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

This debut release from Anti-Pop Consortium rapper Beans continues the experimental, genre-defying approach to hip-hop of that now-defunct group, mixing intelligent lyrics with cutting-edge production.

If you're even reading this, you most likely already know the life story of Queens' Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent), whose first attempt at rap stardom in the mid 1990s ended in a brutal attack that almost cost him his life. In recent years, however, 50 Cent was lucky enough to hook up with Eminem (who signed him) and producer Dr. Dre, which resulted in a track on the 8 Mile soundtrack and now this, his much-anticipated first full-length release.

The seventh LP for the Sean O'Hagan-led indie-pop band features backing vocals from the late Mary Hansen (Stereolab) and does away with drums on all but a handful of tunes.

This debut disc for Shady Records signee and Detroit native Obie Trice was produced by pals Dr. Dre and Eminem (along with the ubiquitous Timbaland) and features appearances from Em as well as 50 Cent, Nate Dogg and Busta Rhymes.

'Sheath' marks the first album for the groundbreaking Sheffield, England techno outfit since 1996's 'Advance.' Gez Varley has left the duo, leaving Mark Bell (who in recent years has kept busy producing the likes of Bjork and Depeche Mode) as the sole member.

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 third LP for the New York-based noise-rock trio, known for their intense live shows.

Rebounding from a vocal chord injury that almost ended her singing career, Rosanne Cash returns with her first album in seven years. Guests include Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, Teddy Thompson, and daddy Johnny Cash.

Picking up on the sounds of late 70s / early 80s post-punk and no-wave, this all-female Bay Area quartet drew positive notices for their debut 'Other Animals' and now return with a sophomore LP two years later.

The Welsh band returns with 12 new tracks of indie rock mixed with folk, pop, and psychedelia.

Nick Cave & co. return for a follow up to 2001's 'No More Shall We Part.'

This is the fourth LP (and first released by Epitaph) for the indie-minded Minneapolis-based duo of Slug and Ant.

The sophomore effort for the quirky Long Beach-based alt-rap trio is a concept album about their alleged time spent working at a fast food chain called Meatshake. Really.

This is the first solo album in over 10 years for the Echo & The Bunnymen frontman, who lately has developed a vocal fan in Coldplay's Chris Martin, who guests on this disc.

The debut album for Ireland's Gemma Hayes shows the twentysomething singer-songwriter attempting to synthesize her diverse influences, who range from My Bloody Valentine to Joni Mitchell. Dave Fridmann produces.

The Canadian singer-songwriter worked with producer Marius deVries (Björk, Massive Attack) for this third LP, which is actually the first half of what was originally planned as a double album ('Want Two' will instead arrive next year).

Mary J. reunites with P. Diddy (who produced her debut 'What's the 411?') for this latest release, which features appearances from 50 Cent, Eve, Jay-Z and Method Man.

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

Better known to the indie-rock crowd than the hip-hop community (perhaps because in his former life, he was a white, balding computer programmer), San Francisco-based Topher Lafata (aka Gold Chains) follows a series of well-received EPs and singles with this full-length debut.

The singer/songwriter/guitarist returns to the studio for the first time since 1996, when he recorded his final album as leader of the Lemonheads. Here, he's joined by Jon Brion on four tracks, as well as members of Giant Sand, Calexico, and Spacehog.

The Amsterdam-based rockers who gave us college-radio hit albums 'Palomine' and 'Lamprey' return with their fifth LP.

The debut album from Adelaide, Australia's Mark Mitchell (who records as Clue To Kalo) is a mix of indie rock and electronica, drawing comparisons to everyone from Badly Drawn Boy to Dntel.

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, The Thrills incorporate the sounds of California rock from the 1960s and 70s (the Byrds, Beach Boys) as well as a bit of Beatles thrown in for good measure on this debut album, already a hit in the UK (and a nominee for the Mercury Music Prize).

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 sophomore LP from the UK duo of vocalist Allison Goldfrapp and multi-instrumentalist Will Gregory follows their acclaimed 2000 debut, 'Felt Mountain.'

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

The Detroit-based electronica duo of Nicola Kuperus and Adam Lee Miller (who also run the Ersatz Audio label) have gained a great deal of acclaim for their early singles and work with other artists. Here, on their full-length debut, they offer 10 brand-new tracks. (Yes, the period at the end of their name is necessary.)

The fourth album for the London-based duo of Ed Handley and Andy Turner contains ten new tracks that promise to recall the darker mood of their work together in the Black Dog.

This sophomore release for Minnesota-based turntablist/multi-instrumentalist Andrew Broder, like recent releases from "folktronica" artists such as Four Tet, utilizes organic sound samples, but mixes them with both indie rock elements (including some vocals) and shades of hip-hop.

The veteran prog-rock outfit led by guitarist Robert Fripp returns with their first full album of new material in thee years.

On this long-delayed release, the Minus 5's Scott McCaughey, Ken Stringfellow (the Posies) and Peter Buck (R.E.M.) team up with all four members of Wilco for 13 original tracks.

The sixth album for the Detroit rocker is more party-rock than rap-metal, although some hip-hop elements are retained from previous outings. Included is a cover of "Feel Like Makin' Love."

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 New Zealand retro-rockers scored a major-label deal in the U.S. on the strength of this 2002 debut album, which received an American re-release in March 2003.

John Schmersal and Enon return with their third LP, which features an increased vocal presence by Toko Yasuda.

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).

Following the unexpected critical and commercial success of M!ssundaztood, Pink returns with a third, even more rock-oriented album. Linda Perry returns to helm just a few tracks, with the bulk of the producing/writing chores falling to Rancid's Tim Armstrong.

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 neo-soul singer returns two years after the success of 'Songs In A Minor' with this sophomore disc.

Richard Warren's third LP, produced by Flood, finds the multi-instrumentalist moving more toward mainstream electro/synth pop, closer to bands such as New Order and Primal Scream than his more experimental albums 'Volume 1' and 'Volume 2.'

The London, England band's fourth LP finds them stripping away some of the layers (and extra musicians) found on previous outings for a more organic trip-hop approach.

Officially an EP, this 10-track effort is actually a full 50 minutes long and contains all new material. Guests include Lenny Kravitz, Zap Mama, Queen Latifah, Angie Stone and Bahamadia.

Definitely not your typical blink-182 album, this eponymous release finds the once-juvenile band finally showing a mature side, and winning critics over in the process. The Cure's Robert Smith guests on one track.

The country singer seeems to enjoy pushing buttons (albeit with a sense of humor), and he continues his recent forays into politicized music with this latest LP, which features songs such as "American Soldier" and "The Taliban Song."

The punk outfit led by Brody Armstrong (oops--make that Brody Dalle, now) makes its major-label debut with 'Coral Fang,' the band's third release overall.

New York singer-songwriter Leona Naess recorded this third album in Los Angeles with producer Ethan Johns (Rufus Wainwright).

The fourth collaboration between Michael Franti and Spearhead mixes the politically-inclined raps of Franti with the disco/funk rhythms of a live band.

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 Florida ska-punk band's third major-label release includes a cover of Cheap Trick's "Surrender."

This is the second album for the alt-folk trio from Vancouver, Canada.

This is the first album in five years for the duo of DJ Premier and Guru.

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

Perhaps finding "Chantal Passamonte" too dull a name for an experimental electronica artist signed to Warp Records, the former Warp publicist adopted the Mira Calix moniker prior to her 2000 debut. This is her second full-length release.

This is the third album from the husband-wife duo of Kori Gardner (keyboards) and Jason Hammel (drums). Spoon's Jim Eno produced, along with John Croslin.

This solo release from the anticon collective's Jonathan Wolf (aka Why?), also a member of cLOUDDEAD, sees the experimental rapper mixing in a healthy dose of indie guitar with beats and samples that venture from lo- to hi- fi.

"Coincidentally" released on the same day as the fourth album by the White Stripes, to whom the Kills are frequently compared, 'Mean Side' is the debut full-length for the UK blues-rock duo of VV (aka Alison Mosshart) and Hotel, who are backed by a drum machine (a la the Raveonettes).

Does the world really need another Buzzcocks album? Well, this new LP from Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle (which includes two tracks co-written by fellow original Buzzcock Howard Devoto), the band's fourth since re-forming in 1989, may be their best in many years.

The English band's second LP was recorded in Los Angeles with engineer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air).

Another of the new new wave of New York bands, Elefant is fronted by Diego Garcia, who despite being born in Detroit and raised in Argentina, sounds awfully British on this short, ten-track debut.

Featuring guitarists named Rock and Roll Indian and Surge Joebot, the latest indie-rock sensation to come out of Detroit combines punk, new-wave and disco on this debut full-length. Included here is a new version of their hit single "Danger! High Voltage" with the White Stripes' Jack White on backing vocals.

'Get Born' marks the debut of the Australian garage-rock quartet Jet.

Fresh off the electroclash touring circuit (and apparently in need of a good shave), ever-vulgar Canadian Merrill Nisker (aka Peaches) follows her 2000 debut 'The Teaches of Peaches' with 12 new tracks, including a duet with Iggy Pop.

The Bay Area indie-pop band returns with their third album (and first in three years).

The soul singer's fifth LP is less political than previous efforts, as may be expected from a disc that lists three tracks titled "Love Song."

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.

The Thorns is a collaboration between singer-songwriters Matthew Sweet, Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge, with this disc marking their first release together.

This debut disc for the New York duo of Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner was originally released in 2001 on Germany's International Deejay Gigolos label and immediately generated such buzz (partly due to the album's infectious 'electroclash' sound, and partly due to the pair's notoriety in the fashion scene) that English label Ministry Of Sound snapped up the album (and the duo) for a reported £2 million.

The latest full-length from the Chicago-based multimedia collective is a big step forward for the group, adding more vocals and an emotive indie-pop feel to their experimental electronic sound. Recommended for fans of the latest releases by bands such as Dntel, Hood, and Boards of Canada.

The classic rock-influenced New York City group led by singer/songwriter Bill Whitten returns with its third album, produced by Mercury Rev's Dave Fridmann.

The London-based duo of Tom Findlay and Andy Cato return with their fourth LP, named after one of their club nights.

The British singer sticks to the successful formula established on her 1999 debut "No Angel" for this sophomore effort.

This is the sophomore release for the Boston-based alt-rockers.

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.'

This is the debut solo release from the former Belle and Sebastian / Gentle Waves vocalist and cellist.

'North' is a song cycle of piano-based ballads dealing with the ups and downs romance--both the ending of one releationship and the subsequent beginning of a new love.

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

The Seattle-based experimental space-rock outfit returns with their sophomore LP, following their 2001 debut 'Be Gentle With the Warm Turtle.'

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.

Originally intended as a loose, spontaneous recording called 'Get Back,' 'Let It Be' was eventually released (after the band's breakup) after being shelved and then reproduced/enhanced by Phil Spector, leaving many fans (and an angry Paul McCartney) wondering, "what if?" This new release answers that question to a certain extent, with an altered track listing (which adds "Don't Let Me Down") containing some de-Spectorized versions as well as some originals that have been remixed and remastered.

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

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

Folkie Dar Williams returns with her sixth album, which is perhaps her most diverse and fullest-sounding yet, enhanced by the presence of a host of contributors including Alison Krauss, John Medeski, Bela Fleck, and John Popper.

Brokeback is a side project for Eleventh Dream Day/Tortoise bassist Douglas McCombs (joined semi-permanently by second bassist Noel Kupersmith), supplemented here on this third album by Laetitia Sadier and the late Mary Hansen from Stereolab.

'Imperial' marks the first-ever solo release for the Cocteau Twins' guitarist (who also runs record label Bella Union, works as a record producer, and is one-half of the band Violet Indiana). This ten-track instrumental disc sounds a lot like his work with that earlier band.