NEWS: VH1 Classic's Matzo & Metal

As Passover winds to a close, I hope all of you caught VH1 Classic's Matzo & Metal. Besides retelling the story of the Jews exodus from Pharaoh's land in its own unique fashion with Popsicle stick characters, the special also featured a Seder with a variety of Jewish metal icons. Among the attendees were Anthrax's Scott Ian, Twisted Sister's J.J. French and Mountain's Leslie West. The host was Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider  (who is only half-Jewish, for the record) and the show was sponsored by the kosher winery Manischewitz.

Those who missed the show can catch repeats this Sunday at 7am and 7pm on VH1 Classic.

The Popsicle stick animations were created by Hornet diector Aaron Stewart.

SHOT: LB Shortbus - Cary Heckman, director

Remember making fun of kids who rode the shortbus to school? Well, you're going to be very jealous when you see what you were missing out on.  This is the debut video from Long Beach Shortbus, which features members of Long Beach Dub Allstars.

artist: Long Beach Shortbus
song: "California Grace"
label:  Skunk 
director(s): Cary Heckman
production co: 1171 Production Group/MNJ Productions

NEWS: Hammer & Tongs/Garth Jennings - The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Longtime music video director Garth Jennings of Hammer & Tongs makes his big screen directorial debut with The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, which opens tomorrow. This film version of the Douglas Adams cult novel stars Martin Dent of the hit BBC show The Office, Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel and John Malkovich.

Garth Jennings has directed videos for Blur, Badly Drawn Boy, R.E.M., Beck, Supergrass and many other groups. He is repped by Anonymous Content for music videos.

SHOT: Bizarre - Anthony Ernest Garth, director

D12 member Bizarre will launch his solo album Hanni Cap Circus with a video that features D12 cohort/track producer Eminem. A Making Of special with Bizarre and Eminem was also shot. Air details to be confirmed.

artist: Bizarre
song: "Rock Star"
label:  Sanctuary
director(s): Anthony Ernest Garth
production co: A Common Thread

SHOT: Augustana - Douglas Avery, director

Douglas Avery spent five days on the road to capture footage both for Augustana's video "Stars And Boulevards" and the DVD side of their upcoming DualDisc release.

artist: Augustana
song: "Stars And Boulevards"
label:  Epic
director(s): Douglas Avery
production co: Villains

SHOT: Alkaline Trio - Mr. Hahn, director

Linkin Park member Mr. Hahn directed a performance video for Alkaline Trio.

artist: Alkaline Trio
song: "Time To Waste"
label:  Vagrant 
director(s): Mr. Hahn
production co: Villains

SHOT: Kottonmouth Kings - Bryan Heiden, director

artist: Kottonmouth Kings
song: "King Klic"
label:  Suburban Noize 
director(s): Bryan Heiden
production co: Slow Train

SHOT: Ricky Fante - Wendell Scott Green, director

artist: Ricky Fante
song: "Shine"
label:  Virgin 
director(s): Wendell Scot Greene
production co: YLP
rep: RW Media

SHOT: Coldplay - Mark Romanek, director

Coldplay will debut their new album X&Y with a video for  "Speed Of Sound," directed by Mark Romanek. The video was shot on April 22 and 23 at Sony Studios in Culver City, CA. Early word is that the clip will feature  performance  in front of  a giant bank of high-tech LED bars.

Romanek's celebrated videography includes Jay-Z "99 Problems" and Johnny Cash "Hurt."

artist: Coldplay
song: "Speed Of Sound"
label: Capitol
director(s): Mark Romanek
production co: Anonymous Content

NEW RELEASE: The Starting Line "Bedroom Talk"

The Starting Line "Bedroom Talk" Geffen
Corey Petrick, director
Steven Johnson, producer
Factory Features, production company
Pedro Castro, DP
Ken Mowe, editor
Description: Starting Line singer Ken Vasoli tries to put his knowledge of the birds and the bees to some practical use in this video for "Bedroom Talk." After knocking on a few wrong doors at a house party, he finally finds his girlfriend and lets her do as she pleases. Band performance takes place in a wooden box that rests beside the girl's bed .

NEW RELEASE: Mariah Carey "It's Like That"

Mariah Carey "It's Like That" Island Def Jam
Brett Ratner, director
Ron Mohrhoff, producer
HSI, production company
Description: Mariah Carey turns heads at a swanky masquerade ball she attends with track producer Jermaine Dupri. Especially taking a shine to Mariah are a masked gentleman and a mysterious, yet clearly evil boss figure played Eric Roberts. Look for the story to fully play out in the pop star's next video (also directed by Brett Ratner).

SHOT: Tony Yayo - Gil Green, director

artist: Tony Yayo featuring 50 Cent
song: "Seductive"
label: G Unit/Interscope
director(s): Gil Green
production co: Partizan
rep: Milk & Honey

MTV ALERT: Adds for Week of 5/02/05

MTV Adds:
50 Cent "Just A Lil Bit" (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope)
Audioslave "Be Yourself" (Epic/Interscope)
Baby Bash & Akon "Baby I'm Back" (Universal)
Backstreet Boys "Incomplete" (Jive/ZLG)
Cassidy "I'm A Hustla" (Full Surface/J)
Good Charlotte "We Believe" (Epic)
Simple Plan "Untitled" (Lava)
System of A Down "B.Y.O.B." (Columbia)

MTV2 Adds:
50 Cent "Just A Lil Bit" (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope)
Da Back Wudz "You Gonna Luv Me" (Major Way)
The Game "Dreams" (G Unit/Aftermath/Interscope)
Mike Jones "Back Then'" (Asylum/Warner Bros.)

MTVU Adds:
Dave Matthews Band "American Baby" (RCA)
Reggie And The Full Effect “Get Well Soon” (Vagrant)
The Starting Line “Bedroom Talk” (Geffen)
Tegan & Sara "Walking With A Ghost" (Vapor/Sanctuary)

FUSE ALERT: Adds for Week of 5/02/05

FUSE Adds:
System of A Down "B.Y.O.B." (Columbia)
Simple Plan "Untitled" (Lava)
Reggie And The Full Effect “Get Well Soon” (Vagrant)
Good Charlotte "We Believe" (Epic)

Oven Fresh Adds:
Rilo Kiley "Portions For Foxes" (Warner Bros.)
The Shins "Pink Bullets" (Sub Pop)
The Honorary Title "Everything I Once Had" (Doghouse)
Seether "Remedy" (Wind-Up)

VH1 ALERT: Adds For Week Of 5/02/05

VH1 Adds:
Backstreet Boys "Incomplete" (Jive/ZLG)
Gavin DeGraw "Chariot" (J Records)
Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes "Don’t Cha" (A&M/Interscope)

BET ALERT: Adds for Week of 5/02/05

BET Adds:
Mashonda "Back Of The Club" (J Records)
Snoop Dogg "Up & Downs/Bang Out" (Geffen)
Trey Songz featuring Twista "Gotta Make It" (Atlantic)

Rap City Adds:
Juelz Santana "Mic Check" (Diplomats/Koch)
Mike Jones "Back Then'" (Asylum/Warner Bros.)
Slim Thug featuring Jazze Pha "Incredible Feelin' " (Geffen)
Snoop Dogg "Up & Downs/Bang Out" (Geffen)

NEWS: Bruce Springsteen DualDisc Out Now

While a Bruce Springsteen album release is certainly news in and of itself, the Columbia release of Devils & Dust is especially notable (and not just because it's a great album).

Devils & Dust is available exclusively in the DualDisc format. These 2-sided discs boast an audio CD on one side and a DVD on the other. Springsteen's DVD side boasts 5.1 surround and stereo mixes of the album plus five exclusive solo performances filmed by Partizan director Danny Clinch.

Devils & Dust is in stores today.

DVD ALERT: VH1 Storytellers

Rhino has released DVD versions of two acclaimed VH1 Storytellers episodes...

VH1 Storytellers: Alanis Morissette spotlights a 1999 performance of such greatest hits as "Hand In My Pocket," "Thank U" and "You Oughta Know." VH1 Storytellers: Natalie Merchant contains a 1998 performance and a setlist that mixed both her solo work and tracks from her old band, 10,000 Maniacs.

Both discs feature liner notes by VH1 executive Bill Flanagan,5.1 surround mixes and previously unseen bonus tracks. The DVDs are in stores today.

VH1 Storytellers have hosted many great performances since its 1996 debut. Some of the ones that have not yet debuted on DVD include Elvis Costello (1996), Paul Simon (1997), R.E.M (1998), Tom Waits (1999) and most recently: Green Day and Bruce Springsteen.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE: Lalaine "I'm Not Your Girl"

Reprise Records artist Lalaine on the set of her video "I'm Not Your Girl" with Merge @ Crossroads directing team Smith N' Borin (repped by Labuda Management). For full details click on the Video Static entry on Lalaine's "I'm Not Your Girl".

SHOT: Emiliana Torrini - David Lea, director

artist: Emiliana Torrini
song: "Heartstopper"
label: Rough Trade
director: David Lea
production co: Passion Pictures