Lots of interesting re-releases/best-ofs this week: The Jesus and Mary Chain, Anvil, The Stooges and Nirvana. Notice that I left out Pink Floyd. Don’t worry, I’m prepared to get nuked in the comments.

Worthwhile new stuff includes Mastodon, Rwake, Arthur Russell, Wilco and the CD release of The Mindeater from Bonnie “Prince” Billy and The Phantom Family Halo. (Note to Travis Lee: I am still planning to mail that to you. Sorry for being a bum.)

Also, let me know if the new Bill Frisell, Spank Rock, Craig Wedren, Dum Dum Girls or Blink-182 records are worth checking out. Just kidding on that last one. I know it’s top of the pops.

See this week’s new releases.

My Morning Jacket’s latest effort, Circuital, is definitely a return to form musically. That said, I didn’t dislike Evil Urges as much as some folks. The fact that the MMJ dudes never take themselves too seriously is my favorite thing about them, even — and especially — if it results in head-scratching lines like “peanut butter pudding surprise.”

I don’t know if Circuital is the album that people expected in place of Urges (I remember when folks said one more amazing album would put them on par with Radiohead and Wilco, before “Evil Urges” weirded them out), but it’s good.

All that said, another Tennessee Fire would’ve been fine with me.

:: Weird Al is Nostradamus, eh? I always felt like he was more of an Edward Cayce or Wolf Messing.

:: Poor Dolly Parton. Or should I say, poor Dolly Parton’s plastic surgeon. She doesn’t even look as much like Dolly Parton as a man impersonating her…

:: If you enjoy clubbing baby seals, you should reconsider your pastimes. Because if you don’t, I’m assuming Dillinger Escape Plan‘s Greg Puciato will end up breaking your clubbing hand. And your clubbing arm. And your clubbing leg. And your clubbing ribs.

:: Elijah Thomson of Everest discusses the music of, and his history with, Richard Swift. As he was reflecting on Swifty, the bizarre scope of his relationships and collaborations hit me. Jason Martin, Jeff Tweedy, Damien Jurado, Sean Lennon, Mark Ronson. Dude is all over the map. Oh yeah, also he’s good.

:: Limp Bizkit canceled a tour because “Limp is not an amphitheatre band,” says Fred Durst. Good call. I guess they’re busy getting on the frat boy date rape party scene, then.

:: Nothing like former editors of a lackluster magazine “writing” an oral history (i.e. recording people talking, then having their assistants transcribe it) of a lackluster TV channel to get you all excited. Amirite?

:: The insanely large metal death toll of the last year and some change keeps rising. One of Slipknot‘s few remaining founders, bassist Paul Gray, has died at the age of 38.

:: Random tracks that don’t suck:

:: So wait, there’s possibly an Andrew W.K. ARG? Buzzgrinderers, get crackin’.

:: Cream will never, ever get back together. Oh darn.

:: I’d much prefer Wilco the sandwich to Wilco the festival at this point…

:: Sellaband didn’t work out too well for Public Enemy. Not much of a surprise, considering Sellaband filed for bankruptcy in February.

:: Mmmm, pot roast.

:: Vinyl Collective has some more of those nifty notebooks with LP covers. Or at least their talking about them.

:: Just when I was starting to have a little more faith in the world, Chiodos reminded us all that they’re still around.

:: What’s the best way to prep for a reunion show cash grab a la Pavement (not complaining, though)? Release a greatest hits comp, of course. Thumbs up, Matador.

:: The best way to live-blog Vampire Weekend‘s new album is without actually listening to it. So The Decibel Tolls has a good handle on the situation in that case.

:: If you didn’t already think actor Christopher Lee was a bad ass (and why wouldn’t you, really?), his upcoming metal album should push you over the edge.

:: So we were wrong. Shat‘s next project didn’t end up being that split with Morrissey for Buzzgrinder Records, after all. They’ve got a full-length coming down the pipe instead.

:: If you don’t want to buy expensive sleeping pills to get some rest, but you still want to spend more money than you should on the solution, we have the answer.

:: Drivin N Cryin‘s The Great American Bubble Factory is either the best or worst album title I’ve heard in a while, but I honestly can’t decide. Thoughts?

:: One of the biggest deals we missed over the extended holiday weekend was the death of Vic Chesnutt from what appeared to be an intentional overdose of muscle relaxants. He will be missed.

:: Glenn Kotche, who helped Wilco make one good album, recently shared his top 10 o the year with Filter.

:: Dinosaur Jr.‘s J Mascis recently went to Amoeba Records, bought some stuff, then talked about it.

:: Speaking of dudes who wail on the guitar, Testament‘s Alex Skolnick — who I wish was related to Lewis Skolnick, but sadly isn’t — has some video guitar lessons floating around the internets. Go learn how to not suck. Then maybe you can move out of your parents’ basement. Or at least leave it on the weekends.

:: Who wants Minus the Bear tickets?

:: If you want the chick from Paramore to buy you a drink, she can legally do that now.

It’s pretty simple: Nels Cline = Lazy Jeff Tweedy

I have all the records, the vinyl, lithographs, Japanese singles, the documentary, the Wilco book, a fist full of ticket stubs… but I’m quitting cold turkey. Listening to the upcoming Wilco (The Album) streaming online — flowing from wilcoworld.net like a river of mediocrity — caused me to simply go numb. Sky Blue Sky was the same — boring. Where’s the pain, the frustration, the tension, the beautiful dissonance? Oh yeah, he just died.

Jay’s replacement only simulates abrasion much like jazz musicians play “outside of the box.” Jeff Tweedy needs a foil, someone to push him over the edge so he plays a horrible solo himself just to spite the guitarist.

Wilco is far too fat and happy. They are now akin to seventies soft rock and the awful jam bands that rose from those ashes. I just picture Jeff turning to the guys on stage and saying, “Let’s really open this one up!” Then noodling ensues for ten minutes while they all smile at each other in approval. They are phenomenal players… but who cares?

It’s no secret that we were pretty amped and hopeful about an At the Drive-In reunion when Cedric Bixler-Zavala spoke favorably about the possibility. Needless to say, it was a momentous day.

However, the following words from former ATDI guitarist, Sparta frontman and current Sleepercar frontman Jim Ward are a good bit less optimistic and enthusiastic than Bixler-Zavala’s statement. When asked about the chances of getting the band back together, here’s what Ward told Buzzgrinder via email:

I don’t think that I’ll be answering any questions or doing any interviews anymore, thank you very much. I haven’t got much to say about anything except with songs which I will continue to make and release — cheers… -jimward

In other words, Ward has nothing going on but Sleepercar and some solo work at the moment — and he aims to keep it that way.

Speaking of his latest endeavors, Sleepercar will be playing with Wilco June 17 in El Paso, Texas.

Sleepercar – Wasting My Time

So Many Dynamos has a new album, The Loud Wars, which comes out June 9. And not only did the band allow Buzzgrinder to stream the whole thing until Tuesday, but the guys were also kind enough to take over posting duties for the day. So the staff gets to sit at home and watch our stories.

Some of the best movies about rock bands are documentaries, others come from Hollywood. Here are a few you need check out.

Fugazi: Instrument – Directed by Jem Cohen
A documentary featuring a band with incredible dance moves and a steadfast DIY ethic. A must see for anyone who wants play music and tour.

See the rest of Griffin’s required van viewing.

After rumors flying around the internet, it has been confirmed that former Wilco member Jay Bennett has passed away at the age of 45. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

I had some interaction with Bennett over the last few months, and he was nothing but gracious and caring. I still stand behind my statement that Wilco was not a phenomenally great when Jay Bennett was not present.

I will miss him and his contributions.