· A bookish group of singer-songwriters has contributed 16 tracks of work directly inspired by a favorite tome or written-word piece, ranging from poems and plays to comic books and Homer's The Odyssey. Due next month on the Red Ink/United Musicians label, this highbrow project was conceived and created to help fund The SIBL Project - a San Francisco adult literacy program that promotes reading through music - and national literacy campaigns. Entitled Songs Inspired by Literature: Chapter One, this adventurous idea features highlights such as Bob Hillman's "Tolstoy," inspired by the opus War and Peace; Grace Slick's "Rejoyce," based on James Joyce's Ulysses; Ray Manzarek's "He Can't Come Today," riffing on Samuel Beckett's play Waiting For Godot; and Aimee Mann's "Ghostworld," a clever take on Dan Clowes' nervous comic book masterpiece recently turned into a fantastic motion picture. Other artists involved include Jill Tracy, Bruce Springsteen, Suzanne Vega, and Anny Celsi.

· This Tuesday the Hollywood Records label is re-releasing its original motion picture soundtrack to last year's The Royal Tenenbaums, now expanded with three additional tracks. One of these has my cover-crazy interest: a version of The Beatles' "Hey Jude" performed by DEVO's Mark Mothersbaugh and his Mutato Musika Orchestra. ... Sigur Ros' upcoming album was recorded in the most unusual of places, a converted in-ground swimming pool in Iceland.

· A stunning new solo album is due next week from Paul Weller, founder and singer-songwriter of The Jam. Entitled Days of Speed, the Epic Records release is an 18-track live collection (recorded at various dates on his 2001 European tour) and a wonderful all-acoustic setting for his bitter Mod anthems of class consciousness and alienation. Many of The Jam's finest electric moments are transformed extraordinarily on this pensive stage, with classics such as "That's Entertainment," "Town Called Malice," and "English Rose" reaching out full-fisted and meaty.

· John Hiatt's talents look to shine brightly in the upcoming Walt Disney animated film The Country Bears, due in theaters in late July. On seven tracks he wrote especially for the film, Hiatt is joined by a stellar backing band featuring Pete Thomas of Elvis Costello's Imposters, Tom Petty alumni Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, guitarist Sonny Landreth, A Perfect Circle's Josh Freese, and guest vocalists Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, and E.G. Daily. Other new material comes from Brian Setzer's '68 Comeback Special and Bela Fleck bassist Victor Wooten.

· I've been held for weeks under the spell of the fluid daybreak melodies and bare guitar wanderings of Leni Stern's just-released album, Finally the Rain Has Come. As my pick of the week, this folk-jazz masterpiece comes from an intriguing woman - a German-born career musician who five times has received Gibson Guitars' Female Guitarist of the Year honors, a cancer survivor, and a Southern Shaolin martial-arts disciple. This new album, her 13th, bears the imprint of her self-titled record label and is a soul-stirring home-grown affair, boasting an incredible array of guest players including guitarists Bill Frisell and John McLaughlin, percussionist Zakir Hussain, and saxophonist Michael Brecker. These sessions are simply magic, reminiscent of Suzanne Vega, Joni Mitchell, or Marianne Faithful, the acoustic finger work of Robyn Hitchcock or Rick Ruskin, or maybe Van Morrison's Moondance vibe, stretching across the human canvas on an intimate, spirited breeze. Flowing between vocal-driven songs and shining instrumental-reprise re-interpretations, highlights include "Where Is God" - a perfect next-door neighbor to XTC's "Dear God" - and "Love Everyone," a simple puff of possibility built on those two words of grace. Heartbreaking and heart-swelling, this comes highly, highly recommended.

Television Alert:

The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes songwriter Ben Kweller on Thursday; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Trey Anastasio tonight, Papa Roach on Thursday, Nelly on Friday, Hoobastank on Monday, and Jimmy Buffett on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Our Lady Peace on Thursday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn boasts Marshall Crenshaw on Thursday overnight and Warren Zevon on Friday overnight; and The Bravo Channel's Musicians series gets in-depth with Randy Newman on Monday.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 2:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change

Ace Troubleshooter - The Madness of the Crowds (Tooth & Nail)

Aerosmith - Oh Yeah: Ultimate Hits (Columbia) 30 tracks over two CDs and available with four different 3-D covers

Green Day - Shenanigans (Reprise) B-sides and rarities collection featuring covers of The Ramones' "Outsider" and The Kinks' "Tired of Waiting for You"

Joy Electric - 1994-2002: The Art & Craft of Popular Music (BEC) two-CD set of old and new material

Money Mark - Change Is Coming (Silverline) 5.1-channel DVD audio release

Oasis - Heathen Chemistry (Epic) produced by Noel Gallagher and featuring the singles "The Hindu Times" and "Stop Crying Your Heart Out"

Ozma - The Doubble Donkey Disc (Kung Fu) this CD collects two EPs

Lee "Scratch" Perry - Baffling Smoke Signal: The Upsetter Shop Volume 3 (Heartbeat) more mid-1970s reggae classics from The Congos, Hugh Blackwood, and Devon Irons

The Sillies - America's Most Wanton (Scooch Pooch) LP or enhanced-CD collection of Detroit mayhem featuring guest Wayne Kramer of the MC5

The The - Soul Mining, Infected, Mind Bomb, and Dusk (Epic Legacy) new deluxe re-mastered editions

various artists - Zen & The Art of Chilling Volume Two (Mondo Rhythmica) with music from Trans-Global Underground, Jah Wobble with Bill Laswell, and Rollercone

Voodoo Glow Skulls - Steady as She Goes (Victory) featuring a hidden bonus cover of Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs' "Little Red Riding Hood"

Yesterday's Kids - Can't Hear Nothing (Lookout) from Neenah, Wisconsin

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