plus: Twisted Sister [ tickets ] tribute, Michelle Branch [ tickets ] and others.

Various artists
“Ozzfest 2001: The Second Millennium” (Epic)

Marking this month’s end of the annual Ozzfest tour is "Ozzfest 2001: The Second Millennium,” containing acts from all three of the festival’s stages. Featured on the album is the previously unreleased Slipknot track "New Abortion," from the band's forthcoming album, "Iowa" (Roadrunner). (The release date of "Iowa" has been pushed back several times; as of press time, it is set for Aug. 28.)

Recorded live near the beginning of this year’s Ozzfest tour, the 16-track compilation--which was produced by Ozzy Osbourne [ tickets ]’s wife and manager Sharon Osbourne--also provides new versions of Linkin Park’s "With You," Papa Roach’s "Blood Brothers” and Marilyn Manson’s "Love Song," among other mainstage acts.

The second and third stages are well represented on the compilation as well, with Mudvayne’s "Death Blooms," Drowning Pool’s breakthrough hit "Bodies” and Nonpoint’s “What a Day” all included.

A limited-edition cover will be featured on the album’s initial shipment.

k.d. lang [ tickets ]
“Live by Request” (Warner Bros.)

Lang’s latest is her first live release, and it captures her performance last year for cable-television channel A&E’s “Live by Request." The 14-track offering contains songs culled from throughout Lang’s lengthy recording career, including her cover of Roy Orbison’s “Crying” and her own Grammy award-winning single “Constant Craving,” as well as material from last year’s “Invincible Summer.”

A streaming version of Lang’s “Live by Request” version of the “Invincible Summer” track “Summerfling” is available at the singer’s official website.

A&E will rebroadcast Lang’s “Live by Request” performance in late September/early October, according to her website.

Lang is currently on tour with Tony Bennett.

Grant-Lee Phillips
“Mobilize” (Zoe/Rounder)

The second solo release from the former Grant Lee Buffalo leader is a departure from “Ladies Love Oracle,” his 2000 solo debut. “Ladies Love Oracle” was self-released, and available exclusively through Phillips’ official website, Internet outlets and a handful of independent record stores.

“Mobilize,” meanwhile, is being released through Zoe--a subsidiary of Rounder Records--and will see much wider distribution. (The fact that R.E.M frontman Michael Stipe contributed photographs for the album’s liner notes also can’t hurt, either.)

Phillips' website features a streaming version of "See America," the first single from "Mobilize."

Phillips will mark the release of “Mobilize” with a tour that begins on Thursday night (8/16) in Colorado.

Various artists
“Twisted Forever” (Koch)

Eighties-era metal-meisters Twisted Sister still just wanna rock, and have inspired many other acts to do the same, as evidenced by this tribute CD that features covers of Twisted Sister favorites. Tracks include “I Wanna Rock” performed by Lit and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” performed by Joan Jett. Other acts appearing on the disc include Sevendust, Anthrax, Motorhead and Sebastian Bach.

Twisted Sister’s reunited five original members, meanwhile--led by frontman Dee Snider--contributed a cover version of AC/DC’s “Sin City” to the collection.

The reunited group will be signing copies of the new album at Long Island, N.Y., record store Slipped Disc Records in Valley Stream on Wednesday (8/15) at 6 p.m., according to Snider’s official website.

Michelle Branch
“The Spirit Room” (Maverick)

The debut album from singer-songwriter Michelle Branch features the current single “Everywhere,” which is No. 12 on Billboard’s latest Adult Top 40 singles chart. Branch will back the album by touring in the opening slot on Lifehouse’s September outing.

Other new releases:

54-40 “Casual Viewin’ USA” (Nettwerk)
Akinyele - “Anakonda” (Koch)
Amethystium - “Odonata” (Neurodisc/Priority)
Beautiful Creatures - “Beautiful Creatures” (Warner Bros.)
Bobby Broom - “Modern Man” (Delmark)
Jimmy Bruno Group - “Midnight Blue” (Concord Jazz)
Wild Child Butler - “Sho’ ’Nuff” (APO)
Jodie Christian Trio - “Reminiscing” (Delmark)
Popa Chubby - “How’d a White Boy Get the Blues” (Blind Pig)
Avishai Cohen and the International Vamp Band - “Unity” (Stretch)
Convoy - “Black Licorice” (Atlantic)
Joey DeFrancesco - “Singin’ and Swingin’” (Concord Jazz)
Paul deLay - “Heavy Rotation” (Evidence)
East West - “A Light In Guinevere's Garden” (Epic)
Kahil El’Zabar and Billy Bang - “Spirits Entering” (Delmark)
Scott Ellison - “Cold Hard Cash” (Burnside)
Jenny Evans - “Gonna Go Fishin’” (Enja/Koch)
Rick Ferrell - “Different Point of View” (DreamWorks)
First Choice - “The Ultimate Club Collection” (Right Stuff)
J Church - ““Meaty Beaty Sh--ty Sounding”” (Honeybear)
Doug James - “Blow Mr. Low” (Stony Plain)
Bill Jones - “Panchpuran” (Compass)
KaitO - “You’ve Seen Us” (Devil in the Woods)
Naoki Kenji - “Downtown Tokyo” (Water Music)
Praga Khan - “Mixed Up” (Antler Subway)
Alison Krauss & Union Station - “New Favorite” (Rounder)
Lifer - “Lifer” (Universal)
Alyth McCormack - “Edge” (Compass)
No One - “No One” (Virgin)
John Patitucci - “Communion” (Concord Jazz)
Lonnie Plaxico - “Melange” (Blue Note)
Primer 55 - “New Release” (Island)
Darryl Purpose - “A Crooked Line” (Tangible)
Sonny Rhodes - “A Good Day to Play the Blues” (Stony Plain)
Soundtrack - “Tortilla Soup” (Narada World)
Strike Anywhere - “Change Is a Sound” (Jade Tree)
Malachi Thompson - “Talking Horns” (Delmark)
Tight Bro’s from Way Back When - “Lend You a Hand” (Kill Rock Stars)
Vigilantes of Love - “Summershine” (Compass)
Various artists - “Cool Blue Rocks: Rock ’n’ Roll in the Bluegrass Tradition” (Sugar Hill)
Various artists - “Gifted: Women of the World” (Real World)