Playlist

Thor's got a piece on the new Old 97's piece here, in addition to the team's weekly slew of new CD reviews, like Death Cab for Cutie, Duffy, We Are Scientists and others.

OK, so here's an unexpected honor for country singer Dierks Bentley: He's been named as one of Men's Fitness magazine's "25 Fittest Guys in America." Even though Mr. Bentley probably doesn't have an ounce of fat on his lean body, he hasn't exactly been considered one of country's hot male pinups such as, say, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Billy Currington. Anyway, good for you, Dierks. Joining him on the list are Tiger Woods, Will Smith, Daniel Craig and Barack Obama, among others.

Everybody knows that as far as R. Kelly's been concerned, the wheels of justice have been on flat as far as his perpetually-delayed child pornography case (filing over 100 continuances can have that effect, I guess), but on Friday, the jury selection got started, with 150 potential jurors and a corn-rowed, suited-and booted Robert Kelly in the building as well.

According to the Associated Press, "the initial session ...lasted only about 30 minutes, and reporters were not allowed in; one court official said there weren't enough seats.

"Some of the potential jurors looked uncomfortable ...."

Reader Jon thinks so. He agreed with my overall review of the Black Crowes' show Saturday, but thought I was too kind to Chris Robinson:

"I too enjoyed the show," Jon writes, "But Chris Robinson's 'oversinging' is what keeps them from being a truly great band for me. He's like the Mariah Carey of southern rock...when every line is sung at an emotional intensity of "10" it loses the ability to touch you on a human level. if he could get a handle on dynamics and rachet it up to hit the highlights of the song the Crowes would be 10x more powerful."

Dottie Rambo's tour bus hit an embankment early Sunday, killing her and others in the bus. She was on her way to Fountain of Life Church in North Richland Hills to perform a Mother's Day concert with Naomi Sego and Hee Haw vet Lulu Roman.

She's famous for writing and performing gospel songs such as "We Shall Behold Him" and "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need" that have been sung in evangelical churches for decades. She's been compared to blind hymn writing great Fanny Crosby ("Blessed Assurance," "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior") and has had her music recorded by Dolly Parton and others.

Read more here.

Country-rocker Dwight Yoakam breaks a record for most musical performances by any artist on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno when he takes the stage Thursday during the TV program's seventh season of outdoor concerts. That'll be his 24th appearance, and it's part of the Mercedes Benz Summer Concert Series. The long and lean Mr. Yoakam is still promoting last year's Dwight Sings Buck, his loving homage to the late country legend Buck Owens.

What if you gave a concert and the crowd refused to watch?

It's not as far-fetched as it seems. As more and more concertgoers fiddle with cellphone cameras and fidget with BlackBerries, some people say mobile technology is ruining the concert experience.

Read more from Thor Christensen and tell us what you think.

Dolly Parton hit the stage Sunday night at Nokia Theatre. Did you catch the country queen's performance? Tell us about it.

Read Mario Tarradell's review.