· This coming Tuesday Bjork and the One Little Indian label are releasing a charity album to support UNICEF. Consisting of 20 versions of the song "Army of Me," the tracks were culled from more than 600 entries from all over the world, prompted by her Web site.
· Eight new spring/summer titles are starting to creep out in Continuum Books' "Thirty-Three and a Third" pocket-sized series. Just released is a 150-page thesis on Jeff Buckley's Grace album by Princeton University English professor Daphne Brooks. Other titles will soon focus on The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street, the Ramones' debut LP, Led Zeppelin's cryptically untitled fourth album, My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, and Elvis Costello's Armed Forces. If the 2003 smash film School of Rock gave you rock-star-parent dreams, next week a real-life rock school earnestly does it all for the kids. The upcoming film Rock School chronicles the Paul Green School of Rock Music in Philadelphia, with students performing hits alongside rock royalty such as Ann Wilson of Heart, Marky Ramone, Billy Idol, and Alice Cooper. The Calvin Records soundtrack release also features the kids themselves covering Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," The Doors' "L.A. Woman," and The Police's "Don't Stand So Close to Me."
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Ryan Adams this evening; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Nikka Costa on Thursday and Antigone Rising on Friday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts the Alkaline Trio this evening overnight and Good Charlotte on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson features Robert Cray this evening overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live presents Goldie Lookin' Chai this evening overnight and Nelly on Friday overnight; Austin City Limits features John Fogerty this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, May 31:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
Erol Alkan- A Bugged Out Mix(Resist/Studio)
Audio Bullys- "Shot You Down" (Astralwerks) new 12-inch vinyl single sampling Nancy Sinatra's vocals from her hit "Bang Bang (You Shot Me Down)"
Better Than Ezra- Before the Robots(Artemis)
Layzie Bone- It's Not a Game(X-Ray/Cleopatra) with guests Snoop Dogg, Twista, and Dogzilla
Bottom Line- Eloquence(Suburban Home) young Cincinnati quartet that played the Vans Warped Tour before graduating high school
DJ Sneak- House of Om(Om Records) debut of this new label mix CD series
Esmerine- Aurora(Madrona) new from Bruce Cawdron and Beckie Foon from Godspeed You! Black Emperor
The Fall- Khmer Rouge: New York-London(United States of Distribution) two-CD re-issue
Fishbone- Live in Amsterdam (High Times) featuring a bonus DVD
Guru- Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures(7 Grand) new cinematic swells from the Gangstarr MC, with guests Talib Kweli, Doo Wop, and Jeaguar Wright
Gwar- Live From Mt. Fuji(DRT)
Hot Karl- The Great Escape(Headless Heroes) with guests MC Serch, Ali Abnormal, and Maktub's Reggie Watts
The Hurt Process- A Heartbeat Behind(Victory)
Kottonmouth Kings- Kottonmouth Kings(Suburban Noize) featuring guests Cypress Hill
Levellers- Truth & Lies(Eagle Rock)
Life of Agony- Broken Valley(Epic)
Loquat- It's Yours to Keep(Jackpine Social Club) trip-hop electronica voted the Best Pop Group by the San Francisco Weekly in 2003
Magenta Lane- Constant Lover(Paper Bag) six-song debut CD EP from this Toronto female trio
Maximo Park- A Certain Trigger(Warp)
Oasis- Don't Believe the Truth (Epic) also available in the DualDisc format
Palaxy Track- Twelve Rooms(Peek-a-Boo) featuring a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy," and vintage instruments such as mellotron and pump organ
Sean Price- Monkey Barz(Duck Down) a.k.a. Ruck of Heltah Skeltah
Puddle of Mudd- Striking That Familiar Chord(Eagle Rock) live DVD with a bonus acoustic set
Sherwood- Sing, But Keep Going(SideCho) featured on last year's Vans Warped Tour
Smog- A River Ain't Too Much to Love(Drag City) performing at in-store appearances at Amoeba Records in California and Waterloo Records in Austin
The Robot Ate Me- Carousel Waltz(5 Rue Christine) DIY bedroom recordings from Ryland Bouchard
The Specials- Stereo-Typical: A's, B's, & Rarities (EMI) import-only collection
The Stranglers- Live 1978 in San Francisco(Music Video Distributors) DVD
Earl Thomas- Intersection(Memphis International) excellent blues and soul vibes from this stylistic singer, featuring his take on the T.Rex hit "Bang a Gong" and the Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar"
Satoshi Tomiie- E.S.: Electronic Soul(Saw Recordings)
Ume- Urgent Sea(Pretty Activity) debut from this Texas trio