• De La Soul Spit Flows & Safety (Tommy Boy)--Their first full-length release since last year's theme song for Baby Phat. It was real good, even though it was written for a fashion label specializing in boob-cupping velour jumpsuits.
• Majesticons Beauty Party (Big Dada)--Mike Ladd and his high-concept, fake-bling crew return for THEE best hiphop record so far this year. Packed with club-banging beats; sharp-witted lyrics; and guests Murs, El-P, and Vast Aire.
• Nate Dogg Nate Dogg (Elektra)--On Nate's new single, "Get Up," he commands: "Get up, get down. I'm on my way to the liquor store."
• Notwist Neon Golden (Domino)--Finally, the Krauts stop hoarding one of their most heavenly electronic pop bands.
• Sonic Youth/Erase Errata Buddy Series Vol. 1 7" (Narnack)--The East Coast art ensemble took the West Coast revolutionaries under their wing, and this 7" record ensued.
DVD RELEASES (TUESDAY, FEB 25)
• Queer as Folk: The Complete Second Season (2000)--The gays are whooping it up again in this six DVD set originally broadcast on Showtime.
• Tales of the City (1994)--More gay TV! This three DVD soap opera based on the Armistead Maupin books stars Olympia Dukakis, Donald Moffat, and (be still my heart) Laura Linney.
• The Road to Perdition (2002)--Tom Hanks gets bleak in this Depression-era mob drama. When the son of hitman Hanks witnesses a murder, father and child take a road trip to revenge.
• I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967)--A Swedish sociologist conducts a sexy survey, giving her the opportunity to bone people all over the country. Adorable, at least compared to today's pornos.
• Tuck Everlasting (2002)--Rory from The Gilmore Girls stars in this adaptation of the Natalie Babbitt novel. Victorian spinster-in-training hooks up with an immortal teenage hunk.
NEW TYPES OF CANDY
• Buttered Toast Jelly Beans (Jelly Belly Candy Co.)-- Offering up "the taste of breakfast," the Jelly Belly company present their newest jelly beans, which are "loaded with buttery notes, yeasty fresh bread, and a sweet toast taste."
• Soft and Chewy Stinky Feet (Necco)--This chewy new foot-shaped candy comes in Sour Apple and Zesty Cinnamon flavors and, according to the makers, are expected to "walk off" retailers' shelves.
• Dubble Bubble Bubble Meter (National Candy Co.)-- With this "pocket-sized meter" kids can now measure their bubbles more accurately. Each notch is labeled from one inch ("Trouble Bubble") to six inches ("hot air balloon").
• Scriptures Candy (Scripture Candy Co.)--Tiny breath mints shaped like the Christian fish symbol. Comes in a decorative tin with inspirational biblical scriptures printed on the inside. Plus, they're sugar-free.
