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

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.

This is the debut album for the country-pop duo of Michelle Branch and Jessica Harp.

The third solo recording for the drummer for Wilco and Loose Fur is an all-percussion affair, featuring eight original compositions.

Mike Mogis produced this second set from the Swedish act.

The 'Basics' in the title of this double-disc set are the jazzy blues and soul sounds of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, which Aguilera tackles with the help of Linda Perry and DJ Premier.

The increasingly prolific brother-sister duo of Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger (this time, sans grandmother) return with their fourth album.

This 26-track set compiles works composed by the Magnetic Fields leader for three separate Chen Shi-Zheng operas.

The Leeds, England neo-soul singer makes her debut with this self-titled album, on which she also handles the instrumentation and songwriting duties.

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

Harper's first album in three years is split into a disc of uptempo rockers and a second disc of acoustic ballads.

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

King Crimson's Pat Mastelotto and The Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer guest on the Texas band's follow-up to 'Worlds Apart.'

This is the second album for the Swedish five-piece.

This is the debut album for the neo-grunge outfit based in Manchester, England.

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

Scott Herren's quick follow-up to 'Surrounded By Silence' includes two collaborations (with Four Tet and TV On The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe) originally intended for that disc.

This is the fourth solo album for the former Waxwing member.

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

The dark, proggy, hugely-popular alt-metal outfit fronted by Maynard James Keenan returns with that rarest of things: a new Tool album. It's the band's first release in five years and just their fourth full-length in their 16-year history.

The singer's first album in eight years includes instrumental help from Jon Brion and Matt Chamberlain, as well as guitarist Harper (son of Paul) Simon.

'Songs' (one of two April 2006 releases) is the former Television frontman's first vocal release in sixteen years. Television's Fred Smith guests.

The Nebraskan singer-songwriter recorded this seventh album in his new home of Spain.

This is the fourth solo release for the former member of the Moldy Peaches.

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.

Forget retirement. The legendary rapper and Def Jam head has resurfaced after a three-year hiatus, with an album that finds him joined by some of the biggest names in hip-hop (Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West) and alt-rock (Coldplay's Chris Martin).

A member of Subtle, Themselves and 13 & God, Jel (aka Jeffery James Logan) makes his true solo LP deubt with this 12-track effort. Ms John Soda's Stefanie Bohm, Fog's Andrew Broder, and cLOUDDEAD's Odd Nosdam are among the guests.

Jadakiss guests on the R&B vocalists third disc.

This B-sides, rarities and covers compiliations includes 16 Conor Oberst tracks of varying fidelity from the past eight years.

This is the major-label debut for the Brooklyn-based indie-rock trio fronted by Keith Murray.

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

The country singer's latest is his first collaboration with producer Lari White, and also marks his first release on his new record label (Show Dog).

The singer-songwriter's first album in three years was produced by Steve Jordan and, for the first time, by Mayer himself.

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

The hip-hop trio's first album in five years is also their final outing as a group.

Youngster Ryan Adams produced this 11-song mix of originals and covers, which also includes musical backing from Adams' band The Cardinals.

The indie rockers' second release of 2006 is a song-for-song recreation of Harry Nilsson's alcohol-fueled, John Lennon-produced, 1974 album.

James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) guests on the former Belle & Sebastian singer's second solo outing, which finds her reworking traditional British folk songs.

This is the first solo release for the leader of The Psychedelic Furs (and, for those with a really good memory, Love Spit Love).

Guests on the Pink Floyd guitarist's first solo album in over 20 years include Jools Holland, Robert Wyatt, David Crosby, and Graham Nash.

Before he was in The Decemberists, singer-songwriter Colin Meloy fronted a Montana alt-country/alt-rock outfit known as Tarkio. This set collects that band's entire output of 27 tracks.

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

Australian identical twin sisters Jess and Lisa Origliasso make their teen-pop debut as The Veronicas with this 12-track set, produced by Max Martin (Britney Spears), Clif Magness (Avril Lavigne), and others.

The moody Los Angeles-based four-piece returns with a fourth album.

This debut full-length for the UK five-piece recalls 1980s synth-pop.

The South London grime artist becomes Def Jam's very first female MC with the release of this solo debut LP.

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 eighth album for the Elephant 6 affiliated band from Athens, Georgia.

Singer-songwriter Matthew Sweet joins The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs for a collection of 15 covers, including takes on Bob Dylan, The Who, The Bee Gees and the Velvet Underground.

Dave Grohl and the Dixie Chicks guest on the singer-songwriter's third album.

Martha Wainwright and Ken Stringfellow are among the guests on Gary Lightbody's fourth Snow Patrol album.

The San Francisco post-punk band's second album follows five years after their debut.

The 61-year-old rocker returns with his first new album in 11 years.

This is the second full-length for the German indie-electro-pop duo of Stephanie Bohm (also in Couch) and The Notwist's Micha Acher.

'Beast' marks the debut for Swan Lake, the new collaboration between Destroyer's Dan Bejar, Wolf Parade's Spencer Krug and Frog Eyes' Carey Mercer.

The Canadian singer/pianist tackles American standards, backed by a big band on most of the tracks.

The London-based trio of Joel Cadbury, Jamie McDonald and Brett Shaw return with a third album that finds them relying less on electronica elements than previous efforts.

The Ying Yang Twins guest on the Southern rapper's first release for Big Boi's Purple Ribbon label.

Members of the Wu-Tang Clan guest on their fellow member's second solo disc. The roster of producers includes Pete Rock and MF Doom.

This debut (and, it turns out, final album) from the noisy London trio was produced by James Ford (Simian).

This is the third album for the country singer who gained stardom following the release of 2005's 'Modern Day Drifter.'

Yusuf Islam (who seems to have lost the "Islam" portion of his name), better known by his former name of Cat Stevens, returns with his first album of pop songs since 1978.

This is the second album for Norwegian singer-songwriter Even Johansen, who records under the name Magnet.

This is the fourth quirky release for the exclamation-point-loving, Devo-esque, Tokyo-based band.

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

The R&B singer's second album is laced with spoken-word interludes. 50 Cent, Lil Jon, and Chamillionaire lend a hand.

The first collaboration between singer-songwriter Will Oldham and Chicago instrumental post-rockers Tortoise features 10 covers, including takes on songs by Elton John and Bruce Springsteen.

Not the most accessible (sound-wise) of Sonic Youth's releases, this 11-track disc compiles some of the least accessible (availability-wise) of the band's obscure recordings, which have been remastered.

This long-overdue second album finds the Montreal band shedding its dark, Joy Division-influenced sound for one that more closely resembles classic rock.

The British electronica duo of Ed Handley and Andy Turner team with visual artist Bob Jaroc for this combination of music and video.

The Wu-Tang star's fourth solo album includes contributions from Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, Ginuwine and Raekwon.

Michael Stipe and VW (The Kills) guest on the UK band's first album in three years.

The California alt-metal band returns with its first album in nearly three years.

The Irish singer-songwriter returns with a second album.

The newest (and somewhat "pop"-oriented) project from Mike Patton (Faith No More, Fantomas) finds him teamed with an eclectic bunch, including Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Odd Nosdam, Amon Tobin and Kool Keith.

One of two April 2006 releases for the former Television guitarist, 'Around' is a 16-track instrumental release.

This is the third album for the Australian rock band, now down to a trio after the departure of bassist Patrick Matthews.

'Continental' is the second solo album for the former Cocteau Twins guitarist.

Eric Valentine (Queens Of The Stone Age) produced the emo band's third studio album and major-label debut.

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

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

The veteran Swedish band's sixth studio album was finally released in the U.S. in September 2006, nearly one year after it first surfaced in Europe.

This is Tom Jenkinson's first new album in two years, and the English electronica artist's tenth disc overall.

Recorded in New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina, this diverse set finds the singer-songwriter dabbling in everything from gospel to country, and folk to blues-rock.

The second solo disc from the Old 97s frontman includes contributions from Rachael Yamagata and Jon Brion.