This Week's Playlist: Power Pop

Here's a tiny smattering of our favorite power pop tunes. Purists may quibble with some of the choices, but, hey, what the hell. Enjoy!

1. BIG STAR “Back of a Car” Radio City (Ardent)
2. BLUR “Charmless Man” The Great Escape (Food/EMI)
3. THE CANDY BUTCHERS “Kiss Alive II” Hang on Mike (RPM/Sony)
4. EVERCLEAR “The Laughing World” World of Noise (Tim/Kerr)
5. JASON FALKNER “I Live” Jason Falkner presents Author Unknown (Elektra)
6. FOO FIGHTERS “This is a Call” self-titled album (Roswell/Capitol)
7. JOE JACKSON “Tonight and Forever” Big World (A&M)
8. JELLYFISH “Joining a Fan Club” Spilt Milk (Charisma)
9. MATERIAL ISSUE “Diane” International Pop Overthrow (Mercury)
10. THE POSIES “Solar Sister” Frosting on the Beater (DGC)
11. TODD RUNDGREN “Chain Letter” Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren (Bearsville)
12. VELVET CRUSH "Hold Me Up" Teenage Symphonies to God (Epic)

George Michael Hits the Road

For the first time in 17 years, George Michael will tour the US this summer, with some Canadian shows lined up, as well. He'll be promoting his recently released album retrospective, 25 Years. Here are the dates:

June 17: San Diego, CA
June 19: San Jose, CA
June 21: Las Vegas, NV
June 22: Phoenix, AZ
June 25: Los Angeles, CA
July 2: Seattle, WA
July 4: Vancouver, Canada
July 9: Chicago, IL
July 13: Dallas, TX
July 14: Houston, TX
July 17: Toronto, Canada
July 18: Montreal, Canada
July 21, 23: New York, NY
July 26: Philadelphia, PA
July 27: Boston, MA
July 29: Washington, D.C.
July 31: Atlanta, GA
Aug. 2: Tampa, FL
Aug. 3: Sunrise, FL

New Albums from Weezer; Bobby Digital

The more things change, the more they stay the same: apparently, the upcoming Weezer album will be self-titled and will have a red backdrop, following in the thematically-hued footsteps of their 1994 "blue" debut, and "green" 2001 album. Interscope will release the newest Rivers and co. studio set on June 17th.

Wu-Tang Clan's leader and self-styled "hip-hop hippie" RZA will adopt his Bobby Digital persona and tour this summer behind his Digi Snax (Koch) album, out on July 1st.

Complete Lollapalooza 2008 Lineup

As promised last week, here it is (hooray, no Vampire Weekend!):

Radiohead
Rage Against the Machine
Nine Inch Nails
Kanye West
Wilco
The Raconteurs
Louis XIV
Love and Rockets
Gnarls Barkley
Bloc Party
The Black Keys
Broken Social Scene
Lupe Fiasco
Flogging Molly
Mark Ronson
Cat Power
The National
G. Love & Special Sauce
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Explosions in the Sky
Brand New
Gogol Bordello
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
Dierks Bentley
Okkervil River
Amadou & Mariam
Blues Traveler
John Butler Trio
Girl Talk
Your Vegas
CSS
Eli "Paperboy" Reed & the True Loves
Battles
Steel Train
Jamie Lidell
Bang Camaro
Butch Walker
The Blakes
Mates of State
Tally Hall
Spank Rock
White Lies
Brazilian Girls
Magic Wands
Chromeo
Electric Touch
Duffy
Innerpartysystem
The Kills
The Postelles
Rogue Wave
The Parlor Mob
The Go! Team
Bald Eagle
Mason Jennings
Krista
The Gutter Twins
Ha Ha Tonka
Yeasayer
Witchcraft
Grizzly Bear
We Go To 11
MGMT
Sofia Talvik
The Weakerthans
Booka Shade
Santogold
Black Kids
Black Lips
Dr. Dog
Nicole Atkins & the Sea
The Ting Tings
Kid Sister
Office
The Cool Kids
What Made Milwaukee Famous
Does It Offend You, Yeah?
The Whigs
Manchester Orchestra
Foals
Uffie
The Octopus Project
Cadence Weapon
Ferras
De Novo Dahl
Noah and the Whale
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
K'NAAN
Serena Ryder
Newton Faulkner

Melvins / Fantomas Big Plans

On July 8th, the now-four piece Melvins will release the studio album Nude with Boots, followed shortly thereafter by the Fantomas-Melvins Big Band DVD, Live from London 2006, as well as a limited edition Melvins box set, slated for release later in the year. 

Oh, and the DVD has commentary from Danny DeVito (?!)

President Sixx

No, he's not thrown his hat in the race for president of the United States, but Motley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx is now the head of Eleven Seven Records. He's gonna need all the help he can get: the label's roster includes Buckcherry, Trapt, Drowning Pool, Marion Raven and Chosen Son.

Apple is #1

iTunes is now the top overall music retailer in the US. One step closer to Steve Jobs' plan for world domination...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

U2's heartfelt tribute...

Mariah Turns 18 / Billboard Goes Ñ

With “Touch My Body” climbing all the way from #15 last week, Mariah Carey has her 18th #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing Elvis Presley and sliding in to the second spot on the all-time list. (The Beatles have 20 #1 hits.)
OK, not to be dicks, but, we thought Mariah was done for, let alone able to have a #1 song at this late stage of the game. Dunno…

In other Billboard-related news, this week saw the launching of billboardenespanol.com, “a Spanish-language Web site that will provide 24/7 authoritative coverage of Latin music artists and trends…while recognizing that the tastes of music fans who speak Spanish are not limited to a single genre, or to exclusively Spanish-language music”. A news item on the Martin Scorsese-directed Rolling Stones flick, Shine a Light, and an interview with Soda Stereo drummer Charly Alberti were the site’s main headlines today.

Guess it Beats Having a Day Job (maybe)

So, let's see if we got this right: you destroy whatever chances you may of had of being taken seriously as an actress by taking the lead in a fake, horrible, piece of crap; one of the worst movies of the last 20 years--you did look hot, albeit with too much whory makeup, though--so you ditch Hollywood, go to school, then change your mind about the business, and now you're hosting a reality show similar to what brought you your forever infamous claim to fame? Is it that bad to get a real job and maintain what's left of your your dignity, professional or otherwise? Isn't your husband rich? Damn, girl.