Music News: Aimee Mann, Prince, Radiohead, Gavin Rossdale, Daft Punk, Austin City Limits

Robbie Daw presents a weekly pop music update here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own site called Chart Rigger.

Low alto vocals delivering bar-raising lyrics in a semi-monotone manner? Must be time for a new Aimee Mann album! Coinciding with the release of her latest LP @#%&! Smilers yesterday, Mann did an in-store performance at L.A.'s Amoeba record store. You can stream the show at the Amoeba website.

As well, Cafe Largo, long the somewhat resident Los Angeles venue of performers like Mann and Jon Brion, recently relocated from Fairfax Avenue to the 280-seat Coronet Theater on La Cienega Boulevard. Aimee performed at the new location Monday night with Brion accompanying her.

You can also check out Blackbook's feature on indie artists (including Mann) who are changing the sound of movies: " As Mann can attest, it is far more common for songwriters, especially ones with cult followings, to find themselves in the baffling quicksand of 'work-for-hire'.”

The cover of Radiohead's "Creep" that Prince rocked out at Coachella last month has now been removed from YouTube at the command of the purple, copyright-crazy one. Instead it's been replaced with this.

Radiohead's two-disc Best Of, covering all the band's output on Capitol/EMI, was released yesterday along with an accompanying DVD. In addition, the British rock group's back catalog finally sees the light of day on iTunes this week. Now if only the Beatles' music would follow suit. And, er, Garth Brooks...

Also out this week is WANDERLUST, the solo album from Gavin Rossdale (pictured right). And how is it, you might ask? Why, let's take a look at iTunes to see what the user Bob Dylan Rocks has to say in his one-star review titled "Crap": "Maybe someday Gwen will give him his balls back!!!!!!"

The True Colors Tour kicks off with a bang...and a striped pantsuit.

Pack your favorite T-shirt that you'll end up taking off at some point in the sweltering 95 degree weather -- the 2008 Austin City Limits festival lineup has been announced.

Daft Punk are in no hurry while they work on their new album.

And because you were probably worried about him, you should know that Kid Rock has sworn off celebrity relationships after Pam Anderson: "I got burnt too hard. I got completely thrown under the bus, no question about that. I don't want anything to do with the whole world she is in. It's a very dark place. I'm not going to get caught up in any of that [bleep] anymore ... those Hollywood relationships."

Ending on a fun note, here's the Bimbo Jones remix video for Danish pop act Alphabeat's "10,000 Nights" single, out now in the U.K. (Catch the un-remixed version here.)

OTHER NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK:

What is technically Weezer's third self-titled album (and their second record produced by Rick Rubin), also unofficially known as The Red Album.

The Declaration, Ashanti's first full-length set in four years.

Jewel's foray into country music, Perfectly Clear.

Indestructible, the fourth album from hard-rocking alt band Disturbed.

R&B/jazz singer Lalah Hathaway's new set, Self Portrait.

Music News: Matt Lauer Interviews Kylie Minogue, Plus Jesse McCartney, Fall Out Boy, George Michael

Robbie Daw presents a weekly pop music update here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own site called Chart Rigger.

Between R.E.M., George Michael and Kylie Minogue, it's a gay ol' week as far as new music releases. Kylie's X finally officially drops in the U.S. today, after making a brief three-week appearance on iTunes back in February.

Australia's "singing budgie" is doing stateside promotion all week for X -- including performances of new single "All I See" tonight on Dancing With The Stars, tomorrow on the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson and then Thursday on Ellen -- and yesterday she sat down for an interview with the Today Show's Matt Lauer.

During their chat, Kylie responded to rumors that she'll soon marry French actor Olivier Martinez, tried to explain her elusive chart success in America and instructed Lauer on how he'll have to greet her once she's awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) this summer by the Queen of England.

The U.S. version of X contains an extra mix of "All I See," featuring rapper Mims.

SEEING DOUBLE: The pixelated cover of Jesse McCartney's new album Departure, due out May 20, might evoke some "rude" thoughts from Robbie Williams.

Amy Winehouse to appear alongside David Tennant on Dr. Who? April Fool's!

Following suit with Madonna, U2 have signed a 12-year deal with concert promoting firm Live Nation, though Universal will continue to distribute the Irish band's actual music. Says Bono of Live Nation, who has managed U2's tours for three decades: "We've been dating for over 20 years now. It's about time we tied the knot."

U.K. gossip site Digital Spy finds Beyoncé, Limp Bizkit, Sugababes, Steps, Fiona Apple, Blink 182 and Michael Jackson all have one thing in common: they've got the worst album titles of our times.

Think you've got what it takes to remix Radiohead? Five separate tracks from their new single "Nude" are up for purchase on iTunes, and buyers are encouraged to create and upload their own GarageBand creation to Radioheadremix.com. Net surfers have to May 1 to vote for their favorite mix on the site.

Fall Out Boy's plan to gig on every continent within two weeks falls apart. FOB frontman Pete Wentz: “It’s an utter disappointment… I read [on the MTV Newsroom blog] someone compared it to Geraldo opening Capone's vault, but it's worse than that, because, like, Capone's stuff is in there, you just can't get the light on. There's no spin for it; we got two hours away from Antarctica and we can't go.”

POP BLOG WATCH: Miss feeling like a clove-smoking, coffee-drinking teenage girl running rampant in the record store? Hit up Eurovision- and Swede-obsessed Poster Girl.

TODAY'S NEW RELEASES:

George Michael's Twenty Five, a two-disc collection of various hits -- including four from Wham! -- and six songs previously unreleased in the U.S. The deluxe edition contains Michael's music videos.

R.E.M.'s 14th album Accelerate, produced by Jacknife Lee.

Moby's Last Night, which finds him returning to his dance roots.

A Town And Two Cities, the debut from British alt rockers Your Vegas. They also have a line of fashion accessories coming to U.S. Bloomingdale's.

Van Morrison's Keep It Simple, his 33rd studio album, and first since 1999.

Attack & Release, from Akron, Ohio blues-rock duo The Black Keys.

Music News: Sarah Cracknell And The Feeling Banking On Hits In '08, Plus Radiohead, Juno, Apple, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning weekly music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

While everyone's currently bedazzled by Radiohead's In Rainbows and the new Janet Jackson video, here are a couple alternatives you might have missed when their clips popped up over the busy holidays.

Mark Brown featuring Sarah Cracknell - "The Journey Continues": Built around a piece of classical music composed by Elena Kats Chernin that's currently being used in commercials by U.K. insurance firm Lloyd's, DJ and dance label head Mark Brown wisely chose Saint Etienne frontwoman Sarah Cracknell to sing over the haunting track. It's already become a radio hit abroad, ahead of its February 4 single release. We stateside folk can download "The Journey Continues" from 7 Digital. Incidentally, The Sun reports that the video is made up of 30,000 still photographs. Cracknell herself makes a Hitchcockian, blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance during the second verse.

The Feeling - "I Thought It Was Over": Last month I posted a fan-made YouTube clip of the first single off The Feeling's upcoming sophomore album Join With Us, but here now is the official video. Openly-gay lead singer Dan Gillespie Sells has some fun with tongue-in-cheek wordplay during the chorus. While Interscope put out the band's debut album here in the States last year, there's no word yet on a domestic release for Join With Us yet. The album is out in the U.K. February 18, a week after "I Thought It Was Over" is made available digitally and in stores.

Billboard reports today that Radiohead's In Rainbows has debuted atop the album chart after it was finally made available in retail outlets and on iTunes. The publication also points out that In Rainbows only sold 122,000 copies compared to the 300,000 first-week copies 2003's Hail To The Thief moved, though the new album has been selling untracked by SoundScan for two months already at Radiohead.com.

Meanwhile, the Juno soundtrack, which has been dominating the iTunes download chart for a couple weeks, makes a somewhat official debut on the Billboard tally. Though it was only available digitally until yesterday, several retailers violated the physical CD's street date and put it out last week. The soundtrack enters the official Top 200 Albums chart at #8.

Apple drops iTunes prices in the U.K. to avoid an expensive antitrust conflict.

Mariah Carey to People on the reported J. Lo "pig" comment: "This is just some internet gossip and it's pathetic that people actually entertain the thought that this could be real. This is another sad example of two strong women being pitted against each other." She'll probably save the real zingers for this spring, when her new album is expected to drop alongside Madonna's.

Former American Idols Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks have been let go from J Records, making Hicks the first winner not to make a second album while signed to a major label.

The YouTube "teaser" clip for next month's 25th Anniversary Edition of Michael Jackson's Thriller contains lots of fluffy commentary by Mary J. Blige, Wyclef Jean and Pharrell Williams, as well as some interesting tidbits from Quincy Jones.

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES:

If you love Lily Allen, then Kate Nash's Made Of Bricks will be right up your alley. The 19-year-old Irish singer and her annunciated accent finally wash onto American shores this week, after having a major U.K. smash last year with "Foundations."

Sia's third studio release, Some People Have Real Problems, via Starbucks' Hear Music label. The album contains "Day Too Soon," which was initially put out in EP form last fall.

"The Silence Between Us," a new single from former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman Bob Mould.

The World's Top DJs compilation from dance label Ultra. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the retro-rave-y "I Found U" by Axwell.

Music News: The Eagles Leave Britney In The Dust, Plus Ex-Boyfriends, Darren Hayes, Sheryl Crow, Prince, Justice, Peaches

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning weekly music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

In the 11th hour (i.e., today), Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan came to an agreement to revise the music publication's chart rules to allow albums sold exclusively at only one retailer to be eligible for entry on Billboard's charts. This spelled a certain doom for Britney Spears' #1 debut. Although Blackout sold about 290,000 copies -- far lower than the 350,000 projection made by Billboard last week -- she was still expected to capture the top position on the album chart.

However, at the same time, The Eagles Long Road Out Of Eden became available last Tuesday at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club outlets, and went on to sell 711,000 copies over the course of the week. With the revised chart policy, the classic rock band's first studio album in 28 years easily beats Britney to #1 on this week's Top 200.

Regardless of whether Blackout had debuted on top or not, the writing for Britney seems to be pretty much on the wall. Her last studio record, In The Zone, racked up sales of 609,000 in its first week four years ago -- more than twice the sales of Blackout. Of course one could argue that illegal downloading has only increased since that time, causing music to sell less now more than ever. But take into consideration that Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride -- the previous chart-topping album -- managed to move 527,000 copies its first week out.

Blackout has received a lot of goodwill and swell reviews in recent days, but perhaps Britney's shenanigans really have finally caught up with her, as America has clearly moved on to other sweethearts.

San Francisco-based pop punk trio Ex-Boyfriends (pictured left) "are looking for bands that like to take long walks on the beach, cuddle for hours on end, watch Merchant Ivory films and love taking it up the a**."

Darren Hayes is back in the U.S. to do several gigs and Miami's White Party, and he may be hitting a Borders near you.

Beyoncé to sing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," while Carrie Underwood takes on "The Sound Of Music."

Turns out only two out of five listeners paid for the one million downloads of Radiohead's In Rainbows, but that's necessarily a bad thing.

Sheryl Crow releasing "environmentally conscious" new album in February.

Prince threatens his own fans with legal action, but they're ready for their day in court.

Peaches, Justice, 2 Live Crew and Jason Bentley to have a Hard New Year's Eve in L.A.

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES:

New singles from Kylie Minogue ("2 Hearts"), Spice Girls ("Headlines"), Oasis ("Lord Don't Slow Me Down") and Idina Menzel ("Brave").

Nearly a year after its European release, To All New Arrivals by U.K. dance act Faithless arrives on iTunes.

Jay-Z's album of songs inspired by the the film American Gangster.

Chris Brown's Exclusive, containing the current #1 single on Billboard's Hot 100, "Kiss Kiss."

Sia's Day Too Soon EP.

News: Prince Harry, Radiohead, Oscar Wilde, Robo-Bugs, Paris Hilton

Florida Rep. and men's room-frequenter Bob Allen's trial begins on November 5th.

Matt Leveson, a 20-year-old Sydney man who went missing after a night of partying, is feared murdered: "The wildlife welfare officer, a regular at the club, was thought to be going home to Cronulla. His family reported him missing when he failed to show for work the following Tuesday. He had also stopped answering his phone. Two days later Mr Leveson's green 1999 Corolla hatchback was found dumped outside a public toilet at Waratah Park Reserve, Sutherland. Police said evidence suggested he did not park it there. They believe he 'met with foul play'."

Funeral held in Ireland for lesbian soldier Ciara Durkin, slain mysteriously in Afghanistan. The investigation into her death is ongoing.

Radiohead fans pissed at poor sound quality of In Rainbows digital download: "The sentiment among many fans seems to have gone from admiration for the group's willingness to let the consumer decide how much to pay for the new album to anger over the low quality of the downloads — and dismay over the band's manager's statement that the you-choose-the-price downloads were just a promotional tool for the release of the physical CD."

POLL: Oscar Wilde is Britain's greatest wit.

Paris Hilton heading to Rwanda on charity mission: I'm scared, yeah. I've heard it's really dangerous. I've never been on a trip like this before. I love having everything documented. It shows people what everyday life is like for me, how hard I work. There are a lot of misconceptions about me."

Jack Mackenroth, set to compete in the upcoming Project Runway season, denies a rumor that he was booted from the show because of a staph infection: "'He says he was the fifth designer voted off,' says the snitch. 'He is claiming that this was at least part of the reason he was booted.' Mackenroth, who had signed a confidentiality agreement, denied spilling the beans when contacted by Bravo. 'People will say things about me whether they know me or not,' he said in a statement released through Bravo's PR. 'Those were not my words and are fictitious.'"

Is the government employing high-tech robo-bugs at anti-war rallies?

Same-sex couples from Australia seen heading to the U.S. in increasing numbers on the quest for designer babies: "IVF pioneer Dr Jeffrey Steinberg said an increasing number of gay and lesbian Australians were visiting his Californian fertility centre to begin a family and side-step Australian law that prohibits surrogacy. 'We see about two or three gay couples from Australia each month and that's about a five-fold increase over the last two years,' he told The Sunday Mail. Dr Steinberg said between 75 per cent and 80 per cent of same-sex couples who came to him for treatment decided to choose the sex of the baby, using the controversial IVF procedure and embryo screening known as Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis."

The NYT looks into the mysterious death of gay club icon Dean Johnson: "After Mr. Johnson did not show up for band rehearsal on Sept. 27, his friends called the Washington police and finally got an answer. Mr. Johnson’s body was in the city morgue; it had been there for a week. As details of his death surfaced, the mystery around it grew. Four days earlier, the police had found the body of another man, Jeremy Conklin, 26, at the same apartment — that of Steven S. Saleh. Mr. Conklin had been pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, said Inspector Rodney Parks of the Washington police. For Dean Johnson, whose heyday in the 1980s mirrored the rise and fall of New York’s bohemian downtown club scene, and who rarely kept the salacious details of his life private, it seemed an inconceivable way to go. The apartment Mr. Johnson died in was at the end of a nondescript hallway on the second floor of a stately building — a distant cry from the East Village nightclubs where he and the naked go-go boys under his command once reigned."

Prince Harry cheers on English rugby at the World Cup. Unfortunately, no nipple-licking.

Who had sex with Alan Cumming?

Music News: Kylie Minogue's "2 Hearts" Pops Up Early, Plus Michael Jackson, Robyn, Radiohead, Jennifer Lopez

Please welcome Robbie Daw, who will be penning occasional music posts for us here on Towleroad! Robbie runs his own pop music site called Chart Rigger.

Well, Kylie Minogue's new video for "2 Hearts" has been popping up and disappearing from video sharing sites over the past few hours, so watch while you can (and let the inevitable Madonna/Goldfrapp comparisons begin). Kudos for the new direction, but after hearing the very similar original version of this song by Kish Mauve, one can't help but wish Kylie had made her version sound a bit more...Kylie.

Not surprisingly, the single itself leaked yesterday after a radio promo copy was uploaded online. Meanwhile, the singer was awarded a Q Idol Award by London-based Q Magazine on Monday. Former guitarist for The Smiths, Johnny Marr, picked up the Lifetime Achievement award, and Paul McCartney was given the Q Icon honor.

"2 Hearts" will have an official digital release November 5 in Europe, with her album X dropping there November 26. A U.S. release is expected sometime in the new year (at which point, no doubt, most folks who want them will have handily gotten their hands on the tracks already).

As of today, Radiohead's new album is just a click away.

Michael Jackson has written a letter to his fans: "Hopefully, you've all seen the results of my recent photo shoot with L'Uomo Vogue. Soon I will be sharing exciting and surprising news with you from my other efforts."

Look out, MySpace! Rumors are mounting Facebook will be partnering up with Apple soon by finally allowing musicians to create artists pages, and previewing 30-second clips of tracks with an iTunes widget.

Robyn (pictured left) gets boxed in for her new video. She'll also see a U.S. release of her latest self-titled album, via Interscope, on December 4.

Jennifer Lopez is four months pregnant with twins, according to US Weekly.

Employees at a U.K.-based Kwik-Fit have apparently been playing their radios too loud, causing the Performing Rights Society to sue the auto repair shop for almost $400,000 (or £200,000) for copyright infringement and artists royalties.

THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES:

Brave, the sixth (!) studio album from Jennifer Lopez.

Kid Rock's Rock N Roll Jesus, which isn't being offered on iTunes this week. Makes sense. The Beatles, Kid Rock...

Alt rockers She Wants Revenge's This Is Forever.

Miss Patti's Christmas, a mixture of traditional classics and new yuletide concoctions from Patti LaBelle, plus Josh Groban's holiday set, Noel.

Brother-and-sister duo The Fiery Furnaces' Widow City.

Vanessa Carlton's Heroes & Thieves, and LeAnn Rimes' Family.