Neko Case was recently crowned "Sexiest Babe of Indie Rock" by Playboy.com "readers". The alt-country kid's wet dream spanked the other 8 ladies in the running, including Cat Power. What does this mean to you and me? Well, she's actually considering posing nude for Playboy. No kidding... In other Neko Case news, she will be doing a fair amount of touring this summer, whether it be with The New Pornographers or by her lonesome (or maybe it is with Her Boyfriends, that isn't too clear as of yet). Whoever she's playing with when she gets to your area, see the show. She can belt out a tune. And she's not hard on the eyes either.

The one and only Squarepusher will be playing a few shows in the States this summer for the first time in, well, a long time. Click "More" for the dates. He'll also be opening for Bjork at her two Brooklyn concerts in August.

Norwegian punk rock band Turbonegro have enlisted Spike Jonze to direct their next video, "Scandinavian Leather," which will also feature guest appearances by the cast of Jackass, so it's sure to be riotous.

The Roots, American Hi-Fi, Gov't Mule and others will perform at the first annual Coors Light Mountain Jam on August 30th in Golden, Colorado. The Roots are also planning to appear with Ben Kweller and the North Mississippi All Stars at the annual Springfest at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, set for May 16-17.

Published lyrics from (folk legend) Woody Guthrie will see the light of day on the fourth album from Boston punk outfit the Dropkick Murphys. Guthrie's daughter Nora gave the band permission to dig into the Guthrie archive for "Gonna Be a Blackout Tonight," the folk-verse-turned-punk-anthem that also gave the upcoming album its title, Blackout. Blackout, which will also contain a bonus five-song live DVD, is due June 10th.

Noise Ratchet has an ECARD up for your viewing pleasure and sending in promotion of their self-titled EP that hit stores this Tuesday, May 6th. See the Ecard here and snatch the tracklisting at the more.

The Second Annual Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge in Washington will feature my latest favorite, Kathleen Edwards, as well as Coldplay, the Flaming Lips and Jurassic 5.

Beth Orton has recorded a cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" for the soundtrack to How to Deal. The July 8th release will also include songs by the Flaming Lips, the Donnas, Liz Phair and the Music.

Since everyone rushed out to see Rob Zombie's "House of 1,000 Corpses" and it made a little bank, the Robster has signed a deal with Lion's Gate Films to write and direct a sequel to the dismal horror flick. Production is expected to begin in the fall. Who's gonna rush out and see the sequel?

A year ago, we reported that Lauryn Hill was at a house in Miami recording her follow-up to 1998's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Latest news: she's wrapping up her recording session now. Hill is producing the record herself, and hopefully will get her talented butt in gear on that album ASAP.

We told you loads of information about the new Weird Al album Poodle Hat, but it's just come up that "Couch Potato" - the Eminem parody - won't be the first single. Something about Eminem's management feeling like it would detract from his legacy as a hip-hop artist, though the song is still on the album. Regardless, check out this article for more, including an all too accurate pic of Weird Al as Eminem.

Ozzy Osbourne and pop daughter Kelly Osbourne are reportedly leaving Sony Music according to an article in People magazine. Wife and dictator Sharon Osbourne says this is "an opportunity to start fresh." The two outwardly musically inclined Osbournes might end up on a new label venture that ex-Sony record executive Tommy Mottola is starting up, but that has yet to be seen.

Those who are waiting with baited breath for the limpbizkit album will have to wait until September 2nd to pick up their copy. While frontman Fred Durst says they plan to have a single out (from their new material) before the Summer Sanitarium stint, the band is still in the process of recording. As of now the album is called Panty Sniffer. Expect that to change like 900 more times so the band stays in the public eye.

30 Seconds to Mars are pushing "Edge of the Earth" as their new single. You can check out the video (live footage, montaged with still photos of fans, and lots of insane Jared Leto hair) on their site, or click in the more for the Real Player and Windows Media links.

As you already know, Superdrag will be taking a break after four years of touring. Singer/songwriter John Davis posted a message on their webpage in order to set the record straight about the current state of the band. The band still has a couple of dates left before the end of the summer, then they will be working on a film for release on DVD and a book.

Brand New have posted another track, entitled "I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light," on their webpage from their upcoming new album Deja Extendu, which is due out June 17th.

P.O.D. and producer Howard Benson just entered a Los Angeles studio to begin work on the band's third album and frontman Sonny Sandoval is sure the as-yet-untitled disc will be out November 4th. The album will be P.O.D.'s first with guitarist Jason Truby; founding guitarist Marcus Curiel left the band in February.

Paul Westerberg will release a pair of albums this year, with a summer due date for the blues album Dead Man Shake planned under his Grandpaboy moniker, and a solo LP, Folker, due out by the end of the year. Westerberg is currently knotting up the loose ends on Come Feel Me Tremble, a film/DVD comprised largely of fan footage, documenting the singer/songwriter's solo tour in support of Mono and Stereo last year. The film will play in art house theaters and at film festivals before being released as a DVD, along with a soundtrack CD of all new and unreleased tracks.

Squarepusher will be at the Roskilde Festival the last week of June and also at the Quart Festival in Kristiansand, Norway the first weekend in July. Exact dates and more info will be told to you when we know that stuff.

Mogwai, whose new album Happy Songs for Happy People is due June 17th, have announced a big batch of happy tourdates. Click the more for a peek, although unfortunately the only U.S. dates are in NYC, LA, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Oh, and they redesigned their website.