Not quite the next Linkin Park album, 'Reanimation' is instead a remix of their entire debut album, 'Hybrid Theory' (actually, a remix of the Japanese version, which contained extra tracks). The 19 songs here have been reinvented by an array of alternative and hip hop musicians and producers, including members of Korn, Jurassic 5, Orgy, and Staind, and given cryptic new titles such as "Rnw@y" and "My{Dsmbr." (You'd think with all the money they're making they could at least buy a vowel.)

Which Beck is it? The party-loving Beck of 'Odelay' and 'Midnite Vultures,' or the more serious, singer-songwriter Beck of 'Mutations.' On this latest release, it is the latter, as Beck reunites with Mutations' producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) for a set of darker, atmospheric, more acoustically-oriented tracks.

Canada's favorite prog rockers return with their first album of new material in six years, eh.

The suddenly prolific Amos returns with 18 new tracks, begging the question: Y Kant Tori Capitalize Her Song Titles? The album, her first for Epic, is structured as a cross-country journey through the U.S.

The Oklahoma band finally returns with a follow-up to perhaps their strongest effort to date, 1999's 'The Soft Bulletin.' Here, the Lips venture even more into electronic territory, working once again with producer Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev). Yoshimi of Japanese band The Boredoms guests on vocals on one track and lends her name to part of the album's title (the "Yoshimi" part, not the "Pink Robots" part).

This is the fifth studio album for the one-time superstars, who now retain only the brothers Gallagher from their original lineup. Former Ride guitarist Andy Bell and Heavy Stereo bassist Gem Archer make their first studio appearances as members of the band, and in an Oasis first, all four members share in the songwriting.

The Toronto, Canada punk outfit returns with a follow-up to their successful 2001 debut, 'All Killer No Filler.'

Still going strong, the Seattle grunge band returns with its seventh studio album.

The California alt-metal outfit finally returns with a successor to the smash hit 1999 album 'Issues.'

The Boss' first studio album with the E Street Band since 1984's 'Born In The U.S.A.,' 'The Rising' contains 15 new Springsteen songs produced by Brendan O'Brien.

Prolific 22-year-old Nebraska singer-songwriter Connor Oberst returns to his Bright Eyes guise for this 13-track effort, following a stint fronting the band Desaparecidos.

Aw... little Justin's all grows up. First Mickey Mouse Club, then 'NSync, and now this, his solo debut. Can he be a success on his own? Well, having Timbaland and The Neptunes along as his producers certainly won't hurt.

When it rains it pours: After going five years without a Weezer album, fans of the quirky alt-rockers get two new discs in two years, with this (their fourth release overall) quickly following 2001's Green Album.

The former Australian teen grunge stars (whose 1995 debut was released when they were just 15) are still together, and this album marks their fourth release, highlighted by a more mature, refined sound.

Jay-Z's mortal enemy returns with his third (!) release of 2002, which includes collaborations with Alicia Keys and 2Pac (yes, that 2Pac, who, as you may recall, died several years ago).

Not wanting to offend any potential listeners, the country superstar finally follows up the hit 'Come On Over' with two versions of her new album (both included in this two-CD set): a red disc of pop versions of her 19 new songs, and a green disc of those same 19 songs performed in a country music style. (A third, blue, disc of those songs performed in a world music style is targeted at international consumers.)

2001 gave us The White Stripes and The Strokes; 2002 gives us The Hives and The Vines. This Australian four-piece outfit is the latest rock band to be hyped to stratospheric proportions (and an instant major-label contract) by the UK rock press, who compared the Vines to Nirvana (the band, not the concept). But although the Aussies did indeed get their start as a Nirvana cover band, there is a bit more to their debut album 'Highly Evolved' than Grunge, Part 2.

Morissette's third studio album is the first one the 27-year-old Canadian songwriter has produced herself.

This big-budget debut album from 22-year-old Detroit-raised rocker Andrew WK took the UK (well, at least its music press) by storm in late 2001.

The very, very distinctive Icelandic band generated an enormous amount of positive press (and deservingly so) for their previous effort, 'Ágætis Byrjun,' which led to a major-label deal and this album, which, like each of its eight tracks, does not have a real title.

This compilation collects tracks recorded from 1998-2001 that, for various reasons (and not because they were of inferior quality), were not included on the rapper's albums released during that time.

Still lowercase, the alt-rock band led by Rob Thomas (who is perhaps more famous for "Smooth" on Santana's 1999 album) returns with their third album, the first on which the band shared songwriting duties as a unit.

Following the critical success of their 1999 effort, 'Madonna,' the lengthily-named Austin, Texas indie band signed with Interscope and recorded this, their major-label debut.

The Chicago alt-metal band follows their 2 million-selling debut, 'The Sickness,' with this sophomore effort, working once again with producer Johnny Z.

The Austin, Tex. indie rockers return with their fourth album, following 2001's critically acclaimed 'Girls Can Tell.'

Phil Collins returns with his first album of new material in six years, but will anyone care other than the guys on South Park?

The Manchester, England band reunites with producer Steve Osborne for their sophomore album, following 2000's 'Lost Souls,' which launched them into stardom in both the U.S. and U.K. "There Goes the Fear" is the lead single.

This high-energy dance album from the Australian veteran includes the UK hit single "Can't Get You out of My Head." It is her first American release since 1988, although she has retained her popularity in Europe and her native Australia since the 1980's, updating her sound along the way.

Former Nirvana drummer (and sometime Queens of the Stone Age drummer) Dave Grohl returns to the front of the stage for his role as vocalist, guitarist, and bandleader of the Foo Fighters on this, their fourth studio recording.

Yup... Up's two-letter name signifies that this is indeed a brand-new Peter Gabriel studio recording, his first since 1992's 'Us.' The music goes in a now-typical multi-cultural direction, with input from gospel singers The Blind Boys of Alabama and the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Actress/singer J.Lo returns with 12 new tracks, including "Jenny from the Block," featuring guest appearances from Jadakiss and Styles. Lopez is also planning her first-ever tour in support of the album in 2003.

This is the fifth album (and a return to English-lanugage songs) for the well-regarded Welsh indie band, now signed to a major label (Epic). It is the first album ever to be released simultaneously on DVD and CD (with the DVD containing a movie and a remix for each track on the album). Paul McCartney and John Cale have cameo appearances on the album.

The Scottish duo finally return with a full-length follow-up to their acclaimed 1998 debut, 'Music Has A Right To Children.'

The groundbreaking Philadelphia rap outfit returns with 13 new tracks and guest contributions from Jill Scott, Nelly Furtado, Talib Kweli and Musiq.

Johnny Cash, still going strong at age 70, returns for a fourth album with producer Rick Rubin. Like the previous three pairings, this disc mixes Cash originals with unlikely covers, which this time out include Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus," Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt," and Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Fiona Apple, Nick Cave, and Don Henley are among the guests.

The late Beatle's final studio album was produced by Jeff Lynne with Harrison's son, Dhani.

A sequel to his critically-acclaimed 2001 album 'The Blueprint,' Jay-Z's new two-disc set is all over the map in the course of 110 minutes and 25 tracks. The roster of producers and guests includes (but is by no means limited to): The Neptunes, Lenny Kravitz, Big Boi, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Heavy D, Rakim, Beyonce Knowles, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Scarface.

This self-released effort for the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter (and former Til Tuesday frontwoman) is her first release since the twin 2000 critical successes of 'Bachelor No. 2' and the soundtrack to "Magnolia."

X marks the veteran English arena-rock band's tenth album.

Written, recorded and performed entirely by Miami, Fla-based Samuel Beam, 'The Creek Drank The Cradle' is the debut album for Iron & Wine, a largely lo-fi, acoustic affair with a darker take on folk and bluegrass.

One of two Waits releases in May 2002 ('Blood Money' is the other), 'Alice' was originally written as an opera and actually performed live during an 18-month engagement in Hamburg in the early 1990s. However, this is the first recording of these 15 tracks, culled from recent studio sessions.

Pop/jazz vocalist and pianist Norah Jones, the daughter of Ravi Shankar, picked up 5 Grammy awards for this debut album, produced by Arif Mardin.

The Los Angeles-based underground hip-hop outfit returns with a follow up to their 2000 debut, 'Quality Control.' Nelly Furtado guests on one track.

Little LeAnn Rimes, the former 13-year-old country sensation, has been remade as a teen pop star with this latest release, thanks to a new team of producers and songwriters. But will the teen pop buyers of the world accept the new LeAnn Rimes? If only we had the time to worry about such things.

The ever-popular contemporary country act returns with their sixth album.

Only the band's fourth studio recording in their 10+ year existence, 'Hard Candy' offers up 13 new tracks, including the single "American Girls" and "Butterfly Reverse," which was cowritten by Ryan Adams. Steve Lillywhite produces.

The Bay Area's Josh Davis (aka DJ Shadow) finally returns with a proper full-length follow-up to 1996's groudbreaking 'Endtroducing,' which achieved near-legendary status for its imaginative use of samples (a style that would later be adopted by acts such as The Avalanches).

Natalie Imbruglia's second album is a follow-up to her 1998 international hit debut, 'Left Of The Middle.' Ian Stanley and Pascal Gabriel are among the producers working on this disc.

This is the debut album for the downbeat electronica duo from Norway, which has drawn comparisons to bands such as Air, Groove Armada, and Boards of Canada. Erlend Oye (Kings of Convenience) provides vocals on several tracks.

The latest from Tom Petty is a concept album (or diatribe, if you will) about/against the domination of popular music by large, greedy corporations. It was released on October 8, 2002 by a large, greedy corporation.

Even the most casual DMB fan knows the story by now: Dave & Co. record a dark, challenging album with producer Steve Lillywhite, those "Lillywhite Sessions" are leaked onto the Internet where the tracks quickly become fan favorites, and the band chooses not to release them, instead heading back into the studio with producer Glen Ballard to record 'Everyday.' The new studio LP 'Busted Stuff' does not contain those original tracks from the 2000 sessions, but nine of those songs (plus two new tracks) are here, newly recorded.

The No-Cal rap-metal outfit returns with a second album for Dreamworks (their third overall). Lead singer Coby Dick has reverted back to his given name, Jacoby Shaddix, but otherwise, the band and sound remain the same.

Stung by a drug arrest and nasty rumors over the last few years, the diva finally emerges with her first album of new material in four years.

Just when you feared the New Jersey hair band would never release another album, they did. Oh joy.

This is the debut LP from the Texas band, which features three former members of At The Drive-In (including guitarist Jim Ward).

One of the first Next Big Things of 2002, Sweden's The Hives follow last year's media darlings The Strokes and The White Stripes in bringing the rock back to alternative rock. The only catch is that the band has been around for over a decade, with this particular album actually dating back to 2000, when it gained a limited U.S. release on a tiny Epitaph imprint. However, the Swedes were able to benefit from the rush to capitalize on the neo-garage/punk-rock movement by scoring a major label deal in early 2002 and a rerelease of this, their second full-length. (They've got The Strokes beat on length, though, managing to release an even shorter album, at just 27 minutes.)

This is the debut album for in-demand hip-hop production duo The Neptunes, recording with Shay under the name N.E.R.D. (for "No One Ever Really Dies"). Note that there are two different versions of this album in circulation. The original version, featuring mainly electronic instrumentation, was intended for release in August 2001 but was shelved by the band (only to be released in the UK over the band's objection). This new version, released March 2002, was completely rerecorded, and features live instrumentation by Minneapolis funk band Spymob.

Working with a variety of producers, the acclaimed New York rapper returns with his second album. Mos Def, Bilal and members of the Roots are among the guests.

With a title like that, you pretty much know what to expect from Mr. Stewart on this outing, which includes standards such as "They Can't Take That Away from Me" and "I'll Be Seeing You." To make matters worse, Dave Koz and Arturo Sandoval guest.

American's favorite high school rockers have graduated and grown up, resulting in this, their fifth (and most mature) album to date.

This Sub Pop debut for the British Columbia band falls into the 80s/punk revival category occupied by the likes of French Kicks and Radio 4, although Cure comparisons are more likely (since lead singer Steve Bays' voice sounds, at times, almost identical to Robert Smith's).

Filter's third LP finds the band moving in a less industrial/electronic direction.

The band that gave us alt-radio hit "6 Underground" returns with a third album, although their second (1999's 'Splinter') failed to secure U.S. distribution. Guitarist Chris Corner now handles lead vocals, replacing the departed Kelli Dayton.

Attempting to duplicate the unexpected mega-success of 1999's 'Supernatural,' the rock veteran returns with the formula intact, loading this disc with numerous guests from various musical genres to appeal to as many potential fans as possible. The list of contributors reads like the introductions to some televised awards show: Michelle Branch, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, Seal, Macy Gray, Musiq, Placido Domingo, Ozomatli, Dido and P.O.D. (What, no Ozzy Osbourne?)

Bowie's first studio album in three years (and first for his new label ISO Records, distributed by Columbia) finds the older white duke working with producer Tony Visconti for the first time since 1980's 'Scary Monsters.' Pete Townsend and Dave Grohl guest on guitar on a track apiece.

It's a bit hard NOT to get noticed when your band consists of a couple dozen people dressed in white robes, but having one of the most memorable debut albums in recent years (think Mercury Rev + Spiritualized + Up With People) certainly doesn't hurt. This 10-song debut (which was originally intended as a demo) did in fact land the Austin, Texas band led by former Tripping Daisy member Tim DeLaughter a major label deal.

Costello's first album of original material in six years is a return to his new wave/punk/rock roots, with several members of The Attractions (Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas) in tow.

This is the third album for the now-23-year-old singer (and former Cinderella). Rodney Jerkins handles most of the production chores on this 17-track disc.

Missy Elliott reunites once again with super-producer Timbaland on this, her fourth studio album. The lead single is "Work It," a huge success even before the album's release. Guests on the disc include Jay-Z, Ludacris, Beyonce Knowles, TLC and Method Man.

The popular electronica band, now down to two members (founders Rick Smith and Karl Hyde) after the departure of DJ Darren Emerson, move forward with their first studio recording in three years, highlighted by 9-minute lead single "Two Months Off."

Eve's third album finds the popular Philly rapper working with producers Dr. Dre, Irv Gotti and Swizz Beatz. Alicia Keys guests on one track.

The acclaimed indie-rock trio from Olympia, Wash. return with their sixth album.

Who is Lamya? Born in Africa, educated in England, and later residing in the U.S., she is a classically-trained opera singer who embarked on a pop career, first serving as lead vocalist for Soul II Soul and later as a backup singer for Duran Duran and David Bowie. For this solo debut, she wrote, produced, and composed each of the 12 tracks.

Slightly (and confusingly) changing their name to Godspeed You! Black Emperor for this outing, the Canadian instrumental band recorded these 5 tracks (clocking in at 75 minutes) with Steve Albini as a follow-up to their extremely well-received 2000 effort 'Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven.'

The first new album for the English electronic outfit in six years sees the band heading in a completely new direction, away from their dark electronica in favor of a more organic, psychedelic rock vibe. Surprisingly (for a FSOL album), there's guitar, vocals, strings, and harmonica, and trippy song titles such as "The Mello Hippo Disco Show."

Now into their third decade of recording, Sonic Youth offer up a return to form that has more in common with their output of the 80s than with anything they have released in recent years. Multi-instrumentalist Jim O'Rourke, who worked with the band on their previous effort 'NYC Ghosts & Flowers,' is now a full-fledged member of the group.

A comeback of sorts, 'Title TK' comes a full nine years after The Breeders' previous effort (1993's 'Last Splash') and sees the group with a new lineup (only Kim Deal and sister Kelley remain) and producer (Steve Albini).

The former Replacements leader returns with his first solo effort in three years, which actually is two albums in one: Stereo, his new 12-track solo release; and Mono, a second recording by Westerberg and full band under the Grandpaboy name.

Believe it or not, these guys have been around for over 15 years now, and this is their eighth release (and first since 1998's 'Dizzy Up The Girl').

This is the much-heralded debut album from the English foursome, produced by Steve Osbourne.

Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson takes leave from his band for this debut solo release.

The Canadian singer-songwriter's fifth album finds Sexsmith experimenting with electronica for the first time.

This is the fourth album from the successful West Coast rapper.

This is the second full-length album for the Los Angeles-based indie band, who are now labelmates of Omaha's Bright Eyes. Fans of the TV program "Boy Meets World" (all three of you) may recognize guitarist Blake Sennett, who played Joey on that show. (Singer Jenny Lewis has also guested on numerous sitcoms over the years.)

The Washington D.C.-based production duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton are back with their third proper LP, following 2000's 'The Mirror Conspiracy.' Like its predessor, 'Babylon' is a multicultural mix of down-tempo instrumentals and vocal tracks, with Pam Bricker, Lou Lou, Notch, Emiliana Torrini, Sleepy Wonder and Shinehead providing the voices.