· Everything's gone cover crazy as tributes and twisted takes dominate this week's new releases, but one cool compilation is doing it in a slightly different way. This Tuesday the Norton Records imprint releases two more seven-inch 45s in its series of split singles covering early songs by the Rolling Stones, with wicked label art that mocks the band's classic London Records era. Following previously issued installments from the Real Kids, Question Mark & The Mysterians, the Knaughty Knights, and the Queensbury Terrors, the new singles feature The Lyres' instrumental take on "Now I've Got a Witness," the New Conolly Five's spin on "Stoned," the Swingin' Neckbreakers' cover of "It's Not Easy," and The Shanks' flick on "Doncha Bother Me."

· Mavericks vocalist Raul Malo and Nashville pals Pat Flynn, Rob Ickes, and Dave Pomeroy come together next week with their Nashville Acoustic Sessions album on CMH Records, covering Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou," Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain," The Louvin Brothers' "Great Atomic Power," and songs by Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, and Jimmie Rodgers.

· Texas Terri Bomb and TKO records are poised to release her two-CD or two-LP set, Your Lips My Ass, next week, featuring the notorious singer with guests Wayne Kramer of the MC5, Cherrie Currie of the Runaways, and members of The Dickies. Two cool covers lurk within - Thin Lizzy's "The Rocker" and the KISS party classic "Rock & Roll All Nite." More KISS covers can be found next month with a new tribute album from Koch Records, entitled Spin the Bottle. Highlights will include Dee Snider of Twisted Sister covering "Detroit Rock City," Page Hamilton of Helmet tackling "Calling Doctor Love," Buzz Osbourne of the Melvins bowing down to the "God of Thunder," and Tommy Shaw of Styx showing off his "Love Gun." Other participants include Lemmy Kilmeister of Motorhead, Phil Lewis of L.A. Guns, Kip Winger, and WWE wrestler Chris Jericho. Look for a bonus behind-the-scenes DVD to accompany the first pressing.

· Jacksonville, Florida's Evergreen Terrace has just released a brutal, chafing collection of nine covers and one new original called Writers Block. Some might see "melodic hardcore" as an oxymoron, but these fellas are poised to split lips with their blistering interpretations of Tears for Fears' "Mad World," U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday," Smashing Pumpkins' "Zero," and Michael Sambello's "Maniac" theme from Flashdance. Be very afraid.

· Putting the whole "covers train" in reverse this Tuesday is Family Recordings and its Uncovered compilation. The two-CD set collects 37 songs we all know and love, but presents the original versions unknown to most of us. Highlights include The Delphonics' "Ready or Not," Shuggie Otis' "Strawberry Letter 23," Barret Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)," Gloria Jones' "Tainted Love," and the Undisputed Truth's "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." An interesting story lies underneath the inclusion of Jorge Ben's "Taj Mahal" - a song so close to Rod Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy" that the songwriter sued Stewart and won.

Television Alert:

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Tantric tonight and Clay Aiken on Thursday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Blondie tonight, John Mayer on Monday, and Lou Reed on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Michelle Branch this evening overnight, Rickie Lee Jones Thursday overnight, and Toby Lightman on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn shows the musical side of Soprano princess Jamie-Lynn DiScala this evening overnight; and Last Call with Carson Daly boasts Ben Harper on Thursday overnight and The French Kicks on Friday overnight.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, March 30:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change

Aerosmith - Honkin' on Bobo (Columbia) all-blues album also available in a limited-edition package, featuring blues classics such as Muddy Waters' "I'm Ready," Bo Diddley's "Road Runner," and Sonny Boy Williamson's "Eyesight to the Blind"

George Benson - Irreplaceable (GRP Records)

Bleed the Dream - Awake (Noize Pollution) six-song EP

Brute Force - Brute Force (Sepiatone) CD re-issue from 1970 featuring free-jazz guitarist Sonny Sharrock

Eric Clapton - Me & Mr. Johnson (Reprise) a salute to blues legend Robert Johnson

Lloyd Cole - Music in a Foreign Language (One Little Indian)

Dirty Vegas - The Trip (Family/Studio Dist) mix CD with a wild track list including Run DMC, Rob Base, Hall & Oates, Joe Jackson, Grace Jones, and Marvin Gaye

The Divine Comedy - Absent Friends (Parlophone) import only

Downset - Universal (Liquid 8)

Bob Dylan - Bootleg: Volume 6 (Sony Legacy) two-CD concert at Philharmonic Hall in 1964, recorded two months after the release of Another Side of Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan - Unplugged (Columbia Legacy) DVD release with four songs that didn't make MTV's original broadcast in 1995

Eek-A-Mouse - Mouse Gone Wild (Sanctuary)

Electric Frankenstein - We Will Bury You (TKO) double CD or LP set collecting covers of Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Blue Oyster Cult, and more

Andre Ethier - Pickle & Price (Sonic Unyon) wonderful solo project from The Deadly Snakes vocalist, reminiscent of Bob Dylan and Nick Cave

John Felice & The Lowdowns - Nothing Pretty (Norton) remastered CD re-issue from 1987, after breaking from the Real Kids

Tommy Guerrero - "Getting It Together" (Galaxia) new single with vocals by Lyrics Born

Karl Hendricks Trio - Gesture of Kindness (Spirit of Orr) CD re-issue from 1995

Igloo - Igloo (Bubblecore) new from Adam Pierce and Doro Tachler of Mice Parade

Janet Jackson - Damita Jo (Virgin) anticipated release that could be a big dud or a big hit as the nipple still ripples

L.S.G. - The Best Of: Singles Reworked (Superstition) 10 years of electronica from Oliver Lieb, chilled out and re-interpreted

Toby Lightman - Little Things (Lava)

Loch Lomond - When We Were Mountains (In Music We Trust) featuring Ritchie Young and Rob Oberdorfer of The Standard on this haunting collaboration built from layers of melody and sampled bits

Sarah McLachlan - "Fallen" (Nettwerk/Arista) new DVD single also featuring a photo gallery and the video for "Stupid"

Metal Boys - Tokio Airport (Acute) expanded re-issue from Metal Urbain with a female vocalist

The Minus Tide - Anakullosis (Action Driver) twin-guitar metalcore from Wheeling, West Virginia

Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News (Epic) with guests Dirty Dozen Brass Band and one track re-mixed by the Flaming Lips

Pepper - In with the Old (Volcom) homegrown Hawaiian featuring guest Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on pedal steel guitar

Really Red - Teaching You Fear (Empty) hardcore political punk re-issue from 1991

Shakira - Live & Off the Record (Epic) CD and DVD set filmed in 2002, featuring her cover of AC/DC's "Back in Black"

Snow Patrol - Final Straw (A&M) domestic issue of this hot U.K. debut

Son of the Velvet Rat - By My Side (Starfish) solo project from Georg Altziebler reminiscent of Leonard Cohen and Tim Hardin, featuring a lonely, minimalist version of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

The O.C. Mix One - original television series soundtrack (Warner Bros) with Phantom Planet, Dandy Warhols, Spoon, Jet, and Joseph Arthur

Unicorns - "2014" (Suicide Squeeze) new seven-inch on colored wax

Seth Vath - In the Mix: The Sound of the Fourth Season (Cocoon) two-CD mix album with T. Raaumschmiere, LFO, Primal Scream, and Dub Kult

Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart - English Roots Music (Azra Records) interesting new project from the legendary bassist, interpreting church modes and ballads from medieval times to the 18th Century

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