Sporting their best quivering-lip sneer and alter egos as Elvis of Nazareth, Elvis '56, and "Has-Been" Elvis, members of the Bad Samaritans, NOFX, Ill Repute, and Stalag 13 have formed G.G. Elvis & the TCP Band. Next week Mental Records releases the fruit of their labors in Back from the Dead: A Punk Elvis Tribute, marrying the soul of the King and the punk-rock roar of G.G. Allin in a baker's dozen Elvis covers, from "In the Ghetto" to "Burning Love" to "Suspicious Minds."
Nike has released the fourth installment in its Nike+Original Run series. Following the heart-pacing mini-marathons from the Crystal Method, Aesop Rock, and LCD Soundsystem, the Nike Sports Music section of iTunes will release A-Trak's 45-minute "Running Man" next Tuesday.
This month Rhino Records has answered the call of "I can't believe that album's out of print" with a dozen CD reissues that will only be available for the next six months. Titles include 1997's Hand It Over by Dinosaur Jr, 1990's Third Eye by Redd Kross, 1979's One Step Beyond by Madness, 1969's Pretties for You and 1970's Easy Action by Alice Cooper, and Warren Zevon's Mr. Bad Example from 1991.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes Martha Wainwright this evening; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Against Me! tonight, Duffy on Thursday and Bette Midler on Friday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien presents My Morning Jacket on Thursday and Alejandro Escovedo on Friday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live boasts Jewel this evening, Lil Wayne on Thursday, and Billy Idol on Tuesday overnight; Larry King Live chats with Mötley Crüe this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 24:
Amaseffer - Slaves for Life (Inside Out) the first CD in a planned trilogy about Israelis in the Old Testament, this theatric journey features former Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist Mats Leven
The Anniversary - Devil on Our Side: B-Sides & Rarities (Vagrant) two-CD set
Argy - Focus on Argy (Poker Flat) pulse-pounding house mix with The Mole and DJ Gregory
David Arkenstone - Echoes of Light & Shadow (Gemini Sun) gentle ambient waves inspired by a painter's technique of shaping objects from darkness
Ryan Auffenberg - Marigolds (Evangeline) produced by American Music Club's Tim Mooney, this mellow, melodic Americana debut is reminiscent of Chris Stamey & Peter Holsapple's Mavericks set from 1991
Blackmarket - Blackmarket (No Office Records) hook-heavy EP from this Arizona quartet that's been together since junior high
Blondie - Parallel Lines (Capitol) 30th-anniversary reissue with four bonus tracks and a DVD of music videos
Deborah Bonham - Duchess (Atco/Rhino) powerful American debut from the soulful vocalist, with her brother John, her nephew Jason, Mick Fleetwood, Robbie McIntosh, and Humble Pie's Jerry Shirley
Rick Brantley - Prize Fight Lover, Soul Auctioneer (Carnival) enthralling, possessed young rocker powered by horns, strings, and the passion and energy of a young Bruce Springsteen
Calico Horse - Mirror (Banter Records) formerly known as The Clock Work Army, this playful, coy, parlor-music wail features vocalist Emily Neveu
Ry Cooder - I, Flathead: The Songs of Kash Buk & the Klowns (Perro Verde/Nonesuch)
Crud - Devil at the Wheel (Full Effect) featuring Vin-e Dombrowski of Sponge
Cute Is What We Aim for - Rotation (Fueled By Ramen) also available in a limited-edition CD/DVD set featuring acoustic tracks and a documentary
Luke Doucet & the White Falcon - Blood's Too Rich (Six Shooter) featuring a cover of The Cure's "Love Cats"
Joe Foreman - Summer (Credential) continuing series of seasonal EPs from the Switchfoot vocalist
Morten Harket - Letter from Egypt (Polydor) import-only solo album from the A-ha vocalist
Hate Kate - Embrace the Curse (Glassnote) new from Justin Mauriello of Zebrahead, featuring a cool cover of Peter Schilling's "Major Tom"
Billy Idol - The Very Best of: Idolize Yourself (Capitol) featuring two new songs; also available with a DVD of music videos
Less Than Jake - GNV FLA (Sleep It Off) also available on 180-gram colored vinyl
Little Axe - Champagne & Grits (Real World) dubbed, funky outer-space blues with guest vocalists Chris Difford of Squeeze, Shara Nelson of Massive Attack, Junior Delgado, and Ghetto Priest
Logs in the Mainstream - The Ridiculous & the Sublime (Corporate Greed) oddball indie rock taking a bagpipes-blaring stand against KFC-eatin' New Jersey spawn in "Don't Come to Maryland," riffing on Meet the Beatles cover art, and pressed on a black CD that mimics a small LP
G. Love & Special Sauce - Superhero Brother (Brushfire) smoking up his current tour with "Who's Got the Weed?"
Love As Laughter - Holy (Glacial Pace/Epic) new, on the boutique label run by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse
Mad Men - original television series soundtrack (Manhattan/EMI) featuring the show's theme by Aceyalone & RJD2
Edwin McCain - Nobody's Fault But Mine (Time Life) with guests Steve Cropper and Joan Osborne, this groovy covers collection of ol' R&B and Southern soul puts a new spin on "Can I Get a Witness," "Who's Making Love," and "Grits Ain't Groceries (All Around the World)"
Mötley Crüe - Saints of Los Angeles (Eleven Seven) with guests Josh Todd of Buckcherry, Chris Taylor Brown of Trapt, and Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (Warner Bros) live CD and DVD set from October, culled from shows in Hoboken, New Jersey, and Mexico City
No-Man - Schoolyard Ghosts (Kscope Records) gorgeous, cinematic prog-rock excursions on this CD/DVD set, with guests Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and members of Porcupine Tree
Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville (ATO) expanded CD reissue featuring a bonus DVD documentary; also available in a vinyl edition with a bonus seven-inch single of B sides
Reckless Kelly - Bulletproof (Yep Roc) featuring the Hurricane Katrina themed "God Forsaken Town," co-written with Robert Earl Keen
Robin Rogers - Treat Me Right (Blind Pig) vivid blues belter, featuring the chilling civil-rights tale "Color-Blind Angel"
Rose Hill Drive - Moon Is the New Earth (Megaforce) in the throbbing vein of Cream, the Black Crowes, and Mary My Hope
The Saturday Knights - Mingle (Light In the Attic) with guests Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Jack Endino, and Sharon Jones' Dap-Kings
Sigur Rós - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (XL Recordings) with one song sung in English, the album's title translates to "with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly"
Spock's Beard - Live (Inside Out) DVD filmed and recorded last year in the Netherlands; also available in a two-CD set with 14 more songs
Walter Trout - The Outsider (Provogue) sizzling blues guitar and pensive introspection from the stormy player whose résumé includes stints with Canned Heat and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
Steve Tyrell - Back to Bacharach (Koch) tribute to the songwriting icon, featuring guests James Taylor, Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick, and Martina McBride in a new take on "What the World Needs Now Is Love"
Unknown Instructors - Unknown Instructors (Smog Veil) new from Mike Watt and George Hurley of The Minutemen and Joe Baiza of Saccharine Trust
Wall•E - original motion picture soundtrack (Disney) featuring a new Peter Gabriel track, "Down to Earth"
Watermelon Slim - No Paid Holidays (Northern Blues) featuring a sparse, rootsy cover of Laura Nyro's "And When I Die," this is electrifying, slinky, thumping blues
The Watson Twins - Fire Songs (Vanguard) featuring a cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven"
Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise & Liberation of Niggy Tardust (Sony/RED) featuring covers of U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and Earth Wind & Fire's "Can't Hide Love"
ZZ Top - Live from Texas (Eagle Vision) DVD featuring a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxey Lady" and a poker-playing sit-down with the boys
various artists - Big Blue Ball (Realworld) CD and two-LP set with The Holmes Brothers, Jah Wobble, Sinead O'Connor, World Party's Karl Wallinger, and label founder Peter Gabriel
