BY JOHN M. JAMES

Two of the founding members of Depeche Mode are soon to release new solo albums. Songwriter Martin Gore returns to the covers concept he first debuted in his 1989 Counterfeit collection, with Counterfeit 2 due at the end of April on Mute Records. Some of Gore's latest choices to slip on include David Essex's "Stardust," Brian Eno's "By This River," The Velvet Underground's "Candy Says," Iggy Pop's "Tiny Girls," Nick Cave's "Loverman," and the bluesy "In My Time Of Dying," a song made popular by Led Zeppelin via their reinterpretation Blind Willie Johnson's "Jesus, Make Up My Dying Bed." Look for the Mute label to also issue vocalist Dave Gahan's solo debut, entitled Paper Monsters, in early June. ... On Tuesday the Columbia Records imprint issues a unique Bob Dylan tribute album, gathering Gospel stars to record new versions of songs from his two Christian-themed albums, Slow Train Coming and Saved. Artists include Shirley Caesar, Aaron Neville, Billy Preston, Dottie Peoples, The Mighty Clouds of Joy and Lee Williams and the Spiritual CQs. Backing up the effort is Dylan's original band from that "born-again" era, and Dylan himself, as he duets with Mavis Staples on a rewritten version of "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking." ... Speaking of covers, the Acoustic Coffee House series on the Reverberations label is set to release an all-female tribute to Creed next month. Pulling back the testosterone and warming up acoustic guitars, the up-and-coming female singer/songwriter contributors list features Leslie King, Bridget Academy, Neve Smith and more. ... Fans of Wilco should mark time off their calendars and get the popcorn ready: Tuesday brings the film I Am Trying To Break Your Heart home with a special two-DVD release. Documenting a difficult time in the band's history, director Sam Jones' black-and-white camera is a fly on the wall as the band begins work on their fourth album, only to find themselves a year later without a record label and two original members. The first disc features the award-winning film in widescreen format, its original theatrical trailer and a commentary track by director Sam Jones, but it's the second disc that's loaded with bonus treats ­ over 70 minutes worth. Highlights include a making-of featurette, and 17 tracks pulled from live concert footage, alternative mixes and previously unreleased songs. Also included in this Americana love letter is a special 40-page booklet with photos and the filmmaker's diary. ... David Bowie's androgynous Ziggy Stardust period from the early 1970s gets the royal treatment this Tuesday as Virgin releases a remastered two-CD or 5.1 surround sound DVD of the film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars ­ The Motion Picture. The expanded two-CD set features unedited stage chatter, a poster, booklet and a concert ticket reproduction. The DVD features new commentary by director D.A. Pennebaker and bonus DVD-ROM material. ... Also on DVD alert is Brian Wilson's new On Tour, a 24-track DVD documentary of solo tour footage over the last few years, with friends Pete Townshend, Neil Young, Eddie Vedder, Sheryl Crow and more. Featured bonus material includes Wilson's performance at Young's annual Bridge School benefit and Paul McCartney's induction of Wilson into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Rob Zombie with Lionel Richie on Tuesday. The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes Chevelle on Monday and Rosanne Cash on Tuesday. Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Sum 41 on Thursday, Everclear on Friday and Badly Drawn Boy on Monday. The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn unleashes Queens of the Stone Age on Thursday. Jimmy Kimmel Live boasts both Donovan and Dave Navarro on Friday. Last Call with Carson Daly serves up Sigur Ros on Wednesday, The Music on Thursday and The Streets on Friday. And Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Beck.

New Releases Coming Tuesday
and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change...

808 State ­ Outpost Transmission (Shadow) with guest vocalists Simon Lord, Guy Garvey, and the Rev. D. Wayne Love; ... And You Will Know Us By the Trail Of Dead ­ The Secret of Elena's Tomb (Interscope) CD EP; Anthrax - We've Come For You All (Artist Direct); Andrew Bird ­ Weather Systems (Grimsey) recorded in a rural Illinois barn; Celldweller ­ Celldweller (Esion/Position) new from Klayton of Circle of Dust; Edwyn Collins ­ Doctor Syntax (Instinct) all new with three bonus tracks not found on the import, with guests Bernard Butler of Suede and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols; The Devin Townsend Band ­ Accelerated Evolution (Inside Out) new from the Canadian who toured the world as Steve Vai's vocalist at the age of 19; Ester Drang ­ Infinite Keys (Jade Tree) atmospheric glue from Oklahoma; Grandaddy ­ The Floating Debris (V2) EP; Isaac Hayes ­ At Wattstax (Stax) CD reissue from 1972 when Hayes brought down the house in front of a crowd of 110,000; Charlie Hunter ­ Right Now Move (Ropeadope); Placebo ­ Sleeping With Ghosts (Hut/Astralwerks) featuring the single "The Bitter End"; Lee Baby Simms ­ The Escapist (Substance); Johnny Society ­ Life Behind the 21st Century Wall (Messenger); Rob Swift ­ Under the Influence (Six Degrees) mix CD from the X-ecutioners turntable artist; Vaux ­ There Must Be Some Way To Stop Them (Volcom); Venus Hum ­ Big, Beautiful Sky (MCA) smart electronic pop from Nashville, reminiscent of The Cocteau Twins and Kate Bush; The White Stripes ­ Elephant (Third Man/V2) featuring a cover of Burt Bacharach's "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" and six different covers of the cover art; Chris Whitley ­ Hotel Vast Horizon (Messenger) all original and all acoustic; Robbie Williams ­ Escapology (Virgin) domestic release of this UK smash.

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