The Depeche Mode songwriter's second solo album is just like his first (1989's 'Counterfeit'): all covers. Here, he tackles Brian Eno's "By This River," The Velvet Underground's "Candy Says" (oh my), Nick Cave's "In My Time of Dying," Iggy Pop's "Tiny Girls," and seven other works by your favorite artists.

The legendary English band, now re-formed, reunited and reinvigorated, return with their first LP in over a dozen years, with a sound that recalls the punk energy of their 1970s albums while sounding completely modern. Note that 7 of the 11 tracks here are also found in some form on 2002's twin "Read & Burn" EPs.

The multimedia collective known as the Blue Man Group, who can be seen and heard in ongoing theatrical productions in several cities, in television commercials for Intel, and even on a previous instrumental album 'Audio,' have released here something akin to a real rock'n'roll album. Their assortment of invented instrumentation is now accompanied by more traditional instruments, and vocals are provided by an array of guests, including Dave Matthews, Spalding Gray and Tracy Bonham. Included also are covers of "White Rabbit" and "I Feel Love."

'Shine' is the first solo album in more than a decade for Daniel Lanois, best known for his production work for artists such as U2, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, and Bob Dylan. Harris guests on vocals here, as does U2's Bono.

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 Boston-based punk-metal outfit returns with a third studio LP, produced by David Botrill (Tool).

Best known as the co-creator of MTV's cult hit sock puppet show "Sifl and Olly," Liam Lynch has also studied music at Paul McCartney's academy and is a published writer. 'Fake Songs,' his first album, includes "United States of Whatever" (the most popular song from S&O and now a minor alternative radio hit) and such tracks as "Fake David Bowie Song," "Fake Pixies Song," and "Fake Depeche Mode Song."

The UK glam-punk band returns with their fourth album.

The third album for the Scottish rockers is already a big hit with UK music fans, helped by the success of lead single "You Held the World in Your Arms."

This long-awaited follow-up to 2000's 'Hybrid Theory' contains 12 new tracks co-produced by Don Gilmore.

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.

Known for their loud, angry, and extreme take on metal (well, even more so than your average metal band), The Blood Brothers return with their third album in as many years.

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.

This major-label debut for the Massachusetts alt-metal band finds the group willing to experiment with and open up its sound, adding more adventurous elements into the mix.

'Strangest Things' is the second album, and first for a major label, for Longwave, who got their big break opening for fellow New Yorkers the Strokes (although their sound veers much closer to that of 80s-influenced Interpol than the neo-garage of the Strokes). Dave Fridmann produces.

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

Art Alexakis & Co. finally return with a successor to 2000's 'Songs From An American Movie' pair of albums... but is anyone still listening?

This is the major-label debut for the Bay Area punk rockers (whose initials stand for "A Fire Inside"), who got their start in Ukiah, Calif. in 1991. Garbage's Butch Vig produces.

Named after the setting of the 1985 film "The Goonies," 'So Long Astoria' is the major-label debut (and fourth studio LP) for the power-pop five-piece. Included here is a cover of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer."

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

This is the second solo outing for the former Verve frontman.

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

Al Jourgensen is back, and, apparently, angrier than ever. Included here on the industrial band's eighth album is a cover of Magazine's "The Light Pours Out of Me."

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

The first of two planned 2003 releases for the far-from-prolific Bristol-based electronica collective sees the group pared down to one original member: Robert "3-D" del Naja (although Grant "Daddy G." Marshall intends to return to the group for the next disc). Horace Andy returns to provide vocals on several tracks, and Sinead O'Connor also guests on two songs.

The fun-loving Britpop outfit, popular in the U.K. but unsuccessful to date in the U.S., returns with its fourth LP.

The Smiths' guitarist takes a turn at the microphone for the first time, handling vocal duties for his new band, The Healers. The lineup also includes Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr) on drums and Kula Shaker bassist Alonza Bevan.

One-hit wonders, you say? Well, the New York trio did score an MTV hit with "Popular," from their 1996 debut album, but it is a more mature and less commercial Nada Surf that returns now with a third LP, their first for indie label Barsuk.

What could possibly be more relevant in 2003 than an 80s band covering their favorite hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s? Tracks here include Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill," Buddy Holly's "Everday," and The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."

The new group led by Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins features a lineup including fellow Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin on drums and guitarists Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Skunk) and David Pajo (Slint, Tortoise).

Available in two different versions, the latest from Lou Reed is based on the writings of Edgar Allen Poe. The 2-CD set includes tracks with readings of Poe by various actors (such as Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and Amanda Plummer), backed by Reed, while the single-disc set pulls only the more song-oriented pieces from the longer version. Hal Willner produces.

The Glasgow, Scotland-based band follow 2000's stunning 'The Great Eastern' with this, their fourth (and almost equally stunning) LP. Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev) returns as producer.

The former Style Council and Jam frontman returns with a solo album, and finds Weller producing and playing most of the instruments himself, with the help of a few celebrity guests such as Noel Gallagher, Kelly Jones and Aziz Ibrahim.

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

Not the true follow-up to 'Toxicity' that fans were hoping for, 'Steal This Album' instead consists of outtakes from that 2001 album, originally leaked on the Internet in rough versions and now polished up for release on CD.

Bobby Gillespie and co. follow 2000's widely acclaimed 'XTRMNTR' with a similar blend of Stooges-style rock and electronica, thanks to the production work of semi-official Primal Scream member Kevin Shields (formerly of My Bloody Valentine) and Andy Weatherall. Tracks include first single "Miss Lucifer," "City," a remake of a Gillespie-sung track on David Holmes' most recent album, and "Some Velvet Morning," sung as a duet with supermodel Kate Moss.

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.

After frontman Zack de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine in 2000, the remaining members of that Los Angeles band enlisted former Soundgarden leader Chris Cornell, and together they formed Audioslave. This is their debut release.

The band's first album of new songs since 1999's Viva el Amor contains 12 mostly reggae-tinged tracks.

Another member of the new generation of neo-art-punkers (think Interpol or Liars, perhaps), this Los Angeles-based British four-piece makes its debut with 'Chat & Business,' which comes with a complimentary set of stickers with which to decorate the album cover.

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

The fourth album from Jakob Dylan & Co. includes lead single "When You're on Top" and a bonus cover of Elvis Costello's "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love & Understanding." Long-time guitarist Michael Ward has left the group, leaving room for Pearl Jam's Mike McCready to provide some of the lead guitar on the album.

The English singer-songwriter finally returns with a follow-up to his 1999 breakthrough hit 'White Ladder.'

After wowing music critics and winning Britain's Mercury Music Prize for his 2000 debut album, 'The Hour of Bewilderbeast,' Damon Gough (who is the one and only member of Badly Drawn Boy) took a bit of time off, recording only the soundtrack for 'About A Boy' in the interim. He now returns with a proper follow-up, preceded by single "You Were Right."

Legendary 1970s NYC electro-punk duo Suicide, hugely influential on the synth-pop, industrial, and electroclash movements to come in later decades, return with their first new album in ten years.

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 solo career of Blur guitarist Graham Coxon takes on a bit more importance now if you believe the rumors that he has left that successful Britpop group for good. This is his fourth solo disc.

Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley & Pete Wiggs build on the sparse, cool electronica sound of their last album, 'The Sound of Water,' with this latest release. Doves guitarist Jez Williams makes a guest appearance.

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.

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

This is the sophomore effort for the Dublin trio, who generated some attention (and some unavoidable Joy Division comparisons) with their self-titled 2000 debut.

Yes, it's *that* Soft Cell, the English band that brought you early 80s hits such as "Tainted Love" and "Sex Dwarf." Their first release since 1984's 'This Last Night in Sodom,' 'Cruelty Without Beauty' offers 12 brand-new tracks from the reunited duo of Dave Ball and Marc Almond.

The mercurial singer-songwriter returns with an album of interpretations of 13 traditional Irish songs.

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

This is the second in a series of self-released EPs from the newly-reborn band, following 'Read & Burn 01' which was released earlier in 2002.

Stephen Street is the producer for the Britpop band's catchy fifth album, their first since singer Brett Anderson's recovery from drug problems. Not surprisingly, it is also happier-sounding than previous Suede efforts.

This solo set by the frontman of the (still intact) Old 97s was produced by Jon Brion, and ventures away from the alt-country sound of that group's work.

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.

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.

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 guitarist for the legendary Manchester outfit The Stone Roses emerges with his very first solo album (after the breakup of his less successful second band, the Seahorses). It also marks the first appearance of Squire as a vocalist, as he sings on each of these 10 tracks.

This is the debut full-length release for the retro-pop band (think Cardigans or St. Etienne) founded by Lush guitarist/vocalist Emma Anderson and vocalist Lisa O'Neill. Many of the band's earlier singles appear here (in reworked versions), along with new material, all produced by Mark Van Hoen (Locust).

The UK quartet follows the critical and commercial success of their 2000 debut album 'Parachutes' with this long-awaited follow-up release, which the band has suggested may be their last.

This debut album from the Los Angeles five-piece band fronted by actor Jared Leto was produced by Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Kiss), and showcases more experimental and eclectic sounds than your typical alt-metal effort.

Stoner metal is back in the form of the third LP from Queens of the Stone Age, who are supplemented for this release (and supporting tour) by drummer Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana) and former Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan.

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.

The band's first album since 1997's 'This Is Hardcore' is produced by Scott Walker and features 12 new tracks.

The Violent Femmes' leader emerges with his very first solo release some 20 years after that band's formation. Here, Gano is joined by a star-studded cast that includes John Cale, They Might Be Giants, Mary Lou Lord, Lou Reed, Linda Perry, PJ Harvey and Frank Black.

'Details' is the debut full-length for the duo of producer Guy Sigsworth (Bjork, Madonna) and vocalist Imogen Heap.

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."

The soundtrack to the fictionalized account of the rise and fall of Manchester's Factory Records includes, somewhat obviously, a generous helping of New Order, Joy Division, and Happy Mondays songs (including the title track by the latter), as well as cuts from A Guy Called Gerald, Durutti Column, and the Buzzcocks. This is also the only album where you'll find the newest New Order single, "Here to Stay," a collaboration with the Chemical Brothers that failed to appear on either group's latest LP.

The English singer-songwriter's third LP features quite an array of guests, including Ryan Adams, Emmylou Harris, and the Chemical Brothers (who have utilized Orton's vocals on several of their own albums). Another longtime collaborator, William Orbit, appears for one track, with the remainder of the mixing duties falling to Everything But The Girl's Ben Watt.

The former Soul Asylum frontman offers up a debut solo release that is quite a departure from his former band's work, emphasizing loungey R&B and soul grooves instead of punky alternative rock.

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.)

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

This four-piece alt-metal band from Alabama draws frequent comparisons to Linkin Park, and even work with Linkin producer Don Gilmore on this major-label debut album.

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.

The English trip-hop outfit's fourth studio album features unlikely guest vocal appearances from rapper Slick Rick and Lambchop's Kurt Wagner.

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).

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.

One of 2002's much-hyped neo-garage rock bands, New York's Yeah Yeah Yeahs have opened for acts such as the White Stripes and the Strokes, and have drawn comparisons to both. This five-track debut EP was originally released in 2001 on the indie Shifty label, and saw a rerelease in the summer of 2002 on Touch & Go.

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.

Although their ride has been rocky at times, the Los Angeles band is nearing its 20th anniversary. (And if you grew up listening to the band, doesn't that make you feel old.) This, their eighth album, finds the Chili Peppers working with producer Rick Rubin.

The second album from the London band is a continuation of their Scott Walker-influenced dark and melancholy pop sound from their 2000 debut. (Not a Scott Walker fan? Think Tindersticks, Pulp or Divine Comedy.)

This 15-track collection compiles the band's B-sides, soundtrack contributions, and other oddities.