Last month we introduced Mariachi El Bronx, the new south-of-the-border alter-ego of Los Angeles group the Bronx. A hardcore punk band doing straight-up mariachi music -- has April Fool's Day come early?

Many rock bands' personal experience of Mexican culture is limited to one too many shots of tequila. But Los Angeles punks the Bronx have embraced their SoCal roots to create their alter-ego, Mariachi El Bronx -- donning full South of the Border regalia, playing acoustic instruments and horns, and rocking out Mariachi-style.

This week's top stories had us thinking that summer couldn't come soon enough: Green Day announced their summer tour plans, while officials unveiled the lineup for this year's Lollapalooza festival. Meanwhile, Eminem unveiled the pilled-out cover of his summer release and Oasis announced plans to take a summer vacation -- for five years!

Dun, dun… dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun… ATTACK!

Here's a rundown of the essential albums available online and in record stores today:

No doubt about it, this week belonged to newly-minted President-Elect Barack Obama. But that doesn't mean the music world lay dormant: Fall Out Boy, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Decemberists all kicked off their respective U.S. tours, while the Killers treated fans to new tracks in London.