Reasons to go to Louisville: The Kentucky Derby, Cardinals basketball games and My Morning Jacket. These “southern rockers” are back today with their new album, Evil Urges. Hype has been steadily building for this release since MMJ lit up the stage at Coachella earlier this year. Expect Jim James’ subdued, Kentucky fried screech to be accompanied by more experimentation by his bandmates. Word is James listened to nothing but Prince for the past two years and the songs show. Along with a heavy obsession with VH1’s I Love the 80s, the influences shine through. Expect funky interludes, dancey beats and plenty of basslines going for a walk.

Continue Reading for more about My Morning Jacket, new about Pearl Jam and other music news for this week.

The band will be out and about supporting Urges throughout the entire summer, including Bonnaroo this weekend in Manchester, Tenn. The band will hit Canada and the European festival circuit before returning stateside for headlining dates starting August 16 in Louisville and ending October 10 with a two-night stand in Chicago.

Speaking of Bonnaroo, fellow headliners Pearl Jam aren’t sitting still, either. With no record to support (a new one may come out in 2009) and no momentum to run on, they’re building on their Bonnaroo set with an East Coast swing this month. Only 12 shows were booked for the trek, starting tomorrow in West Palm Beach, Fla., and rolling north to Tennessee for Saturday’s headliner set at Bonnaroo Farm. Following dates continue to head north, ending with a two-night stand in Mansfiled, Mass., just outside Boston. Check eBay for tickets, these babies are all sold out.

This is a busy week for music… check out what else is going on this week:

New records drop today from Scottish indie wonderkids the Fratellis (Here We Stand); Virginia hip hop innovators N.E.R.D. (Seeing Sounds); ex-Wallflowers frontman Jakob Dyland (Seeing Things); and Billy Bob Thornton’s new hillbilly rock outfit, the Boxmasters.

Summer touring season is in full swing. If you’re in the New York area, the hottest spot to check out some tunes this summer is Brookyn’s McCarren Park Pool. Picture a quasi-swimming pool/urban cement jungle in the heart of Brooklyn’s gritty Greenpoint neighborhood… but with kick ass bands. Death Cab for Cutie is playing there tonight, supporting their latest, Narrow Stairs. Others coming this summer: Gogol Bordello (June 20), The Hold Steady (June 29), Liars (July 20), Ween (July 25), the Black Keys (August 7) and Wilco (August 13). Some shows are free, check out their website, www.mccarrenpark.com, for all the info.