartet Tribute to Massive Attack (Vitamin)
• Various artists - Blue Safari: A Bluegrass Tribute to Air (CMH)
• Various artists - Eclipse: Piano Tribute to Evanescence (Vitamin)
• Various artists - Rep Ya Coast Mix Tape (X-Ray)
• Various artists - Speak Out: Pickin' on Ben Harper (CMH)
• Various artists - The Ultimate Pickin' on Neil Young: The Fiddle and the Damage Done (CMH)
• Various artists - Whole Lotta Bluegrass: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (CMH)
• DVD: Evergreen Terrace - "Hotter, Wetter, Stickier, Funnier" (Eulogy)
• DVD: Kottonmouth Kings - "10 Years Deep" (Suburban Noize)
  Buy Now: "10 Years Deep" (Suburban Noize)
  
• DVD: Various artists - "Facedown Fest 2004" (Facedown)

January 11:

• Various artists - "Elektra" soundtrack (Wind-Up)
• Various artists - "Hotel Rwanda" soundtrack (Commotion)

January 18:

• The Game - The Documentary (Aftermath)
  Read: "Game Ready To Prove He's Worthy Of The Hype"
• Fozzy - All That Remains (Ash)

January 25:

• And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart (Interscope)
• Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning (Saddle Creek)
• Chemical Brothers - Push the Button (Astralwerks)

• Ol' Dirty Bastard
• Soul Coughing
• The Byrds
• Royal Crown Revue
• White Lion

Social Distortion's Mike Ness is set to make his live solo debut at the South By Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas, in March -- and then plans to issue a new solo album, "Cheating At Solitaire," on Time Bomb Records April 13. Ness' solo CD will feature old pal Bruce Springsteen on a track called "Misery Loves Company," an appearance from Brian Setzer on another track, and performances by the Royal Crown Revue's rhythm section throughout the record.

Although Ness is most decidedly a punk rocker, the new record will show a side of the singer that's heavily influenced by vintage rock and roots music, which makes the participation of Springsteen and Setzer more logical. It also explains the need for his temporary departure from Social D. And his departure from the group is temporary, as Ness has made it clear that while he's currently putting his full efforts into the solo project, he's only taking a short break from Social Distortion -- and has no intention of breaking up the band.

Ness intends to tour throughout the summer and fall, but according to a label rep, no musicians are confirmed as yet for his back-up band. A source says it's doubtful he'll be playing with any of his Social D. bandmates.

• Royal Crown Revue
• Brian Setzer Orchestra
• Social Distortion
• Bruce Springsteen

Royal Crown Review frontman Eddie Nichols spent this past weekend locked up in an Ohio jail after being arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly assaulting an off-duty sheriff's deputy in Toledo, Ohio.

The altercation between Nichols and the officer occurred in a restaurant the band had stopped in after playing a show at the Citi Theater in Toledo. A spokesperson for Warner Bros., the Royal Crown's record label, claims that Nichols was prompted to act after he was hit by several spitballs hurled by the deputy.

Nichols was originally charged with a felony for attacking a police officer, but the charges were later reduced to a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct after he spent the weekend in a Lucas County jail, which forced the band to cancel scheduled gigs in Ypsilanti, Michigan and Urbana, Illinois. A roadie for the band was also arrested on charges of obstructing a police officer and resisting arrest.

On Monday, the singer was in the process of being released when he was arrested again on additional assault charges after another sheriff accused Nichols of striking him during the struggle. The singer was released yesterday evening on a $5,000 bond and charged with assault of a police officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

A new wrinkle to the arrest has been uncovered by a local paper, "The Toledo Blade," which on Tuesday morning reported that an internal investigation had been launched into the conduct of the off-duty officers involved in the melee.

The Royal Crown Revue is scheduled to resume its current tour with a concert tonight in Oberlin, Ohio, while a hearing on the case has been set for November 24.

• Royal Crown Revue

The punk/rockabilly band Amazing Royal Crowns will have to change its name before August 31st as part of a settlement agreement with the jazz/swing band Royal Crown Revue.

The latter act asserts that the bands' names were too similar and likely to cause confusion, which could result in a loss of revenue for both Royal Crown Revue and its label Warner Bros. Records.

According to a spokesperson for the Providence, Rhode Island-based band Amazing Royal Crowns, the group was told of the impending suit in late May, for which they filed an injunctive relief in New York. On that same day, the California-based band Royal Crown Revue filed a preliminary injunction in California's Central District U.S. Court to stop them from using the name. The Amazing Royal Crowns then filed a motion for a continuance due to a lack of funds and their tour schedule, which was denied by Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer on Monday (June 29), according to a spokesperson for the group.

Since the act and its label Monolyth/Velvel Records couldn't risk the possibility of a ruling against them, which would have resulted in a cease and desist order, they decided to settle the case. Aside from the name change, no other details have been announced of the settlement as of yet. The Amazing Royal Crowns, who are currently in the midst of a national club tour, had their new single, "Do the Devil," shipped to stores on the day of the ruling.

• Amazing Crowns
• Royal Crown Revue