Axl Rose (left) and James Hetfield (right)

John McCain isn't doing so well these days, but a few other old-timers had a triumphant week on SPIN.com: Metallica kicked off their world tour, Eminem rapped about hip-hop, and a little band named Guns N' Roses (ever heard of 'em?) released their first single since Ally McBeal was on TV.

And while old-school was hot again, so was new-school: The annual CMJ Marathon hit New York City, and our staff enjoyed -- and endured -- new acts of varying quality. Check out the week's top stories and features below to see what we're talking about.

Highlights

Metallica Kick Off World Tour
With new tunes, old rarities, and pyrotechnics aplenty, the hard rock titans prove their mettle with a searing set in Arizona. >> Read
'Chinese Democracy' Song Released to Radio
A new single off Guns N' Roses' long-awaited album hit airwaves. >> Read
Eminem: "The Majority of Rap is Crap!"
The Detroit emcee sounds off on the current hip-hop scene -- but reveals a few artists he really digs. >> Read
The 9 Hottest New Bands Playing CMJ 2008
Free downloads! Hear SPIN.com's top CMJ discoveries without leaving the comfort of your own home. >> Read
The Best and Worst of CMJ '08, Vol. 1
Two days into New York's college music fest, SPIN editors make their notable concert picks. Click here to see which bands made our list! >> Read

Editors' Blog

Eminem's 'The Way I Am'…Isn't Much
Insightful memoir or tired marketing ploy? SPIN's David Marchese explains who should buy -- and who shouldn't bother. >> Read
How I Got Hooked on 'Twilight'
One woman's uneasy confession about the teen vampire novel that's about to become a blockbuster movie, by SPIN's Phoebe Reilly. >> Read
First Listen: New Guns N' Roses Single Reviewed
SPIN's Steve Kandell weighs in on the official first release from the most-delayed album EVER! >> Read
"Why I Can't Listen to Elliott Smith's Music"
Five years after the tortured singer-songwrtier's suicide, SPIN's Ellen Carpenter talks about the day the music died. >> Read
SPIN.com's Top 25 MGMT Remixes
A.K.A., "I Started a Joke (or Careful: MGMT at Play), Vol. 2." SPIN's Charles Aaron continues his epic look at Brooklyn's it-makers. >> Read
'Gossip Girl': The Music Grows Up -- OMFG!
The show has moved smartly from radio hits to indie discoveries. But SPIN's Abby Everdell says the new soundtrack album proves there's still room to mature. >> Read

Audio/Video

Exclusive Song: Scott Weiland, "Crash"
The Stone Temple Pilots singer-gone-solo continues his sonic experiment in this tune off his sophomore album, Happy in Galoshes, out November 25. >> Read
Exclusive Stream: Greg Dulli, "Candy Cane Crawl"
Listen to this slow-burning ballad from the ex-Afghan Whigs frontman's new album, Live at Triple Door. >> Read
New Video: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, "Gardenia"
Members of Weezer, Mudhoney, and Girl Talk appear in this video for the jangly track off the band's latest album, Real Emotional Trash. >> Read
Exclusive Stream: The (International) Noise Conspiracy, "Arm Yourself"
Check out this herky-jerky tune off the Swedish agit rockers' latest album, The Cross of My Calling. >> Read
New Video: Matt & Kim: "Daylight"
Plus: The lovey-dovey duo hit the road this fall. >> Read