OK, so -- without much more ado...

August 24 is going to be one heck of a day for music.

Mike Watt & the Secondmen will release The Secondman's Middle Stand. 'Bout time, y'all.

Guided by Voices will release Half Smiles of the Decomposed, the final album of their storied career. (I tend to believe that Bob's had it with the GbV vehicle, but god knows what else will come of Circus Devils, Lifeguards, Acid Ranch, Airport 5, Go Back Snowball, The Soft Rock Renegades, Howling Wolf Orchestra, Hazzard Hotrods, Nightwalker, Lexo & The Leapers, or bands yet to be named. Tour shortly to follow, reportedly. Bet your ass I'll be there, wherever they get somewhat close. Watch out for me in Carrboro, Athens, Louisville, Birmingham, Memphis...)

And Steve Earle releases The Revolution Starts... Now. (Sheeya. If only.) But with song titles like, "F the CC," I can imagine that this one's going to be a barnburner. Hopefully this CD will take up where Jerusalem fell short.

And speaking of the revolution...