'Crane Wife' marks the literate, Colin Meloy-led band's major label debut.

Steve Albini co-produced the artist's first album in three years.

The anticon crew that includes Doseone--and, fortunately, the nearly-killed Dax Pierson--makes the jump to a more major label (EMI/Astralwerks) for the first time.

Joe Pernice & co. return with an album produced by Michael Deming.

This is the much-blogged-about first album for the Baltimore duo of Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand.

The surprisingly successful party band's second album includes a track co-written with Elton John.

Mark Linkous' first Sparklehorse album in five years includes collaborations with Danger Mouse, Christian Fennesz, and Tom Waits.

The first solo album for the Metric singer finds her backed by members of Stars, Metric and Broken Social Scene (together billed as The Soft Skeleton).

The noisy, intense Michigan band returns with a follow-up to 2004's 'Burned Mind.'

This double-disc live set features 21 tracks (many from last year's 'Z') recorded at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

This is the second album of home-made recordings for multi-instrumentalist and former Fridge bassist Adem Ilhan.

'Darkel' marks the solo debut for Air's JB Dunckel.

This is the third studio album for the Toronto collective headed by Joel Gibb.

'Empire' marks the second release for the English dance-rock band.

A true solo effort, this self-titled release finds the 25-year-old Kweller handling all of the instrumentation himself for the first time.

Jim White and Paul Oldham are among the guests on prolific songwriter Will Oldham's latest Bonnie "Prince" Billy studio recording.

The singer-songwriter's fifth studio album is the first for his new record label, Lonely Astronaut.

Stephen Street produced this sophomore set for Liverpool's Zutons.

David Bowie guests on the highly-anticipated second LP (and major-label debut) from the distinctive NYC band.

The New York City dance-punk outfit returns with a sophomore album a full three years after their debut 'Echoes.' 'Pieces' sees them ditching The DFA for new producers Ewan Pearson, Paul Epworth and Danger Mouse.

After two relatively subdued albums, Ira, Georgia and James return with a much more varied effort that at times recalls pretty much every stage of their history. Roger Moutenot again produces.

TAL's fourth disc is almost a Jimmy LaValle solo recording, with the band leader handling the bulk of the instrumentation, vocals, and production.

This is the fourth LP for the minimalist blues-rock duo of Patrick Carney (drums) and Dan Auedback (vocals/guitar).

The band's third album finds producer/songwriter Andy LeMaster once again joined by Azure Ray's Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor, plus drummer Clay Leverett.

This fourth album marks the Barsuk debut for the eclectic Portland, Ore. husband-and-wife duo of Kevin and Anita Robinson.

Deerhoof's Greg Saunier produced this fifth album for the experimental Bay Area band led by Jamie Stewart.

The singer-songwriter reunites with producer J.D. Foster for his eighth album, which also finds him backed by former members of Guided By Voices.

This is the incredibly prolific Jason Molina's second studio album with his blues-rock outfit Magnolia Electric Co.

The all-female Japanese experimental rock outfit led by The Boredoms' Yoshimi P-We returns with a fifth album.

The Detroit party-rockers return with a third album.

This intricate second album for the Brooklyn-based band led by Edward Droste is their first for Warp Records.

The Los Angeles-based California-rock outfit led by Darren and Ann Do Rademaker returns with a third album.

The Tim Kasher-led band has lost its cellist (Gretta Cohn) but added a horn section for its latest release, produced, as always, by Mike Mogis.

This B-sides and rarities complilation contains 18 previously-released (although not always easy-to-find) tracks.

This is the tenth album for the very large Nashville band led by Kurt Wagner.

John Darnielle follows 'The Sunset Tree' with this equally personal 12-song set.

The Slint and Tortoise guitarist's second solo album under his given name expands on the sound of his first by adding a rhythm section into the mix.

Brendan Canty (Fugazi) produced this third album for the Oregon band, down to the duo of Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster after the departure of original drummer Jordan Hudson.

The singer-songwriter's fifth release finds him backed for the first time by a full band, which includes Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists) and Jordan Hudson (The Thermals). Neko Case and My Morning Jacket's Jim James guest.

The Stars vocalist makes her solo debut, backed by members of that band as well as of Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think, and Metric.

This is the second solo outing for the former Archers Of Loaf and Crooked Fingers frontman.

The Canadian musician's follow-up to 'Infiniheart' was once again recorded solo at his home.

Anyone disappointed by the last Daft Punk album might enjoy this funky, largely instrumental second album for the New York duo.

This 2004 debut album for the Austin, Texas band was re-released (with four bonus tracks mixed by Spoon's Jim Eno) in 2006 when the band signed with Barsuk.

The indie-pop trio from Illinois--making their debut with 'Kindness'--features former members of Maserati and Absinthe Blind.

One of six (!) new albums recently recorded by the Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. frontman, the mostly-acoustic 'Let Me Go' is a vinyl-only release (that conveniently comes with a full CD version of the album).

This seven-song follow-up to 2004's 'Blue Cathedral' adds a bit more melody and cleaner sound to the band's usual noise assault.

This double album marks the first solo release for the "brother" half of the brother-sister duo Fiery Furnaces. While the 'Holy Ghost' disc is as bizarre and experimental as recent Furnaces releases, 'Winter Women' marks a detour into more accessible pop.

This debut LP (which actually collects tracks from three previous EPs together with a few new songs) from the English singer-songwriter combines indie rock with lo-fi electronics and '60s and '70s pop influences.

This is the second album for the British garage rockers.

The John Roderick-led Seattle indie rockers return with a third album.

This is the second album for the Australian band led by Luke Steele.

The Bay Area post-punkers get political on their third album, which was recorded without departed guitarist Sara Jaffe.

This is the third album (and first American release) for the Swedish brother-sister electro-pop duo of Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson.

This sophomore set finds the Texas five-piece utilizing a 1970's classic rock / soft rock sound.

This is the debut full-length for the Lawrence, Kansas band consisting of Matt Suggs (Butterglory), Rob Pope (The Get Up Kids), and John Anderson, Zach Holland, Dustin Kinsey (Thee Higher Burning Fire).

Doug Boehm returns as producer for this ten-track set.

This is the full-length debut for the new duo of Death From Above 1979's Jesse Keeler and that band's producer, Al-P.

This Brazilian dance-rock outfit may be "Tired Of Being Sexy," but that didn't stop Sub Pop from making them the first South American addition to its roster. This is their debut.

They're either a bit early or a bit late with their new year's tidings, but the experimental Brooklyn band is back with 11 new tracks.

Leslie Feist, Joan Jett, Josh Homme and Beth Ditto are among the guests on the electro-sleaze (and we mean that in a good way) artist's third LP.

Each of these 21 tracks originated during the recording of Stevens' 2005 album 'Illinoise,' although most were re-recorded or fleshed out during later sessions. Included are several new versions of the track "Chicago" from that earlier album.

This full-length debut for the UK-based indie-pop band led by Fyfe Dangerfield includes the previously-released single "Trains To Brazil."

This sixth album for Rjyan Kidwell's Cex project finds him joined by Joan of Arc's Cale Parks and his wife Roby Newton.

Kool Keith's second Dr. Octagon album follows a full decade after his first, with production this time handled by One Watt Sun.

The troubadour offers his take on a dozen 1980s alternative-rock classics, including songs by R.E.M., The Cure, New Order, The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen and The Pixies.

Leaving Songs is the Nashville-recorded second solo disc for Tindersticks frontman Stuart Staples, who is joined by Maria McKee on one track.

This is the Matador debut for the Northern California outfit founded by cabin- and tent-dwelling childhood friends (from Alabama) Nathan Shineywater and Rachael Hughes.

The typically prolific Black returns with a 27-song, two-disc set produced by Jon Tiven. Among the many musicians lending a hand are Spooner Oldham and Levon Helm (The Band).

The title of this ninth Divine Comedy album for Neil Hannon echoes back to the band's debut, 'Fanfare For The Comic Muse.'

Ben Hillier produced the English band's sophomore set, which is a bit more varied in sound than their debut.

This is the first release in three years for the husband-and-wife duo of Brett and Rennie Sparks.

The genre-mashing Londoners return with a quick follow-up to last year's debut 'Coming On Strong.'

This long-awaited follow-up to 2002's 'I Phantom' once again reunites the indie MC (also known as Jeffrey Haynes) with producer El-P. Also appearing are Aesop Rock, Akrobatik, Blueprint, and Murs.

Ben Chasny returns with a follow-up to 'School Of The Flower.'

The Russia-born, New York-based anti-folkie returns with a dozen new tracks produced by David Kahne (The Strokes).

This all-instrumental disc is the score for the upcoming Canadian film of the same name.

The experimental Dallas, Texas outfit led by John Congleton returns with a spooky, noisy fourth album.

The acclaimed Argentinean artist returns with her fourth album of moody, electronica-infused indie-folk.

This self-titled release is the full-length (well, 33-minute) debut for the teen garage-rockers from Nashville fronted by the Karen O-esque Jemina Pearl.

The six-piece Glaswegian indie-pop band really did leave the country, recording this third full-length with producer Jari Haapalainen (The Concretes) in Sweden.

This is the second of two releases from an improvised collaboration between pop and jazz drummer Reid and folktronica artist Hebden (Four Tet, Fridge).

Self-produced album number five for Neil Halstead & co. is a more upbeat affair than the norm, with Victor Van Vugt (PJ Harvey) handling the mixing.

'Free To Stay' is the second record for the indie-pop duo of sisters Chloe (drums) and Asya (keyboards, vocals), who have opened for Death Cab for Cutie, Pearl Jam, Sufjan Stevens, The Go! Team and others, and who just happen to be 12 and 14 years old.