Music Notes Pearl Jam announce tour dates, MJ merch on sale

- Pearl Jam have announced their North American tour dates. Dates begin in August and last through October. The band will be releasing their ninth studio album, Backspacer, Sept. 20. [SPIN]

- Merchandise from Michael Jackson's now-canceled This Is It tour is up for sale. Fans can purchase official belt buckles, hats, wallets, music and t-shirts from this website. [NME]

- The Swell Season, best known for their work and music in the film Once, will release a new album Sept. 29. The album is titled The Strict Joy. [SPIN]

- Maxwell's new album BLACKsummers'night, which also happens to be his first in eight years, is headed for a big debut on next week's Billboard charts. That being said, it may not end up being the top selling album of the week either. Still, not bad for someone who's been out of the game for a while! [Billboard]

- Erykah Badu is currently recording new music for a project tentatively titled New Amerykah, Pt. 2: Return of the Ankh. No release date has been announced, but she's also doing a little touring at this time. [Billboard]

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Music Notes: Jackson will gets filed, no viewing at Neverland

- Michael Jackson's will was officially filed with a Los Angeles court today, leaving a family trust designed to benefit his three children, his mother Katherine Jackson and unnamed charities. Katherine Jackson is also nominated to be the guardian of the three children. However, if she is unwilling to take over the role, Jackson's will nominates Diana Ross as the next candidate. The document specifically pointed out that Jackson had purposely omitted his former wife, Debbie Rowe, from the will. [Billboard]

- According to reports, the Jackson family has been unable to receive permission to hold a public or private viewing for the singer at Neverland this weekend. Alternate plans seem to be underway. [NME, CNN]

- Jackson is dominating the Billboard charts, holding nine out of the top ten positions on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums chart. [Billboard]

- Fader is holding a contest for people to win some Lollapalooza 2009 tickets. [Fader]

- U2 covered Michael Jackson, performing snippets of "Man in the Mirror" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," when they kicked off their world tour last night in Barcelona. [NME]

- MGMT and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O are featured on the new Flaming Lips album. [SPIN]

- MGMT will also open for Paul McCartney at Boston's Fenway Park. [Paste Magazine]

- In the meantime, Passion Pit have remixed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Sensing a bit of a trend? [Stereogum]

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