· Holding their flag of plea and protest high above them, three new benefit projects have recently surfaced bringing attention to AIDS in southern Africa, Parkinson's disease, sarcoma cancer, and the death penalty. First up is Capitol Records' Songs for Life set, produced by Phil Ramone and featuring new material from Joan Osbourne, Aretha Franklin, and Patti LaBelle, and new re-mixes from Mary J. Blige and Britney Spears. Featuring an all-star African-artist collaboration on the track "Every Breath," the album will benefit the Royal Initiative to Combat AIDS.

· This summer will see the domestic release of Light of Day: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen. Sharing two charities, the Parkinson's Disease Foundation and the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, this covers collection (currently available as a Spanish import) is thick with stars such as Pete Yorn, Elvis Costello, Dion, Joe Ely, Billy Bragg, Graham Parker, Garland Jeffreys, and Jason Ringenberg. Look for the stateside version of the two-CD set to feature bonus tracks not found on the import.

· Chicago's Bloodshot Records is also offering its blessing to a heartfelt cause, with Jon Langford and his Pine Valley Cosmonauts' new release, The Executioner's Last Songs Volumes 2 and 3. Benefiting the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty, the two-CD set features songs about murder and capital punishment.

· The enigmatic Icelandic chanteuse Bjork has opened up her archival floodgates with six new DVDs, overflowing with video goodies and rare concert footage. Her imagination and bravery as a solo artist make her one of the few visionaries big enough to accomplish such a feat. Bearing the One Little Indian Records imprint, three of the DVDs were released two weeks ago and the second three come this Tuesday. The DVDs are broken into two series - "archive" and "live" - and each bears a nice $9.98 or $16.98 retail list. Highlights found among the series include a behind-the-scenes look at her Royal Opera House debut in 2001, interviews with Thom Yorke of Radiohead and Elton John, an Inside Bjork documentary, and a wealth of videos, including three from director Spike Jonze.

· In related news, the Palm Pictures label is preparing to debut its new Directors Label DVD series in August with a collection of Jonze's work, and two other directors who have all captured Bjork. This exciting series will feature all sorts of commercial and artistic treats, including previously unseen short films, voice-over commentaries, original storyboards, alternative video versions, and a 52-page booklet. Although he made the leap to the big screen with the films Being John Malkovich and Adaptation, Jonze's earlier music-video work is full of unforgettable images, such as the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage," Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice," and Weezer's "Buddy Holly." Other directors scheduled for the series include Chris Cunningham (Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy") and Michel Gondry (Radiohead's "Knives Out").

Television Alert:

The Late Show with David Letterman sows Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds this evening; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Blu Cantrell on Thursday and Ricky Martin on Friday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Gillian Welch on Thursday overnight, Gang Starr on Friday overnight, and The Brian Setzer Orchestra on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features Train on Thursday overnight and Blu Cantrell on Friday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with Ben Harper on Friday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guests this weekend are Kelly Rowland and Nelly.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 1:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change

Ashanti - Chapter II (Def Jam)

Black Box Recorder - "The School Song" (One Little Indian) new import-only CD single featuring a megamix of the group's Passionoia album compressed into three minutes

Carl Carlton & The Songdogs - Love & Respect (SPV) with Small Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan and Rolling Stones saxophonist Bobby Keys

Paul Carrack - It Ain't Over (Denon) still rocking with Ringo Starr's Ringomania tour, this is the new album from the singer-songwriter best known as the killer voice behind Ace's 1974 smash "How Long (Has This Been Going on)"

Cooler Kids - Punk Debutante (DreamWorks)

The Robert Cray Band - Time Will Tell (Sanctuary) featuring members of Sly & The Family Stone's horn section and the Turtle Island String Quartet

Jeff Dahl - The Best of (Triple X) 24-track collection from the Angry Samoans, VOX POP, and Powertrip founder

Deathride - Swinging for Dead (Roadrunner) new project from Dez Fafara of Coal Chamber

Fairweather - Lusitania (Equal Vision)

gOHEAD - Evolver (Shelter) with guest Reeves Gabrels

Porter Harp - Drinking Season (Strangler Lewis Records) hazy melodic pop from this Seattle singer-songwriter with guitarist Jim Roth of Built to Spill

Hospitals - Hospitals (In the Red) crazed madness from Portland, Oregon

Lightweight Holiday - Lightweight Holiday (Porterhouse) terrific teenage power pop from Cincinnati, Ohio

Me First & The Gimme Gimmes - Take a Break (Fat Wreck Chords) 14-track all-covers set of R & B classics including The Jackson Five's "I'll Be There" and Lionel Richie's "Hello"

Melt-Banana - Cell-Scape (A-Zap) all new and on tour this summer

Mondo Generator - A Drug Problem That Never Existed (Ipecac) anticipated new side project from Queens of a Stone Age

Morcheeba - Parts of the Process (Sire)

Nuclear Assault - Alive Again (Screaming Ferret) all new with the original lineup

Our Lady Peace - Live from Calgary & Edmonton (Columbia)

Elvis Presley - Elvis: Close Up (RCA) four-CD box set of previously unreleased tracks from the 1950s and 1960s, and a complete concert from 1972

Simple Minds - Our Secrets Are the Same (EMI) unreleased album from 1999 sessions

Joe Stump - Armed & Ready (Leviathan) serious shredder guitar workouts

Twizted - The Green Book (Psychopathic) with guests Shaggy 2 Dope, Violent J, E-40, Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys, and Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs N Harmony

various artists - A Smooth Jazz Summer (Native Language) with Jennifer York, Brian Bromberg, and the Juan Carlos Quintero

Wrong Turn - original motion picture soundtrack (Lakeshore) with Queens of the Stone Age, DJ Swamp, Jet Black Summer, and Grandaddy

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