
System of a Down has moved into the mixing stage on its "Mesmerize/Hypnotize" project, two CDs that will be released several months apart.
The group is mixing the albums with Andy Wallace, who also mixed System's multi-million selling album "Toxicity."
Though no release date has been set, "Mesmerize" will likely surface this spring, according to the group's publicist. "Hypnotize" will follow six months later.
The Recording Academy--the organization behind the annual Grammy awards--has teamed with Capitol Records to release a compilation CD that "encompasses some of the year's best music and features nominated songs and artists from several major categories," according to a press release.
Among the artists whose material appears on the 21-track set are: Black Eyed Peas , Green Day, Ray Charles with Norah Jones, Usher, Kanye West, Maroon 5, U2, Gretchen Wilson and Beastie Boys. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the album will benefit music-related charities, including the Academy's MusiCares Foundation and the Grammy Foundation.
The album is due in stores on Feb. 1; the 47th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony takes place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, and will air on CBS.
Stevie Wonder , Lionel Richie Lou Rawls, Joss Stone and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds are among the artists who will appear on a televised tribute to renowned songwriter/composer/producer Quincy Jones . The previously taped event, which took place at Hollywood's Kodak Theater, will air as a four-hour special on Jan. 8-9; the program is syndicated nationally on BET and Super Station WGN, according to a press release.
The Chemical Brothers will release a new album titled "Push the Button" on Jan. 25. The set is the follow-up to 2002's "Come With Us."