Talking about different, Beck’s new album is sheet music. “Singer/songwriter Beck is coming out with a new album in December, but it isn’t being released in MP3, CD or vinyl form. Instead, it will be a book of sheet music in which the buyer can play his or her own version of the 20 new songs. Called Beck Hansen’s Song Reader, an announcement on his website describes it as “an experiment in what an album can be at the end of 2012,” and says that, “Bringing them to life depends on you.”

Buzz Track: Dance

Mark Russell, a singer-songwriter is building a buzz. His songs have been featured on MTV shows “Warren the Ape” and the hit reality program “The Real World: New Orleans”. Mark has also been featured on AOL/Cambio, The Huffington Post, and CW’s nationally syndicated morning show The Daily Buzz. He has shared the stage with the Jonas Brothers, Hanson, Avril Lavigne, John McLaughlin and many more. His upcoming shows can be viewed on facebook.

Contact: jaasst@wegmusic.com

Buzz Track: Run

18 Year old singer Alus has released a new video for the song Run. She is currently finishing her EP with producer Shaun Bless of the Soul Diggas who has worked with Missy Elliott, Diddy, Beyonce, and Keyshia Cole.

From a suburban town in New Jersey, Alus grew up with a strong connection to music. Her musical bloodline runs deep. Her grandmother, a Juilliard graduate, was once a renowned musician in the Violinaires, a group of violinists that regularly performed with Frank Sinatra’s The Rat Pack. Alus has sung the national anthem for nationally televised professional boxing matches and for the prosoccer team D.C. United. She lists influences as Billie Holiday, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Pat Benatar, Aretha Franklin, Elton Jon, and Mariah Carey.

Contact: anthony.grandreve@gmail.com

Buzz Track: Hearts

The Mean Season, a female fronted indie rock trio that hails from DC just self released an EP that consists of catchy indie rock songs that will no doubt find themselves on TV episodes.  My favorite track is Hearts while Black Tie Affair gets second. The band will be performing the east coast the next several days:

8/9 Philadelphia, PA @ The Level Room
8/10 Red Bank, NJ @ Jack’s Music Shop
8/10 Garwood, NJ @ Crossroads
8/11 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall

Contact: themeanseasonband@gmail.com

On August 3, 1987, Def Leppard put out an album that took three years, three producers and an estimated $5 million to complete. Oh, and their drummer lost his arm. Behold, the miraculous story of “Hysteria.” (Billboard)

Billboard gives a breakdown of each track as Def Leppard, ‘Hysteria’ turns 25, when rock ruled the world. Even though pop is on the top of charts today, still, very few records deliver single after single. But Hysteria did, and the band grew in popularity after each single released. Read more here.