Rock News: Music's high and low notes

'O BROTHER,' THOU ART NO.1

Almost 15 months after its release, the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack has finally topped the Billboard Top-200 album chart. The CD made a late sales surge to snag the No.1 spot, selling 159,000 copies for the week ending Sunday, according to figures from SoundScan quoted by E! Online.

The recording -- an eclectic mix of country, bluegrass, gospel and blues that was virtually ignored by radio -- is still riding its Grammy bump. Last month, the T. Bone Burnett-produced collection took home an armful of Grammys, including the Album of the Year award.

Brandy's latest CD, "Full Moon," came in second place to score the week's highest debut. Last week's No.1, Alanis Morissette's "Under Rug Swept," fell to third.

The remaining Top 10 albums were Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory" at four, Alan Jackson's "Drive" at five, Ludacris' "Word of Mouf" at six (and passing the 2 million sales mark), Alicia Keys' "Songs in A Minor" at seven, Jennifer Lopez's "J to tha L-O! The Remixes" at eight, Kylie Minogue's "Fever" at nine and Pink's "M!ssundazstood" re-entering the Top 10 at 10.

URBANAID 2

Ja Rule, the Roots, Fat Joe, Ashanti and Musiq have joined the list of artists who'll take part in the April 9 UrbanAID 2 benefit concert at New York's Beacon Theatre.

Billboard.com reports, however, that R. Kelly has dropped out of the show -- which will also feature Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and P. Diddy, who's co-chairing the LIFEbeat-organized event along with Def Jam founder Russell Simmons.

BET will tape the concert for future broadcast on the cable channel.

PINK

Pink will kick off her first-ever headlining tour May 2 in Phoenix. The 27-date road trip, according to RollingStone,.com, comes in support of her second release, "M!ssunderazstood" and on the heels of her recent Grammy win for "Lady Marmalade," along with Christina Aguilera, Mya and Lil' Kim.

Tour dates:

5/2: Phoenix, Ariz., The Webb Theater

5/5: Las Vegas, Rain in the Desert

5/7: Salt Lake City, Kingsbury Hall

5/9: Denver, Filmore

5/12: Austin, Texas, Austin Music Hall

5/14: Houston, Aerial Theater

5/15: Dallas, Next Stage

5/18: Orlando, Fla., Hard Rock

5/19: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Broward Center

5/22: Atlanta, Tabernacle

5/25: Hershey, Pa., Hershey Amphitheater

5/26: Wallingford, Conn., Oakdale

5/28: New York, Beacon Theater

5/31: Boston, Orpheum Theater

6/1: Philadelphia, Tower Theater

6/4: Washington D.C., Nations

6/5: Cleveland, Tower City Amphitheater

6/7: Pittsburgh, Amphitheater at Station Square

6/9: Toronto, Canada, Massey Hall

6/10: Detroit, State Theater

6/12: Chicago, Rosemont Theater

6/13: Minneapolis, Minn., Orpheum Theater

6/18: Spokane, Wash., Opera House

6/19: Vancouver, Canada, Orpheum Theater

6/22: Portland, Oregon, Rose Garden Arena

6/25: San Francisco, Warfield

6/28: Los Angeles, Wiltern Theater

PUDDLE OF MUDD'S WES SCANTLIN

Authorities in Ventura County, Calif., have decided not to pursue charges against Puddle of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin in connection with his alleged roadside altercation with his fiancée last weekend, MTV News reports.

Scantlin and Michelle Rubin were arrested last Sunday after witnesses reported seeing a man forcing a woman into a Jeep Cherokee alongside a highway in Piru, Calif. Sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers stopped the Jeep shortly after and arrested Scantlin and Rubin, who were on their way to a video shoot. They were booked at the Ventura County jail and released after posting $20,000 bail each.

The arrests did not affect the Puddle of Mudd tour, which kicked off Tuesday in Austin, Texas.

SILVERCHAIR

Silverchair won't be appearing as scheduled at Australia's Gone South festival in Hobart, Tasmania, this Saturday due in a viral infection in the knees of singer David Johns.

Allstar News quotes the band's official Web site (chairpage.com) saying the infection has caused severe swelling and pain and that John's doctors "have demanded complete rest for at least two weeks to help him recover."

Silverchair manager John Watson reports this is the first gig the band has ever postponed. "Daniel and the band are extremely disappointed that they are not going to be able to play at Gone South," said Watson via the Web site. "Silverchair has done over 400 gigs in the last seven years and this is the first one that they have ever had to postpone. They would like to sincerely apologize to their fans for this inconvenience."

LEE HAZLEWOOD TRIBUTE ALBUM IN THE WORKS

Jarvis Cocker, Lambchop, Evan Dando and members of the Tindersticks are among the artists who've recorded their favorite Lee Hazlewood song for an upcoming tribute album to the legendary songwriter and producer.

NME.com reports "Total Lee" will hit stores June 3 (on the City Slang label). Others on the album include the Webb Brothers and Johnny Dowd.

The same day, a second Hazlewood album -- "For Every Solution There Is A Problem" -- will be released. It's a collection of previously unreleased recordings made during the last 25 years by Hazlewood and his longtime collaborator Al Casey.