plus: Mandy Patinkin, Testament, Mike Stern [ tickets ], Wayne Hancock, The Residents [ tickets ], more.

System of a Down
“Toxicity” (Columbia)

System of a Down’s sophomore effort is the follow-up to its self-titled 1998 debut, which featured the group’s breakthrough hit, “Sugar.” The new album was produced by Rick Rubin (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Slayer) and mixed by Andy Wallace (Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine, Staind).

“Chop Suey,” the first single from “Toxicity,” shows up on trade publication Radio & Records’ latest Active Rock national-airplay chart at No. 12, and checks in on Billboard’s both Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts at Nos. 18 and 19, respectively. A streaming version of the full-length track can be heard at System of a Down’s official website.

To launch its new release, System of a Down will play a free concert in an L.A.-area parking lot on Monday (9/3). Details about the event can be found at the group’s website, as can information on the group’s planned record signings on Tuesday (9/4) and Friday (9/7) in L.A. and New York, respectively.

On Sept. 14, System of a Down will embark on a co-headlining tour with Slipknot. Dubbed the Pledge of Allegiance Tour, the outing will also feature Mudvayne and Rammstein.

Click here to read liveDaily's April 2001 interview with System frontman Serj Tankian.

Toploader
“Onka's Big Moka (Epic)

Looking to grab some of the recent stateside success achieved by British guitar-pop acts like Coldplay, Travis and Doves, Toploader is releasing its 2000 debut in the U.S.

A five-piece that hails from the English coastal town of Eastbourne, Toploader has already garnered remarkable success in its homeland. “Onka’s Big Moka” was released in Britain in early 2000, and has gone on to sell over one million copies there. The group was nominated for four 2001 Brit Awards (the British equivalent of the Grammy Awards) for Best Group, Best Newcomer, Best Single and Best Video.

The first U.S. single from “Onka’s Big Moka” is entitled “Achilles Heel,” and streaming video and audio clips are available on the band’s official website.

Mandy Patinkin
“Kidults” (Nonesuch)

Patinkin's sixth solo album is a collection of popular American songs geared toward both children and adults. The set includes "If I Only Had a Brain," "The Ugly Duckling, "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" and several medleys, among them "'A' You're Adorable / Getting to Know You."

“Kidults” features a pair of duets with Kristin Chenoweth. Couch potatoes will know Chenoweth as the star of the NBC sitcom "Kristin," and Patinkin from his extended stint on the series "Chicago Hope"--as well as from such movies as "Alien Nation," "The Princess Bride" (remember "My name is Ińigo Montoya"?) and "Yentl"--but both are Broadway stars.

Patinkin won a Tony for his role as Che in "Evita," and has performed in many significant Broadway productions, including "The Wild Party" and "Sunday in the Park with George." Chenoweth won a Tony for her work in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

Patinkin’s previous solo album was the Yiddish-themed "Mamaloshen," released on Nonesuch in 1998. He also appeared on a cast album of "The Wild Party" that was released by Decca Broadway last year.

Testament
“Very Best of Testament” (Rhino)

This collection features tracks culled from Testament’s first seven studio albums, including the songs “Practice What You Preach," “The Legacy,” “Disciples of the Watch” and others. The album’s liner notes include track-by-track comments from original guitarist Eric Peterson and a band history written by metal-music journalist Martin Popoff, according to a press release.

The cover art for “The Very Best of Testament” was created by Bill Benson, designer of all of the band’s previous album covers.

Earlier this year, Testament announced that frontman Chuck Billy had been diagnosed with cancer. The singer began a final round of chemotherapy in June, and is reportedly doing well in his battle against the disease, according to the band’s official website.

Mike Stern
“Voices” (Atlantic)

Stern’s 10th studio album finds the jazz guitarist--whose previous works are largely instrumental--collaborating with Cameroonian bassist-vocalist Richard Bona of the Zawinul Syndicate, and vocalists Elizabeth Kontomanou, Arto Tuncboyaciyan and Philip Hamilton.

Other guests on the album include tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, drummer Dennis Chambers, bassists Chris Doky and Lincoln Goines and guitarist Jon Herington, according to a press release.

Stern has played on recordings by Miles Davis, Steps Ahead, and the Brecker Brothers, and won the Orville W. Gibson Award for Best Jazz Guitarist in 1997.

Click here to read LiveDaily’s recent interview with Stern.

Wayne Hancock
"A-Town Blues" (Bloodshot)

Having made his last two albums for the eclectic Ark 21 label, Wayne "The Train" Hancock has taken his western swing to Bloodshot Records, widely considered to be the flagship label of alt-country music.

Bloodshot doesn't have audio samples up yet, though it does inform readers that "Wayne is the only Bloodshot artist to have had their CD taken aboard the space shuttle."

Hancock will kick off a tour in support of the album on Friday (9/7), according to Bloodshot.

The Residents
"Icky Flix" soundtrack (East Side Digital)

Since 1974, the legendary--and legendarily anonymous--Residents have made their reputation with their albums, but they are also accomplished visual artists.

"Icky Flix" is a DVD compilation of the band's videos. With the soundtrack, according to the label, "the group decided to update the music from their videos and films with completely new arrangements and recording."

The Residents are currently touring in Europe, but have a six-night stand scheduled in late October at the Brava Theatre in San Francisco, according to the group-sanctioned RzWeb website. The costumed band plans to wrap up that engagement on Halloween night.

Other new releases:

Abyss - “Other Side/Summon The Beast” (Nuclear Blast)
Dan Adams Band - “Shadows” (Orchard)
American Analog Set - “Know By Heart” (Tiger Style)
Asheru & Blue Black - “Soon Come... “ (Seven Heads)
David Benton - “Vol. 1-Schizophonia” (Orchard)
Bhinder/Dream - “Bombay One” (Bombay)
Booda Velvets - “Headrush” (Gotham)
Bows - “Cassidy” (Too Pure)
Jeff Carson - “Real Life” (Curb)
Converge - “Jane Doe” (Equal Vision)
Dark Philosophy - “Edge” (Orchard)
Doobie Brothers - “Greatest Hits” (Rhino)
Dr. Hook - “Super Hits” (Sony/Legacy)
Ever Eve - “Regret” (Nuclear Blast)
Fair Sex - “Fine We Are Alive” (Sin-Drome)
Four Hundred Four Soldierz - “Walk Like A Soldier” (Epic)
Fugu - “Fugu 1” (Minty Fresh)
G-Man/L-Chedda - “34 Village” (Critical)
Ginsberg/Corso/Oriovsky - “Three Angels” (Studio K7)
Girls Under Glass - “Frozen” (Sin-Drome)
Margo Guryan - “25 Demos” (Oglio)
Halo - “Guattari” (Relapse)
Hooters - “Super Hits” (Sony/Legacy)
Hypocrisy - “Ten Years Of Chaos & Confusion” (Nuclear Blast)
In Flames - “Tokyo Showdown-Live” (Nuclear Blast)
Karma To Burn - “Almost Heathen” (Spitfire)
Hal Ketchum - “Lucky Man” (Curb)
Kneegirl - “Kneegirl” (Orchard)
Krs-One - “Strictly For Da Breakdancers” (X-Ray)
Love As Laughter - “Sea To Shining Sea” (Sub Pop)
Mazarin - “Tall Tale Storyline” (Spin Art)
Mc Lyte - “Very Best Of Mc Lyte” (Rhino)
Moka Only - “Moka Only Is Ron Contour” (Underworld Inc.)
Morcheeba - “Back To Mine” (Ultra)
Murder City Devils - “Thelema” [EP] (Sup Pop)
Pendragon - “History 1984-2000” (Cleopatra)
Plastic Noise Experience - “196c” (Sin-Drome)
Pocket-Sized Room - “Have Your Cake (And Eat It Too)” (Orchard)
Potluck - “Humboldt Country High” (Orchard)
Quango - “Lush Life Electronica” (Palm Pictures)
Shakur - “Mixes Remixes & Unheard Tracks” (Shakur)
Michael J. Sheehy - “Ill Gotten Gains” (Beggars Banquet)
Skinny Puppy - “Vol. 5: Doomsday - Back & Forth” (Caroline)
Sonata Arctica - “Silence” (Caroline)
Soulwhirlingsomewhere - “Please Send Help” (Projekt)
Stanton Warriors - “The Stanton Session” (Beggars Banquet)
Stuck Mojo - “Violate This” (Caroline)
T-Rock - “Sikinthehed” (Ground Control)
Three Mustaphas 3 - “Play Musty For Me” (Omnium)
Twilight - “Look Up” (Nebulous)
Various artists - “Best Of Sessions At West 54th” (Sony/Legacy)
Various artists - “Vol. 3-Cool Country Hits” (Curb)
Various artists - “Pranksters Present Infused” (Hydrogen Dukebox)
Various artists - “Songmaker's Collection” (Atlantic/Q)
Various artists - “Vol. 4-Trancespotting” (Hypnotic)
Various artists - “Turntables By The Bay” (Hip Hop Slam)
Rick Wakeman - “Tales Of Future & Past” (Purple Pyramid)