Music: Chart Beat, It's a Love Beat

Band of Horses: But dogs think they're just bigger dogs...

This week's Billboard Top 200 sees Kid Rock's Rock n Roll Jesus installed in the firmament at number one, knocking Bruce Springsteen to Number 2. It's worth noting that Rock's sales numbers were on the low end even though this is his first turn at the top of the chart summit. Further down Puddle of Mudd refuses to dry out at number 27 with their hopefully (wistfully?) titled Famous. Yeah guys, maybe 15 minutes ago before nu metal went the way of the early 80's rockabilly revival. Sub Pop signees Band of Horses have a nice ride into the chart at 33 and you know Christmas is just around the corner when Mannheim Steamroller rolls in at number 48 with their latest holiday-themed opus.

Music: This Week's New Releases

The Fiery Furnaces: "Check the fridge Eleanor, there's a fresh batch of skronky synth-lines in there..."

This week has a bevy of indie releases to make your mouth water.

First up are the siblings in The Fiery Furnaces with Widow City on yet another new label for them, Thrill Jockey. The album is typically FF's -- in other words all over the place. It rocks hard though.

Band of Horses float Cease to Begin in on a cloud of weed and major personnel changes.

Jen Lekman's orchestral Swedishness returns with Night Falls over Kortedala.

Talent-light "rocker", "rapper", Tommy Lee hand-me-down boinker Kid Rock is back with the modestly titled Rock and Roll Jesus.

Ex Guided by Voices honcho Robert Pollard keeps the price of petroleum high with not one, but two new albums (which brings this years Pollard count up to 3...or maybe 4?).

Scout Niblett does her bleak singer-songwriter thing, aided by Steve Albini's recording and the warbling of Will Oldham on several tracks with This Fool Can Die Now.

Wolf Parade side project Sunset Rubdown strolls down the new release beach with Random Spirit Lover.

TV: MTV VMAs DOA

Britney -- rootsy of wig and meaty of bone: "You fellas shtay close..."

I didn't watch the MTV Video Music Awards. See, I figure if they won't play videos why should I watch their awards show. What expertise could they possibly have in this arena anymore? What are they -- YouTube? At this point MTV giving out awards for music videos is like ESPN giving out awards for architectural merit. That being said, news was made -- of the trashy and utterly ephemeral type. So far the round-up of reviews seems to be:

1) Britney stank. If you can't sing, at least learn to lip sync. More uncharitable have been the comments about her body. I think she actually looks good with a little tummy and if her "performance" wasn't so discombobulated she might have actually done some good for the ridiculous body image strictures that get shoved down people's throats. See the video while it lasts here .

2) Tommy Lee and Kid Rock had some sort of fight. It's not clear to me if this was over inflatable sex doll doppelganger Pamela Anderson, whether Mr. Lee or Mr. Rock has the more irrelevant career, or who has worse hygiene.

3) Kanye West is a big baby. He once again went on a verbal bender, this time against MTV and his loss in all five categories he was nominated in. Lighten up Kanye -- no-one takes these "awards" seriously.