08
Jul
2003
· Almost as iconic as Mr. Rogers' trademark cardigan is the green striped rugby shirt worn by Steve on Nickelodeon TV's Blue's Clues. After six years as the show's original host, he's been replaced by another soft-spoken actor, and it felt unsettling to deflect "Steve is dead" rumors from my seven-year-old and find Steve Burns the post-blue-dog serious actor portraying a creepy killer on Law & Order.
Burns' resume is getting a little more diverse next month when Pias America Records releases his debut CD, Songs for Dustmites. Self-described as an album about science and love, this is no children's record despite the album's playful collaboration with Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips and producer David Fridmann, knob-twiddling master of records by the Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Sparklehorse, and Weezer. In other Flaming Lips news, Burns has revealed that - shhh! - he's in the band's long-anticipated Christmas on Mars motion picture.
· Epitaph Records has announced that in October it will release the final sessions from Clash founder Joe Strummer and his Mescaleros. Strummer's bandmates finished the album from the songs Strummer was working on at the time of his death in December, and the set will feature a cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song."
· Consistently one of the more entertaining bands found on MTV, the Foo Fighters find themselves in a strange position: The group's latest video clip, for the song "Low," won't be shown on MTV or its sister station MTV2, the first time the stations have rejected one of the group's videos. What's all the fuss about, other than Dave Grohl and Jack Black in drag as the mysterious "Lester and Cleetis"? Judge for yourself, as RCA Records has just released a four-clip DVD featuring the censored video and three different directorial visions of "Times Like These," with American, British, and special acoustic versions.
· The Misfits are back with a new album and their own late-summer tour, The Fiend Fest, with friends The Damned, The Dickies, and Agnostic Front. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the band's current lineup features co-founder Jerry Only, Dez of Black Flag, and Marky Ramone of the Ramones. The new album, a joint venture between the artist-owned Misfits Records and Rykodisc, is entitled Project 1950 - a hard-to-comprehend collection of 10 covers of 1950s classics including "This Magic Moment," Great Balls of Fire," "Dream Lover," and the fitting "Monster Mash."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes The Wallflowers tonight, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Thursday, and Sugar Ray on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Jack Johnson tonight, Emmylou Harris on Thursday, and B.B. King on Friday; and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features the eels this evening overnight, Robbie Williams on Thursday overnight, and Ludacris on Friday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 15:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
American Pie 3: American Wedding - original motion picture soundtrack (Universal) featuring The Wallflowers' cover of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic"
Bad Boys II - original motion picture soundtrack (Bad Boy/Arista) with Jay-Z, P. Diddy, 50 Cent, Nelly, Justin Timberlake, and more
Bad Brains - Banned In D.C.: Bad Brains' Greatest Riffs (Caroline) enhanced CD
David Banner - Mississippi: The Screwed & Chopped Album (Universal)
Bear Vs. Shark - Right Now, You're in the Best of Hands (Equal Vision)
Beehive & The Barracudas - In Dark Love (Swami)
Si Begg - Director's Cut (Novamute) peppy and chirpy electronic beats-and-bleats with DJ Rush and Miss MC
Bukshot - They Still Don't Love Me (Pale Horse) with guests Bubba Sparxx and Big V of the Nappy Roots
Calaxico - "Alone Again or" (City Slang) new import-only CD single featuring a mariachi cover of the Arthur Lee & Love classic, a new song, and remixes from Stratus and The Cinematic Orchestra
Chicago - The Box (Rhino) five-CD anthology with a bonus DVD
Harry Connick Jr. - Other Hours: Connick on Piano Volume 1 (Marselis Music) instrumentals
Rob Crow - My Room Is a Mess (Absolutely Kosher) formerly of Heavy Vegetable
Da Brat - Limelite, Luv & Nightclubz (So So Def/Arista) with guests Mariah Carey and Cee-Lo, and featuring a bonus DVD in the first pressing
Deadweight - Stroking the Moon (Alternative Tentacles)
The Dirty Americans - Strange Generation (Roadrunner)
Pete Droge - Skywatching (United Musicians/Puzzle Tree) new solo album from this proud third of The Thorns
Goldfrapp - "Strict Machine" (Mute) new single
Macy Gray - The Trouble with Being Myself (Epic)
Husbands - Introducing the Sound of the Husbands (Swami)
The Incredible Moses Leroy - Become the Soft Lightes (Ultimatum) with guest Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto
Johnny English - original motion picture soundtrack (Decca) with Robbie Williams
Killing Joke - "Loose Cannon" (Zuma) new import-only CD and DVD single
Pamela Laws - Masters & Gardeners (No Mayo) terrific debut from this singer/songwriter, floating in a back porch, funky, old-timey, natural groove
Left Front Tire - 42 Ways to Lose a Friend (Redeye) pop punk melodies from this Georgia quartet last seen on the American Pie 2 soundtrack
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Treble in Trouble (Ace Fu) CD EP re-issue featuring a cover of Thin Lizzy's "Little Girl in Bloom"
The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium (Universal) with guest bassist Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mudvayne - "Not Falling" (Epic) DVD single with lots of goodies
Keith Murray - He's Keith Murray (Def Jam) with guests Redman, Busta Rhymes, and Dr. Dre
Nehemiah - The Process of Asphyxiation (Uprising) growling death metal from Minnesota
ohGr - Sunnypsyop (Spitfire) new gritty solo electronica from the Skinny Puppy founder, on tour this summer with Ministry and the Revolting Cocks
Pole - Album (Mute) layers of minimalist dub electronica featuring rapper Fat Jon pondering time on "Slow Motion"
RX Bandits - The Resignation (Drive-Thru/MCA) with a bonus DVD in the first pressing
Shinedown - Leave a Whisper (Atlantic)
Super Furry Animals - "Golden Retriever" (Epic) new import-only seven-inch CD or DVD single
The Soul of John Black - The Soul of John Black (No Mayo) new from John "JB" Bigham of Fishbone and Christopher "CT" Thomas of the Brian Blade Fellowship
Teenage Fanclub - "Did I Say" (Poolside) new single
Tribe Called Quest - Hits, Rarities, & Remixes (Jive)
The Used - "Maybe Memories" (Mute/Reprise) four-track CD and bonus DVD package of live tracks, demos, and other rare stuff
Year of the Rabbit - Year of the Rabbit (Elektra) new from Ken Andrews of Failure
· Epitaph Records has announced that in October it will release the final sessions from Clash founder Joe Strummer and his Mescaleros. Strummer's bandmates finished the album from the songs Strummer was working on at the time of his death in December, and the set will feature a cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song."
· Consistently one of the more entertaining bands found on MTV, the Foo Fighters find themselves in a strange position: The group's latest video clip, for the song "Low," won't be shown on MTV or its sister station MTV2, the first time the stations have rejected one of the group's videos. What's all the fuss about, other than Dave Grohl and Jack Black in drag as the mysterious "Lester and Cleetis"? Judge for yourself, as RCA Records has just released a four-clip DVD featuring the censored video and three different directorial visions of "Times Like These," with American, British, and special acoustic versions.
· The Misfits are back with a new album and their own late-summer tour, The Fiend Fest, with friends The Damned, The Dickies, and Agnostic Front. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the band's current lineup features co-founder Jerry Only, Dez of Black Flag, and Marky Ramone of the Ramones. The new album, a joint venture between the artist-owned Misfits Records and Rykodisc, is entitled Project 1950 - a hard-to-comprehend collection of 10 covers of 1950s classics including "This Magic Moment," Great Balls of Fire," "Dream Lover," and the fitting "Monster Mash."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes The Wallflowers tonight, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Thursday, and Sugar Ray on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Jack Johnson tonight, Emmylou Harris on Thursday, and B.B. King on Friday; and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features the eels this evening overnight, Robbie Williams on Thursday overnight, and Ludacris on Friday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 15:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
American Pie 3: American Wedding - original motion picture soundtrack (Universal) featuring The Wallflowers' cover of Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic"
Bad Boys II - original motion picture soundtrack (Bad Boy/Arista) with Jay-Z, P. Diddy, 50 Cent, Nelly, Justin Timberlake, and more
Bad Brains - Banned In D.C.: Bad Brains' Greatest Riffs (Caroline) enhanced CD
David Banner - Mississippi: The Screwed & Chopped Album (Universal)
Bear Vs. Shark - Right Now, You're in the Best of Hands (Equal Vision)
Beehive & The Barracudas - In Dark Love (Swami)
Si Begg - Director's Cut (Novamute) peppy and chirpy electronic beats-and-bleats with DJ Rush and Miss MC
Bukshot - They Still Don't Love Me (Pale Horse) with guests Bubba Sparxx and Big V of the Nappy Roots
Calaxico - "Alone Again or" (City Slang) new import-only CD single featuring a mariachi cover of the Arthur Lee & Love classic, a new song, and remixes from Stratus and The Cinematic Orchestra
Chicago - The Box (Rhino) five-CD anthology with a bonus DVD
Harry Connick Jr. - Other Hours: Connick on Piano Volume 1 (Marselis Music) instrumentals
Rob Crow - My Room Is a Mess (Absolutely Kosher) formerly of Heavy Vegetable
Da Brat - Limelite, Luv & Nightclubz (So So Def/Arista) with guests Mariah Carey and Cee-Lo, and featuring a bonus DVD in the first pressing
Deadweight - Stroking the Moon (Alternative Tentacles)
The Dirty Americans - Strange Generation (Roadrunner)
Pete Droge - Skywatching (United Musicians/Puzzle Tree) new solo album from this proud third of The Thorns
Goldfrapp - "Strict Machine" (Mute) new single
Macy Gray - The Trouble with Being Myself (Epic)
Husbands - Introducing the Sound of the Husbands (Swami)
The Incredible Moses Leroy - Become the Soft Lightes (Ultimatum) with guest Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto
Johnny English - original motion picture soundtrack (Decca) with Robbie Williams
Killing Joke - "Loose Cannon" (Zuma) new import-only CD and DVD single
Pamela Laws - Masters & Gardeners (No Mayo) terrific debut from this singer/songwriter, floating in a back porch, funky, old-timey, natural groove
Left Front Tire - 42 Ways to Lose a Friend (Redeye) pop punk melodies from this Georgia quartet last seen on the American Pie 2 soundtrack
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Treble in Trouble (Ace Fu) CD EP re-issue featuring a cover of Thin Lizzy's "Little Girl in Bloom"
The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium (Universal) with guest bassist Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Mudvayne - "Not Falling" (Epic) DVD single with lots of goodies
Keith Murray - He's Keith Murray (Def Jam) with guests Redman, Busta Rhymes, and Dr. Dre
Nehemiah - The Process of Asphyxiation (Uprising) growling death metal from Minnesota
ohGr - Sunnypsyop (Spitfire) new gritty solo electronica from the Skinny Puppy founder, on tour this summer with Ministry and the Revolting Cocks
Pole - Album (Mute) layers of minimalist dub electronica featuring rapper Fat Jon pondering time on "Slow Motion"
RX Bandits - The Resignation (Drive-Thru/MCA) with a bonus DVD in the first pressing
Shinedown - Leave a Whisper (Atlantic)
Super Furry Animals - "Golden Retriever" (Epic) new import-only seven-inch CD or DVD single
The Soul of John Black - The Soul of John Black (No Mayo) new from John "JB" Bigham of Fishbone and Christopher "CT" Thomas of the Brian Blade Fellowship
Teenage Fanclub - "Did I Say" (Poolside) new single
Tribe Called Quest - Hits, Rarities, & Remixes (Jive)
The Used - "Maybe Memories" (Mute/Reprise) four-track CD and bonus DVD package of live tracks, demos, and other rare stuff
Year of the Rabbit - Year of the Rabbit (Elektra) new from Ken Andrews of Failure
