Panic At The Disco Know Punctuation Better Than They Think.

Band can no longer call the Academy Is ..., Enuff Z'Nuff, (hed) p.e. its titular peers; grammar expert intrigued by band's use of periods for Pretty. Odd. LP.

Throughout history, rock and roll has been on a mission to systematically destroy punctuation.

This is primarily because punctuation is about rules, conformity and order — three things that rock, in its truest, purest essence, is vehemently opposed to. Semicolons, slashes, commas and periods most certainly do not rock, so in order to smash the system, they are co-opted by rock bands and used for nefarious, decidedly "rock" purposes, which is why we have band names like Motörhead, Mötley Crüe and Hüsker Dü (wanton umlaut abuse), songs like Led Zeppelin's "D'yer Mak'er" (an apostrophic calamity) and albums like At the Drive-In's In/Casino/Out (I have no idea).

In fact, rock has been at war with punctuation for so long now that seemingly every offense has been made — W.A.S.P., Enuff Z'Nuff, the Academy Is ..., Blue Öyster Cult, Blink-182, (hed) p.e. — though in recent years (perhaps owing a debt of gratitude to, uh, trailblazers like Neu! and Wham!), no mark as been as overused as the humble exclamation point.

Pioneered by post-apocalyptic rock outfit Godspeed You Black Emperor! (who would later change their name to Godspeed You! Black Emperor, for reasons apparent only to them) in 1994, exclamation-point abuse came to the forefront in 2000, thanks to bicoastal, post-millennial funk act !!! and bands like On! Air! Library! and Against Me! (who felt so strongly about exclamation points that they would include nine of them in the title of their 2006 live album Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!!.)

And even more recently, we've seen an exponential growth of exclamation-point abuse, thanks mainly to much-blogged acts like the Go! Team, Los Campesinos!, Die! Die! Die!, ¡Forward Russia!, Thunderbirds Are Now!, Oh No!! Oh My!! — bonus points for double exclamation points — and You Say Party! We Say Die!, which seemed to indicate that we were heading toward a terrifying future in which all new bands were required to choose names that sound like interjections.

But then, last week, something rather extraordinary happened. Bravely — and rather inexplicably — Panic at the Disco decided to drop the "!" from their name, stemming the tide of exclamation overuse and royally ticking off their loyal (and seemingly nuts) fanbase in the process. The bandmembers tried to play it off by saying the point was "never part of the name to us," and that they axed it because it was "annoying to write." But the damage had already been done ... as several of their fans pointed out on sites like PATDOnline.com, the loss of the exclamation point seemed to indicate that Panic were doing everything in their power to put their past behind them (though we're not sure why they'd want to do that.)

And it's not like Panic had foregone all punctuation-related shenanigans this time around ... after all, they decided to title their album Pretty. Odd., as in two seemingly disparate yet equal statements. Conjoined and yet separated by periods. Seriously.

So, really, what's the deal? By dropping the exclamation point and adding a pair of periods, are Panic bucking the system or paying homage to the long and winding history of rock and roll punctuation abuse? Were they ditching their past and heading full-bore into the future? Well, according to an expert, yes ... on all counts.

"Well, you have the right to call yourself whatever you want, and I guess that right extends to adding or removing exclamation points," Geraldine Woods, the author of Webster's New World Punctuation: Simplified and Applied, told MTV News. "It was always a rather interesting choice, because an exclamation point usually doesn't belong in the middle of a sentence, but I think creative people tend to play around with punctuation a great deal — e.e. cummings comes to mind — because there's a form of rebellion in it. I mean, you learn all the rules, and then you get to break them.

"It seems like [Panic have] put some thought into the changes ... they're not just changes for changes' sake," she added. "Pretty. Odd. works because it conjures up images of something that is both pretty and odd, which is interesting," she added. "And it's grammatically interesting, because without the period, the word 'pretty' would be modifying the word 'odd.' So it takes on a completely different context."

See, even though fans are mourning over the loss of the exclamation point, they can take solace in the fact that Panic are now w-a-a-y more grammatically interesting. Of course, there's no denying that their new namesake is decidedly less, well, urgent ... but hey, maybe for album number three, they'll bring the exclamation point back. After all, if rock history has showed us anything, it's that exclamation points rock.

"Exclamation points are used to convey emotion, to increase the immediacy of what you're saying. They instill a sense of emergency and urgency," Woods said. "To change that, especially for a rock band, seems kind of odd to me. There's certainly a reduced sense of 'panic' in Panic at the Disco now."

R. Kelly Case Still Moving At A Snail's Pace; Plus Wu-Tang Clan, Paula Abdul, Chris Daughtry, 'American Idol' & More, In For The Record

U-God sues Wu Music; Abdul considers adopting kids; Daughtry says 'Idol' is 'in a state of decline.'

Nearly six years after the alleged sex tape first surfaced, the court proceedings in the R. Kelly case continue to move at a snail's pace. The prosecutors originally sought to have testimony from one expert witness, Dr. Sharon Cooper, cover several different areas — the age of the girl on the tape based on forensic pediatrics, the identification of the man on the tape based on the vein pattern on his hands, and the behavior profile of the girl based on the psychology of child sex-abuse victims. Judge Vincent Gaughan had previously ruled that Dr. Cooper could testify about the victim's age, but not the behavior profile, so prosecutors had asked him to reconsider. At a hearing on Monday (January 14), Gaughan ruled once again that Dr. Cooper would not be able to testify about why the girl in the case would deny that she was a victim, or how common denial is in sex-abuse cases. Kelly is due back in court March 12 for another pre-trial hearing, while the trial itself is slated to start on May 9. ...

And the Wu-Tang Clan infighting goes on. U-God — who complained about RZA being callous toward him in the studio nearly four years ago — is now suing Wu's label, alleging that he is owed $170,000, according to TMZ.com. U-God (born Lamont Hawkins) reportedly filed papers in a New York district court, alleging that Wu Music owes him money for services rendered dating back to March of last year. Wu Music is licensed to Universal Music. ...

Paula Abdul doesn't just have the seventh season of "American Idol" on her mind these days. "I want kids!" the singer recently told Ladies' Home Journal for its February issue. "If it doesn't happen naturally, I can always adopt." The 45-year-old Abdul opened up even more about her personal life, saying of 32-year-old boyfriend J.T. Torregiani, "I've experienced real loneliness, so I love knowing there's someone I can share the good and the not-so-good with." ... Everyone's wondering how the seventh season of "Idol" is going to fare in light of some retooling and the writers' strike, but if you ask Chris Daughtry, the show is "in a state of decline." The Daughtry frontman recently spoke with RollingStone.com about the show, adding that if it doesn't right itself, "it's probably not gonna last too much longer. I'm sure that'll be used against me, but that's the truth, you know?" He also said the show is "definitely lacking some credibility at this point." ...

White Stripes, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, Mark Ronson, Klaxons, Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Cheifs and recent MTV Artist of the Week Kate Nash have all landed Brit Award nominations, although Leona Lewis, Mika and Take That have scored the most, with four apiece. Rihanna, Ronson, Kaiser Chiefs, Kylie Minogue and Paul McCartney are slated to perform at the February 20 ceremony. ... R.E.M. have pulled the curtains back on a new Web site surrounding the April 1 release of their 14th studio album, Accelerate. Their NinetyNights.com Web site has daily high-definition-video snippets shot by Arcade Fire collaborator Vincent Moon ...

Björk attacked a newspaper photographer who was attempting to take her picture at the Auckland International Airport on Sunday, according to reports in the New Zealand press. The singer, who was flying in to perform at the Big Day Out concert on Friday, reportedly ripped New Zealand Herald photographer Glenn Jeffrey's shirt after he snapped a photo of her. Jeffrey told the New Zealand Press Association that he was warned by a man traveling with Björk not to take her picture, and once he did, the singer came up behind him, grabbed the back of his shirt and tore it before tumbling to the ground. In 1996, Björk attacked a reporter in an airport in Bangkok, Thailand, after she objected to being photographed. ... The Walkmen and White Rabbits will hop along the U.S. this month for nine shows. On the itinerary are Pittsburgh (Wednesday); Detroit (Thursday); Milwaukee (Friday); Madison, Wisconsin (Saturday); Chicago (Sunday); St. Louis (January 21); Columbus, Ohio (January 22); Philadelphia (January 23); and Baltimore (January 24). ...

For the first time in 25 years, former Clash members Mick Jones and Topper Headon reportedly shared the same stage at a gig by Jones' new band, Carbon/Silicon. The duo performed "Train in Vain" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" during the set. ... Megadeth have recruited Chris Broderick (Nevermore, Jag Panzer) to be their newest guitarist, following the recent departure of Glen Drover. Broderick will make his live debut with the band on February 4, at a gig in Finland. ...

Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali said the band will not be revived following the late November death of frontman Kevin DuBrow. In an online statement, Banali claims he had been "approached to see if I would be interested in contacting Rudy Sarzo and Carlos Cavazo and to audition singers for Quiet Riot." He said that he's even fielded an offer to re-form "the version of Quiet Riot that included Paul Shortino, Carlos Cavazo and Sean McNabb." But Banali rejected any suggestions of the band performing live. "My friendship, love and respect for Kevin DuBrow, as well as my personal love and affection for Kevin's mother and his family, makes it inconceivable for me to ever entertain any ovation to re-form or to continue Quiet Riot," he wrote. "It would also be a disrespect to the fans who have supported [the band] for nearly 25 years." ...

Roger Avary, the Oscar-winning co-writer of "Pulp Fiction," was arrested on Sunday after a fatal single-car crash in Ojai, California. According to a Reuters report, Avary, 42, was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, and was released from jail after posting $50,000 bail. Andreas Zedini, a 34-year-old passenger in the car, died of his injuries at a local hospital. Avary's wife, Gretchen, 40, was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries after being thrown from the car.

1.11.08

Mary J. Blige has a love-hate relationship with her fans, she reveals in the new issue of Vibe, out Tuesday. They don't seem to like her when she's happy — but she doesn't want to be dark and depressed just to make them happy. "When I took the chance to show people I can be happy, I lost a million of my fans," she told the magazine. "I was like, 'I'm gonna have to lose y'all in order for us to live, because if I keep going down this dark hole, we're all gonna die together. I'm gonna slit my wrists or take some pills, and it's gonna be over." That's why Blige feels obliged, more than ever before, to write love songs that she dedicates to her husband. "That's my buddy, my best friend, my business partner," she said. "He's got my back like nobody's ever had my back. I feel like God used him to come and pull me together." Also getting Mary's back is Bill Cosby's wife, Camille, who helped inspire the themes on Blige's Growing Pains. "Bill Cosby called me like, 'My wife loves you! She says there's a song you need to write about love,' " Blige tells the magazine. "I finally called Bill back and said, 'We got the record.' He says, 'Mrs. Cosby will be so glad to hear that.' I damn near cried." ...

Wyclef Jean is being sued for copyright infringement by Blahz of New York rap squad Blahzay Blahzay, who is alleging that an unauthorized sample appears on the former Fugee's latest solo effort, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, according to XXL. The suit, which was filed last month, reportedly claims Wyclef used a sample from Blahzay Blahzay's hit song "Danger" on his tune "Welcome to the East" but didn't clear the sample or credit the group. Blahz did say in a statement, however, that he was contacted by Wyclef's people over use of the sample, XXL reports. ...

Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes and Rosario Dawson celebrated the 10th anniversary of V-Day, a worldwide effort to stop violence against women and girls, at a private luncheon on Thursday, according to The Associated Press. A two-day event commemorating the anniversary will reportedly be held in April at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. ... While we're talking Superdomes, TVGuide.com reports that Paula Abdul is in talks to perform live at the Super Bowl on February 3. She is reportedly rehearsing a music video for a duet with "American Idol" peer Randy Jackson, and the song is due to be the first single from Jackson's forthcoming solo LP, Music Club Vol. 1. According to TVGuide.com, footage from the Super Bowl performance will be folded into the video if Abdul does indeed perform at the football extravaganza. Tom Petty is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. ...

Daughtry are working on the follow-up to their self-titled LP — which was the biggest-selling disc on the Billboard 200 during the December 2006-November 2007 chart year. "Some songs are coming out a little heavier than the last record, and some songs are just way more beautiful," frontman Chris Daughtry told Gibson.com about the new material. ... Paris Hilton has been named Woman of the Year by college comedy magazine The Harvard Lampoon. Hilton will accept the award February 6 at Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and speak to the student body. ...

Does Marilyn Manson reconciling with Twiggy Ramirez remind you of Robert Plant reuniting with Jimmy Page? Probably not, but the Antichrist Superstar recently told RollingStone.com that the Led Zeppelin comeback gig spurred him to make amends with Ramirez. "The turning point for me was when I went to see Led Zeppelin's reunion show, and I saw Jimmy Page and Robert Plant look at each other for a moment, and they probably said, 'Holy sh--, we wrote "Stairway to Heaven." ' ... I want to look at Twiggy and go, 'Holy sh--, we wrote "The Beautiful People." ' I called him, and I said, 'Let's go do this.' " How modest. ... Zooey Deschanel swung by NPR Southern California affiliate KCRW's "Open Road" recently, during which it was revealed that the actress is cobbling together an album with singer/songwriter M. Ward, with whom she has performed in concert in the past. According to ThePlaylist.com, the album — the name of which has yet to be revealed — will drop in March via Merge Records. ...

Gnarls Barkley frontman Cee-Lo made a guest turn recently on "The Boondocks" as Reverend Rollo Goodlove. Cee-Lo's character lends his support to Huey's hunger strike against BET and narrates the entire episode, which skewers several of the network's top execs. A preview of the show appears on YouTube with a note stating the original airdate was Monday, but the show hasn't aired yet. ... Jill Scott announced dates for her Real Thing tour on Friday (January 11). The recent NAACP nominee (Best Female Artist and Best Actress) will hit the stage on multiple nights in Oakland, California (February 7-8); Atlanta (February 22-23); and Baltimore (February 26-27), as well as play a four-night stand in Washington, D.C., beginning March 11. The run ends March 30 in Birmingham, Alabama. ...

Funnyman Patton Oswalt has been tapped to host this year's Plug Independent Music Awards, which will also feature performances by indie folkie José González and St. Vincent, the solo project by Polyphonic Spree guitarist Annie Clark. The ceremony will be held March 6 in New York. ... The Take Action Tour is getting even more charitable. Do Something, a nonprofit group that helps teens fight discrimination and homelessness, is partnering with the trek to offer three $500 grants to young people looking to make change in their neck of the woods. Go here for more info on the Take Action Grants. ... Fiery Furnaces got some sad news recently when Olga Sarantos, the grandmother of two of the indie-rock group's members, passed away, according to BrooklynVegan.com. Sarantos was heard telling tales of her youth on the band's 2005 disc, Rehearsing My Choir.

Spice Girls Sweeten Their Hits; Plus Magnetic Fields, John Legend, Eels And More, In New Releases

Also due Tuesday: Ringo Starr, Dirty on Purpose, Kottonmouth Kings, Raheem DeVaughn, Gamma Ray, Jon Foreman.

What looks to be the last slow Tuesday of the year for a long while in terms of new releases sees a medley of music-makers hitting stores: a sugary U.K. veteran pop squad; likely the only pianist who has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Fort Minor and Tony Bennett; a synth-pop dude who spells his name "Stephin" instead of "Stephen"; the least-appreciated member of the four Beatles; a soulful crooner signed to Jive by none other than DJ Jazzy Jeff; and the frontman for a SoCal alterna-rock crew. We assume you'll be able to guess which is which ...

Spice Rack: Shouts of "Girl power!" were heard throughout Victoria's Secret stores in mid-November when the Spice Girls issued their Greatest Hits collection there, but now Mel B, Geri Halliwell and the rest of the gang are breaking out the previously exclusive set in retail stores nationwide. As promised, they're now rolling out two additional versions of the release, the standard edition of which has two newly recorded songs ("Headlines [Friendship Never Ends]" and "Voodoo"). The deluxe edition has a DVD with all the Girls' promo videos, while the gift-box version also contains a karaoke disc and friendship bracelet.

Return of the Piano Man: In case you didn't see John Legend on his recent Show Me Tour, there's a new CD immortalizing one of the gigs. The exclusive Target release has 19 songs by the singer/songwriter, including his covers of Beatles and Sly & the Family Stone covers, as well as newer cuts "Slow Dance" and "Where's the Love," which features a duet with Corinne Bailey Rae. The deluxe edition comes with a 30-minute DVD featuring more live-performance material, an interview and videos for "Show Me" and "Another Again."

Fields' Recordings: Magnetic Fields fans will want to gravitate to stores this week — the group's first new album in four years is dropping, even though it's been more or less on the down low. Stephin Merritt and company have come up with a new gimmick for Distortion, their eighth album: Per its title, every instrument, save the drums, was designed to blurt out feedback. "I don't know if anyone has done feedback piano before," Merritt said in a statement. The typically quiet act aimed for a noisier approach, á la Jesus and Mary Chain, on songs like "Zombie Boy," "The Nun's Litany" and "Too Drunk to Dream." Fans might also recognize a voice they heard on the Fields' 1999 classic, 69 Love Songs — Merritt's friend Shirley Simms is contributing background vocals again. Initial pressings of Distortion come with a bonus single: "The Man of a Million Faces," which Merritt wrote for NPR.

Slipping Out From The Archives: In case you didn't know already, the European eel uses the Earth's magnetic field for direction, which is cool if for no other reason than it allows us to shamelessly segue between Merritt's release and two from Mark Oliver Everett, another lo-fi singer/songwriter legend. Eels, Everett's project, are taking a look back with a two-pronged comp attack: Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. 1, 1996-2006, a CD-plus-DVD set; and the equally self-explanatory Eels Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased - 1996-2006, which comes in the form of two CDs and one DVD. The videos are actually reaching the DVD format for the first time ever, and fans will also drool over Everett's notes, which he scribed for every song.

Starr Power: In case you happened to be in Liverpool, England, on Saturday, you likely heard about hometown legend Ringo Starr performing to help kick off the city's Capital of Culture extravaganza. Well, he was also using that gig to fittingly launch Liverpool 8, his new studio album and first involving old buddy Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. Starr co-wrote all 12 of the album's tracks with Stewart, who also lent his production skills. Songs include "Love Is," "It It's Love That You Want" and "Think About You," all of which could have passed for the titles of Beatles songs, if you ask us.

The Raheem DeVaughn Experience: Speaking of love, DeVaughn may be one of the more underrated R&B crooners out there, but he has two things working in his favor: He recently earned a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his song "Woman"; and his last album had a notable debut, at #46 on the Billboard albums chart. Now DeVaughn is chasing his first LP, 2005's The Love Experience, with Love Behind the Melody. Don't miss "Friday (Shut the Club Down)," "Four Letter Word" and "Marathon," which spots a guest spot by Floetry.

This week's top hitters may not be all that heavy, but some big names helped out with some of the other titles lurking in the ranks:

· Nelly Furtado's collaborations with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland have earned her Grammy nominations — and a win — over the past two years, and now someone else is looking to horn in on the action: none other than ... adult-contemporary legend Anne Murray! Shelby Lynne, Martina McBride and others also populate Murray's Duets: Friends & Legends album.

· Switchfoot allowed frontman Jon Foreman to take a break and drop the second in his seasonal EPs this week: Winter, which is coming out digitally as a standalone release. In retail stores, though, it's available as a two-disc set, along with Foreman's November EP, Fall.

· Members of Lamb of God, In Flames, Arch Enemy, Trivium, the Haunted and Children of Bodom help Annihilator bring the Metal on their latest disc.

· Animal Collective's Paw Tracks imprint is dishing up Black Habit, the new disc by New York's First Nation ... er Rings. The trio changed their name after one member left and Abby Portner, sister of Animal Collective member Dave Portner, took up the role.

· Band of Horses had guitarist Tyler Ramsey on tour with them late last year, but that still left time for him to slap together a solo disc. The plucker's A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea was produced by My Morning Jacket collaborator Danny Kadar.

· Velvet Revolver and Slayer collaborator Josh Abraham originally recorded Egypt Central's self-titled debut two years ago, but now the effort from the Memphis heavy-rockers is finally hitting stores after undergoing a bit of an overhaul.

· Brooklyn, New York, shoegazers Dirty on Purpose chalk up a cover of Real Life's "Send Me an Angel" from for their new EP, "Like Bees." Doesn't get any gnarlier than that.

Song Title of the Week:

"If You Can't Be Good, Be Gone" from The SteelDrivers

Album Cover of the Week:

Rings' Black Habit

Other Notables:

Charlie Nothing's 40 Years of the Ding: A Charlie Nothing Anthology

In 2003, Minneapolis label De Stijl partnered with Sub Pop for the excavation of the Michael Yonkers Band's Microminiature Love, which was recorded 35 years earlier. Now, after teaming for a handful of additional releases, the labels have assembled this collection, which culls the psychedelic musician's long-lost recordings for Takoma, a label run by steel-string pioneer John Fahey, plus songs he made for private release — and some he even recorded while in jail.

Mike Ladd's Nostalgialator

The Afro-punk experimentalist is rubbing elbows with El-P, Aesop Rock, Cage and other underground hip-hop luminaries on Definitive Jux, the label that is re-releasing this 2004 effort, which was originally made available internationally on K7. The Boston native — who now calls Paris home — hooked up with New York producer Scotty Hard (Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul) for the genre-busting release.

Paleo's "The Song Diary"

This is about as DIY as you can get: Unsigned songwriter David Strackany spent a year touring the country, living out of his van, and writing and posting a song every day on his Web site. Now he's put together a DVD encompassing all 365 tunes, with a list of the dates and cities in which he recorded them, as well as a limited-edition 470-page book of lyrics. Fittingly, there are only 365, hand-numbered copies of the latter.

New Releases:

· 46bliss - Wish Me Away (Pistachio)

· Annihilator - Metal (SPV)

· Bob Bruzman - Post-Industrial Blues (Ruf)

· Steve Bug - Fabric 37 (Fabric)

· Peter Daily - Who Is Peter Daily? (EP; Sideshow Media Group)

· Raheem DeVaughn - Love Behind the Melody (Jive)

· Dirty on Purpose - Like Bees (EP; North Street) [Buy Now]

· Egypt Central - Egypt Central (Fat Lady/ Independent Label Group)

· Eliane Elias - Something for You: Eliane Elias Sings and Plays Bill Evans (Blue Note)

· Dan Ferrari - Don't Let It Fall (available at CDBaby.com and other indie outlets; AtoZ)

· Jon Foreman - Fall/Winter (EPs; two CDs; lowercase people/ Credential)

· Gamma Ray - Land of the Free II (SPV)

· Marianne Keith - Beautiful Distraction (Unison)

· John Legend - Live From Philadelphia (with DVD; available exclusively at Target; G.O.O.D./Columbia) [Buy Now]

· Magnetic Fields - Distortion (Nonesuch) [Buy Now]

· Mars Arizona - Hello Cruel World (Big Barn)

· Anne Murray - Duets: Friends & Legends (Manhattan/EMI)

· Fernando Otero - Pagina de Buenos Aires (Nonesuch)

· Peech - Peech (Unison)

· Tyler Ramsey - A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea (Echo Mountain)

· Rings - Black Habit (Paw Tracks)

· Ringo Starr - Liverpool 8 (Capitol/EMI) [Buy Now]

· Roomful of Blues - Raisin' a Ruckus (Alligator)

· Duane Stephenson - From August Town (VP)

· The SteelDrivers - The SteelDrivers (Rounder)

· Noah Sugarman - Art of Starting of Fire (Unison)

· Matthew West - Something to Say (Sparrow)

· Winger - Winger Live (two CDs; Shrapnel)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Buju Banton - Inna Heights: 10th Anniversary Edition (with DVD; VP)

· Tommy Bolin - The Ultimate: Redux (three-CD box set; Friday)

· Billy C and the Sunshine - The Lost 70's Tapes (two CDs; Blue Label)

· Charlie Nothing - 40 Years of the Ding: A Charlie Nothing Anthology (De Stijl/ Sub Pop)

· Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - The Early Years 1967-1970 (two CDs; Blue Label)

· Miles Davis - Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs (Columbia/Legacy)

· Eels - Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. 1, 1996-2006 (CD and DVD; Dreamworks/Geffen/UMe); and Eels Useless Trinkets: B-Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased - 1996-2006 (two CDs and one DVD; Dreamworks/Geffen/UMe) [Buy Now]

· Aretha Franklin - Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs (Columbia/Legacy)

· Nnenna Freelon - Better Than Anything: The Quintessential Nnenna Freelon (Concord)

· Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear (two CDs; Hip-O Select)

· Billie Holiday - Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs (Columbia/Legacy)

· Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene (with DVD; Caroline)

· Kottonmouth Kings - Greatest Highs (two CDs; Capitol/EMI) [Buy Now]

· Mike Ladd - Nostalgialator (Definitive Jux)

· Barry Manilow - Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs (Columbia/Legacy)

· Ricky Nelson - Greatest Love Songs (Capitol/EMI)

· Olivia Newton-John - Olivia's Live Hits (Capitol/EMI)

· Nurse With Wound - Gyllenskold, Geijerstam and I at Rydberg's (Durtro Jnana)

· Kenny Rogers - A Love Song Collection (Capitol Nashville/ EMI)

· Frank Sinatra - Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs (Columbia/Legacy)

· Spice Girls - Greatest Hits (enhanced; two discs; Virgin) [Buy Now]

· Trisha Yearwood - Love Songs (MCA Nashville)

· Zucchero - All the Best (Verve)

· Various artists - Slow Jams: The Definitive Collection (Capitol)

· Various artists - Disco Not Disco: Post Punk, Electro & Leftfield Disco Classics - 1974-1986 (Strut)

· Various artists - Doo Wop Love Songs (four-CD box set; Shout! Factory)

· Various artists - Monterey Jazz Festival: 50th Anniversary All-Stars (Concord)

· Various artists - Sides of Blue: The Jazz Greats Who Played on Kind of Blue (Fantasy)

· Various artists - "The Jewish Americans" soundtrack (Rounder)

Music DVDs:

· Olivia Newton-John - "Olivia Newton-John and the Sydney Symphony: Live at the Sydney Opera House" (Capitol/EMI)

· Marilyn Manson - "Lord of Darkness: The Early Years" DVD (Candlelight)

· Paleo - "The Song Diary" (self-released)

· Winger - "Winger Live" (Shrapnel)

Digital Releases:

· Jon Foreman - Fall/Winter (EP; lowercase people/ Credential)

Coming Attractions:

January 22:

· Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine (Epic)

· Cat Power - Jukebox (deluxe edition with bonus CD due same day; Matador)

· Matt Costa - Unfamiliar Faces (Brushfire)

January 29:

· Beck - Odelay - Deluxe Edition (two CDs; Geffen/UMe)

· The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath (Universal)

· Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (XL)

February 5:

· Christina Aguilera - "Back to Basics: Live and Down Under" (two DVDs; RCA)

· Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static (Brushfire)

· Lenny Kravitz - It Is Time For A Revolution (Virgin)

 

50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Wyclef, Timbaland Reportedly Named In New York Steroids Probe

Investigation lists several celebrities among the thousands receiving prescribed shipments of steroids and HGH.

The ongoing investigation into steroid trafficking that has already sent shockwaves through professional baseball is now reportedly looking at members of the music industry as well. According to a report in Albany, New York's Times Union, citing confidential sources, the names of Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean have turned up in an Albany-based probe.

The report claims that the singers and rappers are among tens of thousands of people who may have either used or received prescribed shipments of steroids and injectable human growth hormone (HGH) in recent years. But law enforcement officials said they don't have evidence that musicians and other customers violated any laws. Instead, the probe focuses on anti-aging clinics, doctors and pharmacists who prescribed the drugs.

Medical experts told the paper that the alleged use of the drugs in the entertainment industry — which is already a human laboratory for anti-aging shortcuts from collagen, fat and botox injections to a laundry list of plastic-surgery procedures — is proof of how steroid use has spread in this country. Steroids and HGH, currently the focus of a congressional investigation into their use in professional baseball, are being illegally prescribed across the country at increasing rates under the misconception that they enhance healing, looks, strength and speed, and slow aging, but experts warn that the drugs can also have serious side effects when prescribed incorrectly.

The Times Union says it gained access to records from several unnamed cooperating witnesses on Long Island, New York, that reportedly indicate that human growth hormone or steroids were shipped to Blige and the others — sometimes under fictitious names — at hotels, production studios, private residences, an upscale Manhattan fitness club and through the Long Island office of chiropractor Michael Diamond. Diamond, who has not been identified as a target in the case or accused of breaking any laws, helps run an anti-aging program at Clay Gym in Manhattan.

Spokespeople for 50 Cent, Timbaland and Blige could not be reached for comment at press time — Jean's spokespeople were reached, but offered no comment — however the New York Daily News reported that Blige blasted the Times Union story Sunday night. "Mary J. Blige has never taken any performance-enhancing illegal steroids," spokeswoman Karynne Tencer told the Daily News.

Diamond said patient privacy laws prevent him from discussing whom he has treated or why, though he denied having anything to do with athletes. The Times Union noted that it "appears evident" that Diamond does cater to famous clients, as evidenced by the many stars, including faded action hero Steven Seagal, whose autographed photos line the walls of the doctor's office.

The Times Union claims it has also obtained records showing that performers received prescriptions signed by South Florida osteopath Dr. Gary Brandwein, who was named last year as the physician who prescribed steroids to professional wrestler Chris Benoit, who killed his wife, son and himself. Brandwein is awaiting trial in Albany on felony drug charges.

To date, the paper reported that, in addition to the stars and Major League baseball players, the probe has also exposed allegations of steroid use by professional wrestlers, NFL players, police officers, prison guards, top-ranked body builders and people with ties to high school and college wrestling programs. HGH made the news last year when actor Sylvester Stallone paid a $2,975 fine to settle charges in Australia that he illegally possessed vials of steroids and HGH during a customs inspection of his luggage. Stallone said at the time that he needed the drugs to treat a pituitary gland issue.

50 Cent, Timbaland, Mary J. Blige: Why Would They Use Steroids?

Doctors say some entertainers think steroids or human growth hormone have anti-aging benefits.

Rap is definitely a competitive sport — just ask 50 Cent. The brash (and buff) G-Unit star has taken aim at his detractors on more than one occasion through some unforgiving rhymes, targeting the likes of Ja Rule, the Game and others.

But to gain a one-up on his opponents, it's hard to imagine 50 would turn to steroids, as a New York newspaper article claimed through sources Monday. Why not just grab a dictionary instead?

Why exactly would revered entertainers like 50 — along with Mary J. Blige, Timbaland, Wyclef Jean and playwright/director Tyler Perry, according to the article — decide to use steroids or human growth hormone?

The answer may lie in rejuvenation.

According to the Albany Times Union story, Florida doctor Gary Bandwein allegedly shipped the goods to 50, Blige and company. According to the same report, steroids or HGH would be shipped for the artists to Long Island chiropractor Michael Diamond, who holds residency at New York gym Clay. Diamond — who had not been charged under any counts — happens to be an instructor of anti-aging and longevity medicine at the Manhattan fitness center

Experts believe, according to the article, that more entertainers are turning to "the unproven anti-aging effects of steroids."

But why?

According to Dr. Thomas Barnes, a Newport Beach cosmetic surgeon with more than 10 years of experience in the field, HGH, though controversial in some circles, has its benefits. Barnes said when people pass age 30 — especially entertainers — life begins to take its toll.

"With men, particularly, they start literally wasting away and aging," he said.

The thought is that HGH specifically brings levels of testosterone back up. Dr. Barnes said benefits can include thickening of the hair and skin and "a luster again in the eyes and basically helping the body look more vigorous."

The problem, though, Dr. Barnes admitted, is when steroids and HGH begin to be administered by physical trainers and not trained and licensed physicians.

Larger and dangerous doses may be prescribed by those without proper credentials, and if the body has an adverse reaction to the injection, there's no one to properly respond.

"It is a drug, and it really should be administered by someone who is licensed personnel," Dr. Barnes said. "It's easy for a trainer to give it, but when problems start, that's when the finger-pointing starts."

Dr. Thomas Perl, a professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine, begs to differ. Perl is the founder of AntiAgingQuackery.com, a site launched in 2005 to oppose the rhetoric of steroids and HGH's benefits. In rare instances, he explained, administering HGH makes sense; he listed short bowel syndrome and growth-hormone deficiency as those exceptions. Overall, however, he calls steroids and HGH cheap gimmicks, fraught with misleading information and too easily available online.

"Hormones are the darling of the anti-aging industry, because people generally equate the word with youth," Dr. Perl insisted. "And they think, 'Take a hormone. Oh, it makes me young again.'

"The irony is that animal studies show growth hormones actually decrease life span, they doesn't increase life span," he said. "It's all marketing. It's all a sale."

John Battaglia, an image consultant/ life coach who runs the Rockstar in You and has worked with Justin Timberlake and Usher, said the obsession with youthful images can sometimes counter an artist's primary goal: a long-term career.

"The music business is a young person's business, so there's certainly a premium on appearing young or appearing younger," he told MTV News. "So certainly people really can do a lot of different things — sometimes going to very extreme measures in their appearance — to be able to give a youthful image."

"I try to make people aware of the risks of pursing courses of action that could have long-term effects," Battaglia later added. "What good is it if you appear younger this year, but then in five years, you have back problems, you can't walk straight and other things like that? What good is success if it can't last?"