He's nothing if not prolific. Black's fourth album in two and a half years features 13 new tracks and appearances from some of his usual cohorts (Stan Ridgway, Joey Santiago).

Never one for original album titles, Seal returns with just his fourth LP in his 12+ year recording career. Trevor Horn produces.

Oft-compared to Joy Division, this unique British four-piece sports single-word names (Hamilton, Noble, Yan, and Wood), dons military apparel for their live shows, and tackles dark, weighty themes in their lyrics (Czech history, anyone)? 'The Decline' marks their full-length debut, drawing critical praise on both sides of the Atlantic.

Byrne's latest release originated as the soundtrack to the film 'Young Adam' (itself based on the novel by Scottish beat writer Alexander Trocci). Since the film is set in Scotland, and since the former Talking Head himself was born there, he decided to enlist members of Glasgow-based groups such as Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian and The Reindeer Section to assist with this music (only a small portion of which actually is heard in the film).

The Welsh band self-produced this fourth studio album.

America's favorite party animal attempts to move past the frat party/beer commercial sound of his hit debut album with this slightly more mature follow-up. Slightly.

A quick follow-up by Spiritualized standards, 'Amazing Grace' finds Jason Pierce with a new record label (his own Spaceman Records imprint) and a more immediate, less orchestral sound than on 2001's 'Let It Come Down.'

The Southern rockers make their major-label debut with this 12-track effort.

The fifth release from the Chicago-based outfit continue their foray into "modern classical" composition using acoustic instruments.

'Amateur Night' marks the first solo release for the former frontman of the Happy Mondays and Black Grape. Cabaret Voltaire's Stephen Mallinder co-produced.

This compilation consists chiefly of alternate versions of tracks from her recent LP 'Daybreaker,' including live recordings and remixes by Two Lone Swordsmen and Four Tet.

This is the third LP for the English trio of vocalist Sarah Nixey, former Auteurs frontman Luke Haines and former Jesus & Mary Chain member John Moore. Together, they sound a bit like Saint Etienne, but with a much more political and satirical approach to their lyrics.

Denmark's Raveonettes--now including two new members in addition to founders Sune Rose Wagner, Sharin Foo and their drum machine--make their major-label debut with this 13-track effort produced by Richard Gottehrer (Blondie). As on their debut EP, all songs are restricted to a single key (here, b-flat major) and must be shorter than 3 minutes.

The London-by-way-of-Los-Angeles-by-way-of-San Francisco rockers known as JAMC--er, make that BRMC--return with their second LP, which actually finds the group distancing themselves (at least a little) from the Jesus and Mary Chain-influenced sound of their debut.

This is the second album for the Brooklyn- (formerly Ohio-) based indie rockers fronted by singer Matt Berninger.

This is the third studio album for the Denver-based indie pop band led by Tammy Ealom.

The fifth album from the Nebraska-born singer-songwriter is indeed influenced by the music of 1972 (the year Rouse was born).

Diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2002, veteran singer-songwriter Warren Zevon decided to record one final album. This 11-track effort includes contributions from numerous Zevon friends, including Ry Cooder, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Tom Petty, and Dwight Yoakam.

This is the second LP for the Montreal-based indie-pop quartet featuring actor Torquil Campbell, Evan Cranley (also a member of Broken Social Scene), Amy Millan and Chris Seligman.

This is the third album for the Winnipeg, Canada-based group led by former Propagandhi member John K. Samson.

This sophomore disc for the Southern California alt-metal outfit was produced by Robert and Dean DeLeo of the Stone Temple Pilots.

The Ontario, Canada band makes its Sub Pop (and U.S.) debut with this, their second LP, which mixes alternative rock with punk and soul.

The Bay Area punk band returns with its first album in three years.

The ever-prolific Robert Pollard returns with a brand-new GbV studio disc (the 15th or so since 1987), retaining the core group of musicians that has been with him for the last few albums.

Credited to Neil Young & Crazy Horse (expect electric rather than acoustic), this latest offering by the 57-year-old rocker is a 10-song concept album about the lives of the fictitious Green family.

Signed to a major-label deal after just one single, New York punk foursome The Star Spangles make their full-length debut with Bazooka!!!

This is the debut full-length for the Nashville-based rock band consisting of three brothers (the sons of a preacher) and their cousin.

The fourth release for the Portland, Ore. four-piece is a trip through 70's glam- and 80s synth- rock, complete with contributions from Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes (the latter produced much of the album), Chic's Nile Rogers, Bowie/T. Rex producer Tony Visconti, and, well, Evan Dando.

This is the fourth album for the Florida-based emo band led by Christopher Carraba.

This is just the second full-length recording for the Birmingham, England experimental pop outfit founded in 1995. Included here is the track "Pendulum" from the recent EP of the same name.

If you think the concept of a guitar-drums blues duo from Detroit sounds a bit, well, familiar, consider this: Soledad Brothers guitarist Johnny Walker allegedly is responsible for teaching the White Stripes' Jack White how to play guitar. This is the Brothers' third studio LP.

The eighth studio album for Gene and Dean Ween is their strangest (and definitely most eclectic) in quite some time. (And many Ween fans will probably see that as a good thing.)

The fourth album for the Bay Area band finds them once again in light, summertime pop mode.

This party album from the Danish band Junior Senior has garnered attention throughout Europe with its mix of garage rock, pop and disco.

The first album in seven years for the UK punk outfit founded in 1978 features newly reunited members Jaz Coleman, Youth and Paul Raven, with Dave Grohl filling in on drums.

A former member of Billy Childish's band Thee Headcoatees, Holly Golightly has gained a wider following in recent months due to her guest appearance on The White Stripes' 'Elephant.' New devotees will have a lot to discover: this is her ninth solo album since 1995.

The Australian rockers, who have attracted attention in their homeland and in Europe with their early EPs, make their full-length debut with this LP.

Producer Brad Wood (Liz Phair) helms this latest release for the emo-rockers, which includes a cover of The Cure's "A Letter to Elise."

The quirky Welsh quintet's sixth album was produced by Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys).

This is the third album for the Los Angeles alt-rock trio led by singer Max Collins (who lately is best known for an indecent exposure incident in a Pittsburgh hotel lobby).

A reunited Jane's Addiction (sans bassist Eric Avery) is back with their first studio recording in 13 years.

The fourth LP for the singer-songwriter (who is also a member of The Thorns) is his first without longtime producer Brendan O'Brien, as Droge handles production chores himself.

Best known as the female vocalist on Tricky's first three albums, Martina Topley-Bird finally arrives with her first solo release, which earned her a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Guest collaborators include the Tricky kid himself, as well as David Holmes and Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age).

The London-based band follow their singles collection ('Suburban Light') with this, their first true studio LP, which continues their hazy, 60s-influenced sound developed in those earlier songs.

This is the second Mondo Generator recording for Nick Oliveri and Josh Homme (Kyuss, Queens Of The Stone Age), who are joined here by Brant Bjork (Kyuss) and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees).

The Los Angeles- (no, not Bay Area-) based alt-rock band led by singer-songwriter James Grundler returns with a Rick Rubin-produced sophomore LP.

This 16-track compilation offers an impressive sampling of the New York underground scene from the late 1970s and early 80s, including cuts from "no-wave," post-punk, experimental and hip-hop artists such as ESG, Material, DNA, Defunkt, and Liquid Liquid.

The New York-based but Chicago-sounding post-rock outfit (think Isotope 217 or Tortoise) founded by Sasha Frere-Jones offers 13 new tracks on their first LP since 1998, and their first with new bassist (one of two) Erik Sanko of Skeleton Key.

This is the second solo LP from the co-founder of such legendary alt-country bands as Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt.

The Boston-based trio has developed a devoted following over the course of three albums and ten years of touring. This fourth album, produced by Roger Moutenot (Yo La Tengo), adds additional elements such as bass and drums to their ususal mix of two acoustic guitars and bongos.

'De-Loused' is the heavily anticipated debut LP from the group formed by former At The Drive-In members Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguez.

Sylvian's first studio recording since 1999's 'Dead Bees on a Cake' is much darker and more spare than that recording. The former Japan leader is joined by guitarists Derek Bailey and Christian Fennesz on several tracks.

The quirky, Portland, Ore.-based indie rock trio recorded this highly-regarded genre-twisting debut album with the aid of a homemade software program.

The third album from the London-based duo of Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes, much like its predecessor (1999's 'Contino Sessions'), mixes electronica and rock with a variety of celebrity guests handling vocals. This time out, the voices come from Hope Sandoval, Paul Weller, Dot Allison and Liam Gallagher.

The duo of 764-HERO guitarist/vocalist John Atkins and Black Heart Procession drummer Joe Plummer return with a second LP.

Don't let the title fool you; the Glaswegian instrumental post-rockers are just as dour as ever on this fourth studio LP.

This sophomore LP for the Reading, England band continues the retro-futuristic pop sound (frequently compared to Stereolab) from their debut, with vocals sung in English, Spanish and French.

The Austin, Texas-based drone-pop qunitet--known to friends and reviewers as AmAnSet--returns with their fifth LP.

The Southern rock band led by Patterson Hood follow up their 2-disc concept album about Lynyrd Skynyrd ('The Southern Rock Opera') with this less conceptual but equally rocking LP.

'Twice,' which, yes, follows 2001's 'Once,' is the second album for the Los Angeles-based band that features three members of Beachwood Sparks. While the Sparks employ a 60's California pop sound, the Tyde tend to echo somewhat more recent British groups such as Felt.

The sixth studio LP for the distinctive English band is preceded by the EP "Don't Even Go There" (which shares one track with the album).

This sophomore disc finds the young emo band expanding on its sound with the help of producer Steven Haigler (Pixies, Quicksand).

The fourth album for the alt-country trio (whose song "Moment in the Sun" is the theme for NBC's "Ed") was produced by Joe Chiccarelli (American Music Club).

If declining sales and waning critical support are any indication, then yes, Tricky is probably feeling quite vulnerable at this stage of his career. But that didn't stop him from releasing this seventh LP, which includes covers of The Cure's "Love Cats" and XTC's "Dear God."

As the title implies, the metal band is just as, well, angry as ever on their first new studio album since 'Load' and 'Reload' appeared in 1996 and 1997. Just don't try downloading it for free--then you'll see some real anger.

The best indie rock band to come out of Modesto, California in quite some time (well, ever, we'd think) returns with a long-awaited fourth LP, arriving a full three years after The Sophtware Slump thanks to worldwide tours and a lengthy recording process.

The former Eurythmics' singer's third solo album is her first collection of original songs since 1992's 'Diva.'

This full-length debut for the Irish singer/songwriter has moved beyond his home country (where it was a massive hit) to attract critical praise and strong sales worldwide. Mostly self-produced and recorded, the disc also comes in specially-designed packaging including text, artwork and photographs.

What sounds like a Steely Dan clearance sale is actually the veteran duo's first album of new material since their 2000 comeback effort 'Two Against Nature.'

The New York-based indie-pop band, led by Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, returns with a long-awaited third LP.

Not quite the return to the "rock" side of Radiohead as originally believed (although pretty close), the band's sixth album (produced again by Nigel Godrich) retains some of the experimental electronica elements of its predecessors Kid A and Amnesiac. Note that each of the tracks on the album has an alternate title, as does the album itself (aka 'The Gloaming').

Search engines hate them, but !!! (pronounced "Chik Chik Chik," of course) are popular with live audiences for their funkier, dancier (yes, that's a word--trust us) approach to indie music. The Sacramento band shares three members with Out Hud, and this is their 2-song debut for Touch And Go (with a full album to follow in 2004).

Bassist Britta Phillips and guitarist Dean Wareham (each a member of the band Luna) offer a mix of originals and covers, including takes on songs by Madonna, the Silver Jews and the Doors, all produced by Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex).

The Indiana rocker returns with his very first covers album, with versions of 12 roots/blues tunes.

The San Francisco alt-rock band attempts to duplicate the success of 2001's 'Drops of Jupiter' with this, their third release.

The Toronto, Canada indie-rock collective generated a great deal of praise for this 2002 sophomore effort, which was released in the U.S. in June, 2003 for the first time.

This lengthily-titled album marks a reunion for the band with producer David Kahne. Included here is a cover of Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?"

This compilation (whose name borrows from the similar 1978 Brian Eno-curated disc 'No New York') contains 16 tracks from artists at the forefront of the current New York indie scene, including The Strokes, Interpol, The Natural History, Radio 4, The Walkmen, The Rapture, Calla, Longwave, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Yeah Yeah Yeahs (credited to "Unitard") and The Rogers Sisters.

The Depeche Mode vocalist's first solo release finds him working with Sigur Ros producer Ken Thomas.

Recorded by Steve Albini, 'Run To Ruin' is the New York singer-songwriter's third LP. The Dirty Three's Jim White chips in on drums.

The Los Angeles-based indie-rock band led by Blair Shehan (formerly of Knapsack) makes its long-awaited full-length debut after several years of touring with bands ranging from Death Cab For Cutie to the Foo Fighters.

Already being heralded as 2003's version of The Streets, the suburban London duo who compose the Audio Bullys combine everything from punk, ska, new wave, and house on this debut.

The Eels fifth album finds head Eel Mark Oliver Everett (aka "E") injecting more humor into his otherwise dark alt-rock tunes.

The hard-to-like band's second album of early 2003 was recorded during the same sessions that gave rise to 'So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness.'

This is the second album from the post-punk outfit, one of the edgier, less-mainstream bands on the current New York underground circuit.