"Gone Country," CMT. This reality show is country-music boot camp conducted by Nashville big shot John Rich for several rock, pop and R&B has-beens. We still love to watch Bobby Brown self-destruct while Carnie Wilson tries to help him and Dee Snider tries to outduel him onstage. Which of these fish out of water will survive? Yee-haw!

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, "Late Show With David Letterman." On the mid-tempo "100 Days, 100 Nights," Jones wasn't the wild and crazy show-woman we've come to love in concert. She was just smolderingly soulful, which was still quite satisfying.

Britney Spears cover story, Rolling Stone. Sure, it's a tabloid trick to put her on the cover, but the story seriously examines her rise and fall -- and our fascination with it. Great line from writer Vanessa Grigoriadis: "She's the perfect celebrity for America in decline: Like President Bush, she doesn't give a [bleep], but at least we won't have to clean up after her mess for the rest of our lives."

JON BREAM, STAR TRIBUNE

White Stripes, "Conquest." Sure, the A-side is good, but the real gems here are the B-sides. The three different records (released on red, black and white vinyl, naturally) feature songs recorded by the band with Beck (who, along with playing piano and slide guitar, also co-produced the tracks) in his living room. Spontaneous and fun.

Radiohead, 93 Feet East Webcast. As if playing "In Rainbows" from start to finish in a small East London club weren't cool enough (for free, no less), the band continued its amazing string of webcasts by streaming the show live via www. radiohead.tv. (All clips can now be found on YouTube.) Closing with classics "My Iron Lung" and "The Bends" shows that the band still knows how to rock, and cemented the fact that its U.S. tour will be the musical event of the summer.

March in Minneapolis. With Bob Mould, the Gutter Twins, Great Northern, the Raveonettes, Stephen Malkmus, British Sea Power, Mike Doughty, Black Mountain, the Boredoms, the Cribs, Panther and Sons & Daughters all scheduled to play over the course of a few weeks, who needs SXSW?

ERIK THOMPSON, ST. LOUIS PARK

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