We'll start May out with a new Band 'best of' Poll. This time around, we'll pick another critical favourite that is sure to bring up plenty of thought and selection. This time we're choosing Queen as the topic of discussion. The same old rules apply: pick out the best album (in your estimation) of Queen's career catalogue, offer up al the commentary you want, and sent your choice to the provided link, The Best of Queen.

We'll let it run for a few weeks (depending on popularity of the contest) and then we'll count the selections and provide the top-down list. Always fun.

I tend to not run my mouth very much when we do these polls and so you get a break from that noise. Lucky you.

Now, there is some bad news for which I apologize. The news level has been quite weak all weak as it was. You'd think that my absence would have left me with a large inventory of notes, but it really didn't. I do have a few items but they can easily wait for a fuller post on Wednesday. In the meantime, think about the Poll and deliver us your choice.

We have two reviews for you today that include the 2CD ambient weave from Steve Roach. The new album is called Dynamic Stillness. Douglas Bice, a TAP contributor, adds in a review of the Revolting Cocks' latest album, Sex-O Olympic-O. We have a minor change that will take effect over the month of May. We will cease putting our main reviews down below where you normally find them. Instead, we will use this space to link you to those. We will then use the original space for small reviews. We get quite a few albums that we'd like to review but have little time to devote to all of them. that space will allow us the ability to provide some of those as well as any other additional things we might add into them. Just so you know.

We'll be back on Wednesday with a few reviews and some notes, small or not. See you then!

Carina Round is getting ready to release her DD-only EP called Things You Should Know and she wanted you to have a remix of a track from this new EP due on May 12. Just click on the link of the song title to stream "Backseat - Remix", or right-click to download.

Hip-O Select, in conjunction with Motown, will release a 2CD Expanded edition of then popular Cooleyhighharmoney album by Boyz II Men on May 26.  This set features re-sequencing that returns the album to the original sequence order, putting the '93 bonus cuts at the END of the original album.  In addition, a second disc gathers remixes, most not found on their The Remix Collection (1995), and two remixes not released in the US of “Under Pressure.”  Plus, there are two newly discovered tracks from those sessions that are included as well.  For fans of Cooleyhighharmony (1991), this is a thrill acquisition.

Hip-O Select with Polydor will release The Singles, Volume Seven (1970-1972) for James Brown.  This 2CD/39-track set is slated for release on May 26.

Universal Motown and Custard Records will release the S/T debut album for Crash Kings on May 26.  You can listen to the band at their MySpace page.

As noted in our pages before, Fantasy Records will release two Creedence Clearwater Revival albums on May 26.  One is a collection of their cover tunes recorded throughout their stabilized original lineup career.  That album collection is called Creedence Clearwater Revival Covers the Classics, and will include songs like “The Midnight Special,” “Suzie Q,” “I Put a Spell on You,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” and others.  The second is a re-mastered reissue of their 1970 Live album, The Concert. 

Verve Forecast will release the debut album of Elizabeth and The Catapult called Taller Children on LP format with a coupon for a DD of the tracks.  One of the songs is a re-recording of Leonard Cohen's “Everybody Know.”  Hear the band at their MySpace page.  The LP is scheduled for May 26.

Trini Lopez will be featured in an upcoming PBS special called Trini Lopez Presents The Latin Legends.  To honour this event, Fuel Records will release a 15-track collection called El Immortal, which will feature 11 new songs and 4 bonus 'best of' tracks including a new version of “Sugar Sugar” in Spanish.  This is released on May 26.

Universal will release the new Marilyn Manson album (reuniting with Twiggy Ramirez) on May 26.  The new album is called The High End of Low and will be released in standard CD (with 15 tracks), and a 2CD Special Edition with six bonus tracks that include a Teddy Bears remix of “Arma...Geddon.”

Fania Records is reissuing a re-mastered Puente in Percussion (1956) by Latin master, Tito Puente.  The album is slated for May 26. Remember that on May 12, Fania will also release the 2CD Volume 4 of The Complete '78s (1949-1955) for Tito Puente. Lots of Puente coming your way this month.

A reasonably priced 'best of' is being issued for The Rembrandts on Fuel Records, planned for May 26.  This 14-track album is being called Choice Picks.

If you're a Primal Scream (UK) fan, then know that Rhino will be releasing the band's 2008 UK release, Beautiful Future, in DD format ONLY. You can download your copy on iTunes now with a bonus song.

Eagle Rock is releasing a 2CD collection of assorted Rory Gallagher tracks, live and studio. The album is called Crest of a Wave: The Best of Rory Gallagher and is planned for July 7.

Eagle Rock will also release a Live title from Ted Nugent called Motor City Mayhem in CD/DVD/BD (Blu-ray) formats, all on June 30.

We understand that Universal will make a Box available for ALL 14 of the upcoming Rolling Stones Remasters. Watch for that.

Roadrunner Records plan to release Love is Gone by Dommin, scheduled for July 14.

Ambient music is a set apart genre not normally visited byu the average Rock fan. It requires more than the usual involvement but can yield multiple satisfying results. Steve Roach has been making quality ambient works for decades. This 2CD Dynamic Stillness is his latest interpretation and is worth the investigation.

Sweet is a bot of a unique band having worked within the boundaries of so many styles, and finding success in several of them. Hard Rock, Pop, Glam, they did it all. This 2CD Anthology collects all of the great Sweet tunes with some bonus stuff thrown in to make this set one to have. Action: The Sweet Anthology is classic Rock in its most interesting form.

The female-fronted Orchid Thieves hails from the UK (don't confuse them with the Canadian and NYC bands of the same name variations), where it currently delivers it's brand of Rock not unlike The Pretenders except with stronger vocals. The music is reminiscent of an earlier time and yet they remain very relevant to the kind of emerging musical style that it coming from the always fertile musical climate of the UK. I highly recommend them to you. I am providing links to their Facebook page and their MySpace page, where you should find plenty of music to enjoy from this new band. Soon, they will release their debut album. We hope that they will do well. You can also follow their Twitter feeds.

Check out their posted songs, especially "After Tomorrow." They will be releasing an EP in a few months.