You don't see many musicians described as a "whistler" but Chicago's Andrew Bird (who is also a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and originally, a violinist) fits the bill. This is his fifth release (and second for Ani DiFranco's record label), which finds him backed by several members of his group Bowl Of Fire.

'I'm Wide Awake' is the more country/acoustic of Conor Oberst's twin January 2005 releases under the Bright Eyes name. Emmylou Harris provides vocals on three tracks.

The Grammy-winner returns with a highly-anticpated follow-up to 'The College Dropout,' marking the second installment in a planned four-part series of albums. Jon Brion co-produced, and Brandy, Common, Nas, The Game, Jamie Foxx and Maroon 5's Adam Levine guest.

Rick Rubin co-produced this first of two planned 2005 releases for SOAD (with 'Hypnotize' coming in the fall).

This self-produced second album for the Boston-based rapper includes guest appearances from Mr. Lif, Percee P, Dagah and Insight.

This is the third album of sunny indie-pop tunes for the acclaimed union of Neko Case, Dan Bejar (also of Destroyer) and A.C. Newman.

This is the third album in three years for the newly-reunited Australian duo of Grant McLennan and Robert Forster.

Mark Everett's diverse and epic sixth Eels album spans two CDs. It probably would never be classified as a happy album, but it does include appearances from Tom Waits, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, and The Lovin' Spoonful's John Sebastian.

This right here is the American debut for the Canadian country-rapper (born Richard Terfry), who has actually been recording north of the border since the mid-1990s. Apparently he's worth $1.15 more than 50 Cent, although we're not sure if that's in Canadian dollars or not.

This is the fourth solo album for the sometime Pulp guitarist.

Coming a full 35 years after her debut ('Just Another Diamond Day'), the British folk singer's second LP finds her backed by fans/followers such as Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom.

The third release for the acclaimed cut-and-paste outfit features an expanded vocal role for guitarist Nick Zammuto.

Mike McCarthy returns as producer for the Britt Daniel-led band's varied follow-up to their acclaimed 2002 outing 'Kill The Moonlight.' Spoon fans will not be disappointed.

Electric where the mellower 'Sung Tongs' was acoustic, 'Feels' is nevertheless another idiosyncratic outing for the freak-folk four-piece.

Sigur Ros' fourth album is the first to feature songs sung mainly in their native Icelandic, rather than their fabricated Hopelandish.

The singer-songwriter's third album finally sees the light of day after originally being shelved by her record label in 2003 and then leaked onto the Internet. This official 'Machine' is a newly-recorded version (with producer Mike Elizondo taking over for the original's Jon Brion), so if you've heard the leaked tracks, you haven't heard this. Let the comparisons begin!

The half American, half English four-piece make their debut with an album that, like Manitoba's Up In Flames, combines organic and electronic elements from a variety of genres into a unique psychedelic stew.

One half of the electronica outfit Super_Collider, producer Jamie Lidell returns with a second solo album that finds him in an unlikely new role: that of a soul singer.

Combine a singer who sounds more than a little like David Byrne, some solid indie-rock tunes, blurbs on all the right blogs, and a glowing review from Pitchfork and it all adds up to quite a buzz for this Brooklyn band's debut disc. Now all they need is a record deal.

The sixth album for Mac McCaughan's other band (i.e., the one that isn't Superchunk) finds him joined by bassist Jim Wilbur and drummer/brother Matthew McCaughan. Tim Mooney produced.

This is the seventh release under the Six Organs name for Ben Chasny, who in recent years has also been a member of Comets On Fire.

The Montreal band's Sub Pop debut was co-produced by Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock.

After both rapping and producing on other artists' records, double-threat Blueprint finally combines his talents on his first solo disc. Aesop Rock, Illogic and Vast Aire guest.

The rapper's follow-up to 2002's love-it-or-hate-it 'Electric Circus' was produced largely by Kanye West. For some reason, John Mayer guests.

The Scottish band's eagerly-awaited follow-up to their acclaimed self-titled debut is preceded by yet another insanely catchy single, "Do You Want To."

John Darnielle recorded this 13-track Mountain Goats disc with the help of musicians John Vanderslice, Peter Hughes, Franklin Bruno and Scott Solter.

The 19-year-old East London "grime" MC makes his debut with this LP which features contributions from Mike Skinner (The Streets), Diplo and Paul Epworth.

K-OS, Jason Tate (The Weakerthans) and Murray Lightburn (The Dears) guest on the Canadian collective's follow-up to 'You Forgot It In People.'

Sam Beam's latest release is a 6-track EP recorded with Brian Deck.

When the comic supergroup's 2001 debut sold an astounding 6 million copies worldwide, a sequel became necessary. Hence 'Demon Days.' Returning leader Damon Albarn (Blur) and new producer Danger Mouse are joined by guests Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays), Ike Turner, MF Doom, De La Soul and Dennis Hopper.

The trio's seventh album (their first for Sub Pop) features production work from Dave Fridmann and an atypically energetic sound.

Tony Berg and Eric Valentine produced this follow-up to 2002's Grammy-winning "This Side."

This multiculti London four-piece (making their full-length debut with 'Silent Alarm') has been heralded in seemingly every music magazine in the world as 2005's answer to Franz Ferdinand.

This is the third LP for the Brooklyn five-piece fronted by deep-voiced Matt Berninger.

The experimental indie-rockers led by Jamie Stewart return with album number four.

The latest solo disc for the anticon producer (best known for his work in cLOUDDEAD) finds him joined by guests Mike Patton, Andrew Broder (Fog), and members of Subtle, Themselves and why?

This double-disc set is the influential singer-songwriter's first album in a dozen years.

The duo's fifth long-player, destined to be known as GBMS in record reviews everywhere, was recorded in their Detroit studio. While not a total departure from previous efforts, it does find them expanding their sound away from their usual guitar+drums formula.

This collaboration between MF Doom and Danger Mouse includes voices and skits from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim shows. Non-animated folks like Ghostface Killah, Cee-Lo & Talib Kweli also lend a hand.

Chris Walla produced this third album for the literary Portland, Ore.-based five-piece led by Colin Meloy.

This split LP includes seven new Akron/Family tracks and five new songs from Michael Gira's Angels Of Light project (which, of course, features backing by Akron/Family).

This is the fourth solo disc for the illustrator and Sea And Cake guitarist.

Brendan O'Brien produced (and plays bass on) the singer's 19th album, which finds Springsteen backed by a variety of guests. Several of the 12 tracks here have previously surfaced in live performances, including two dating back to 1995.

Boasting a somewhat higher profile after a tour supporting Broken Social Scene, fellow Canadians Stars return with a third LP, produced by Tony Hoffer.

Producer Rick Rubin attempts to do for Neil Diamond what he did for Johnny Cash, resulting in a rare stripped-down, intimate set for the veteran performer. (Don't expect any Nine Inch Nails covers, though; these are all Diamond originals.)

'Human Kindness' is the latest disc of psychedelic electronica from Dan Snaith, who formerly recorded under the name Manitoba (before a threatened lawsuit from a similarly-named artist caused the switch to the similarly-Canadian Caribou).

Originally released in Japan in 2000, 'Gold And Green' finally reaches U.S. shores at a non-import price on Thrill Jockey. Yuko Honda and Sean Lennon guest.

This debut album showcases the British band's symphonic, shoegaze-y sound.

Will Oldham and members of the Jesus Lizard and Lambchop guest on David Berman's country-tinged fifth Silver Jews disc, which also sees the return of on-again, off-again band member Stephen Malkmus.

This debut full-length by the Norwegian singer is preceded by quite a bit of critical buzz on both sides of the Atlantic.

This is the debut full-length for the Baltimore four-piece whose frontman (James Johnson) bears a strong vocal resemblance to John Lydon.

The latest DFA artist to create a buzz in the music press is former Six Finger Satellite guitarist John Maclean, whose "Less Than Human" is his full-length debut as The Juan Maclean.

The Perceptionists feature Boston-based MCs Mr. Lif and Akrobatik backed by the beats of DJ Fakts One. El-P also shows up on one track.

The latest neo-folk outfit under the tutelage of Michael Gira are the Brooklyn quartet Akron/Family, who make their debut with this self-titled release.

Members of Calexico guest on the singer-songwriter's Matador debut.

Audion is the dirty-minded techno alter-ego of Matthew Dear.

Well over to the indie-rock side of anticon's indie-rap -- indie-rock continuum, Why? (aka Yoni Wolf) returns with an eight-song EP.

Kevin Barnes' eighth Of Montreal disc finds the Georgian heading into more electronic territory, enlisting his laptop to assist in the recording process. Music on a laptop--who knew?

'Superwolf' is the first collaboration between singer-songwriter Will Oldham (aka Bonnie Prince Billy) and Zwan's Matt Sweeney.

This is the fifth album for the Seattle-based singer-songwriter.

Daughter of Loudon and sister of Rufus, Martha becomes the third Wainwright to release an album in 2005. This self-titled effort is her full-length debut, following on the heels of her subtly-titled EP "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole."

The 21-year-old British singer-songwriter's second solo recording again sets his instrumentation against a moody electronic backdrop.

This is the seventh album for the New York noise-rock three-piece. Phil Manley of Trans Am guests.

This is the seventh album from the Australian indie-pop group led by singing drummer Tali White.

This is Slint guitarist David Pajo's first solo LP under his own name (well, at least half of his own name).

13+God is a collaboration between German rocktronica outfit The Notwist and American indie-rappers Themselves. Also guesting are members of Ms. John Soda, Lali Puna, and cLOUDDEAD; basically, if they're on Morr Music or Anticon, you'll find them here.

This is the third album for London-based rapper Rodney Smith.

Mark E. Smith & Co. return with their full-length follow-up to 'The Real New Fall LP.'

Michael Gira's post-Swans project Angels Of Light returns with a fourth release of mostly acoustic folk/rock, backed by musicians from Akron/Family.

This debut disc showcases the 50s and 60s pop stylings and three-part harmonies of the pair of brother-sister duos (Romeo & Michelle Stodart and Sean & Angela Gannon) that make up The Magic Numbers.

The Canadian illustrator and musician makes his Sub Pop debut with this self-recorded album.

The Canadian rockers follow 'Shine A Light' with this 10-track set.

The San Francisco rap duo of Gift of Gab (aka Timothy Parker) and Chief Xcel (Xavier Mosley) return with a third album.

The singer-songwriter follows his acclaimed effort '1972' with another album produced by Brad Jones. Don't be fooled by the title: it's not a country album, but rather, a farewell to the city Rouse has called home for the past decade (before moving to Spain).

Stuart Price co-produced the 47-year-old Anglophile's latest dance-oriented effort.

The Leeds, England band follow their acclaimed 2001 release 'Cold House' with this 10-track effort which, like its predecessor, combines acoustic guitars and some glitchy electronica elements into moody indie rock.

Madlib's somewhat bizarre alter-ego returns with a 27-track set.

The Memphis-born singer-songwriter is backed by The Earlies on this debut disc.

Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers) co-produced the singer-songwriter's fourth album, which finds him singing in Spanish on a few of the disc's 22 tracks.

Well, they certainly aren't the most prolific of artists, but the acclaimed Scottish electronica duo of Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin finally return with a third album.

In an attempt to avoid the "one-hit wonder" label, the Brooklyn five-piece that brought "Cameltoe" into the world returns with a second album.

The first studio album in five years for the Scottish rockers was produced by Tortoise's John McEntire.

This CD collects tracks from the Swedish artist's most recent EPs and singles.

Long championed by the White Stripes' Jack White, fellow Detroit singer-songwriter Brendan Benson follows his 2002 disc 'Lapalco' with this set co-produced by Tchad Blake.

Brian O'Shaughnessy produced the atmospheric UK band's second studio album.