A number of female artists chance it for a comeback on the charts this week. Prolific soul singer/songwriter Erykah Badu returns with her first album in five years, New Amerykah. -Watch a very cool music video for album single, "Honey," on Youtube -Read an interview with Badu at MSNBC -Badu will be featured in a new Tom Ford Fragrance ad campaign -Read an album review at EW.com -Buy New Amerykah Ethereal electronic star Goldfrapp is......

Good morning, Houston. When it comes to politics, we suppose there's a lot to be said for the shock factor — which is why Brian Klock, a candidate for Congressional District 22, is getting some attention. Klock, one of 10 people vying for the Republican nomination for CD 22, has put up a billboard showing downtown Houston being destroyed by a huge explosion. "The Threat Is Real," the billboard reads. "Ask Brian Klock." And......

Tonight, catch Grammy award-winning R&B vocalist, singer/songwriter Jill Scott at Verizon Wireless. Frequent visitor Bob Schneider makes his trip from Austin a little bit shorter tomorrow by playing at the Cypress Saloon in northwest Houston. Local faves Orange Is In is opening, which makes for a great double-bill. Another local act, The Mighty Orq, will be presenting a lot of new material at his CD release show at the Meridian Friday night (you’ll probably......

From local Houston headlines, we bring you these weekend news bits... • An elderly woman was rescued by firefighters during a two-alarm fire at her southwest Houston condo Saturday morning in the 12000 block of South Dairy Ashford. • A 17 year old girl became trapped under a minivan after the vehicle crashed through the walls of her room in a southeast Houston apartment complex. The girl survived the incident virtually unscathed. • "The......

One small block in Houston, one large music scene - especially this coming weekend. This event is not recommended for the faint of heart, new age-types or the extremely un-coordinated (there will be dancing, foolish, crazy, too-hip-to-care, dancing - hell, brang your uncoordinated ass on - we are bringing ours). Both local, both about the most fun you can have with your clothes on - tequila shots not recommended. Two local bands will be taking......

Many people love The Bravery, and why not? Their blend of rock, pop, electronic and retro style new wave keeps you on your feet. But don't count Brandon Flowers of The Killers as a fan. When The Bravery released their debut album a few years ago, Brandon claimed that the New York City based band was capitalizing on The Killers sound. Hmm ... I think there are some 80's bands that may say the same......

::Your Beat is Nice Tuesday:: Houston's got it's own Music Tuesday tonight with four chances to see our diverse music scene in action:a surviving grunge rocker, a Texas Marine, a mock-yeah-ing-yeah-bird-yeah Hollywood star, and a string quartet. Pick your poison. Foo Fighter at Toyota Center Dave Grohl and his fighets of Foo visit the Toyota Center tonight in support of their 2007 release Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace. Having commemorated their tenth anniversary with a......

Local tech news in a compact, digital format. Dwight Watch Local tech guru, Dwight Silverman is enjoying the sunny, dry desert of Las Vegas while he attends CES. You can keep up with him on Twitter and through his Flickr account. Houstonians Sue Microsoft Three local XBOX Gamers have sued Microsoft claiming breach of contract after not being able to connect to XBOX Live, inhibiting their ability for online play. Microsoft sold over 4......

Happy New Year’s/In Rainbows Day! As you may well know, Radiohead’s In Rainbows was one of our favorite records of 2007. The album is out in stores today after being available for digital “pay what you want” download online last fall. If you've grown a bit tired of your mp3 download’s low 162kbps bit-rate quality, purchasing a copy of the CD might be a good idea. And if you haven’t purchased In Rainbows in......

You read that headline right, folks. The year is 2006 and The Medicine Show is playing at Helios again. Sort of. Rekindle those lovely memories of finishing a long day's work and partying at Helios on Monday night to the rousingly rambunctious Medicine Show. Instead the place is technically called AvantGarden, it'll actually be a Friday and the band changed its name to the Sideshow Tramps. Not to worry, though. You still get to listen......

As the 1980's began, Pearland was still a small town, where you could walk across the street to Dairy Queen for lunch in high school. It was also the time when the town produced their own little new wave band that would end up becoming a regional favorite: The Judy's. We thought we'd celebrate the overdue release of The Judy's music on CD (available on the Wasted Talent Records website) by bringing you the......

Nikki Sixx, bass player for Motley Crue stopped in town this weekend for a book and CD signing at Borders on Kirby. Fans lined up before the store opened for a chance to get his new book and CD, The Heroin Diaries signed by the author. There were many fans in attendance, some coming from as far as Dallas. Houstonist would like to thank Borders District Manager, Suzannah Napier for this opportunity.......

Houston rapper Pimp C was found dead this morning in his hotel room on LA's Sunset Strip. Pimp C had performed with Too Short on Saturday evening at the House of Blues. Pitchfork reports "L.A. firefighters responded to a 911 call at the Sunset Strip's Mondrian Hotel, where they found the rapper dead in his bed. No information on cause of death has been given at this time." Pimp C, born Chad Butler, was one......

Since our first cool blast of December has rolled into town, we're even getting into the over-commercialized holiday mode. So, we thought we would share with you some of our favorite Christmas and holiday songs, both past and present, with you. Throw out the $5.99 CD compilation you bought at Wal-Mart -- this is all you need. The standards (Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Elvis) and more modern-day standards (John Lennon) are here. The 80's......

No trips to the record store this week; our best pick for new music is only available on iTunes. This is Me Then features early gems from Common’s career, including tracks from his groundbreaking record, Resurrection, and four old school music videos. -We thought Common was great in American Gangster -Next up, he's filming a movie with Angelina Jolie -Buy This is Me Then: The Best of Common Listen to cool music and help out......

It’s a slow week. So slow in fact, that the big release of the day just might be the Spice Girls' Greatest Hits CD. We'll be rooting for Scary Spice on Dancing with the Stars tonight, but we've decided to highlight some other musical imports for now. Might we suggest the perfect holiday gift for the music nerd in your life? The Brit Box: U.K. Indie, Shoegaze, and Brit Pop Gems of the Last Millennium......

It’s like Divas Las Vegas 2007 this week, but in a good way! Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, and the Queen of Soul all have new albums debuting on the charts. It took us a little longer than usual to warm up to Alicia Keys’ new single, “No One” from her latest album, As I Am. But now that we’ve heard it endlessly on the radio and on TV, and it’s formed its own repeat loop......

Ghostland Observatory’s Thomas Turner and Aaron Behrens just might be the hardest working men in the electronic/funk-glam/rock music biz. In less than two years, the Austin, TX duo have released two records and have toured from coast to coast, all while running their own music label, Trashy Moped. The band’s latest CD, Paparazzi Lightning, is a high-voltage rocking dance record that the Dallas Observer says would “do Daft Punk, Giorgio Moroder and Freddie Mercury......

This week, we learn that Jay-Z is officially out of retirement indefinitely, that heima means home in Icelandic, and that Chris Brown is like a real grown-up! So the new film American Gangster served as inspiration for Jay-Z’s latest album and made big bucks at the box office last weekend. Could this mean huge numbers for Jay-Z’s CD of the same name? -Read an album review in the New York Times -Watch Jay-Z on VH1's......

Now that Halloween is over, you’ll start hearing Christmas music everywhere you turn – on the radio, while shopping, and from that annoying singing Santa doll on your cubicle neighbor’s desk. Well, we have a sanctuary for you from Michael Bolton singing “Silent Night”: the "Houstonist iMix. Our picks for November include a track from excellent new CD from now Austin-based Sam Beam, otherwise known as Iron & Wine. The latest from Seattle’s indie-pop Band......

Yes, the Spoon concert isn't until next Thursday, but Houstonist is really looking forward to it, so we thought we'd bring you the Austin band's latest video "The Underdog", from their CD Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Sure, the video isn't groundbreaking, but the song (and the whole album, actually) is. For those who aren't familiar with Spoon, where have you been? here's a little background for you. Britt Daniel, lead singer and guitarist,......

We're moving the weekly Live Music Calendar to Wednesdays to make room for our new weekly New CD Releases feature on Tuesday. OK, let's pretend you have a five-day date with some wannabe Sirius radio DJ and you have to wade through everything the city has to offer this week. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Well, good thing you listen to everything we have to say! May we recommend that you start off in familiar territory......

Lots of CDs are released week after week. And though we unwisely spend a bulk of our disposable income on music, Houstonist understands that you work hard for the money, honey! So every Tuesday, we'll bring you a list of CDs that we think will give you the most bang for your buck. Ryan Adams and his band the Cardinals release an EP called Follow the Lights today, just months after the acclaimed full-length Easy......

The party is at Rudyard’s tomorrow – you know - THE party. The Black Math Experiment’s CD Release Party for “All You Need is Blood”, at which a couple of other bands will be performing. La Sed will bring some progressive rock courtesy of Puerto Rico and Mk Ultra adds politically-minded psychedelic punk to the mix (political as in the song writing may focus on fighting military culture and the 9/11 conspiracy). This should be......

Local bands AWAKE and Together. We Are Instruments play at the ultra-hip Super Happy Fun Land. Other local favorites Prodigal Sons and Lanky open for emerging Geffen pop artist Matt White at Jet Lounge. Thursday, check out Twelve Girls Band: a dozen classically-trained musicians (all women, of course) playing both traditional Chinese songs and popular pop songs. Friday night, Beaumont's own classic blues-rocker Johnny Winter returns to Houston at the Meridian. Saturday, block-off your......

Houston's Heavy Hitter's Club will be premiering their first CD at Fitzgerald's, Saturday night -it will be on sale for $5, but, ONLY at this party! So, what is Houston's Heavy Hitter's Club? It is what happens when you ask 30 different rock musicians to come over, hang out and write some songs. Seriously, this was pulled off in three recording sessions - not a small task, even if you have people who are accustomed......

Houstonist loves music. That’s why make our iMixes, keep you up-to-date on what shows are in town, share our favorite music videos with you, and even interview both local and national musicians. We know, however, that there are some fanatical music lovers out there that think we can do more (and we’re not disagreeing). That’s where our challenge comes in. We’re currently looking for more music contributors. What’s required, you say? First off, you......

If you can't find a live show you like this week, then you're not trying hard enough. Tonight, NYC's (once) indie-rockers Interpol hits the Verizon Wireless Theater. For something more local, check out John Evans roots rock set at the Mucky Duck. Tomorrow night, German DJ Paul Van Dyke will have everyone dancing at Warehouse Live. The Meridian turns down the amp (just a bit) on Thursday night to host Americana flavored Junior Brown......

It is a very diverse week for music in Houston. Arizona alt-rock band Scary Kids Scaring Kids hit the Meridian tonight. If you prefer down-home Americana, check out the trio Kane Welch Kaplin as they celebrate their new CD at the Mucky Duck Thursday night. Austin's Latin-fusion band Del Castillo play at Warehouse Live on Friday night. Saturday, singer/songwriter Mat Kearney will play his hit "Nothing Left to Lose" and more at the Meridian.......

The best part about a 3 day weekend: A 4 day work week. Bonus! So happy Tuesday. The weekend's just around the corner. After visiting the HCP last week for the SPIN Party, we realized just how little we visit this art space, considering all the great programs they offer. Like First Tuesday! Yes, we are THAT excited it's Tuesday. First Tuesday provides an opportunity for local photographers and media-based artists to share their work......