i struggled on whether I should write an editorial on tribute bands or not. Having attended a so-so tribute to Pink Floyd erroneously called The Pink Floyd Experience, I was more than a bit upset because this gang of musicians actually travel around the US quite extensively. Why does that get me? Actually, it's because someone is making a living, a likely good one at that, piggybacking on someone else's creative work. But of course, that's my mere opinion.

Without bagging too much on a band that some folks may actually enjoy, Friday's performance by The Pink Floyd Experience was an exercise in futility. Their displayed videos were obvious and simplistic, even laughable at points (giving me a feel of sliding under labeled high-thread count sheets only to feel a low-thread count roughness that doesn't agree with the billing). And while some may feel this is a worthy and bonafide venture, I just have trouble with it. I know that a tribute band is just that, a tribute band. They're designed to give people a feeling of what it might be like to actually attend a concert by the original band. And yes, we can sense the obvious differences and therefore I should just lighten up. But when I see the scope of a show put on by a band like The Pink Floyd Experience, I wonder just how much money is being made on the creative coattails of Pink Floyd.

Normally, like a bad accident, I check these tribute bands out when an opportunity presents itself (although I never pay for the experience). And I always come away with a bad feeling. But these are my opinions and, I'm sure, do not reflect the general feelings. Which makes me curious. How many of you like tribute bands? How many of you feel that it's ok for a tribute band to make money on the success of another band? I don't condemn nor do I want to slap hands and lecture. My opinion of this is just that, my opinion. I want to hear your opinion (and why you believe in your opinion).

Send your thoughts to me at Tribute Bands Opinions.

I want to alert TAP readers to the fact that I have finally put together a FaceBook fan page that you can access and join by clicking on the badge below.  What this offers is the exact same thing as my Twitter feeds provide and that is first buzz on upcoming releases and free offered downloads, many announcements  that beat our main post, sometimes by days.  We also provide a Google BUZZ page that expands on most of the Twitter/FB feeds. On Buzz, you can even hear the music stream if a stream is offered.  There are still things that I'm working on in the FB page, like calender notes as well as links to great sites like The Second Disc.  I invite you to join us at our FB page and bookmark it.  Visit it daily and you'll be rewarded with much news and info.  Of course, you'll still want to come to the main MusicTAP page for our noisy commentaries.  Remember, with our Twitter feeds, you can elect to receive the news bursts as text on your mobile phone keeping you effortlessly up to date with stuff.  Lots of choices.  Find one, or two, that fits.

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The major news of interest comes from the announcement by Pause and Play about the upcoming reissue of Damn The Torpedoes by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which is ably expounded on by the cool cats at The Second Disc. The album will be a 2CD affair reissued by Geffen Records. (Remember when it was going to be the first LP with an unpopular price hike that Tom Petty vehemently fought against?) It is expected on October 12.

Guster will release their new album on October 5. It's called Easy Wonderful and the first single can be downloaded now. Get a free download of "Bad Bad World" at their website.

Atlantic Records has an LP version of Blue Sky Noise (earlier released on April 20) by Circa Survive arriving on September 14. it will be re-released on blue translucent vinyl in a 2LP set.

Jimmy Eat World will release their new album, Invented, on September 28 via DGC Records.

Sanctuary Records has two DD albums arriving on August 3 of Atomic Rooster titles that include Atomic Rooster (1970), and In Hearing of Atomic Rooster (1971).

Sanctuary Records will also digitally release From The Vaults by Chicken Shack (who can boast of having Christine Perfect (that's Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac)). It's scheduled for DD reelase on August 3.

And just so you know (for all of you Nightmare Before Christmas fans), Walt Disney Records is releasing ringtones from the soundtrack on July 27. In case you wanted one for your phone.

Universal Republic will release vinyl for Florence & the Machine with the re-release of their Lungs (2009) album. The LP is planned for August 17.

Fuel Records will release Performance by Jose Feliciano on CD beginning on September 21.

Show Dog Universal plans to release You Ain't Gonna Believe This by Mel Tillis on September 31 in both CD and DD formats.

MVD Video will reissue Bird On a Wire (1972/1974) featuring Leonard Cohen from his 1972 Euro tour. It has 17 performance tracks and should be a joy to own. it releases on August 31. This Deluxe Digipak also includes a replica of the tour poster from the era.

Verve Records plan the release of Home Sweet Mobile Home by Nellie McKay on both CD and DD on September 28.

Hip-O Records will release an Authorized Bootleg series title featuring The Neville Brothers on September 7. The Live album is called Warfield Theatre - San Francisco, February 27, 1988, on full-length DD.

Shout! Factory to release a Live Megadeth CD called Rust In Peace Live on September 7. This is from a March 31, 2010 show at the Hollywood Palladium, a show designed to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the 1990 album. The show featured the popular album in entirety along with six other classic Megadeth tunes. The set will be available as CD, DVD, and BD (Blu-ray). This release precedes a 20th Anniversary Edition of Rust In Peace reissue from EMI later this year.