Projekt Revolution

It's hard not to consider this year's Projekt Revolution tour a clash of genres on par with the ol' Mods vs. Rockers debate. A few acts — such as perennial hip-hop/rock/metal hybrideers Linkin Park — are comfortable jumping between scenes, but most bands on the bill tend to stick to their comfort zones. Don't assume this means the daylong event is totally full of stereotypes, though: The Bravery went for a spacier, more expansive brand of synthpop on its latest disc, while earnest Ohio rockers Hawthorne Heights toned down the screaming and amped the production gloss on the new album Fragile Future, the band's first since guitarist Casey Calvert unexpectedly passed away. Bizarrely enough, it's ex-Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell who most rebels against musical constraints these days: The grunge dreamboat recently collaborated with Timbaland, and the music marries Top 40 squelches and beats to his soulful bulldog vocals.