# 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.

#Tokio Hotel's New Album Due

Tokio Hotel's New Album Humanoid Due October 2:

Producer/songwriter David Jost shares details about the German quartet's next LP.

That's the day the German quartet will release their new album, Humanoid, according to producer/songwriter David Jost.

In a statement to MTV News, Jost said it's "now certain" the new TH album will be released October 2, and it draws influences from the world of science fiction — or at least frontman Bill Kaulitz does.

"Bill has already given a name for the new record: Humanoid. The word 'Humanoid' comes from the science-fiction language, meaning 'humanlike,' " the statement reads. "This word is pronounced differently in the English and German language but is written the same way in both languages. Bill wanted the new record to have only one name worldwide: Humanoid."

The actual release date for the album was posted on Tokio Hotel's official fan site.

Aside from the title and release date, not much else is known about Humanoid. In early 2009, production team the Matrix told MTV News that they had recorded eight songs with Tokio Hotel and that the material was "strong, anthem-y" stuff with a dark edge and "lots of guitars." It's not known if any of those songs will make the final cut of the album. According to multiple sources, Humanoid will be released in both German and English.

Just last month, snippets of two English-language tracks — "Dark Side of the Sun" and "Pain of Love" — hit the Net, both of which will reportedly be featured on Humanoid. Within hours, those snippets were removed, but they can be found on sites like YouTube.

#Linkin Park's Chester Bennington Gets 'Dark' With New Band

Chester Bennington Gets'Dark'With New Band,Dead By Sunrise

'There are songs about being in love and there's songs about hating people,' singer says.

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington has already described his Dead by Sunrise side project as being "really dark ... like post-apocalyptic 'Blade Runner' meets LSD," so he's not exactly afraid to talk about the rather dark period in his life that birthed his new band.

"I came up with the band name because in the beginnings of making this album, I was partying ... we'll call it partying. It wasn't much fun, but we partied a lot. And there was a lot of times where I was kind of in a really self-destructive place, and sometimes it felt like you weren't sure if you were going to make it to the next day," he explained. "The name kind of evolved from that lifestyle, and the title of the record, Out of Ashes, is kind of coming out of that self-destructive path I was on, and rising from the ashes, so to speak."

And so, like most of the songs on Ashes, "Crawl Back In" — for which Bennington recently shot a video in California's Vasquez Rocks Natural Park — is plenty dark: full of churning, burning, grunge guitars. But it's not pitch-black: Lyrically, the song details Bennington's slow climb back into the light — a climb that started with some serious self-discovery.

"It's a song about questioning your authenticity. I do that every once in a while; I wonder how many of my own thoughts are really my own, and how much influence do the people around me have on the person I am," he said. "There's a lot of that on the record. There's a very dark side [to it], and there's a very light side on it. There are songs about being in love and there's songs about hating people. It's a very strange juxtaposition. And that represents what had been going on in my life over the past couple of years — really great moments happening at the same time as these really terrible things were happening."

And, admittedly, most of those "really great" moments had to do with his other band, Linkin Park. And while Bennington is eternally grateful for all that LP — and their fans — have given him, he's also not afraid to push either away with Dead by Sunrise.

"I think that being in Linkin Park, our sound is so different from song to song and record to record that I really was forced to stop worrying about what I might think our fans want to hear, as opposed to just writing music that I like," he said. "I think that if you get into a place as an artist that is focusing on outside opinions of people you don't even know — like, 'What does the 15-year-old kid in Cleveland think of this song?' — I really don't know, and if I focus on that, I almost end up biting myself to ensure that I keep giving them what they want, and that's a dangerous place to be in.

"I don't want to be a caricature of myself, just kind of rewriting the same song over and over again, to get people to buy it," he continued. "I'd rather take a chance at doing something new and different and lose a few and gain a few rather than keep the same ones around. You can't make everybody happy."

And to that point, though Ashes will finally hit stores in September, Bennington isn't about to forget his Linkin Park duties anytime soon ... in fact, he's trying very hard to combine Dead by Sunrise with LP. Literally.

"I'm actually taking these guys out with me. [Linkin Park] is leaving for Europe and Japan, and Dead by Sunrise is going to be joining us on tour, and we're actually going to be jumping in the middle of LP's set, playing a few songs, then jumping out and letting LP finish out the set," Bennington said. "And that was actually an idea that was brought up by the guys in Linkin Park. I think it's going to be amazing. Exhausting, but amazing."

#Tokio Hotel Drummer Injured

Tokio Hotel Drummer Injured In Bar Fight In Germany

Gustav Schaefer was hit on the head with beer bottles, manager says.

Tokio Hotel drummer Gustav Schaefer was reportedly injured in a fight at a nightclub in Germany on Sunday.

According to the band's manager, Schaefer, 20, was injured at The Club in Magdeburg, his hometown. Police also confirmed the incident to German news site Bild.de.

"In one of Magdeburg's night clubs, a stranger smashed two beer bottles on the head of Gustav," the band's manager and producer, David Jost, said in a statement. "Gustav had to be treated in the hospital with 36 stitches. The police [are investigating] aggravated assault."

Jost's statement goes on to explain what happened between Schaefer and a group of guys after he began talking to a girl in the club. "All of a sudden some guys surrounded Gustav," he said. "One of them, who had a bald shaved head, started to aggressively pick on him. Suddenly another guy appeared; he hit Gustav straight in his face without warning.

"This started a physical argument between Gustav and the man who had hit him. Other guests of the club allegedly helped to pull the two apart from each other. The rowdy [man] took off and Gustav thought that that was it," the manager continued, "But the guy with the shaved head continued to insult him. Then the vicious attack happened. The second guy approached Gustav from behind on the right side and without warning smashed a beer bottle on Gustav's head from the side. The guy with the shaved head pushed Gustav back really hard."

Jost added that "while he was falling, a second beer bottle got smashed on Gustav's head. Gustav went right to the ground and the attackers fled. The guests in the night club became anxious. Gustav was bleeding insanely from his head and a bunch of people got him to the washrooms. Shortly after, the police and ambulance arrived and took the bleeding Gustav to the hospital."

In photos taken after the incident, it appears that Schaefer had received multiple stitches to several cuts on his forehead area.

"Despite his Tokio Hotel career, Gustav always tried his very best to keep as much as possible from his 'normal' life," Jost said. "Up to now, he has put a strong emphasis on not being accompanied by security personnel while privately going out in his hometown Magdeburg. Gustav is very much attached to his old friends and also to the overall life in his hometown."

#Blogger Who Leaked Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy Speaks

'I do apologize to Axl for that disrespect,' Kevin Cogill says.

Last year, music blogger Kevin "Skwerl" Cogill got into a bit of hot water when he posted tracks from the then-still-unreleased Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy on the music blog Antiquiet. What followed was a stranger-than-fiction story: The FBI stormed his home early in the morning, arrested him at gunpoint and put him on trial for piracy. On Tuesday (July 14), the legal fiasco finally ended. Though Cogill could have received as much as a year in jail and nearly $400,000 in fines, he was given a year of probation. As part of his sentence, he also must assist the RIAA in producing a PSA about piracy.

The details of his probation (which includes two months of home confinement) still need to be ironed out, though he'll still have computer access. "They made it clear that the court did not want to hinder my ability to earn a living as a Web developer or to continue running Antiquiet," Cogill told MTV News via e-mail.

Cogill carries a great deal of remorse for what he did, though he never intended any harm to Axl Rose — he was just a fan who was excited about a band he loved. "I've come to respect the artists' right to determine how their art is released. I do apologize to Axl for that disrespect," he said. "As a fan who had lost faith in all of the promises of release, I didn't see too many other options at the time. But in a fair world, it's not my place to judge, let alone act."

Though Cogill says he was unaware of any comments that Rose might have made about him, he did take some quotes by former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash pretty personally. "A friend of mine conducted an interview with Slash last year in which he called me a thief and wished that I 'rot in jail,' " he said. "I found that surprisingly crass, especially considering the guy has made no bones about shoplifting cassette tapes with the same rationale as today's downloaders. So if he wants to see me in jail, I'll see him in the cafeteria."

Ironically, it was Cogill's leak that might have ultimately led to the release of Chinese Democracy last fall, as the announcements about the album's release started to appear shortly after.

#Taylor Swift Promises 'Theatrics' For 2009 VMA Performance

Country crossover star set to perform a new version of 'You Belong With Me.'

Last year, when Taylor Swift attended her first VMAs, she did double duty as a Best New Artist nominee and the fashion correspondent for MTV News' red-carpet preshow. At the 2009 VMAs, to be hosted again by Russell Brand on September 13, Swift will be one of the night's big performers.

"I'm so excited that MTV and the VMAs have invited me to perform, because I think this year's show will be unlike anything they've ever done!" she said of her debut on the VMA stage with an updated version of her new single, "You Belong With Me."

Although Swift lost her Moonman last year to Tokio Hotel, she'll be pulling out all the stops to dazzle the audience this year. "I love incorporating theatrics into my performances, and the VMAs have always allowed artists to run with that," she said. "MTV has been so good to me. And I could not be more excited about this year's VMAs."

Last year, when Swift's song "Teardrops on My Guitar" was nominated for a Moonman, she spoke to MTV News about how excited she was to have her country music being embraced by a pop audience.

"I didn't think it was possible," she said, recalling her reaction to the nomination. "I was so shocked. I started screaming, 'I get to go to the VMAs!' I didn't think I'd get to go to the VMAs. I'm not that cool. As a country artist, I've been pretty unapologetic about it. [But] it's cool to be included."

#Michael Jackson Case Could Turn Criminal, LAPD Chief Says

The investigation into the death of Michael Jackson could turn into a criminal matter depending on the results of pending toxicology tests. Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton told CNN on Thursday that his department is awaiting the coroner's final report to decide whether to proceed with the investigation as either a homicide case or an accidental drug overdose.

A source also told the news channel that the late singer's family has been informed that the probe into the sudden death of the pop icon at age 50 on June 25 could turn into a criminal case. "The family is aware of a potential criminal prosecution," the anonymous source said.

After an initial autopsy on the singer was inconclusive, toxicology tests were ordered. With results expected in several weeks, Bratton said police have continued their investigation by speaking to a number of doctors who have treated Jackson over the years as they probe the singer's prescription-drug history.

"We are still awaiting corroboration from the coroner's office as to cause of death," Bratton said. "That is going to be very dependent on the toxicology reports that are due to come back. ... And based on those, we will have an idea of what it is we are dealing [with]: Are we dealing with a homicide, or are we dealing with accidental overdose?"

A source told CNN that doctors who refused to cooperate with investigators were issued subpoenas, and, if necessary, authorities will issue more as their probe widens. While Bratton would not elaborate on what investigators found at Beverly Hills-area home Jackson was renting, he confirmed that "a number of items" that will assist in the investigation were seized. CNN has reported that numerous bottles of prescription drugs were taken into evidence following Jackson's death, and other media outlets have claimed that among the drugs found was the powerful anesthetic Diprivan, which is not intended for private use outside a doctor's office.

Just days after the world paid tribute to Jackson in an emotional ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, more sordid details about Jackson's alleged prescription drug use continue to emerge. According to CNN, based on a confidential document from the Santa Barbara Country Sheriff's Department that was part of the probe into allegations of child-molestation against the singer — of which he was acquitted in 2005 — former employees of the singer said Jackson took more than 10 anti-anxiety Xanax pills a night to get to sleep. The document also said he often obtained the medication under his employees' names.

The 2004 document contains comments from one of Jackson's security guards, who told sheriff's deputies that he expressed concern about the amount of medicine Jackson was taking to get to sleep to another staffer, who reportedly replied that this was an improvement "because he was down from 30 to 40 Xanax pills a night."

The document from the sheriff's office investigation also reportedly relates a story from a security guard who said he quit working for the singer after Jackson "fell on his face" in a hotel room and hurt himself. The employee allegedly told Jackson around that time that he was not comfortable getting prescriptions for him and left his employ.

In 2006, when Jackson was first considering a plan to re-launch his career with a string of shows in Las Vegas, a promoter named Jack Wishna described simply as "deal-maker Jack Wishna" by CNN was trying to help the singer reemerge from a self-imposed silence following the 2005 acquittal. Wishna told CNN that while he was trying to land Jackson a regular engagement at one of the Las Vegas casinos, the singer would appear "drugged up" and "incoherent" during meetings and was often so weak and emaciated, he had to use a wheelchair to get around. Wishna said the attempted comeback shows were then allegedly canceled because of the star's weak condition.

It was around that same time that two anonymous sources told CNN that sister Janet Jackson attempted to stage an intervention on Jackson with the rest of his family, but was rebuffed.

#Michael Jackson's Final Rehearsals to Be Feature Film?

Last week AEG Entertainment leaked rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson's "This is It" tour, and now Sony Pictures is working on a deal with the entertainment company to use the footage in a feature film.

Sony Pictures is negotiating with AEG Entertainment to obtain the rights to 80 hours of rehearsal footage film for Jackson's London tour, Variety reports.

"High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega shot the rehearsal footage, and is expected to direct the film which will include three videos along with an alternative version of "Thriller."

According to the trade paper, AEG is also selling the rights to the August 29 tribute concert. Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, and other stars are slated to perform the songs that the King of Pop had planned to sing.

#Jackson's Mother May Challenge...

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Michael Jackson 's mother asked for a judge's ruling Friday on whether she can challenge the authority of two men named in her son's will as executors of his estate without being disinherited.

The filing does not formally challenge the appointment of attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain as executors of Michael Jackson's estate.

But a favorable ruling could pave the way for 79-year-old Katherine Jackson to seek control of her son's estate, which has an estimated value of more than $500 million.

A judge granted her temporary control over roughly 2,000 items taken from her son's Neverland Ranch and slated for auction, but her authority expired and was given to Branca and McClain. She had sought to control Jackson's estate, but that was before the singer's 2002 will was filed in Los Angeles.

It names Branca and McClain as Jackson's choice for co-executors of the will, and states his estate should be placed in a private trust.

Jackson's trust included a "no contest" clause that calls for anyone who challenges the will to be disinherited. Katherine Jackson, her three grandchildren and unnamed charities are beneficiaries of the estate.

The filing states that Katherine Jackson's attorneys continue to confer with attorneys for McClain and Branca and no final decisions have been made.

Related: Complete Michael Jackson coverage

"Mrs. Jackson and her counsel have not yet decided whether to object to the appointment of the named executors or to suggest an alternate appointment," the filing states.

A phone message left after business hours Friday for Paul Gordon Hoffman, an attorney representing Branca and McClain, was not immediately returned.

The filing was first reported by RadarOnline.com.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff will consider how to handle the filing at a hearing on Aug 3. Lingering issues about Jackson's estate could be decided then, and the hearing will also focus on whether Katherine Jackson will be allowed to keep custody of her son's children, who range in ages from 7 to 12.

#WHY MUSIC ????

“If Music be the food of love,play on,give me excess of it.”And if not?Well,what exactly is it for?The production and consumption of music is a big part of the economy.The first use to which commercial recording,in the form of Edison’s phonographs,was to bring music to the living rooms and picnic tables of those who could not afford to pay live musicians.Today,people are so surrounded by other people’s music that they take it for granted,but as little as 100 years ago singsongs at home,the choir in the church and fiddlers in the pub were all that most people heard.

Other appetites,too,have been sated even to excess by modern business.Food far beyond the simple needs of stomachs,and sex(or at least images of it)far beyond the needs of reproduction,bombard the modern man and woman,and are eagerly consumed.But these excesses are built on obvious appetites.What appetite drives the proliferation of music to the point where the average American teenager spends 1½-2½ hours a day—an eighth of his waking life—listening to it?

Well,that fact—that he,or she,is a teenager—supports one hypothesis about the function of music.Around 40% of the lyrics of popular songs speak of romance,sexual relationships and sexual behavior.The Shakespearean theory,that music is at least one of the foods of love,has a strong claim to be true.The more mellifluous the singer,the more dexterous the harpist,the more mates he attracts.

A second idea that is widely touted is that music binds groups of people together.The resulting solidarity,its supporters suggest,might have helped bands of early humans to thrive at the expense of those that were less musical.

Both of these ideas argue that musical ability evolved specifically—that it is,if you like,a virtual organ as precisely crafted to its purpose as the heart or the spleen.The third hypothesis,however,is that music is a cross between an accident and an invention.It is an accident because it is the consequence of abilities that evolved for other purposes.And it is an invention because,having thus come into existence....people have bent it to their will and made something they like from it.