# Green Day is creating a `soundtrack to life'..

NEW YORK – In an era where downloaded singles far outpace the sales of complete CDs, putting out a concept album seems a quaint, if not futile, way to present new music.

If any act can restore the luster of the complete album, it may be Green Day: Their "21st Century Breakdown," released this spring, continues in the tradition of the band's Grammy-winning "American Idiot" album, with key characters, political themes and compelling story that is told track by track, with elaborate artwork to further illustrate its themes.

"There are three different acts to this record," says bassist Mike Dirnt, speaking in a cellar of a hotel. "There's a lot of content. We almost treated it like a vinyl record, therefore giving more for people to hold on to and call their own."

Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong compares the process to writing a novel.

"You try to come up with more creative ways that the songs relate to each other, and they sync back into each other," says Armstrong, the band's chief vocalist, guitarist and lyricist. "That makes a listener want to go back and investigate an album."

Plenty of fans have initiated at least a first probe of the album: It's sold over 700,000 copies since its May release, and thousands get an in-depth examination nightly with the band's current nationwide tour.

The group's last CD, 2004's "American Idiot," not only sold millions of records, it also won the group two Grammy Awards, including "Record of the Year" honors in 2006 for the brooding song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." A critical triumph, the album, one of the first major musical statements critical of the Iraq war and the presidency of George W. Bush, was a departure for the punk-rock band, which got their start with their irreverent 1994 debut, "Dookie."

"American Idiot" expressed the frustrations of many by painting a nuanced picture of modern-day suburbia, told through the eyes of characters so rich that it's being developed into a musical to debut in the San Francisco area in October.

"I thought 'American Idiot' had a lot in common with something like 'Rocky Horror Picture Show,'" Armstrong says. "It would great to see a film made out of it someday too."

Some have described "21st Century Breakdown" as "American Idiot, Part II" because both use recurring players to tell a larger story and tap feelings of national malaise and despair. But the band sees the album as a continued evolution instead of a sequel.

"`American Idiot' gave us that opportunity where we have a lot of people listening, and we were able to just stretch further than we ever had with that record, and this time, we wanted to take it two, three steps even further than that," says Armstrong.

One of the steps the band took away from "American Idiot" was choosing a new producer. They considered a few high-profile names, even meeting with Linda Perry before selecting Butch Vig to guide the recordings instead of longtime producer Robert Cavallo.

"We were just moving in a different direction from Rob, and at the end of the day, Butch has kind of always been on our short list for producers," says Dirnt. "We always knew with his track record that he has the skills to pull it off ... after we met him, it was just a matter of realizing this guy is a great guy."

Vig says the band knew they were under "immense pressure" for the follow-up to "American Idiot": "It's something we didn't really talk about but we all knew we were there," he explains. "It was a difficult record to make."

What emerged is an album that explores a variety of topics sometimes considered too weighty for radio, from painkiller addiction to religious hypocrisy to anti-war sentiments. But the group insists they haven't shaken off their "Dookie" roots entirely. "I don't think that we're some kind of lefty political band," Armstrong insists.

"Our records are emotional roller coasters," he adds. "I don't think that they're a particularly preachy kind of album or anything like that — I think they kind of embody an emotion and confusion."

Summing up Green Day's sound, drummer Tre Cool, who was mainly quiet during this interview, says simply: "It's a soundtrack to life."

# Avril Lavigne ready to "mellow out and sing"..

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Get ready to hear a softer side of Avril Lavigne.

The Canadian pop singer tells Billboard.com that she's taking a more serious, stripped-down approach to her fourth studio album, tentatively slated for a November release on RCA.

"A lot of the songs are mainly the acoustic and my vocal," says Lavigne of the as-yet-untitled project. "It's a lot different from anything I've done before. It's not a pop-rock record. This is more about emotion and feeling."

Lavigne's husband (and Sum 41 frontman) Deryck Whibley produced eight of the album's projected 12 tracks, half of which she wrote by her herself. For the other half, she's been working with former bandmate Evan Taubenfield and songwriter/producer Butch Walker, who co-penned her 2004 single "My Happy Ending."

"I'm kind of just keeping it in the family with all of my close friends," says Lavigne, whose last album, 2007's "The Best Damn Thing," has sold 1.6 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "I started this record off really slow, just writing songs at home on my piano. I didn't work with a ton of people this time."

The album's first single hasn't been confirmed, but the 25-year-old Lavigne says it could "possibly" be a song that emerged from the TV commercial for her new Black Star fragrance, which will go on sale in the U.S. this fall.

"It's the first song that I recorded for this record," she says. "It's kind of like a lullaby." The ethereal, piano-driven chorus originally was written just for the ad, but Lavigne has since decided to turn it into a full recording.

Another track on the album, "Darlin,'" was written when Lavigne was 15 years old and still unsigned. "It was probably the second song I (ever) wrote; I was trying to figure it all out," she recalls. "It's really special to me."

The more mature-sounding "Everybody Hurts," meanwhile, boasts weighty guitar riffs, impressive vocals and comforting lyrics like "It's okay to be afraid." Lavigne describes the track as "different -- but not different to stray away from who I am and what I am."

Lavigne is also keeping busy these days with Abbey Dawn, a juniors clothing line that sells at Kohl's stores in the U.S. "The design process has been crazy," says Lavigne, who conceptualizes all the items in the line herself. "I just love clothes and colors and patterns. I'm very visual and very hands-on." The singer will launch the line in Canada next month and hopes to bring it to Europe and Japan.

For now, though, Lavigne's primary focus remains her music. She expects to tour North America in February, and she won't be bringing any backup dancers on the road this time. Instead, she'd like to keep the vibe of her live shows similar to that of the album.

"I want to do a cool theater tour in America because I feel it will really suit this record," she says. "I'm ready to go out there and just mellow out and sing."

# Mariah Carey, Diddy, Lil Wayne albums delayed..

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Some of the most highly anticipated albums of the summer have been delayed, including Mariah Carey's "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," Sean "Diddy" Combs' "Last Train to Paris" and Lil Wayne's rock and roll album "Rebirth."

Carey's "Memoirs," first slated for an August 25 release via Island Def Jam, will instead be available September 15, according to the Universal Music Group business-to-business website. Carey's new single, "Obsessed," is at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week.

Combs said via a video interview with MTV News released last week that his project has been delayed partially because it's " Jay-Z time and Drake time -- enjoy those guys. But the 'Train' is coming, baby," he warned. "Get your ticket, you don't want to be left out."

Lil Wayne's label publicist confirmed to Billboard.com that the album's release date has been moved. A new date has not yet been scheduled. "Rebirth" was last slated for a June 23 street date.

In addition, singer Amerie's long-awaited return, "In Love & War," which originally was scheduled for an August 11 release, will be available September 8. The set's lead single, "Why R U," reached No. 62 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for the week ended July 26.

# Michael Jackson Theatrical Release Deal Close

Sources have confirmed to Billboard that a deal between the Michael Jackson Estate, AEG Live and Sony for a theatrical release of the Michael Jackson rehearsal footage from the ill-fated This Is It concerts could close today, though there are still some "unsettled terms" that are being negotiated. In fact, the deal is in such flux that it could shift to another studio by the end of the day. According to the source, Sony Music may co-invest with one of the film studios on this release, including Sony Pictures.

The source also says that Michael Jackson's father Joe Jackson's efforts in conjunction with promoter Leonard Rowe have "muddied the waters" in the Michael Jackson Estate and AEG's attempt to close a TV network deal for the presentation of the original This Is It production, created by Jackson and Kenny Ortega.

The This Is It special has been conceived as a tribute to MJ featuring Janet, The Jackson 5, and other major performers. The source says Joe Jackson has been shopping his own Jackson Family special on MJ's birthday on Aug. 29, which neither Janet Jackson nor the Jackson brothers have agreed to.

#Chris Brown Apologizes For Rihanna..

'I'm truly, truly sorry that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better,'

In a video that appeared online late Monday afternoon (July 20), Chris Brown has apologized publicly for the first time about the domestic altercation that took place between him and Rihanna earlier this year.

In the clip, obtained by MTV News, Brown, dressed in a red long-sleeve shirt with buttons on the front, spoke directly to the camera and apologized to his former girlfriend and his fans.

"I've told Rihanna countless times and I'm telling you today, I'm truly, truly sorry that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better," Brown said.

At the beginning of the two-minute clip, Brown explains that his attorneys advised him to not speak about the situation until the legal ramifications were settled. But Brown said that ever since the February incident, he's wanted to speak about the matter. The singer expressed his "deepest regret" over the fight and said he "accepts full responsibility" for the incident.

According to the police report, on the eve of the 2009 Grammy Awards, Brown and Rihanna engaged in an altercation that left the "Umbrella" star with facial contusions. Just last month, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault. The singer will attend anger-management courses, seek therapy and perform community labor as a result of his plea deal.

Toward the end of the apology, Brown continues to express remorse. The singer said up until the incident, he was living his life in a way that would make those around him proud. Through soul searching, he said, and help from his minister and mother, Brown intends to work on himself and gain forgiveness for his actions.

"I only can pray that you forgive me, please," he said to his fans.