· Everything's covers crazy this month as a two-handed stack of CDs shows off both wild and subdued interpretations of pop and punk classics. This Tuesday Vagrant Records and Activision are teaming up with Tony Hawk for his new American Wasteland video game and the accompanying CD soundtrack, with 14 punk favorites newly recorded by today's hottest new stars. Bowing down to those that influenced them, this old-school primer features Fall Out Boy, Dropkick Murphys, Senses Fail, and Hot Snakes cranking out their tributes in songs by Gorilla Biscuits, the Adolescents, Suicidal Tendencies, Government Issue, and more. Highlights include My Chemical Romance's take on the Misfits' "Astro Zombies," From Autumn to Ashes' spin on Fear's "Let's Start a War," and Thursday's eternal question of the Buzzcocks' "Ever Fallen in Love."

· Also due Tuesday is a new seven-track CD EP from Philadelphia's acid-folk baroque rockers Espers, entitled Weed Tree on the Locust Music label. Featuring two traditional folk standards, "Black Is the Color" and "Rosemary Lane," the set covers Blue Oyster Cult's "Flaming Telepaths," Nico's "Afraid," and the DuruttiColumn's "Tomorrow."

· Need more? Next week's Ultra Records soundtrack to The Squid & the Whale features Dean Wareham of Luna and Galaxie 500 turning in an acoustic cover of the Pink Floyd classic "Hey You," alongside music from Bert Jansch, Loudon Wainwright III, the Cars, and the Feelies.

· Almost unidentifiable except for the melody lines slipping through the postmodern jazz piano tinkling, bass, and drums, the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey rambles through an interesting selection of choices in this week's release of The Sameness of Difference. Peppered among originals such as "Halliburton Breakdown," the Hyena Records release features the trio's take on songs by the Flaming Lips, Brian Wilson, and Jimi Hendrix. Must-hear tracks include Neil Young's "Don't Let It Bring You Down" and a live version of the Beatles' "Happiness Is a Warm Gun."

· Due later this month, Terri Nunn and Berlin are back with their own covers collection, 4Play, on the Majestic imprint. After performing these personal favorites live for many years, the band has put them on record, with David Bowie's "Fashion," Peter Gabriel's "Big Time," Prince's "Erotic City," and Depeche Mode's "Never Let Me Down Again."

Television Alert:

The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes Black Rebel Motorcycle Club tonight, Al Green on Monday and Antony & The Johnsons on Tuesday; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Santana on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien slips on My Morning Jacket Thursday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly serves up Fruit Bats this evening overnight, David Banner on Thursday overnight, Idlewild on Friday overnight, The Bravery on Monday overnight, and Smash Mouth on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live offers 3 Doors Down this evening overnight and Shinedown on Friday overnight; and Austin City Limits presents Alison Krauss & Kathleen Edwards this weekend.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 18:

... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.


Animal Collective- Feels (Fat Cat)

Arab Strap- The Last Romance (Chemikal Underground) import only

Audio Bullys- Generation (Astralwerks) collaborating with Sugg from Madness on "The Road"

The Beautiful New Born Children- Hey People! (Domino)

John Cale - Black Acetate (Astralwerks) new solo album from the Velvet Underground co-founder, touring the States this month

Charlemagne- Detour Allure (SideCho)

Daltry Calhoun- original motion picture score (Lakeshore) score by John Swihart

Greg Davis & Sebastien Roux- Paquet Surprise (Carpark) cool psychedelic blip-blop laptop folk in this transatlantic collaboration

Depeche Mode- Playing the Angel (Sire/Reprise)

DJ Baby Anne & Jen Lasher- Assault & Battery (System) two-CD mix set from the Orlando, Florida, and Washington, DC, breakbeat DJs

Fireball Ministry- Their Rock Is Not Our Rock (Liquor & Poker)

Jason Forrest- Shamelessly Exciting (Sonig) fantastic mash-up of punk and pop samples, like jumbled AM-radio signals bouncing back to Earth; if you think you know music, try your hand at identifying these audio snippets and riff slices

Mick Harvey- One Man's Treasure (Mute) solo debut from the multi-talented co-founder of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, featuring new originals and covers of songs by Tim Buckley, Lee Hazelwood, and Jeffrey Lee Pierce

Ind uce- Cycle (Wonder Sound) intriguing new jazz featuring the spoken-word sample flow of "Coltrane's Brain (The Rebirth)" and a booklet of gorgeous photography

The Jade Shader- Curse of the Tuatara (Sonic Boom)

Johnny Society- Coming to Get You ( Messenger)

Lakota- Hope for the Haunted (Pop Up) produced by Jamie Woolford of The Stereo

Marah- If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry (Yep Roc) like Americana bastard sons of Graham Parker and The Faces, this excellent fifth album by the Philadelphia quintet is my pick of the week

Chris Mills- Wall to Wall Sessions (Ernest Jenning) with guests Kelly Logan and members of Sea & Cake, Giant Sand, and Head of Femur

Nektar- Magic Is a Child (Eclectic) CD reissue from 1977, featuring four bonus tracks including guest guitarist Robert Fripp of King Crimson on an alternative version of "Train From Nowhere"

Ninja High School- Young Adults Against Suicide (Tomlab) from Toronto

Ohm- Amino Acid Flashback (Blacknote) new from Chris Poland of Megadeth

Propagandhi- Potemkin City Limits (Fat Wreck) featuring booklet artwork by Sue Coe, and a recommended selection of political books

The Ribeye Brothers- Bar Ballads & Other Cautionary Tales (Times Beach) garage blues with a British psychedelic edge from Jon Kleiman and Tim Cronin, formerly of Monster Magnet, featuring a cover of the Minutemen's "Working Men Are Pissed"

Silver Jews- Tanglewood Numbers (Drag City) highly anticipated return featuring "How Can I Love You (When You Won't Lie Down)"

Simply Red- Simplified (Verve) newly recorded versions of "Holding Back the Years" and other hits, stripped down to mature, timeless arrangements; also featuring a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song for You"

Six Feet Under - A Decade in the Grave (Metal Blade) four-CD and DVD box set featuring trading cards and other goodies

Rod Stewart- The Great American Songbook: Volume IV (J Records) with guests Elton John, George Benson, and Diana Ross, this new collection of standards includes his take on "My Funny Valentine" and "Cheek to Cheek"

The Strugglers- You Win (Acuarela) painfully beautiful tenderness from Brice Randall Bickford II and company

Thrice- Vheissu (Island) taking its title from a Thomas Pynchon novel

Umphrey's McGee- Wrapped Around Chicago: New Years at the Riv (Sci Fidelity) two-DVD set

Unearth- The Oncoming Storm: Special Edition (Metal Blade) featuring a bonus DVD

Stevie Wonder- A Time 2 Love (Motown) with guests Prince, Doug E. Fresh, and India.Arie

Frank Zappa- The Dub Room Special (Eagle Vision) DVD documentary featuring material from his Halloween concerts from 1981 and a 1974 TV special

various artists- Metal Mania Stripped Volume 2L The Anthems (Sidewinder) featuring rare acoustic ballad versions of the Scorpions' "Rock You Like a Hurricane," Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again," and Ratt's "Round & Round"; look for the Stripped Across Tour this month with Kip Winger, Stephen Pearcy, Don Dokken, and Jani Lane

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