A weekly bulletin on musical guests playing late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime.

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, July 6: Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band (pictured)
Tuesday, July 7: Rob Thomas
Thursday, July 9: Levon Helm
Friday, June 10: Maxwell

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, July 6: Death Cab for Cutie
Tuesday, July 7: Andrew Bird
Thursday, July 9: Playing For Change
Friday, June 10: Ray LaMontagne

Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS
Wednesday, July 8: Will Dailey (pictured)
Friday, June 10: Michael Buble

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, NBC
Monday, July 6: the Lonely Island (rerun, May 12)
Wednesday, July 8: Amadou & Mariam (June 8)
Thursday, July 9: Paul Simon (June 2)
Friday, June 10: Mos Def (June 9)

Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC
Monday, July 6: No Doubt (rerun, June 11)
Tuesday, July 7: Ben Harper (June 18)
Wednesday, July 8: Linkin Park (June 23)

Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC
Monday, July 6: Bobby Ray (reruns, May 6)
Tuesday, July 7: M83 (March 11)
Wednesday, July 8: Delta Spirit (March 12)
Thursday, July 9: Nico Vega (March 13)
Friday, June 10: Mishka (March 17)

Saturday Night Live, NBC
Saturday, July 11: Beyonce (rerun, Nov. 15)

For those who missed a few weeks ago, here’s The Dead Weather performing “Hang You from the Heavens” on Letterman. For those who missed the bulletin, The Dead Weather is an alt rock supergroup that features the White Stripes‘ Jack White on drums, bassist Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs and The Greenhornes,  guitarist Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age and vocalist Alison Mosshart of The Kills. The foursome’s debut, Horehound, comes out July 13. Although it’s hard to judge a band by the sometimes stale late night performances, I was still far more underwhelmed than I expected to be. I’m not sure if White really works as a drummer — in fact, he looks more than a little out of place, and WTF is up with his goth-fro, anyway? — but I’m interested to see if the discordant rock works better on disc.

Hip-hop seems adrift, with no particular faction dominating the pop psyche (or the charts). Bling-rap isn’t resonating as much lately, these being trying times and all. The current landscape is perfect for a multi-facted, thinking artist such as Mos Def, whose fourth studio album, The Ecstatic, continues his impressive body of musical work.

The 35-year-old Brooklyn native — who has, perhaps more than any other rapper, made a mark in film, TV and theater — has never had much use for rules. And even though Mos Def is a middling music star, he still approaches his recordings with a decided indie hip-hop aesthetic.

That shows in his choice of producers —Madlib, Preservation, Mr. Flash, J Dilla — who collectively let the rhythm tracks breath, allowing room for Mos Def’s relaxed, conversational flow. Complementing the urban scrapyard of sounds, snippets of found dialogue and arcane samples are various jazz elements like vibes and horns and a handful of Middle Eastern-type chants.

Mos Def, a Muslim, avoids clichéd ’hood themes in favor of utopian ideas (“Revelation”) and commentary about everyday life (“Workers Comp”).

The album has moments of clever irony — like, on the intro the “The Embassy,” where a captain addresses his passengers and describes in detail the guns they have in the cabin.

While most of the songs find funky mid-paced groove, the occasional uptempo beat brings a welcome burst of energy. “Quiet Dog” pummels along on a fast quasi-swing beat (decorated with handclaps) and throbbing bass, evoking a hip-hop version of Ellington-esque jungle jazz. The percolating “Casa Bey” matches spitfire rhymes with a lush, symphonic soul backdrop.

Not all of the disc’s 16 tracks are gems, but by and large The Ecstatic represents some of the best hip-hop has to offer at the moment. (Downtown)

Check out “Quiet Dog” (with a still photo)

VINYL:

Anti-Flag – People Or The Gun LP+MP3
Their seventh full-length takes aim at those who use the bible to control the masses.

Avenged Sevenfold

• Sounding The Seventh Trumpet
• Waking The Fallen

Limited edition (1000) specially-colored vinyl versions of these classic two albums.

Coalesce – Ox LP+MP3
Coalesce encapsulates over a decade of forward-thinking hardcore that typifies the trend-eschewing band and proves they still have much to say. Just the right touch of bombast and contrast to make the seething aggression all the more engaging.

Dredg – The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion
“Veering between ominous dirges and wide-eyed big sky anthems, they play massive art metal that’s been treated to multi-layered, intricate production in the vein of Radiohead and Pink Floyd; and for a band that can smash and roil like waves against Pacific beaches, they frequently take the subtler road, softening themselves with atmosphere and world music flourishes.” – Pitchfork

Holly Golightly

• Down Gina’s At 3
• Painted On
• Up The Empire

Her Sympathy label back-catalog — re-issued via Damaged Goods.

Guided By Voices – Alien Lanes LP+MP3
Their critically-acclaimed Matador debut and best-selling album is back in print on vinyl for the first time since 1999. HQ-180 virgin vinyl with gatefold sleeve.

The Kills – Keep On Your Mean Side
Vinyl re-issue of The Kills’ 2003 debut.

Pelican – Ephemeral 12”
Over three songs and 20 minutes, the vinyl-only Ephemeral introduces a heavier, darker, more riff-based Pelican for 2009. Includes a cover of Earth’s “Geometry Of Murder” with Dylan Carlson on guitar.

Cake – Motorcade Of Gernerosity LP+MP3

Jarvis Cocker – Further Complication

The Horrors – Primary Colours

Iggy Pop – Kill City (reissue)
Released on Bomp in 1977, Kill City captures Iggy Pop in a rare moment of vulnerability and few can argue that in terms of the quality of material and the strength of Iggy’s voice, this is an overlooked achievement. The vinyl has been out of print for a few years and this new pressing is on limited edition pink wax.

Sonic Youth – The Eternal CD/2xLP+MP3
The Eternal is a supercharged rocker, recalling aspects of the Evol-Sister-Daydream Nation holy trinity, but with cleaner, louder production and more straightforward momentum; with Pavement’s Mark Ibold joining on bass, and producer John Agnello back at the controls. Initial pressing in a four-panel wallet with two printed inner sleeves; one containing disc, the other a sticker and card with credits. Subsequent pressings are jewel case. Double-LP pressed on hyper-deluxe HQ-180 RTI vinyl and packaged in a heavy duty Stoughton gatefold jacket with printed inner sleeves.

Zeros – Don’t Push Me Around
Formed in 1976, the Zeros (aka The Mexican Ramones), were one of the pioneers of the L.A.’s late ’70s punk scene. This is a re-pressing of their 1980 album, which includes studio recordings and demos. A classic punk release, limited edition on pink vinyl.

CDs:

The Aggrolites – IV
The Aggrolites offer their brand of funky ska and reggae, lovingly representing the classic sounds of ‘70s Jamaica to a generation that has never heard of Studio One. This is their most accomplished set yet, with more soulful settings to feature singer Jesse Wagner’s Motown-inflected voice.

Trey Anastasio / Don Hart – Time Turns Elastic
Collaborative recording blends the intrinsic elegance of classical music with searing blues-rock guitar.

John Anderson – Bigger Hands
No matter the genre, few vocalists are as instantly recognizable as Apopka’s own John Anderson. A mainstay in the country music scene since the late 1970s, John Anderson continues to write and perform fresh and relevant music that keeps us “Swingin’”!

Anti-Flag – People Or The Gun

Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies)

Black Landlord – Addicted To Distraction
Rolling Stone describes this nine-piece musical machine as “what would happen if KRS-One and James Brown showed up at your house and then wouldn’t leave.” This is pure big band hip-hop soul music from Philadelphia.

British Sea Power - Man Of Aran CD+DVD
Man Of Aran is a provocative dramatized documentary from the late American filmmaker Robert J. Flaherty.  In a series of startling black and white sequences, the film presents daily life on the inhospitable Aran Islands on the west coast of Ireland. Includes the accompanying soundtrack.

Busdriver – Jhelli Beam
Both smart and smartass, theatrical without being pompous, and, as always, funny. BD teeters precariously on top of samples of classical music, jazz drumming, and proggy guitar parts, without ever losing sight of the electronic music that helped define his sound.

Chickenfoot – Chickenfoot
New supergroup (?) featuring Joe Satriani, Chad Smith, Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar.

Chicks On Speed – Cutting The Edge

Coalesce – Ox

Deerhunter – Rainwater Cassette Exchange
Certainly not a group to rest on their laurels (especially difficult when they have new songs burning a hole in their collective back pockets), Deerhunter delivers five new tracks on this extended play. This is not some stopgap release between albums, or mere leftovers from Microcastle, but an all-new session.

Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
Their fifth release is a big rock album by design. Its idiosyncratic and sincere take on popular music is reminiscent of David Byrne with whom Dirty Projectors collaborated on “Knotty Pine” for the 2009 compilation Dark Was The Night. In certain ways, group leader David Longstreth could be seen as this generation’s answer to Byrne, a distinctive torchbearer of labyrinthine song arrangements that go down easily.

Dredg – The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion

The Features – Some Kind Of Salvation
It’s been four years since Nashville, TN’s best-kept secret snuck onto our speakers with their critically-lauded debut, Exhibit A. They return with the self-produced Some Kind Of Salvation, which boasts a hodgepodge of songs with inventive lyrics and infectious melodies.

Global Underground – GU Mixed
Three-CD set.

Holly Golightly re-issues

• Down Gina’s At 3
• Painted On
• Up The Empire

Nanci Griffith – The Loving Kind
Features nine new songs and four well-chosen covers.

Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey – Here And Now
Brand new! The first collaboration in almost two decades by the acclaimed songwriters of The dB’s. “With pop this piercingly pure, and Everly’s-worthy harmonies to boot, The dB’s songwriting team has put together another instant classic.” — Blurt

Iron Maiden – Flight 666: The Original Soundtrack
Includes 17 tracks as they appear in the film Flight 666. Follows the band on the first leg of their “Somewhere Back In Time” world tour in 2008. Also offered as limited edition double-picture disc vinyl.

George Jones – Blue & Lonesome
The classic 1963 George Jones album that took Jones from uptempo country star to the netherworld of aching melancholy. Twelve sparkling diamonds from his brief spell at Mercury Records. The title alone sums up this great man, and his interpretations of Don Williams’ “Oh Lonesome Me” and a couple of Hank Williams’ broodier ballads make this an absolute must for yearning lovelorn music fans anywhere. Enhanced with half a dozen cuts from his earliest ‘50s 78 recordings, the mood is supremely downbeat, even when the tempo lifts. George Jones became widely acclaimed as the king of heartbreak country and ‘Blue And Lonesome’ positively ladles on the angst. Remastered with sleevenotes by Dave Henderson of MOJO magazine.

Kasabian – West Ryder Paurer Lunatic Asylum
A 52-minute mash up of sky scraping melodies, electro-punk riffs, Morricone-esque symphonics, Mariachi stomps, and psych-pop lullabies.

Lady Gaga - Lovegame: The Remixes
Five remixes of “Lovegame.”

Tracy Lawrence – The Rock

Rhett Miller – Rhett Miller
Sophomore solo album by singer/songwriter of Old 97’s .

Morrissey – Maladjusted (Expanded Edition)
Originally released in 1997, this expanded re-issue features upgraded packaging, album B-sides, a 12-page booklet and more.

Mos Def – The Ecstatic

Pastor Troy – Ready For War

Pigface – 6
Combining all the alumni (Connelly, Levi, Esch, and the usual suspects) with new blood (Hanin Elais, Noko, Alex Moklebust, Chant and more).

Placebo – Battle For The Sun

Procol Harum – Home
Remastered with two bonus tracks and new packaging overseen by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid.

Procol Harum – Procol Harum
Remastered with 11 bonus tracks and new packaging overseen by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid. Includes unseen photos and new sleeve notes.

Procol Harum – Salty Dog
Remastered with six bonus tracks and new packaging overseen by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid.

Procol Harum – Shine On Brightly
Remastered with 11 bonus tracks including the rare “Robe of Silk”, and new packaging overseen by guess who.  Includes unseen photos and new sleeve notes.

Rolling Stones

• Emotional Rescue
• Some Girls
• Tattoo You
• Undercover

Phase two of the remastered re-issues.

Todd Snider – The Excitement Plan
Combines social commentary, gypsy recession recovery plan and soul-folk in to one unified masterpiece. Snider teams with crack sidemen Jim Keltner and Greg Liesz and producer Don Was (Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones) for an album that exemplifies his by-your-wits lifestyle lyricism. Free autographed cover art (only at Vinyl Fever) while supplies last!

Sonic Youth - The Eternal

Stardeath And White Dwarfs – The Birth
One-half stoners with nothing to do but roll joints on their King Crimson record sleeves and one-half confetti launchers/space bubble technicians for the Flaming Lips, Stardeath And White Dwarfs debut their own free-floating circus. A mind-trip of emotion and mood, recalling everything from “upper” dance freak-outs to “downer” Floyd-esque anthems, The Birth celebrates a love of all things psychedelic.

U2 – Magnificent
Five remixes of “Magnificent”

Paul Van Dyk – Volume
Volume includes selections from his massive 15-year catalog. Also includes the remastered and remixed “2009 For An Angel”.

Various Artists – Blasting Concept
Features Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Ken Vandermark, Lasse Marhaug, Thurston Moore, Mats Gustafsson, Paal Nilssen-Love, Joe McPhee, John Hegre, Håvard Wiik, Jim O`Rourke, Peter Brtzmann, Massimo Pupillo, Cato Salsa Experience, Terrie Ex and Yoshimi. The album title is borrowed from SSTs groundbreaking compilation with the same name. They wanted to have a label with its roots in the 60’s free jazz, but with the DIY attitude of the 80s punk/hardcore. Like a meeting between Black Flag & Albert Ayler.   Maybe.  Anyway.   Decide for yourself, here is the (new) Blasting Concept.

Various Artists - Memphis 60: Soul, R&B And Proto Funk From Soul City USA
A look at the soul, R&B and proto funk that the real music city was releasing in the 1960s. These feature some classic artists, but also many who were never known outside the myriad small clubs that filled Memphis.  Some of these records are sought after collectors items, others are newly discovered gems.

Various Artists - Ultra Dance Anthems

More classic VERVE label jazz reissues
Featuring classic albums by Roy Ayers, Gato Barbieri, Basie, Quincy Jones, Wes Montgomery, Oscar Peterson, Max Roach and others.

Wumpscut – Bunkertor 7 (Re-Sample Edition)
Featuring 11 of the original tracks completely redone by Wumpscut.

Yung L.A. - Futuristic Leland
He’s from Atlanta and has had 3 million youtube hits (is that the new “triple platnum”? – VF); guests include T.I. And Young Dro

DVDs:

Iron Maiden – Flight 666: The Film 2xDVD

Woodstock: 3 Days Of Peace And Music – The Director’s Cut 2xDVD; 4xDVD
Newly remastered. Bonus content includes new retrospective ‘The Museum At Bethel Woods: The Story Of The Sixties & Woodstock’.  The four-disc edition features more than three hours of extras (!) – including two hours of rare performance footage and three featurettes.

A sneak peek at videos for music releases due out this week by a range of artists, with short reviews and grade school-style ratings!

“For What It’s Worth,” the first single off Placebo’s Battle for the Sun, on Vagrant Records. This is the British alt rock trio’s sixth album and its first since 2006’s Meds. Good visuals, interesting commentary. Rating: B+

For What It’s Worth

“Casa Bey,” a hot funk number by Mos Def off The Ecstatic (Downtown Records). Close-up shots of Mos Def’s lips as he raps, with text of what he says floating out of his mouth and fading away. Well-done flash. Rating: B+

Mos Def – “Casa Bey” – The Ecstatic – 6.9.09

Anti-Flag’s “When All the Lights Go Out,” from their politically-charged seventh effort, The People or the Gun. The band plays, shit gets thrown onto a bonfire, political messages pop up, etc. Rating: C+.

Anti-Flag “When All The Lights Go Out” video premiere (Altpress.com Exclusive) from Alternative Press on Vimeo.

A weekly bulletin on musical guests playing late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime.

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, June 8: Mos Def (Performing something off his fourth and latest solo album, The Ecstatic, out June 9. Maybe “Supermagic”?)
Tuesday, June 9: Black Eyed Peas
Wednesday, June 10: Sonic Youth
Thursday, June 11: the Jonas Brothers (Won’t these kids go away already? We still have to deal with the tour stopping here August 18.)
Friday, June 12: P.J. Harvey & John Parish

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Tuesday, June 9: Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal (Likely promoting their “BonTaj Roulet” co-headlining tour, a series of concerts where the two veteran blues artists perform separate sets with their own bands, and then take the stage together for a blues jam)
Wednesday, June 10: Rancid
Thursday, June 11: Neko Case (The rest of this week’s schedule + video of Pearl Jam on Conan after the jump.)

Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS
Wednesday, June 10: Theresa Andersson (pictured, photo by Miranda Penn Turin)

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, NBC
Monday, June 8: Amadou & Mariam
Tuesday, June 9: Mos Def
Wednesday, June 10: Manchester Orchestra
Friday, June 12: Mary J. Blige

Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC
Monday, June 8: the Airborne Toxic Event (rerun, May 14)
Tuesday, June 9: No Doubt
Wednesday, June 10: Bang Camaro (April 29)
Thursday, June 11: Blink 182

Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC
Monday, June 8: the Ting Tings (April 27)
Tuesday, June 9: Green Day
Wednesday, June 10: Green Day
Thursday, June 11: Green Day
Friday, June 12: Foxboro Hot Tubs

Saturday Night Live, NBC
Saturday, June 13: Green Day (jeez, you think we’ll get to see enough of Green Day this week?)

For those who missed it, here’s Pearl Jam closing Conan’s first day on the job of The Tonight Show with a new song, “Get Some,” off their forthcoming album.

Pearl Jam on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien – June 1, 2009 from Bernie on Vimeo.