We have several things for today.  First off, our Alice Cooper Best of Band Poll hasn't jumped out of the gates as much as I would have liked or even expected it to.  We have a very small handful of selections that I hope will pick up during its two week run.  But, normally, I get quite a bit over the Poll's first few days of introduction.  Consequently, I now expect the Poll to be very short on responders.  I understand that Alice Cooper wasn't everyone's style, but I expected there would be a greater interest than is being shown.  Regardless, this is your chance (if you haven't voted yet) to provide a note championing your favourite AC album.  Continue to send your selections to Alice Cooper Best of Band Poll.

Second thing.  June 10 will be the last post until we get back from a much needed vacation.  Our new post date after June 10 will be June 24.  This is a slow period and so there is likely not much that we'll miss.  However, I will be receiving email and do have a Twitter client on my phone.  If something significant comes up, and it often does, I'll be posting on Twitter.  You can either sign up if you haven't already for our Twitter feeds or you can come back here and read the Twitter feed that we run at the bottom of this section for any news that we might post.

Now, here's an important request tied into that “mini-disappearance” from June 12-June 23.  I will find myself in San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver over those dates and was hoping that some of you can point me out to some notable and great record shops, particularly those which stock new/used LPs.  Especially those that have a wide selection and are typically designated for collectors.  It would be a great way for me to pick up on some cool music, especially LPs that I'm missing.  Send me email and let me know about those locations.

Today, we're happy to bring to you Mark Squirek's review of Together Through Life, the newest album from Bob Dylan.

We also have another round of Great Album Covers, a feature you're all enjoying judging by your emails.  There are plenty more coming up, trust me.  And if you have your own and haven't yet submitted them, by all means do so at the mail link.  You have to have one in mind!

We have a new set of album covers from our recently launched Great Album Covers Poll. You can still vote for your favourites here and get them posted so that the rest of us can enjoy them. Here's the next three email lists:

• Cheap Thrills -  Big Brother and the Holding Co. The R. Crumb artwork is great.
  Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake – Small Faces
  Weasels Ripped My Flesh – The Mothers - Steve A.

Without a doubt, my number one pick of all time:  King Crimson’s “In  The Court Of The Crimson King”. When I was a sophmore in college we painted the “face” on our dorm suite wall.   -  Gary G.

• King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King

• Best:  Asia's Alpha (1983) by  Roger Dean - Jimmy R.

Are you kidding? Nothing exudes Rock n Roll more than the cover of disenfranchised youth seen on Quadrophenia. Rock 'n Roll, right?! - Tom B.

• The Who - Quadrophenia

The upcoming VH1 Storytellers featuring David Bowie, scheduled for July 14, will be a CD/DVD set that adds in an additional four performance clips not not seen in the original aired feature.  Those include “Survive,” “I Can't Read,” “Always Crashing in the Same Car,” and “If I'm Dreaming My Life.”  This is a nice Bowie library add-in.

The new album by stellastarr* named Civilized, will be ready to buy on July 7.  But you can now pre-order a special Limited Edition album and get extras included like an autographed CD, a poster, and a T-shirt.  You can download a free track off the upcoming album by visiting PureVolume.  The song is called “Freak Out.”  Check out the band at their MySpace site.

Spinefarm Records (UK) will release the next album by Chthonic (pronounced thonic, a take-off of the uniquely formed Lovecraft deity name, Cthulu) called Mirror of Retribution.  Chthonic is what is referred to by the band as Asian Extreme Metal, which might be interesting.  Their album is scheduled for August 10.  I'm going to sample the band and see what Asian Extreme Metal sounds like.  I've included a promo shot of the band.  Note that Doris Yeh (bassist) has appeared on the cover of FHM Asia and is also an actress, having currently finished filming a new police film, Tears.  In addition, Chthonic has played at OzzFest (2007).

New West Records will release the new Drive By Truckers album, Live From Austin, TX, on July 7.

Fat Possum Records will reissue three Al Green titles on vinyl LP that include Let's Stay Together; Greatest Hits; and I'm Still in Love With You. All three LPs will be released on June 23.

To let you know, TAP reader, William M., has alerted to Deluxe Edition releases coming in the UK for Black Sabbath titles, Master of Reality, and the S/T Black Sabbath. These are expected on June 29, and seem to be expected on vinyl LP as well. Here's a few links for you to investigate: Master of Reality, Black Sabbath.

Vanguard Records will release the upcoming new Robert Cray Band called This Time, scheduling for August 11.

Verve Records has Live in Italy by Zucchero on the calendar for July 14.

Leon Russell Records will release The Best of Hank Wilson by Leon Russell, planning for June 23.

Sugar Ray will have their latest album, Music For Cougars, released on CD and DD (Digital Download) formats on July 21.

Cantora Records will release Time to Pretend by MGMT on July 7.

Metal band, August Burns Red will release their latest album, Constellations, on July 14.  This Solid State Records title will be issued in CD and LP formats.

Tooth & Nail Records will release the 7th album from Project 86 called Picket Fence Cartel, scheduled for July 14.  Tooth & Nail will also crank out the indie-pop Popular Mechanics from Surrogate on the same date.

Bluegrass guitarist, Bryan Sutton will release his next album, Almost Live, via Sugar Hill Records, on July 14.

Anyone who has played any of Ensemble Studios' immensely popular Halo games will likely note that the expansive music, which elevates the play factor, is no different than the soundtracks attached to film.  They are there to enhance the experience and to lead you through a variety of anticipated experiences, often memorably.  The Halo Wars soundtrack, so effectively scored by Stephen Rippy, is a 2-disc collection that includes not only the 25 tracks of in-game music that provide the majestic sounds (and yes, Rippy's pieces are often majestic) but it also adds a bonus DVD to the package for more value. ****

This Austin, TX band by way of Dayton OH, has released their third album on Fat Possum Records in January of this year. Named The Mountain, it contains an exhilarating blend of styles to make this one of the more exciting albums of the year. We highly recommend you try Heartless Bastards out by sampling music at their MySpace page.