BY JOHN M. JAMES

Dude! Tuesday brings an excellent twin-cam, sonic salute to the musical culture of the proud but coiffure-challenged bearers of the shameless American mullet. Or as the Epic Legacy Records label has succinctly put it -- Mullets Rock! Almost an anthropological study, this 35-track, two-CD set is a killer collection of hard rockin' classics guaranteed a righteous "thumbs-up" from any soul boldly brushing his Michigan mud-flap -- all business up front, and all party in the back. More than just a haircut, the mullet is a mental state of mind, daydreaming of eternal summers of the 1970s Rock & Roll party scene. Don't it feel good, that healthy testosterone release washing over me in waves of Boston's "Smokin'" or Ram Jam's "Black Betty"? Outdoor concerts, Jovan musk and the sound of a Camero door closing snugly -- ah, to take a time trip through the monster truck bravado of Judas Priest's "Living After Midnight" and the sensitive cry of Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell." Other highlights ready "to rack 'em up and crack a cold one" include Argent's "Hold Your Head Up," Foreigner's "Hot Blooded," Molly Hatchet's "Flirtin' With Disaster," and Alice Cooper's "School's Out."... Two humorous CD releases are aiming for your funny bone on Tuesday. Monty Python member Eric Idle is doing what the British do best, as his new release, The Rutland Islands, features two of his radio documentaries as his alter ego, Nigel Spasm, explores the islands of the "West Pole." In classic Monty Python fashion, the iMUSIC/Artist Direct disc is scattered with funny songs and sketches about randy lost tribes, gay dolphins that imitate Liza Minnelli and the Muggers Day on the island of Paranoia. Also on board the laugh train is The Firesign Theatre and their new All Things Firesign CD on the Artemis Records label. The 28-tracks are collected from their many appearances on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. ... Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the release of his classic Look Sharp album, Joe Jackson and that same backing band have finally made their fourth album, simply entitled Volume 4. The long anticipated release is Tuesday on the Ryko/Restless imprint and is supported by a national tour presented by VH-1 and a number of television appearances. Look for the first pressing of the CD to feature a bonus disc of six early classics recorded live during last year's UK tour.

Releases Coming Tuesday
And like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change... A.F.I. ­ Sing the Sorrow (DreamWorks/Adeline); Antiseen ­ Here To Ruin Your Groove (TKO) re-issue from 1996; Jason Becker ­ The Blackberry Jams (Shrapnel) private recordings and demos; Burning Spear ­ Original Living Dub Vol. 1 (Burning Spear Records) tripped out psychedelic mixes from 1979; Clone Defects ­ Shapes of Things (In the Red); Cursive ­ The Ugly Organ (Saddle Creek); Ani DiFranco ­ Evolve (Righteous Babe); The Diplomats ­ Diplomatic Immunity (Diplomat) new from Cam'ron and company featuring a cover of Jefferson Starship's "We Built This City"; Everclear ­ Slow Motion Day Dream (Capitol); Folk Implosion ­ The New Folk Implosion (iMUSIC/Artist Direct) the newest incarnation featuring Lou Barlow, Russell Pollard and Imaad Wasif with guests; Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre ­ Love Love Love (Troubleman Unlimited); Ben Harper ­ Diamonds On the Inside (Virgin); Dave Hole ­ The Live One (Alligator); Inventing Edward ­ We've Met an Impasse; By Midnight We'll Be Naked (New Red Archives); King Crimson ­ The Power To Believe (Sanctuary); Mad Caddies ­ Just One More (Fat Wreck); Donnie McClurkin ­ Again (Jive); Ms. Dynamite ­ A Little Deeper (Polydor/Bigger Beats); Muggs ­ Dust (Anti/Epitaph); Kelly Joe Phelps ­ Slingshot Professionals (Ryko); Raw Power ­ Still Screaming After 20 Years (Six Weeks) recordings made shortly before singer Giuseppe Codeluppi's death; Songs: Ohia ­ Magnolia Electric Co. (Secretly Canadian) look for the vinyl version to contain a bonus CD disc of demos.

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