X + XIf all else fails, with the help of his trusty loop pedal Marty Jones could have a promising future as a one-man band. As the founder, primary songwriter, and conductor - who also handles vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards, additional percussion, sampling, and programming duties - of Silvis' X+X (spoken as "X Add X"), Jones (a.k.a. Heat) seems more than happy to take anyone willing to jam with him along for the musical ride. But he's ready to do it alone, if necessary.

Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul Big thumbs up for Oasis, taking a unique approach to publicize their upcoming album by slapping moronic Guitar Hero enthusiasts with a dose of reality. Joining forces with their home country's Arts Council of England and the weekly music magazine NME, the cheeky lads are encouraging fans to lay off the colorful little buttons and pick up an actual guitar.

Damien Jurado For somebody who's been compared favorably to Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young and Nick Drake, Damien Jurado has had a touch-and-go career, and a bit of an inferiority complex.

Rob Barber and Mary Pearson When Rob Barber and Mary Pearson met in December 2005, they quickly struck up a friendship.

"We both thought of ourselves as pretty punk with what we were doing with our solo projects," Pearson said last week.

Johnny Cash Remixed While Johnny Cash may be spinning in his grave over Snoop Dogg's free-form rap alongside his vocal samples in the QDT Muzic remix of "I Walk the Line," I think the Man in Black might just dig the rest of Compadre Records' new Johnny Cash Remixed. Given complete access to Cash's original master recordings, a bevy of hip-hop and up-and-coming knob-twisters give 13 of his hits a fresh workout to overall success. Approved by his son, John Carter Cash, the delightfully weird project is highlighted by The Sopranos theme superstars Alabama 3, slipping into "Leave That Junk Alone," Kennedy slapping around "Sugartime," and Australia's Midnight Juggernauts' dark journey through the "Port of Lonely." Not available on CD until next year, DJs and other wax-spinners get an early crack at the album in a two-LP vinyl edition available this coming Tuesday.

Buckcherry When Buckcherry co-founders Josh Todd and Keith Nelson re-formed the band in 2005 after a three-year hiatus, they got an opportunity to basically start from scratch.

The Hush Sound Just Tuesday morning we were able to confirm an exciting show that you're not going to have to wait for. Like the Ingrid Michaelson show about a month ago, this one is a last-minute affair, but you have a week to prepare instead of 24 hours.

The Cure - Hypnagogic States Next week, The Cure will add another teaser for its forthcoming album, following the series of monthly singles that debuted in May with an EP that benefits the International Red Cross. Containing four songs from the upcoming album, each track on Hypnagogic States is a tweaked remix rather than the original. Rounded out by a mega-mix by tour mates 65 Days of Static, other knob-twisters on the Geffen Records CD include Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars, Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, and Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy.

Punch BrothersChris Thile doesn't like musical boundaries, and the mandolin player seems to almost relish pissing off those who would prefer to pigeonhole him.

Pepi Ginsberg We had a last-minute show this past weekend with the always tremendous Delta Spirit, from California way. Those of you who were at Huckleberry's the last time they were in town know this. We regret that there wasn't more time to get the word out that they were going to be in town, but we found out just a few hours before they were set to arrive for a session that they were going to be here in time to play. They'd made a long drive from Salt Lake City the night before and hauled it east to make it so that we could add them to the Southeast Engine bill. It might be the best show in the Quad Cities that only 10 people showed up for in the past five years or more.

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