Playlist: Tenacious D

It feels like ages since there was a new Tenacious D album. The last time we heard from the "D" was on the soundtrack to their highly under-appreciated epic film, 2006's The Pick of Destiny (and the followup DVD, The Complete Masterworks 2). On May 15, the duo will release their long awaited third album, Rize of the Fenix which, if history has already proven, will rock your head and socks off while leaving you on the floor laughing. With a new album in stores soon and the debut of the video for "To Be the Best" this week, Friday Playlist honors the visual excellence of JB and KG.

Mae Whitman's Sampler (March 2012 Mixtape)

Side A

1. Get to Know You by Mayer Hawthorne

2. Call Me Beautiful by Cheyenne Marie Mize

3. Crush by Sleigh Bells

4. Sick of You by Gwar

5. Risingson by Massive Attack

Side B

1. Lay My Head Down by Band of Skulls

2. For What It's Worth by The Cardigans

3. I've Been Loving You by Otis Redding

4. Snake Oil Saleman by Rocco DeLuca

5. Why You Fall by Jenny Owen Youngs

Playlist: Luther Campbell Edition (NFSW)

It is Friday at Hightower and Jones (as it is in the Eastern Hemisphere as well) and it time to celebrate the weekend in style and with classic videos with a post called Friday Playlist showcasing the visual arts of an artist. This week, let us celebrate (or to any teenage, horny males reading...drool over) the classiest of works featuring producer/rapper/jiggling butt afficianado Luther Campbell and 2 Live Crew. Having discovered 2 Live Crew at an early age, I can safely say that I went through puberty earlier than expected and learned more butt shaking than I would ever learn in my adult life. To you, Luke, I celebrate this Friday in your name and with dreams of a version of Miami that I will probably never experience. Granted, this is nowhere as awesome (or sexy) as Kristen Bell Mondays but with this collection of videos, I am certain that it is raunchier.

XXL 2012 Freshman Danny Brown Rips Throughout Chicago On March 30

Spin and Pitchfork listed XXX as one of their top releases of 2011. XXL recently listed him as part of their 2012 Freshman Class. Fader even referred to him as hip hop's most unique rapper and a promising underdog. This is all simply to say that Danny Brown is the best underground hip hop phenomenon that you probably are not listening to...at this moment, anyway.

El-P Releases New Single From New Album

Outside of guest appearances, mixtapes, compilation tracks, production work and various Pitchfork appearances, El-P has been in the studio preparing (and recently finishing) his forthcoming third solo album, Cancer for Cure. Five years after his sophomore release, I'll Sleep When You're Dead, the Brooklyn rapper will release the album on May 22 on Fat Possum. Last year, El-P released "Drones Over Bklyn" as part of the 2011 Adult Swim Singles Program to serve as a teaser for the new album. Today, another single from the album was released entitled "The Full Retard" was released which you can download here.

Enjoy The March Weather With These New Releases

The Mars Volta. The Shins. Bruce Springsteen. Iron Maiden. Madonna. March is issuing some heavy hitters to your local record store this month. Along with these releases are new recordings from Rocco DeLuca, Soulfly, Every Time I Die, Andrew Bird and, if you are interested, there is also a Katy Perry reissue. There is something for everybody so get out there and buy yourself some new music.

Video Graveyard

There have been very few videos that have caused an equal combination of hysterical laughter, embarrassment and confusion. In fact, I can safely say that there is really only one video. "Muscles" by Diana Ross is, without a doubt, the video that makes me loathe and enjoy all there is about 80's music videos. This Michael Jackson (why Jacko, why?) penned hit features Ross dreaming about scantily clad men surrounding her, doing cartwheels on her arm and just existing as 80's eye candy. Somehow, she manages to fly over one guy's body while he features some suburban landscape on top of him. Combine this with the glow of soft lighting and you will find one of the cheesiest videos ever made to the point of calling it laughably atrocious (so...it's like "Physical" with more skin and less mustaches). While I enjoy the camp value of this video, it also makes me embarrassed to have been born in the 80's and early 80's at that. Something tells me that future generations will find this video and think that all men were ripped, all women were surrounded these same men and everything we did was surrounded by a soft, fuzzy glow and smeared in petroleum jelly. Wait, I think that is my life now as I am totally ripped, glowing and half naked on a bed with Diana Ross right now. Even with that joke, I feel embarrassed. "Muscles," you won yet another round.