It's all kilts, libraries and Rock & Roll in a new disc that pairs hip Scottish musicians and hip Scottish writers. Tuesday, Chemikal Underground Records releases Ballads of the Book, a CD conceived by Roddy Woomble of Idlewild after working with author Edwin Morgan on the band's Remote Part album. While I must admit I'm not familiar with the literary pedigree of each of these 18 collaborations, the music side of the page includes Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band, Aidan Moffat of Arab Strap, Norman Blake, King Creosote, The Trashcan Sinatras and Vashti Bunyan. ...

More musical brain food is due Tuesday with Sola Scriptura, a Prog Rock concept album from Neal Morse (the titles means "Only By Scripture" in Latin). The Metal Blade Records release from the Spock's Beard co-founder is based on the life of Christian reformer Martin Luther, the German monk who riled against Papal corruption in the 1500s. Backing Morse is drummer Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and bassist Paul Gilbert. One ear-raising song from this new Rock opera has the Pope proclaiming, "I may have a mistress but at least I'm a hetero." ...

A new benefit CD supporting the efforts of Habitat For Humanity is worth searching out. This Tuesday Evil Teen Records is releasing Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert Volume 2, capturing Haynes' 12th annual Christmas jam from 2000. The two-CD set features The Allman Brothers Band, the Bottle Rockets, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Edwin McCain, John Popper of Blues Traveler and Kevin Kinney of Drivin' & Cryin'. Highlights include Gov't Mule's cover of Tom Waits' "Goin' Out West" and Haynes, Kinney, Popper and McCain together covering Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released."

Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Diana Ross Wednesday, Korn Thursday and Buckcherry Friday. Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Son Volt Thursday, Relient K Friday, Beastie Boys Monday and Gnarls Barkley Tuesday. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson hosts Cat Empire Thursday and John Mellencamp Friday. Last Call with Carson Daly features house band Silversun Pickups all week. and Jimmy Kimmel Live presents LL Cool J Wednesday, Locksley Friday and Madeleine Peyroux on Tuesday.

New Releases Coming Tuesday
300 ­ original motion picture soundtrack (Warner Bros) score by Tyler Bates; Air ­ Pocket Symphony (Astralwerks) featuring guest vocalists Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon, and the use of unusual Japanese instruments the Shamisen and the Koto; Alabama Thunderpussy ­ Open Fire (Relapse) featuring new singer Kyle Thomas; Antibalas ­ Security (Anti) adventurous Afrobeat jams from this global 12-piece collective, produced by John McEntire of Tortoise; Arcade Fire ­ Neon Bible (Merge) also available as a 180-gram vinyl audiophile LP, or in a deluxe-edition CD box-set with two nifty "flip-books"; Blackfield - Blackfield II (Atlantic/We Put Out Records) new from Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree and Israel's Aviv Geffen; Cashman - Texassippi Stomp (219 Records) lonesome back-porch, acoustic Delta Blues and wicked, wang-dang, floorboard-shakin' electric roar from this stomping duo; Chimaira ­ Resurrection (Ferret Music) on tour now with Killswitch Engage; The Cinematics ­ A Strange Education (TVT) majestic, highly danceable Brit Pop from Scotland with a delicious nervous snap, on tour starting next week with Mute Math; Consequence - Don't Quit Your Day Job (Good Getting Out Our Dreams Records) with John Legend, Kayne West and DJ Khaled; Ry Cooder ­ My Name Is Buddy (Nonesuch) with guests Van Dyke Parks, Flaco Jimenez and The Chieftains' Paddy Maloney, plus illustrations by Vincent Valdez; Dawn of Man - In the Bronze Age (Postfact) debut EP from this arty, whip-smart quintet featuring Brian Clancy of Bluetip; Albert Hammond, Jr. ­ Yours To Keep (Scratchie/New Line) solo debut from The Strokes' guitarist, with guests Jody Porter of Fountains of Wayne, Ben Kweller and Sean Lennon; The Higher - On Fire (Epitaph) hook-heavy melodic Emo Pop from Las Vegas, featuring a bonus remix by Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy; Korn ­ MTV Unplugged (Virgin) featuring a cover of Radiohead's "Creep," and appearances by Robert Smith of The Cure and Amy Lee of Evanescence; Lovedrug - Everything Starts Where It Ends (Militia Group); Wynton Marsalis - From the Plantation To the Penitentiary (Blue Note); MRNORTH - Fear & Desire (Rock Ridge); My Brightest Diamond - Tear It Down (Asthmatic Kitty) remix CD with Gold Chains and Alias; The Namesake - original motion picture soundtrack (Rounder) score by Nitin Sawhney; Relient K - Five Score and Seven Years Ago (Gotee/Capitol) featuring guest Jon Foreman of Switchfoot on the hidden track, "Deathbed"; Revolting Cocks ­ Cocktail Mixxx (Megaforce) remixes from last year's Cocked and Loaded album; Shaw-Blades ­ Influence (VH1 Classic) "cool breeze" covers collection from Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades of the Damn Yankees, harmonizing through The Zombies' "Time of the Season," Steely Dan's "Dirty Work" and ELP's "Lucky Man"; Son Volt - The Search (Transmit Sound/Legacy) all-new studio album; Maria Taylor ­ Lynn Teeter Flower (Saddle Creek) new solo album from the Azure Ray co-founder, with guest Conor Oberst on "The Ballad of Sean Foley"; Various Artists - Jonny Greenwood Is the Controller (Trojan/Sanctuary) fantastic collection of 17 crucial tracks from the Trojan Records' vaults personally selected by the Radiohead multi-instrumentalist, featuring Linval Thompson, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Desmond Dekker and Delroy Wilson.