· Have you caught the video for "Glad Girls," the latest single from Guided by Voices' Isolation Drills album? The amazing clip takes frontman Robert Pollard on a colorful journey through magical binoculars, using digital-technology treatments that transform people and objects into stained glass and swirling patterns - an animation style director Noel Honig was inspired to create by the work of optical-illusionary painter Chuck Close.
· Tasty new solo and rarities projects from founding members of Guided by Voices are due later this summer. Vocalist Pollard and his Soft Rock Renegades (Greg Demos, Jim MacPherson, and Robert Handles) have 10 new tracks due July 10 on Recordhead's Fading Captain series, entitled Choreographed Man of War. The Recordhead roll-out continues in August with the release of Airport 5, the first full length collaboration of Pollard and Tobin Sprout since 1996's Tonics & Twisted Chasers. Word is that Sprout recorded all the instrumental tracks in his home studio and sent the tapes to Pollard to add his vocal and lyrical delights. Also due in August is the CD re-issue of Sprout's Demos & Outtakes collection, originally only available as a limited-edition two-LP set, featuring material from his Guided by Voices era, solo recordings, and current Eyesinweasel concoctions.
· Fans of 1970s silver-age comic books should hunt down Atavistic Records' new release this Tuesday of Requiem for Jack Kirby, a musical tribute by composer and percussionist Gregg Bendian's Interzone project. Wrapping his avant-garde orchestral take around Kirby's powerful vision of characters like New Gods is an interesting challenge, as Kirby's bold style and co-creation of such superhero icons as the Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer are seminal points of comic-book culture. Look for an oversized poster booklet to accompany the CD, as well as liner notes by comic-book legends Gene Colan, Jim Steranko, and Steve Gerber.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Missy Elliott on Thursday, Dido on Friday, Wyclef Jean on Monday, and Dave Navarro on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Mary Chapin Carpenter tonight and Blink 182 on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien has Ron Sexsmith scheduled for Friday overnight; and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features Travis on Friday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 19:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
311 - From Chaos (Volcano) with guests from the Black Eyed Peas and Pharcyde
999 - English Wipeout (Overground/Surefire) live gigs from 1977 and 1980 celebrating their 25th anniversary
Agent 51 - Just Keep Runnin' (Adeline)
American Steel - Jagged Thoughts (Lookout)
Baby Boy - original motion picture soundtrack (Universal) John Singleton's sequel to Boyz N the Hood starring Tyrese, Ving Rhames, and Snoop Dogg
Big Sugar - Brothers & Sisters Are You Ready? (Universal)
Cairo - Time of Legends (Magna Carta) orchestral prog rock
Clarke & Ware - Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle (Mute) new from Vincent Clarke of Erasure and Martyn Ware of Heaven 17
Clem Snide - The Ghost of Fashion (Spinart)
D-12 - Devil's Night (Interscope) Slim Shady making good on promising his homies a national spotlight with music to go "wilding" by
F-Minus - Suburban Blight (Hellcat/Epitaph)
Perry Farrell - Songs Yet to Be Sung (Virgin) features guests Jon Brion, ex-Porno for Pyros bassist Martyn LeNoble, and former Jane's Addiction bandmates Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins
Rebecca Gates - Ruby Series (Badman) new solo album from the Spinanes vocalist featuring guest John McEntire of Tortoise
Geggy Tah - Into the Oh (Luaka Bop/Virgin)
Hudson Falcons - For Those Whose Hearts & Souls Are True (GMM) working-man roots rock with an English punk edge from Hackensack, New Jersey
Ted Leo - The Tyranny of Distance (Lookout) new from the former member of Chisel with production by Fugazi's Brendon Canty
The Mayfield Four - Second Skin (Epic) look for lead singer Myles Kennedy in the upcoming Mark Wahlberg vehicle Rock Star, based loosely on the story of Judas Priest fan-turned-lead-singer Ripper Owens
Edwin McCain - Far from Over (Atlantic) with guest Shawn Colvin on "Hearts Fall"
Mandy Moore - In My Pocket (Epic)
Mors Syphilitaca - Feather & Fate (Projekt) new from Lisa and Eric of Requiem in White
Mystic - Cuts for Luck & Scars for Freedom (Goodvibes/Jcor)
Dave Navarro - Trust No One (Capitol) featuring a cover of the Velvet Underground's "Venus In Furs" and guests Jon Brion, Matt Chamberlin, and Red Hot Chili Pepper's drummer Chad Smith
No One - No One (Immortal Records/Virgin) Chicago-based hardcore featured on the Ozzfest tour this summer
Pennywise - Land of the Free (Epitaph)
Pooty Tang - original motion picture soundtrack (Hollywood)
Toni Price - Midnight Pumpkin (Antone's) featuring the legendary guitarist James Burton on three tracks and a gospel take on Joe Ely's "I Want to Do"
The Princess & The Warrior - original motion picture soundtrack (Trauma) featuring Alison Goldfrapp of Goldfrapp, Skin of Skunk Anansie, and Louise Rhodes of Lamb
Prodigy - Experience Re-issued (Beggars Banquet) re-issue of the group's debut album with a bonus disc of rarities
Pseudo Heroes - Betraying Angry Thoughts (Theologian) featuring Sam Williams of Down By Law and Kevin Coss of Pink Lincolns
The Ramones - The Ramones, Leave Home, Rocket to Russia, and Road to Ruin (Rhino) CD re-issues with bonus tracks
Scapegoat Wax - Okeeblow (Grand Royal) highly anticipated debut from Chino, California
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World (SubPop)
Sielwolf - Nachtstrom (Van Richter) brutal German industrial assault on the senses
Sigur-Ros - Agaetis Byrjun (Pias America) stateside issue of this Icelander who posted a Single of the Week in NME and toured with Radiohead
Sisqo - Return of the Dragon (Def Soul)
Snuff - Blue Gravy (Fat Wreck Chords) nine-song CD EP of Hammond-organ-fueled punk also available on 10-inch vinyl
Stone Temple Pilots - Shangri-La Dee Da (Atlantic)
Swell - Everybody Wants to Know (Beggars Banquet)
Tinstar - Dirty Bird (V2) featuring Tim Bricheno, formerly of Sisters of Mercy
Luther Vandross - Luther Vandross (J Records) featuring a duet with Jill Scott
various artists - Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts from the British Empire & Beyond, 1964-1969 (Rhino) four-CD set of 109 garage-rock tunes from beyond our shores
various artists - Philadelphia U.S.A. (Varese Sarabande) culled from the Cameo-Parkway era of the 1960s with monster classics from Chubby Checker, The Tymes, Bobby Rydell, and Dee Dee Sharp
various artists - Trance Voices: Soulful Expressions of Trance & Progressive House (Max Music) featuring Paul van Dyk, System F, bt, and Delerium
various artists - Mystic Groove (Projekt) adventure into the Asian underground with Theivery Corporation, Stoppa & Nobby, MC Sultan, and more
various artists - African Travels (Six Degrees) featuring Gus Gus and others riffing on the African influence on club culture
various artists - Head Jazz (Label M) trip out with Eddie Harris, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jimmy Scott, Ornette Coleman, and more
various artists - Sweet Emotion: Songs of Aerosmith (Heavy Hip Mama) featuring cover versions of songs like "Cryin'" by Otis Clay, "One Way Street" by Lou Ann Barton, and "Back in the Saddle" by Sugar Blue with Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm
The White Octave - Menergy (Initial)
Widespread Panic - Don't Tell the Band (Sanctuary) featuring a cover of fIREHOSE's "Sometimes" with saxophonist Randell Bramblett; look for the first pressing to contain a bonus 30-minute live CD
Brian Wilson - Live at the Roxy (Oglio) 24 tracks recorded last April in Los Angeles featuring a cover of The Ronettes' "Be My Baby"