Mase (file)
Photo: Bad Boy

It's going to be a tight race for the top spot on the sales chart next week as Mase is welcomed back, Young Buck bursts outta cashville with his debut solo album, and R. Kelly is saved by happy people.

With his Mr. Rogers-inspired video for "Welcome Back," the first single off his album of the same title, Mase has made it perfectly clear that he's back and ready for another shot at chart-topping success. The rapper hasn't released an album since 1999's Double Up, after which he announced plans to retire from rap and devote himself to spirituality.

Rapper Young Buck will release his debut solo album, Straight Outta Cashville, this week. The G-Unit member released Thuggin' Til the End in 2000 with rapper D-Tay, but gained notoriety when he appeared on G-Unit's debut album, Beg for Mercy, which went double platinum.

Despite all his legal troubles, R. Kelly is a happy man, and he's announcing it to the world via his newest release, the double album Happy People/ U Saved Me. The first album finds Kelly content and optimistic, while the second disc finds him turning to God for help with his troubles.

Rounding out the major hip-hop releases is an album from Pitbull, the young Cuban-American rapper who was featured in a freestyle spot on the Kings of Crunk album. His debut, M.I.A.M.I., hits stores Tuesday.

Indie rockers Guided by Voices are releasing their final album, Half Smiles of the Decomposed, this week. The Dayton, Ohio, group will tour behind the disc and then disband after 17 years.

Jason Mraz has found the "Remedy" for fans of his last album who are eagerly awaiting another release: a live album, called Tonight, Not Again.

Also out this week are albums from the Motown Philly boys Boyz II Men (Throwback), the saucy G. Love & Special Sauce (The Hustle), country sensation Tim McGraw (Live Like You Were Dying) and jazz man Chick Corea and his Elektric Band (To the Stars).

Out Tuesday, August 24:

• Aberfeldy - Young Forever (Sanctuary/Rough Trade)
• Geri Allen - The Life of a Song (Telarc)
• Keren Ann - Not Going Anywhere (Blue Note)
• Apostle of Hustle - Folkloric Feel (Arts & Crafts)
• Battery Cage - World Wide Wasteland (Metropolis)
• Beep Beep - Business Casual (Saddle Creek)
• Eric Bibb - Friends (Telarc)
• Boyz II Men - Throwback (Koch)
• Junior Brown - Down Home Chrome (Telarc)
• Capital D - Insomnia (All Natural)
• Vassar Clements - Livin' With the Blues (Acoustic Disc)
• Clinic - Winchester Cathedral (Domino)
• Comas - Conductor (Yep Roc)
• Chick Corea Elektric Band - To the Stars (Stretch)
• DJ Escape - Bangin 03 (Tommy Boy)
• Donovan - Beat Cafe (Appleseed)
• Dave Douglas - Bow River Falls (Koch)
• Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South (New West)
• E.S.T. - Seven Days of Falling (two discs, 215)
• Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts ... Now (Artemis)
• Endochine - Day Two (Fresh Tracks)
• Finn Brothers - Everyone Is Here (Nettwerk)
• Dora Flood - Highlands (Elephant Stone)
• Bill Frisell - Unspeakable (Nonesuch)
• Further Seems Forever - Hide Nothing (Tooth & Nail)
• G. Love & Special Sauce - The Hustle (Brushfire/Universal)
• Amos Garrett - Acoustic Album (Stony Plain)
• Groundtruther - Latitude (Thirsty Ear)
• Guided by Voices - Half Smiles of the Decomposed (Matador)
• Hot Rod Circuit - Reality's Coming Through (Vagrant)
• Ice City - Welcome to the Hood (Roc-A-Fella)
• Inouk - No Danger (Say Hey)
• Insomniacs - Switched On! (Estrus)
• Instruction - God Doesn't Care (Geffen)
• Jim Jones - On My Way to Church (Koch)
• Cledus T. Judd - Bipolar and Proud (Koch)
• Kidz Bop Kids - Kidz Bop Halloween (Razor & Tie)
• David Kilgour - Frozen Orange (Merge)
• James Last - With Strings Attached (Recall)
• LTNO Vs. Dead Sexy Inc. - Hellywood Sons (Cleopatra)
• Mase - Welcome Back (Bad Boy)
  Buy Now: Amerikaz Nightmare (Violator/Jive)
  Read: "Mase: The Second Coming"
• Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying (Curb)
  Buy Now: Live Like You Were Dying (Curb)
  
• Tift Merritt - Tambourine (Lost Highway)
• Ian Moore - Luminaria (Yep Roc)
• Jason Mraz - Tonight, Not Again - At the Eagles Ballroom (Elektra)
  Buy Now: Tonight, Not Again - At the Eagles Ballroom (Elektra)
  
• Nora O'Connor - Til the Dawn (Bloodshot)
• Tara Jane O'Neil - You Sound, Reflect (Quarterstick)
• Steve Oliver - 3-D (Koch)
• Overkill - Unholy (Recall)
• Alan Parsons - A Valid Path (Artemis)
• Pinetop Perkins - Ladies Man (M.C.)
• Pitbull - M.I.A.M.I. (TVT)
• R. Kelly - Happy People/ U Saved Me (Jive)
  Buy Now: Happy People/ U Saved Me (Jive)
  Read: "R. Kelly Album Preview: Dancing, Loving, Turning To The Lord"
• Radian - Juxtaposition (Thrill Jockey)
• Rich Robinson - Paper (Key Hole)
• Rosavelt - The Story of Gasoline (Gaff Music)
• Sadies - Favourite Colours (Yep Roc)
• Saxophone Summit - Gathering of Spirits (Telarc)
• The Sermon - Volume (Alternative Tentacles)
• Shades of Soul - Shades of Soul (Narada)
• Shark Quest - Gods & Devils (Merge)
• Terrorfakt - Cold Steel World (Metropolis)
• Testament - Days of Darkness (Recall)
• The Start - Initiation (Nitro)
• Jeff Timmons - Whisper That Way (SLG/Denon)
• Daby Toure - Diam (Real World)
• Twilight Singers - She Loves You (Birdman/One Little Indian)
• Butch Walker - Letters (Epic)
• Mike Watt - The Secondman's Middle Stand (Red Ink/Columbia)
• Charlie Watts & the Tentet - Watts at Scott's (Sanctuary Classics)
• West Indian Girl - West Indian Girl (Astralwerks)
• "We Will Rock You" original cast - "We Will Rock You" soundtrack (Capitol/EMI)
• Wiley - Treddin' on Thin Ice (XL/Beggars Banquet)
• Nancy Wilson - R.S.V.P. (Manchester Craftsmen's Guild)
• Young Buck - Straight Outta Cashville (Interscope)
• Zolar-X - Timeless (Alternative Tentacles)
• Various artists - Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster (Emergent Music)
• Various artists - Disney's Karaoke Series: Aladdin (Walt Disney)
• Various artists - Disney's Karaoke Series: Radio Disney Chart Toppers (Walt Disney)
• Various artists - Ultimate Beatdowns Vol. 1 (DRT)
• Various artists - "Wicker Park" soundtrack (Lakeshore)
• DVD: Joni Mitchell - "Refuge of the Roads" (Shout! Factory)

August 31:

• Björk - Medúlla (Elektra/ Asylum)
  Read: "Bjork Album Preview: Beautiful, Baffling and Bothersome Medúlla"
• Jill Scott - Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds 2 (Sony)
• Insane Clown Posse - Hell's Pit, Version 1 (Psychopathic)
• Insane Clown Posse - Hell's Pit, Version 2 (Psychopathic)
• Various artists - Passion of the Christ: Songs (Wind-Up)
  Read: "Scott Stapp, Lauryn Hill, P.O.D., MxPx Head Up 'Passion Of The Christ' LP"

September 7:

• Christine McVie - In The Meantime (Koch)
• Alan Jackson - What I Do (Arista)
• Anita Baker - My Everything (Blue Note)

September 14:

• Nelly - Sweat (Universal)
  Read: "Nelly Explains The Fine Line Between Sweat And Suit"
• Nelly - Suit (Universal)
• Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (Hip-O Records)
• Prodigy - Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned (Maverick)
  Read: "Twista, Kool Keith, Juliette Lewis Smack Up New Prodigy LP"

• Mase
• R. Kelly
• Pitbull
• Guided By Voices
• Jason Mraz

Punk visionary and bass player extraordinaire Mike Watt may have ridden out his last album, "Contemplating the Engine Room," but he's not exactly taking it easy.

• 2/3 - San Jose, CA @ Club Usual
• 2/5 - La Luna, Portland, Or
• 2/6 - Seattle, WA @ Rckndy
• 2/8 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
• 2/9 - San Jose, CA @ Club Usual
• 2/10 - Sacramento, CA @ Bojangle's
• 2/11 - W. Hollywood, CA @ Whisky
• 2/12 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
• 2/13 - Pamona, CA or Santa Ana, CA

• Porno for Pyros
• Mike Watt

Three years after bands such as Sublime and Blues Traveler came out for the first "Hempilation" disc, the album's organizers are lining up artists and contributors for a sequel, entitled "Hempilation II: Free the Weed"

• Wayne Kramer
• Willie Nelson
• Mike Watt

The colorful and tumultuous story of Sublime arrives in video stores this week with the release of "Stories, Tales, Lies, And Exaggerations," a two-hour home video documentary about the Cali ska outfit.

The video, which hits stores on Tuesday, boasts a slew of Sublime performance footage including backyard parties on the band's home turf of Long Beach, acoustic interludes, sets on the Vans Warped tour, and a duet between No Doubt's Gwen Stefani and Sublime on "Saw Red."

Director Joshua Fischel also includes interviews with such Sublime colleagues as No Doubt, Mike Watt, Pennywise, the Ziggens, and Lordz of Brooklyn in telling the story of the band and the loss of it lead singer, Brad Nowell, to a drug overdose in May of 1996.

"I wanted people to experience seeing the band live and let people know that Sublime was more than just one guy," Fischel said in a written statement. "It was three guys and a huge extended family." The video comes close on the heels of "Stand By Your Van," a live CD released last week that was culled from throughout the band's career.

• The Long Beach Dub Allstars
• No Doubt
• Pennywise
• Sublime
• Mike Watt

Mike Watt will soon be bringing his seafaring punk rock opera "Contemplating The Engine Room" back to U.S. clubs with the help of his touring band, dubbed the Black Gang.

The Gang (named for the slang term given to a boat's engine room crew) will feature the former Minutemen, fIREHOSE, and Porno For Pyros bassist flanked by guitarist Joe Baiza and drummer Bob Lee.

The "3rd Time Before The Mast Tour '98" returns to the States on April 24 in Tempe, Arizona after wrapping up its current European tour on April 18 in London.

Here's where more adventurous music fans can find Watt and the Black Gang in the States:

• 4/24 - Tempe, Arizona @ Mason Jar
• 4/25 - Flagstaff, Arizona @ Monte Vista Lounge
• 4/26 - Albuquerque, New Mexico @ Launch Pad
• 4/28 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma @ VZD's
• 4/29 - Dallas, Texas @ Dark Room
• 4/30 - Austin, Texas @ Electric Lounge
• 5/1 - Houston, Texas @ Instant Karma
• 5/2 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana @ Bayou
• 5/3 - Mobil, Alabama @ Monsoon's
• 5/4 - Athens, Georgia @ 40 Watt Club
• 5/5 - Atlanta, Georgia @ The Point
• 5/6 - Columbia, South Carolina @ The Library
• 5/7 - Raleigh, North Carolina @ The Brewery
• 5/8 - Richmond, Virginia @ Alley Kat's
• 5/9 - Baltimore, Maryland @ Fletcher's
• 5/10 - Danbury, Connecticut @ Tuxedo Junction
• 5/11 - Burlington, Vermont @ Club Toast
• 5/12 - Portland, Maine @ Stone Coast Brewery
• 5/13 - Northampton, Massachusetts @ Iron Horse
• 5/14 - Boston, Massachusetts @ Paradise
• 5/15 - New York, New York @ Wetlands
• 5/16 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania @ Theatre of Living Arts
• 5/17 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania @ Club Laga
• 5/18 - Cincinnati, Ohio @ Sudsy Malone's
• 5/19 - Ann Arbor, Michigan @ Blind Pig
• 5/20 - Toledo, Ohio @ Carols
• 5/21 - Chicago, Illinois @ Shank Hall
• 5/23 - Minneapolis, Minnesota @ 7th Street Entry
• 5/24 - Minneapolis, Minnesota @ 7th Street Entry
• 5/25 - Fargo, North Dakota @ First Avenue
• 5/26 - Sioux Falls, South Dakota @ Pump Room
• 5/27 - Lincoln, Nebraska @ Knickerbockers
• 5/30 - Salt Lake City, Utah @ Zephyr Club
• 5/31 - Boise, Idaho @ Neuroux
• 6/1 - Missoula, Montana @ Jay's Bar
• 6/4 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Starfish Room
• 6/7 - Eugene, Oregon @ W.O.W. Hall
• 6/9 - Sacramento, California @ Bojangles
• 6/10 - San Jose, California @ Cactus Club
• 6/11 - San Francisco, California @ Slim's
• 6/13 - Hollywood, California @ Viper Room

• Mike Watt

Legendary "Godfather of Soul" James Brown was one of the first black performers to cross-over and earn widespread acceptance among white audiences. Now, a group of alternative artists will be paying homage to the self-described "hardest working man in showbiz" on a new album entitled "Super Bad at 70: A Tribute to James Brown," due out May 5.

The odd-ball homage to the progenitor of funk will include Frank Black covering "Mother Popcorn: You Gotta Have a Mother for Me," the Fleshtones on "Don't Be a Dropout," and Mike Watt, Money Mark and Stephen Perkins performing "Shhh for a Little While."

In related news, the Associated Press reports that a judge has ordered Brown to enroll in a drug treatment program after the singer pleaded no contest to charges that he illegally discharged a firearm at his home while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance (see "James Brown Facing Drug, Weapons Charges").

Brown has been given six months to complete the program, as the judge in the case ruled out probation because of Brown's upcoming tour schedule.

• Frank Black
• James Brown
• The Pixies
• Porno for Pyros
• Mike Watt

November 13 [8:00 EDT] -- One-time Minutemen and fIREHOSE bassist Mike Watt is still forging new ground with his second solo album, the self-described "punk-rock opera," "Contemplating The Engine Room" [500k QuickTime]

The 15 songs on "Engine Room" track 24 hours in the lives of three men in the belly of a naval vessel. Watt drew inspiration from 17-years of touring, as well as from his father's 20-year naval career.

"What I was trying to imagine was him, 19 years old, coming into Singapore, this guy from a farm town, right? Red Bluff. And all the neon in his eye, you know, nickel shots, the liquor, another town... just all the wonder, which was a total parallel for me, D. Boone, and [ex-Minutemen] Georgie, you know? on our first tours learning the town" [1MB QuickTime].

Watt chats Thursday, November 13, at 8pm EDT in the America Online Arena, Keyword: MTV.

• Mike Watt

September 25 [10:00 EDT] -- Mike Watt is preparing for the October 7 release of his 'punk rock opera' CD, "Contemplating the Engine Room," with a video of the first single, "Liberty Calls," shot this past weekend by Spike Jonze. The clip is reportedly a take-off on an '80s-style rap video and includes Watt break dancing.

Watt says the concept album revolves around the ships and machinery that dominate his long-time residence, the Los Angeles area port town of San Pedro, and the "characters who operate or 'play' the machines besides also living aboard them."

October 7 also marks the start of a two-month "Sticking the Head Out The Hatch" tour billed as Mike Watt and the Black Gang Crew, boat talk, says Watt, for the engine room crew. The band, a trio, also includes guitarist Joe Baiza and drummer Stephen Hodges. Nels Cline from the Geraldine Fibbers, who played guitar on the album, can't travel because of commitments with his primary band. Watt's last road stint was last year as a guest bassist for Porno for Pyros.

• Mike Watt

April 9 [14:00 EST] -- Banyan, a side-project featuring allstar bassist Mike Watt, Porno for Pyros drummer Stephen Perkins, Geraldine Fibbers guitarist Nels Cline and Beastie Boys keyboardist Money Mark, is set to play the Roxy in Los Angeles April 16.

The band quietly made their debut last month at a lowkey afternoon show at the Checca in Hollywood. Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore was a special guest. Banyan has no plans to tour, however, or play shows outside of the Los Angeles area. Their self-titled album will be released on April 22 by Higher Octave Music.

• Banyan
• Porno for Pyros
• Mike Watt

Jan. 10 [18:00 EST] -- On Friday, Warner Bros. Records and Porno For Pyros bassist Mike Watt both issued explanations for the sudden cancellation of the band's U.S. tour.

The Warner Bros. statement announced that Porno For Pyros have canceled the tour to continue work on their new album.

"The band has recently been working on new material for a forthcoming album and has decided to forgo touring and concentrate on this new work," the release read.

A Warner Bros. spokesperson told MTV that the cancellation was in no way connected to guitarist Peter DiStefano's battle with cancer, adding that his cancer is now in remission and he is doing quite well.

However, a posting from Porno bassist Mike Watt on his personal web page says that the band called off the tour because "the band has fired their management and is reorganizing. This just came down five days before blast off!" On a more upbeat note, Watt writes, "In the long run, I know it's for the best and indirectly, it's a blessing."

Whatever the reason, the announcement comes at a surprising time. The news came less than a week before the band was to launch its U.S. tour in Miami, and one day after a scheduled benefit show at Los Angeles' Whisky was called off at the last minute. The statement also brought an end to reports that current Red Hot Chili Pepper and former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro (and his bandmate Flea) would join Porno (and ex-Jane's members Perry Farrell and Steve Perkins) on stage, making for a partial Jane's reunion.

"Early in the planning stages of their tour, Porno For Pyros talked with Navarro and Flea about the possibility of joining them in their tour of Japan and Australia, although nothing was ever confirmed," the Warner Bros. statement said. "With regards to a U.S. tour, only one date that was scheduled for the Whisky in Los Angeles on January 9th would have included the two guest musicians. Unfortunately, rumors quickly circulated about a reunion that was never intended."

However, prior to the cancellation, Porno For Pyro's management had gone on record as saying that Navarro and Flea would indeed join Porno on the road for a few select dates.

The Warner Bros. press release noted that Porno For Pyros will team up with Navarro and Flea for the filming of the video for "Hard Charger," the song that they contributed to the soundtrack to Howard Stern's upcoming "Private Parts" film. The single, video, and soundtrack will be released in February.

Porno For Pyros expect to have their new album completed by the end of the year.

• Porno for Pyros
• Mike Watt