American Idol To Fire Judges?- New Michael Jackson Music, Docs Won't Be Charged- Eminem Beats Rick Ross- Justin Bieber Arrested, Not Really- Survivor Young Vs Old- more

(ASB) Lauryn Hill jetted off to Africa to stage the first show of a much-anticipated comeback - the former The Fugees star performed at a festival in Kigali in Rwanda at the weekend, July 24. more - more on this story

10 Craziest Lady Gaga Fashion Moments to the 10 Biggest Celebrity Tools All Part of The Short List

VH1's new six-part series, "The Short List," premieres tomorrow (Friday, July 30) at 9PM* and ranks everything from the 10 Craziest Lady Gaga Fashion Moments to the 10 Biggest Celebrity Tools to the 10 Cutest Celebrity Babies.

VH1's patented blend of comedians, experts and commentators will dissect, disseminate and diss their way through each topic, ultimately justifying each and every totally awesome top ten ranking. "The Short List" line-up kicks off with a look at Lady Gaga and her wildly eccentric, often questionable, fashion sense. The episode features some of the pop icon's craziest outfits, including the red latex gown she wore to meet the Queen of England, her ubiquitous and revealing bubble dress, and the infamous Kermit-inspired frock that takes childhood memories to a whole new, creepy level. In addition to Gaga, the series dishes on everything from Twilight heartthrob Taylor Lautner's ripped beach bod abs to Suri Cruise's outrageous style, to reality TV meltdowns so crazy they make Mel Gibson look sane. Grab a preview here

A new episode of "The Short List" premieres every Friday night at 9PM* starting on July 30 through September 3. Try not to watch it. We dare you. You might even learn something. - more on this story

Steve Earle To Produce Ana Egge's New Album

Steve Earle has signed on to produce the seventh solo album from Ana Egge. Earle and Egge will head to Woodstock in the fall to record at the famed Levon Helm Studio where such iconic artists as The Band, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Elvis Costello and My Morning Jacket have laid tracks.

Ana has realized a dream securing luminary Steve Earle to produce her newest effort. Earle has long been regarded as one of the finest songwriters and musicians of our time. Ana explains "I thought of asking Steve based on the songs that I've been writing for this new album. They are mostly pretty stripped down and I've been imagining them still being edgy in their feel or attack on the instruments. He produced my favorite records by my friends Ron Sexsmith and Lucinda Williams, so it just seemed right." A few days after speaking with Earle, Ana actually dreamt that they were recording at Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock. It was kismet, Steve agreed.

"When a folk musician who writes great songs can deliver them with a voice that is as bluesy as it is beautiful, heads will turn," notes Metro Santa Cruz. Ana is a triple threat. With the creative soul of a poet, Egge's songwriting prowess has been hailed by many with Rolling Stone noting "her sharply observed tales of the overlooked and underpaid feel utterly of the moment." Her powerfully soft and soulful voice has been described by American Songwriter magazine as "Honeysuckle" with NPR calling it "Gorgeous." Add to that some serious guitar playing chops worthy of Norah Jones' guitarist Adam Levy naming Ana one of his top ten favorite guitar players of all time, in the company of Ry Cooder and Daniel Lanois. - more on this story

FreeSol Giving It Away

FreeSol's may have named the track "Don't Give It Away" but they are doing just that. Here is the official word:

"Don't Give It Away" will premier August 1st on HBO's hit series "Entourage." Beginning August 1st FreeSol fans can sign up on FreeSolmusic.com to get a free download of the track available for one week. On August 7th the band will arrive in Chicago to play at the festival that "Entourage" opening theme song singer Perry Farrell started. Perry is the superhero of the modern festival and FreeSol is excited to play Lollapalooza for the second time on Perry's stage.

Signed to fellow Memphis native Justin Timberlake's Tennman Records imprint via Interscope Records, FreeSol will make "Don't Give It Away" available for sale on iTunes and Amazon beginning August 10th. - more on this story

TV On The Radio's David Andrew Sitek's Maximum Balloon Coming Next Month

TV On The Radio's David Andrew Sitek will release his debut album, Maximum Balloon, on August 31st via DGC/Interscope Records.

Sitek is the guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer for TV On The Radio, as well as such critically-acclaimed and popular bands like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars and Scarlett Johansson's album of Tom Waits covers.

Sitek recruited some of his favorite singers to co-write and lend vocals to his songs: artists he's helped produce over the last 8 years as well as those he met as one of the originators of the formative New York-based indie-rock scene. Those artists include Karen O, the spectacular front-woman of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; stylish rap wordsmith Theophilus London; old friend Katrina Ford from the Baltimore-based band, Celebration; the torchlight talent of New York's Holly Miranda; legendary Talking Heads frontman David Byrne; Brooklyn based Aku from Dragons of Zynth, Shivaree vocalist Ambrosia Parsely; and, of course, TV On The Radio bandmates Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone.

The first single, "Groove Me" (feat. Theophilus London), is available at iTunes and other digital outlets now. Learn more - here

Mike Posner Gets His Own Radio Show

SIRIUS XM Radio announced the launch of a weekly show hosted by Mike Posner, the young phenom and mixtape superstar.

His weekly SIRIUS XM show, The Mike Posner Show, debuts on September 10 on SIRIUS XM's Faction (SIRIUS channel 28/XM channel 52), SIRIUS XM's 100% commercial-free music and action sports lifestyle channel. The show will air Friday nights at 9:00 pm ET. On his SIRIUS XM Faction show, Posner will play the jams he likes and talk about his life as he navigates the best-selling music charts and his newfound popularity.

"It is going to be so fun to document what happens in my life in such a refreshing manner. Plus, I can't wait to show people all the cool music they've been missing," said Posner. "My show is going to have the best playlist ever!" - more on this story

Chilly Gonzales Goes Hollywood

Chilly Gonzales, Peaches and Tiga star in Ivory Tower, a new feature film written and produced by Chilly Gonzales. [It actually looks pretty good, here is the pitch followed by a link to the trailer.]

Chilly Gonzales has been creating magic behind the scenes of some of the past decade's favorite artists (Feist, Peaches, Jamie Lidell), has established himself as a worldwide entertainer renowned for his Piano Talk Shows (recently ones with Andrew WK, A-Track, Sia) and holds the Guinness World Record for longest solo concert (27+ hours!). So what is left for him to tackle, you may ask? Writing and producing a feature-length FILM, of course!!

Written and produced by Gonzales, Ivory Tower stars Tiga and Peaches and Gonzo himself. The story centers around two champion chess-playing brothers, Hershell (Gonzales) and Tiga (Thadeus) who share a love for the same girl Marsha (Peaches), and confirms Gonzales as the musical prodigy and legendary all-round entertainer he's always claimed to be. The film is supported by an album of the same by Chilly, produced by Boy Noize, being released September 14th on Arts & Crafts, and the film will be hitting the festival circuit before getting theatrical release later this year. And check out the music video for the track "I Am Europe" which serves as an unofficial trailer for the video, and brace yourself for some comic genius and amazing music! - Check out the trailer in the form of a music video here

Big Jay Oakerson Spreading Comedic Mayhem Across America

Big Jay Oakerson has announced a brand new set of stand-up comedy dates! Big Jay will be visiting many locations such as Kansas City, KS, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Sacramento, CA!

Big Jay will also be performing for the remainder of the summer on the Mayhem Festival. He will be introducing bands in between sets, performing his hysterical brand of comedy, as well as walking around and interacting with the crowd.

Comedian Big Jay Oakerson currently has a new full length, digital-only album, An American Storyteller on Comedy Central Records. Oakerson's story-based style of stand-up comedy got its start after a series of dead-end jobs, including driving strippers and escorts around his hometown of Philly. Now the New York City resident has made comedy his full-time job, flooring audiences with true tales of odd threesomes and bizarre sexual encounters. An American Storyteller, recorded at Standup New York, is a one-hour onslaught of unbridled awesomeness and raunchy rock 'n' roll hilarity. - more on this story

America's Next Top Model Sarah VonderHaar Announces New EP

Former America's Next Top Model contestant Sarah VonderHaar will release her new EP, P.D.L., on August 24th. It follows up her 2008 debut Are You Listening Now?

On this new four-song digital release, VonderHaar showcases four distinct songwriting styles; from the sultry vampy swing of "Howling At the Moon" to the candy-coated Colbie Caillat choruses of "All Mine" to the plaintive emotional immediacy of the title track "Pretty Damn Lucky" to the finger-snapping piano-pop of "What I'm Feeling About You," which effortlessly blends freeform phrasing and lyrical introspection akin to repertoire from Ben Folds and Regina Spektor.

With TV Guide asserting that Sarah VonderHaar is "on the verge of pop-rock stardom," major companies and sponsors have also taken note of Sarah's captivating voice, beautiful looks and upbeat personality. VonderHaar has attracted endorsements from the likes of Fender Guitars and Sennheiser, while her songs have been chosen as musical backdrops for both Jockey and Chevrolet commercials. Sarah was also included in a Go-Gurt Yogurt campaign, and in a national advertising campaign with Mead Notebooks, which rolled out to Target stores in June. - more on this story

Ryan Montbleau Band Set September Album Release

Ryan Montbleau Band's new album, Heavy On The Vine, is set to hit stores on September 21. Here is the announcement:

"Time hangs heavy on the vine/Let's make wine," Ryan Montbleau sings in the lulling, sensual verse that gives his group's new album its title. Ryan Montbleau Band has been tending its own musical vineyard for a few years, on the patient cusp of a breakthrough. Their distinctive, long-fermenting blend of neo-folk, classic soul, and kick-out-the-jams Americana finally comes to full fruition in Heavy on the Vine, due out September 21, 2010 on indie Blue's Mountain Records. It's an album that represents the product of — and further promise of — a very good year.

It's been a good year already. The group spent much of it both as opening act and backing band for Martin Sexton, including a round of dates with the Dave Matthews Band. Sexton in turn produced Heavy on the Vine. "I used to dream about getting to meet Martin Sexton," says Ryan, "and now we're getting hired as his backing band and he's producing our record. - more on this story

Tera Melos Skin Surf

Tera Melos have released the first of several videos created to accompany the trio's forthcoming full-length, Patagonian Rats.

The video for the song "The Skin Surf" -- directed by Behn Fannin (The Melvins, Nurses) -- shows the band at its quirky, clever finest. Watch it here.

The wily melodies and scurrying rhythms of Patagonian Rats will be released this fall via Sargent House. Tour dates in the U.S. in September will be announced soon, followed by dates in Japan in October and Europe shortly thereafter. -

The Sounds of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

ABKCO is digitally releasing Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Original Score Composed by Nigel Godrich) on August 10th in anticipation of the film's national theatrical debut on August 13th, it was announced today.

August 10th is also the release date for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) which will be available both digitally and physically.

Filmmaker Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), commented: "I have been very fortunate to be good friends with the amazing Nigel Godrich for a full decade and couldn't be more thrilled that we finally got to work together on this. Nigel's score is unique, eclectic and multi-faceted. I love how it works in the film, and it makes for a great listen in its own right. It was also a treat for us both to work with some many great collaborators on it including Beck Hansen, Cornelius, Dan Nakamura, Kid Koala, David Campbell, Danny Goffey, Gaz Coombes, Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning, Joey Waronker and Gus Seyffert. The score is a sonic embarrassment of riches, and I can't wait for people to hear it." - more on this story

The Glitch Mob Remix For Haiti

On July 21st The Glitch Mob released the first remix from their debut album Drink The Sea to promote the band's Remix Like You Stole It competion.

To kick things off, Fistful of Silence, remixed by San Francisco-based multi-genre music producer and Ninja Tune artist ESKMO, has been posted for free download via the band's website at http://theglitchmob.com/music. With tremendous support from fans, it reached #3 on popular charts on The Hype Machine and is currently the #2 most tweeted about track on the site.

The upcoming Remix collection (which will feature remixes from some of today's best DJ's and remixers) will be sold through Download To Donate v.2 Haiti website, with proceeds benefiting Music For Relief's Haiti Earthquake Recovery, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to victims of natural disasters and disaster prevention. - more on this story

Tu Fawning Hearts on Hold in October

Tu Fawning will release their debut full length, Hearts on Hold, in North America on October 5 via the band's imprint label, Provenance Records, followed by a November 1 European release from the folks at City Slang Records (Calexico, Black Mountain, HEALTH, Menomena).

Tu Fawning is a collective of songsmiths and multi-instrumentalists founded by Joe Haege (31Knots, Menomena) and Corrina Repp. After releasing the Secession EP (Polyvinyl) in 2008, the group doubled in size when longtime collaborators Toussaint Perrault and Liza Rietz joined full time last year.

Steeped in dark mystery, texture, and beauty that pours forth from an assortment of instruments including guitar, drums, piano, brass, and samples, Hearts on Hold is a polished, revealing record that perfectly complements fall's kaleidoscope-spectrum of leaves and crisp breezes that seductively overcomes lungs more accustomed to more temperate air. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the album's first single, "The Felt Sense," is a haunting piece where heart-pulsing drums contrast with Repp's soulful vocal performance, glossing over lyrics about lost love. - more on this story