· In cool-cover alert news, Tricky's new album, Vulnerable, is due this Tuesday and features two interpretations of note: XTC's "Dear God" and The Cure's " Love Cats." The new Anti Records album features his touring band and Italian singer Constanza Francavilla.

· Also on the must-hear cover list is this Tuesday's release of Uncivilized Love by critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Gus Black. The Immergent Records release features his own acoustic interpretation of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" and is available on both regular CD and the growing DVD-Audio format, which offers eight bonus live videos.

· Two critically acclaimed female singer-songwriters have chosen to dip into the Rolling Stones' songbook for their new albums. Minnesota native Elizabeth Keeney's upcoming Follow Your Heart on the Liquid 8 imprint features her take on "As Tears Go by," a track penned by the Mick and Keith but made a hit in 1964 by Marianne Faithful. Another classy affair taking the hand of the Glimmer Twins is Shelter, the upcoming album from jazz vocalist Jacqui Naylor. Bearing the Ruby Records label, this album features saxophone, cello, and piano musings on the Stones' disco-era hit "Miss You."

· A rare Paul McCartney track is seeing the legitimate light of day next week, showing up on the soundtrack to the remake of the 1979 film The In-Laws. The Warner Bros. soundtrack features "A Love for You," an unused track from his Ram album sessions, available only on various "Cold Cut" bootlegs. Other McCartney tracks pepper the soundtrack alongside Electric Light Orchestra, B.J. Thomas, Mel Torme, and Elvis Presley, with "I'm Carrying" from the Wings album London Town, and a live version of his James Bond theme "Live & Let Die," recorded for a 1974 television concert special. Fans of the cute Beatle should also keep their heads up for Metarie Extended Player, the upcoming CD EP from Brendon Benson & The Wellfed Boys. The Star Time International release will feature the group's cover of McCartney's "Let Me Roll It."

· My pick of the week is one to hide from the kids, but worth looking for if you like clever songwriting and pee-your-pants funny irreverence. Bearing only his guitar and a dirty mind, Stephen Lynch has made quite a reputation for himself touring college campuses, popping in on The Opie & Anthony radio program, and earning thumbs-up from Dr. Demento. His new album, Superhero, features 15 tracks recorded live in comedy clubs across America and takes aim at your funny bone and shock limits. Highlights include the Billy Corgan-channeling "What If That Guy from Smashing Pumpkins Lost His Car Keys?", a country love song about love gone bad by flatuation, and "D & D," a hilarious manifesto for those social miscreants who live the Dungeons & Dragons way of life: "I got my 12-sided die and I'm ready to roll with a wizard and my goblin crew, my friends are coming over to my Mom's basement bringing Funyuns and the Mountain Dew." Very funny stuff.

Television Alert:

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Third Eye Blind tonight, Busta Rhymes on Friday, and The Thorns (featuring Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge, and Shawn Mullins) on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Avril Lavigne tonight, Jack Johnson on Thursday, Nas on Friday, and Chevelle on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts David Bowie on Thursday overnight, Dropkick Murphys on Friday overnight, and Live on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn has Ben Harper on Thursday overnight and Foo Fighters on Friday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live gets chummy with Marilyn Manson on Friday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Beyonce Knowles.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, May 20:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change

American Analog Set - Promise of Love (Tiger Style)

Betty Blowtorch - Last Call (Foodchain) rarities release featuring demos and live radio-station tracks

Black Cross - Art Offensive (Equal Vision)

Cabaret Voltaire - Methodology: The Attic Tapes 1974-1978 (Mute) box set

Don Carlos - Live in San Francisco (Music Video Distributors) DVD release

James Cohen - High Side of Lowdown (Northern Blues)

Phil Collins - A Life Less Ordinary (Sanctuary Visual) documentary DVD with exclusive interviews with Ozzy Osbourne, Sir Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel, Quincy Jones, and more

Candy Dulfer - Right in My Soul (Eagle) new from the star session saxophonist

Earth, Wind, & Fire - The Promise (Kalimba) their first new material in six years

John Eddie - Who the Hell Is John Eddie? (Lost Highway)

Good Riddance - Bound by the Ties of Blood & Affection (Fat Wreck)

Nina Hagen - Om Namah Shivay (SPV) new from the German punk star, now absorbed into India metaphysics and a Tibetan ashram

Half Pint - Live in Jamaica (Music Video Distributors) enhanced DVD filmed this past summer

Ed Harcourt - From Every Sphere (Astralwerks)

Jesse Harris - Secret Sun (Blue Thumb/Verve)

Homesick for Space - Unision (Lakeshore)

Jamez - Dreamchasing (Future Groove/Mute)

Daniel Johnson - The Early Recordings (Dualtone) two-CD set featuring the first two self-produced cassettes that he originally released in 1981 and 1982, Songs of Pain and More Songs of Pain

Chris Knight - Long Black Highway (Dualtone)

Less Than Jake - Anthem (Warner Bros)

Mastermind - Pokaface (Artist Direct) rap from Phoenix

Bret Michaels - Songs of Life (Poor Boy) new solo album from the former Poison vocalist

Mowett - A Goodfella's Life (DreamWorks)

Nedelle - Republic of Two (Kimchee)

John Oates - All Good People (Liquid 8) new solo album from one half of Hall & Oates

On Line - original motion picture soundtrack (Lakeshore) with Clem Snide, Peaches, and Roger Neill

Robert Palmer - Drive (Compendia) all blues album

Franky Perez - Love, Soul, Rock 'n' Roll (Lava) with songs co-written with Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes

The Pernice Brothers - Yours, Mine, & Ours (Ashmont)

Presence - Tonz of Fun (Curb)

Righteous Boy - I Sing Because of You (Future Farmer) new from Mugnus Sveningsson, bassist of The Cardigans

Shai Hulud - That Within Blood Ill-Tempered (Revelation)

Simply Saucer - Cyborg Revisited (Sonic Unyon) first time on CD for this Canadian nugget from 1989

Dr. Lonnie Smith - Boogaloo to Beck (Scufflin') covers of 11 Beck songs by the soul jazz legend

Spring Heel Jack - Live (Thirsty Ear) featuring Matthew Shipp on Fender Rhodes

Staind - 14 Shades of Grey (Flip/Elektra) featuring a limited-edition bonus DVD in the first pressing

Starlight Mints - Built on Squares (Pias America) on tour now with the Flaming Lips

Suntan - Send You Home (Kimchee)

Toshack Highway vs. Sianspheric - Magnetic Morning/Aspirin Age (Sonic Unyon) two-CD set

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