A BIG PLUS

They cost more, yet sound better and are not limited to one portable device.

They're the thousands of songs free of digital-rights management (DRM) that Apple made available today (May 30) as part of its iTunes Plus launch.

We're talking songs by major artists -- including The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra and Norah Jones -- that can be played on an iPod or other digital devices, as well as computers.

The DRM-free tracks from iTunes Plus reportedly have better sound quality, and each one costs $1.29 -- roughly 30 cents more than what other online stores charge for copy-protected songs.

Every little step toward total digital compatibility is a good one.

ROCKIN' ROAD TRIPS

Ah, Memorial Day weekend -- the unofficial start of summer. And for those who regularly travel the Garden State Parkway, the increase in traffic along the southbound lanes this morning was obvious.

Looking for summer road trip ideas? Try one with a music theme and use Led Zeppelin Crashed Here: The Rock and Roll Landmarks of North America (Santa Monica Press) as your guide.

In his new book, Chris Epting has gathered landmarks both obvious (famous recording studios and concert sites) and obscure (the Washington state hair salon where Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic rehearsed, the San Francisco restaurant where Metallica offered Jason Newsted the bassist job).

The "Don't Fear the Reaper" chapter lists the death sites of such legends as Duane Allman, Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway and Johnny Thunders, among others. Fans who still like to leave the house when they buy music will find a bunch of respected stores in the "B-Sides" chapter.

Led Zeppelin Crashed Here is a fun read -- and intuitively organized, too. The appendix lists landmarks by state, so like a band planning to go on tour, you can get your itinerary in order long before you hit the road.

For more information, visit www.santamonicapress.com or www.chrisepting.com.

THE REALITY OF THE BUSINESS

As another American Idol season comes to a close, the first Idol champ is trying to make the transition from recording artist to artist.

Kelly Clarkson, who co-wrote a few of the hit singles on her smash second album, Breakaway, ups the songwriting ante and goes the autobiographical route on My December, due June 26.

"The whole album is a story of the past two years, all the highs and lows," said Clarkson in the May 25 edition of Entertainment Weekly.

Guess what? The suits at RCA, her label, didn't care for it.

"They were like, 'It's just too negative,' " added Clarkson.

As her manager points out in the same EW story, record companies "get nervous" when top-selling acts such as Clarkson choose to "take risks and evolve."

But isn't that what artists should do? Absolutely.

RCA probably was expecting her to be, in the words of Idol judge Simon Cowell, "a puppet." Well, just like The Monkees did after tasting success on TV and on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Clarkson wants to take a step forward with her music.

In doing so, she may take a step backward, sales-wise.

Who needs reality TV when there's real drama such as this?

WEST KNOWS BEST

Outside of his family, the people who probably knew Elvis Presley the best were the members of his entourage -- the guys known as the Memphis Mafia.

Sonny West was part of Presley's crew for 16 years, and he reflects on his days with the icon in his recently released book, Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business (Triumph Books).

There is plenty about Presley's appetite for women, food and prescription drugs, but the best parts are the stories involving other notable names.

West recalls that Presley was set to release a version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis" in May 1964. But Johnny Rivers, who listened to Presley's rendition over and over while visiting the King's Los Angeles-area house, beat Presley to the punch, issuing his version first.

That ruffled the King's feathers, remembers West, and Presley made it clear he didn't want Rivers coming around anymore. And a few weeks later, when Rivers did stop by, two members of the Memphis Mafia "called him a thief and every other name in the book," writes West, before ordering him to leave.

The legendary meeting between Presley and The Beatles in August 1965 gets its own chapter. And there are some funny bits in West's recollection of him and Presley meeting President Nixon and ordering a robe for Presley pal Muhammad Ali.

West says he's about to do an audio version of the book, and also on the horizon is a DVD of West's one-man show of Presley stories.

Visit www.sonnywest.com for updates.

MUSIC IN THE MORNING

Just like with summer movies, the summer concerts presented by ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today begin long before the actual season does.

The two rival morning shows will go head to head with their respective concert series starting Friday (May 18). The GMA performances will be held in Bryant Park, while Today's will take place in Rockefeller Center.

Here's a look at their schedules into early July, along with recommendations and commentary:

May 18
GMA: Rascal Flatts
Today: All-American Rejects
The lowdown: Modern country trumps so-called modern rock, so tune in to see the dudes in Rascal Flatts (above).

May 25
GMA: Fergie
Today: Blondie with Lily Allen
The lowdown: Who isn't sick of Fergie by now? Watch the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act and the buzz-worthy British newcomer instead.

May 28
Today: Maroon 5

June 1
GMA: Daughtry
Today: Big & Rich
The lowdown: Take the listenable American Idol alum over the country buffoons.

June 8
GMA: Robin Thicke
Today: Rihanna
The lowdown: It's a push -- as in push the channel changer on the remote for CBS or another station.

June 15
GMA: Brad Paisley
Today: Enrique Iglesias
The lowdown: Eye candy for the ladies; noise pollution for those who dislike generic country and pop.

June 19
Today: Bon Jovi

June 22
GMA: Miley Cyrus
Today: Chicago and America
The lowdown: Fiscal thinking: By watching Today, you can save money and skip seeing these two acts when they hit the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel the next day.

June 29
GMA: Patti LaBelle
Today: Hilary Duff
The lowdown: Go with the lady behind "Lady Marmalade," for sure!

July 6
GMA: Norah Jones
Today: Fall Out Boy
The lowdown: Tough call, but FOB gets the nod because Jones' sleepy songs might send morning-show viewers back to bed.

BOWZER'S BATTLE

From his days as the face and a main voice of Sha Na Na to the present, Jon Bauman -- better known as Bowzer -- has shown great admiration and respect for the golden age of rock 'n' roll.

His greatest tribute to that era may be his latest effort. As the chairman of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame's Truth in Music Committee, Bauman is behind the push for laws preventing bogus acts from presenting themselves as authentic members of those 1950s-'60s rock and doo-wop groups.

On Thursday (May 10), Tennessee passed the "Truth in Music" bill. It's already a law in several states, and the Truth in Music Committee expects the bill to pass in half the country by the end of this year.

On the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Web site, Bauman breaks down "Truth in Music" like this: "You need to have at least one member of the group that made the hit records in the group that's onstage that night, unless you have a darn good reason why you don’t.

"There are really only two of those darn good reasons -- that somehow the group has a valid, federally registered trademark for the group name, or that the show is clearly advertised as a tribute or a salute in a manner that is not so confusingly similar to the actual group name that it would tend to deceive the public.

" 'Truth in Music' is finally ending the impostor group nightmare in which consumers are duped out of their hard-earned entertainment dollars and the authentic pioneers whose music changed the world are cheated of their just remuneration and, what's worse, their applause."

Here's hoping Bauman's truth wins out in the end.

THE MOTHER LODE

Just like every Sunday, the Best Buy newspaper circular for May 6 featured a page with new and recent CDs for sale.

What stood out were the six discs grouped together under the heading "Best Sellers for Mom." They included recent releases by Musiq Soulchild, John Mayer, Norah Jones (above), Celtic Woman, Il Divo and Beyonce.

The phrase Mom Music has been tossed around for years, and this holiday sales hook by a major retail chain only justifies its existence.

Is being dubbed Mom Music a compliment or an insult to musicians? There's no definite answer, but either way, sales are sales in the end, and moving product is just fine with artists and retailers.

And what exactly is Mom Music, anyway? Well, songs tend be melodic yet lyrically safe (forget about curse words and controversial subjects), feature no instrumental extremes (never loud, and no overplaying) and have modern-yet-still-traditional production qualities (i.e. relatively slick, with a crystal-clear mix).

Image-wise, Mom Music acts should look contemporary (small earrings and tattoos are OK, and so is clean, stylish long hair), skewing toward conservative (skintight and skimpy clothes are frowned upon).

That said, the list of Mom Music-makers isn't limited to the aforementioned artists. Here are some other current stars who fit into the category:

The Fray: Piano, sensitive vocals and hooky choruses are key Mom Music ingredients, and this band has all three.

Josh Groban: This pop/classical singer is a double threat: He appeals to mothers and grandmothers.

Mat Kearney: Sensitive singer/songwriters like Kearney make for the prototypical Mom Music artist.

Just about any Top 10 American Idol contestant from any season: Especially Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood.

As for veteran Mom Music artists, let's not forget Sheryl Crow and Lenny Kravitz: Both kinda rock but don't ever push the envelope too far. That goes for their originals and their cover songs, which include boring interpretations of Cat Stevens and Guess Who material, respectively.

Have a happy Mother's Day, and please keep the stereo at a reasonable volume.

ZEVON ROCKS ON

After Warren Zevon died in 2003, son Jordan went about sorting through his father's belongings.

Much to his surprise, he found a box in a piano case with dozens of reel-to-reel tapes, which contained recordings of more than 100 songs.

Among them were compositions that never saw the light of day -- that is, until Tuesday (May 1), when Preludes: Rare and Unreleased Recordings (featuring six never-before-heard songs) arrived in stores via Ammal/New West Records.

The 16-track Preludes would be worthwhile if only for the moving "Empty Hearted Town" and the Walker Brothers-esque "Going All the Way." But it also includes different versions of such signature songs as "Werewolves of London" and "Accidentally Like a Martyr," plus a second disc containing a Warren Zevon interview circa 2000 with Jody Denberg of KGSR-FM in Austin, Texas.

In addition to the box of tapes, Jordan Zevon also found plenty of previously unpublished photos. Some are featured in the booklet to Preludes as well as in the new book I'll Sleep When I’m Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon (Ecco/Harper Collins).

This memoir, much like Warren Zevon's music, is different from most others. Assembled by Crystal Zevon, the musician’s ex-wife, I’ll Sleep When I'm Dead is told in the words of such contemporaries/friends as Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne and Lindsey Buckingham, among others, in addition to family members.

READY FOR TAKEOFF

When Bryce Avary wanted horns on Do You Feel, his new Rocket Summer album, co-producer Jim Wirt knew who to call -- the horn section that played on Stevie Wonder's classic "Sir Duke."

"It was such a no-brainer," recalls the Texas-based singer and multi-instrumentalist. "I sang them the parts and they played them."

Do You Feel (due in July via Island Records) is the first Rocket Summer album for the Island Def Jam Music Group. Making the move to a major record company, says Avary, "feels different, in a good way. It's been a nice experience to make a record comfortably where I didn't have to sleep on the floor in the studio isolation booth."

The Rocket Summer is among the scheduled acts for this weekend's Bamboozle festival at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford. Avary will be backed by his usual four-piece band, and just like he does in the studio, he'll hop around from instrument to instrument during the show.

The set will include one of the new horn-enhanced songs -- but sans the Wonder horn section. Avary already knows how he'll fill the instrumental gap in the tune.

"It has a sax solo," he says. "I play piano on that song, and then at [the sax part], I throw my guitar around and do a guitar solo."

Check out The Rocket Summer's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/therocketsummer.