Tuesday Afternoon Music Fix - Raveonettes, Michael Jackson and Ghostface

BY ANDY VIHSTADT
Great Danes

Denmark’s Raveonettes have proven themselves again with Lust, Lust, Lust. The album is already out overseas but won’t be available in the US until February 19. Here are a couple of tracks to hold you over.

The Raveonettes: “Aly Walk With Me” MP3

The Raveonettes: “Dead Sound” MP3 courtesy of AOL

Real Talk

The Big Doe Rehab comes out tomorrow, but I think Ghostface’s calling is in the motivational industry. The World According to Pretty Tony audio book comes out January 8 and should be hilarious. All Hip-Hop has posted a 13-minute excerpt in which Ghost offers up a few tips on lactose intolerance, proper attire and personal hygiene. Listen to it here.

West Coast Baller

Who would have guessed that while Dr. Dre was penning one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, Brian Wilson was down the beach attempting to do the same? Turned out he was the worst rapper ever. WFMU’s Beware of the Blog has posted “Smart Girls,” a lost track from the never-released 1991 album, Sweet Insanity, which definitely takes Wilson’s indie cred down a peg or two. Get the skinny and download the track here.

Champion Sounds

To raise awareness for World AIDS Day, Queen (now featuring Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers on vocals) released its first recording in over 10 years last week. Sign up for the band’s mailing list for a free download of “Say It Isn’t True."

Action Jackson

This week marks 25 years of Thriller (following up last month’s silver anniversary of the Michael Jackson narrated E.T. audio book). The celebratory edition of the album, which will feature bonus versions with Kanye West, Will.I.Am and Akon, doesn’t come out until February, so here’s a couple of covers to pay reverence, thanks to Stereogum and AM Music Blog.

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie: “Thriller (live acoustic cover)" MP3

Chris Cornell: “Billie Jean (acoustic live cover)” MP3 thanks to AM Music Blog

Wired

The final season of HBO’s The Wire kicks off January 6. Steve Earle, who also plays a small role as a junkie on the show, will be offering his take on the theme song, “Way Down in the Hole” a Tom Waits original. Get your Sunday fix early, thanks to Rock Town Hall.

Steve Earle: “Way Down in a Hole” MP3

The List

12/4

Aloha, Lightworks (Polyvinyl)

Daft Punk, Alive 2007 (Virgin)

Ghostface, The Big Doe Rehab (Def Jam)

12/11

Wu-Tang Clan, The 8 Diagrams (Universal)

12/18

Lupe Fiasco, The Cool (Atlantic)