Morrissey's first studio release since 1997 (and seventh overall) was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Jerry Finn (Blink-182, Green Day) and longtime collaborators Alain Whyte and Boz Boorer.

This is the full-length debut for the Dallas, TX trio of brothers Benjamin and Brandon Curtis and Josh Garza.

The UK five-piece worked with producer Tchad Blake for this fourth LP.

The Seattle-based punk band returns with their third album.

The lo-fi Portland, Ore. band returns with a second album, recorded with engineer Chris Walla (Death Cab For Cutie).

Hatfield's fourth solo disc (and first since 2000) finds her working with producers and engineers David Way (Pink, Madonna), David Leonard (Avril Lavigne, Prince) and Dave Cook (Nick Cave).

The Canadian singer-songwriter returns with ten new songs, co-produced by Morissette with John Shanks and Tim Thorney.

Steve Albini returns as producer for the Welsh indie-punk trio's third album.

The New York City five-piece (yes, they're one of *those* New York bands) make their debut with 'Red Bedroom,' mixing dance and punk like it's 2002 all over again.

'Glamour' is the debut disc for the English band led by singer Greg Gilbert, whose voice has drawn him numerous comparisons to the Cocteau Twins' Liz Fraser (as odd as that may sound).

Kravitz handled virtually all of the instruments for this seventh album, which features a guest appearance from Jay-Z on the track "Storm."

The British band's eighth album sees Tim Burgess abandoning the falsetto he used on 2001's departure 'Wonderland' as the group returns to the more rock-oriented style of 'Tellin' Stories.'

The Swedish garage rockers return with a sophomore LP.

The second LP from the New York-based artist/musician/crazy hippie Devendra Banhart (who studied at the San Francisco Art Institute) includes 16 of the 32 lo-fi tracks recorded in the living room of veteran recording engineer Lynn Bridges. The remaining 16 will be released on a separate album later in 2004.

'Heroes' marks the third album for the ever-strange UK outfit, who self-produced the disc and handed it off to Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) for mixing.

Leaving Sub Pop behind for a different Northwest label (Strange Attractors), the Seattle band returns with a collection of new studio recordings, rehearsal sessions, and a 30-minute live track.

The Los Angeles band celebrates 30 years in the music business with this 12th studio recording, the first the band has self-produced. Guests include Café Tacuba, Dave Alvin, Tom Waits, Ruben Blades and Elvis Costello.

This sophomore disc finds the New York foursome moving a bit further into 80s synth-pop territory.

This is the second solo disc for Faint bassist Joel Petersen. Mike Mogis produces.

Neil Hannon returns with his first album since 2001's 'Regeneration.' Basically a solo effort (though retaining the Divine Comedy name), 'Friends' was produced and largely performed by Hannon, with Nigel Godrich handling the mixing.

Stephin Merritt handles all of the vocal duties on Magnetic Fields' latest release (so named because each song title begins with the letter I), though the musicians who helped flesh out '69 Love Songs' return, including Claudia Gonson (also of Future Bible Heroes and the band's manager), John Woo and Sam Davol.

Alan Moulder mixed this sophomore disc for the hard-rocking Los Angeles band, known for their black and red "uniforms" and strong live sets.

This 16-track disc (complete with a brief intermission between 'sets') marks the first studio recording in a whopping 22 years for the Boston-based trio of Roger Miller (guitar, vocals), Clint Conley (bass, vocals) and Peter Prescott (drums, vocals), with production by Bob Weston and Rick Harte and additional instrumentation on two tracks by the band Rachel's.

The third full-length for indie singer-songwriter Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn was recorded with Calvin Johnson and Phil Elverum (The Microphones).

'Escondida' marks the first solo studio disc for the Texas-born folk singer-songwriter who also co-founded the Canadian group The Be Good Tanyas.

The legendary rocker's ninth album is a lowercase effort (song titles included), featuring her daughter Jesse on piano on the title track, as well as the same backing band that has been with her for the past decade.

Husband T Bone Burnett produced this latest effort for the singer-songwriter, her first in three years.

'Runaway Found' marks the debut LP for the London (by way of New Zealand) rock outfit led by 19-year-old singer/guitarist Finn Andrews. Their epic sound has drawn the band comparisons to many of the usual suspects (Coldplay, Radiohead, the Verve).

This is the all-instrumental (think somewhere in between Out Hud and Daft Punk) debut album for the New York duo of Evan Mast and Mike Stroud (who formerly operated under the name Cherry).

'Inches' compiles A- and B- sides from nine different singles (originally released on nine different labels) dating back to the Rhode Island band's inception in 1995.

'Almost Killed Me' is the debut for the New York City band featuring two former members of Lifter Puller, including band founder Craig Finn. Unlike most recent NYC bands, they draw their influences from classic American rock.

The 45-year-old former squiggle makes a return to form with his first release in three years.

The three Hanson brothers (now ranging in age from 19 to 24) return with their third album, a full seven years after first hitting the pop charts.

This is the second solo release for English singer-songwriter Gordon Anderson, who was a member of the original Beta Band lineup (and author of several of their hits including "Dry The Rain"). He tends to get labeled an "eccentric" by the music press, with frequent Syd Barrett comparisons.

This loud but eclectic disc marks the debut for the sextet from Nottingham, England.

The Chicago post-rock instrumentalists add vocals (courtesy of Kelly Hogan) into the mix for the first time on this, their fifth LP.

Produced by Dennis Herring (Camper Van Beethoven), the latest release from the Seattle-based indie rockers sees a return of guitarist Dann Gallucci (last with the band on Sad Sappy Sucker) and a new drummer (Benjamin Weikel) as well as a guest spot from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

'Curse' marks the eighth studio album for Deborah Harry & co., and their first since their 1999 comeback effort 'No Exit.'

This self-titled disc marks the debut for the unique-sounding New York post-rock/experimental trio of Philip Wann and twin sisters Claudia and Alley Deheza. Steve Rivette (Liars) produced, with guest drumming from Interpol's Sam Fogarino.

The 22-year-old Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter returns with 11 new tracks produced by Ethan Johns (Kings Of Leon).

Martin Terefe returns as producer for this sixth LP from the Canadian singer-songwriter, which includes appearances by Ed Harcourt and members of Travis.

The band's sixth album is their first for Polyvinyl and sees them branching out, into "1970s Afro beat and '80s new wave" as they say.

On this sixth album, the Athens, GA band's lineup has been expanded to include guitarist Eric Harris (Olivia Tremor Control) and bassist Craig McQuiston (The Glands). Vic Chesnutt guests on the title track.

The Silent League is the new orchestral pop outfit for Mercury Rev touring keyboardist Justin Russo. On this debut disc, Russo and the other five permanent group members were joined by Grasshopper from Mercury Rev, Interpol drummer Sam Fogarino, and Grand Mal's Bill Whitten.

The latest LP from Steven Tyler & co. includes just one original ("The Grind") with the remainder of the tracks occupied by covers of blues standards.

The guitarist pays homage to legendary bluesman Robert Johnson with these 14 covers.

The Scottish band led by Gary Lightbody (also leader of the Reindeer Section) returns with a third LP.

Recorded live at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theater in 2003, this 2-disc set finds Reed supported by a small (drummerless) band on material culled from his recent disc 'The Raven' as well as older albums from his 35-plus-year career (including Velvet Underground tunes "Venus In Furs," "Candy Says," and "Heroin").

Onelinedrawing is the alter ego for Sacramento, Calif.-based singer/guitarist Jonah Matranga, formerly of the emo band Far.

Working once again with producer Rob Schnapf (Beck, Guided By Voices, Elliot Smith), the Aussies return with a second LP.

'Misery' is the first 4AD release for the noisy, experimental indie rockers, who have mellowed/refined their sound a bit to fit their new label.

A commercial and critical success in the UK upon its release in the fall of 2003, 'Absolution' marks the third album for the English rockers (who frequently draw comparisons to Radiohead--but then again, who doesn't?). It also marks their first time working with producer Rich Costey.

This is the debut for the trio of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Jesse Hughes and Timmy VanHamel, who, in case you were wondering, sound like neither The Eagles nor death metal.

Miami, Fla. singer-songwriter Sam Beam (who moonlights as a cinematography professor) returns with his second album, recorded with Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Red Red Meat) at the helm.

Available for several years on his own website, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Gary Jules' second album finally got a major-label release in 2004 thanks to the unexpected success of one of its tracks--a cover of Tears For Fears' "Mad World"--that appeared on the Donnie Darko soundtrack.

N.E.R.D., the rock-oriented trio of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (who also make up the in-demand hip-hop production team The Neptunes) and Shay, return with a highly-anticipated second album. Unlike their previous effort, 'Fly' finds Chad & Pharrell handling the instrumentation themselves.

This self-titled effort marks the full-length debut for the Brooklyn-based shoegazers.

They may sound like Brit rockers (Oasis comes to mind), but this four-piece led by singer Adrian Barrera comes from Atlanta. Owen Morris (Oasis) produced this debut disc.

The Canadian collective (who wowed critics with 2003's 'You Forgot It In People') offers a compilation of B-sides and previously unreleased tracks.

The indie singer-songwriter's fourth solo album, produced by Danielson Famile's Daniel Smith, follows on the heels of his critically-lauded 2003 effort 'Greetings From Michigan.'

This is not my beautiful opera. The Talking Heads most verbose member returns with one of his more eclectic solo albums to date (and that's saying something), featuring covers of Lambchop, Bizet and Verdi (we're talking arias, people) scattered amongst originals that range from African rhythms to doo-wop. The Tosca Strings and Rufus Wainwright guest.

This is the sixth album for the Vancouver, Canada indie rock outfit led by Dan Bejar (also of the New Pornographers).

The San Francisco noise-rockers' latest is a concept album about the Pied Piper-esque title character, who is based on the drawings of illustrator Ken Kagami.

The most hyped band to come out of the UK in early 2004 is Glasgow, Scotland's Franz Ferdinand, an art-rock quartet who make their full-length debut with this self-titled release, the winner of the UK's coveted Mercury Music Prize in 2004.

Michael Stipe and Conor Oberst guest on this sophomore disc for the Athens, GA outfit led by producer Andy LeMaster (Bright Eyes), with vocals from Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor (Azure Ray).

The Detroit garage rockers make their major-label debut with this sophomore album, which was produced by Jerry Harrison.

Brooklyn art-rockers TV On The Radio make their full-length debut with this release. The trio consists of vocalist/animator Tunde Adebimpe, multi-instrumentalist/producer David Andrew Sitek (who produced the Yeah Yeah Yeahs debut) and guitarist Kyp Malone.

"The Smiths" is a phrase you often see in descriptions of the Seattle three-piece Aveo, as their catchy, guitar-driven rock does sometimes recall Moz, Marr & co. This is their second album, produced (like the first) by Phil Ek.

The Boston-based singer-songwriter's second studio album features songs written by Nick Saloman (aka the Bevis Frond), as well as covers of Pink Floyd's "Fearless" and Pete Ham's "Baby Blue."

This is the fourth album for the Kansas City (Mo.)-based emo band.

The third full-length for the Chicago-based art-rock four-piece was produced (like its predecessor) by John Congleton.

The English trip-hop outfit led by vocalist Louise Robinson (nee Rhodes) and producer Andy Barlow return for a fourth album.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist returns with a follow-up to his 2001 solo release, 'To Record Only Water For Ten Days.'

This is the fourth solo album for the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter (and occasional Gilmore Girls actor) formerly of the group Grant Lee Buffalo.

This is the second album for the Reading, England rock band.

The New York punk outfit moves even further away from the mainstream on this sophomore effort (a concept album about witch trials), which also sees them with a new rhythm section.

All Night Radio is the latest (and most psychedelic) incarnation for Beachwood Sparks' Dave Scher and Jimi Hey.

This self-titled disc marks the debut for the quirky Austin/Brooklyn indie-rock trio, whose guitar-keyboard-drums sound is sometimes reminiscent of Spoon.

Recorded at the same time and released on the same day, 'Aw C'Mon' and 'No, You C'Mon' are actually intended as separate albums, rather than two parts of a double album. The Nashville String Machine lends strings to each.

The Washington, D.C. band's seventh album finds the band in a more political mood, even sampling President Bush (the newer one) on one track.

Recorded at the same time and released on the same day, 'Aw, C'Mon' and 'No, You C'Mon' are actually intended as separate albums, rather than two parts of a double album. The Nashville String Machine lends strings to each.

This is the fourth release for the all-female Japanese rock band fronted by Yoshimi P-We of the Boredoms.

The veteran duo of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray continue with their well-established sound on this ninth studio album.

The band's sophomore disc includes guest appearances by Wilco and Scott McCaughey (Minus 5).

This is the third full-length album for the challenging, intensely personal Bay Area post-punk outfit led by Jamie Stewart.