Bob Erzin (Jane's Addiction) produced the alt-metal band's fifth album. System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian guests.

The singer/songwriter's sophomore set (delayed for a year due to an acrimonious split with her record label) includes collaborations with k.d. lang and Cyndi Lauper.

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

The legendary band's first studio album since 1982 includes a full version of their mini-opera "Wire & Glass," which was recently released (appropriately enough) as a mini-album.

This is the Loaf's third (and hopefully final) installment in his three-decade Bat Out Of Hell series.

This fourth LP for the metal band follow's 2004's acclaimed 'Panopticon' as well as an opening slot on Tool's latest tour.

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci frontman Euros Childs makes his solo debut with this 14-song effort.

This highly-anticipated and highly-theatrical concept album follow's the New Jersey band's 2004 breakthrough hit 'Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge.'

This is the third album for project that began as a spin-off from At The Drive-In but has since lost founding guitarist Paul Hinojos (who is replaced for this album with Denali's Keeley Davis).

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

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

The debut album for the singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California.

This is the third album for the James Baluyut-led indie rockers.

'Calamity' is the first full length for Chris Cohen's new full-time project since leaving experimental rockers Deerhoof.

William Orbit, Mark Ronson, Lily Allen and the Pet Shop Boys are among the collaborators on Williams' eclectic seventh studio disc, which finds him experimenting (never a good sign) with electronica and even hip-hop.

Lemon Jelly's Nick Franglen produced Damon Gough's fifth Badly Drawn Boy album.

'World' is the first solo album in a decade for the Sunny Day Real Estate and Fire Theft frontman.

This is the third Hawk album for former Neutral Milk Hotel drummer Jeremy Barnes. Like previous efforts, it has an Eastern European flavor, although unlike previous efforts, it also includes contributions from Beirut's Zach Condon.

The band's fifth album was produced by Guy Piccioto and John Goodmanson.

Tim Rutili & co. reunite with producer Brian Deck for another moody, experimental take on American roots rock.

This is the second full-length album for the young Texas-based singer-songwriter, recorded at his home while he was recovering from major back surgery.

The singer-songwriter's first recording sessions with a full band were so productive, there was enough material for two albums. 'Shadow' will be followed by the second (and more upbeat) batch of songs in early 2007.

Many of the songs on the former Guided By Voices leader's second solo set of the year originated in tracks recorded for the soundtrack to the Steven Soderbergh film "Bubble."

The first album for the latest "band" from Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt (he's pretty much solo here) is intended as a companion to Lemony Snicket's series of books.

Laura Cantrell, Peter Holsapple, and Annie Hayden guest on Mac McCaughan's second Portastatic album of 2006.

The Brooklyn trio's third album, produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr.), marks their debut for Sub Pop.

This the third album for the Canadian folk trio includes a cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry."

This is the second LP for the Chicago-based avant-pop outfit.

The New Zealand rock band returns with a third album.

Tony Hoffer (Beck) produced this first album for the Brighton, England four-piece.

Originally intended as an EP, 'Warrior,' at seven tracks and 45 minutes, now stands as the Brooklyn band's second full-length release.

Nigel Godrich produced the latest eclectic release for the prolific Los Angeles-based artist, which is more varied and uptempo than their previous collaborations.

Flood and Alan Moulder handled production for the popular Las Vegas band's second album.

The Brooklyn-based rockers move to emo label Vagrant for this John Agnello-produced release.

The duo's second remix compilation this year includes their take on tracks by Junior Senior, N.E.R.D., Nine Inch Nails, Goldfrapp and more.

The Montreal band led by Murray Lightburn is a little more rocking and a little less orchestral on this follow-up to 'No Cities Left.'

'Crane Wife' marks the literate, Colin Meloy-led band's major label debut.

Fans of the Grammy-winning band have waited three years for them to return with a second album, which returns Dave Fortman as producer but no longer includes guitarist-songwriter Ben Moody.

The Australian rockers reunite with producer Dave Sardy for this second album.

The veteran musician is backed by REM and/or Minus 5 members Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Bill Rieflin (together, the Venus 3) on his first release since 2004's 'Spooked.'

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.

Steve Albini co-produced the artist's first album in three years.

The anticon crew that includes Doseone--and, fortunately, the nearly-killed Dax Pierson--makes the jump to a more major label (EMI/Astralwerks) for the first time.

The Fleetwood Mac guitarist's first solo outing in over a dozen years features bandmates Mick Fleetwood and John McVie on two tracks of a largely acoustic set.

Joe Pernice & co. return with an album produced by Michael Deming.

This is the much-blogged-about first album for the Baltimore duo of Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand.

The Evan Dando-led band (now down to a trio) returns with its first studio disc in ten years. J Mascis guests.

The surprisingly successful party band's second album includes a track co-written with Elton John.

Mark Linkous' first Sparklehorse album in five years includes collaborations with Danger Mouse, Christian Fennesz, and Tom Waits.

The first solo album for the Metric singer finds her backed by members of Stars, Metric and Broken Social Scene (together billed as The Soft Skeleton).

The noisy, intense Michigan band returns with a follow-up to 2004's 'Burned Mind.'

This double-disc live set features 21 tracks (many from last year's 'Z') recorded at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

This is the second album of home-made recordings for multi-instrumentalist and former Fridge bassist Adem Ilhan.

'Darkel' marks the solo debut for Air's JB Dunckel.

This is the third studio album for the Toronto collective headed by Joel Gibb.

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

A true solo effort, this self-titled release finds the 25-year-old Kweller handling all of the instrumentation himself for the first time.

Jim White and Paul Oldham are among the guests on prolific songwriter Will Oldham's latest Bonnie "Prince" Billy studio recording.

The singer-songwriter's fifth studio album is the first for his new record label, Lonely Astronaut.

Mitchell Froom produced the latest for the duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers.

This ten-song effort is a sequel to the singer's 1975 album 'Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy.'

Stephen Street produced this sophomore set for Liverpool's Zutons.

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.

David Bowie guests on the highly-anticipated second LP (and major-label debut) from the distinctive NYC band.

Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante guests on the prog-rock band's third studio disc, which features eight tracks clocking in at an epic total of 76 minutes.

The New York City dance-punk outfit returns with a sophomore album a full three years after their debut 'Echoes.' 'Pieces' sees them ditching The DFA for new producers Ewan Pearson, Paul Epworth and Danger Mouse.

After two relatively subdued albums, Ira, Georgia and James return with a much more varied effort that at times recalls pretty much every stage of their history. Roger Moutenot again produces.

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

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.

This fourth album marks the Barsuk debut for the eclectic Portland, Ore. husband-and-wife duo of Kevin and Anita Robinson.

Deerhoof's Greg Saunier produced this fifth album for the experimental Bay Area band led by Jamie Stewart.

The singer-songwriter reunites with producer J.D. Foster for his eighth album, which also finds him backed by former members of Guided By Voices.

Everclear leader Art Alexakis produced the band's first studio disc in three years, which finds him backed by four new band members and without a major-label contract.

The Atlanta metal band's third album marks their major-label debut.

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

This is the incredibly prolific Jason Molina's second studio album with his blues-rock outfit Magnolia Electric Co.

This is the second album for the eclectic, multi-lingual New York band that, despite its name, is largely male and definitely not Brazilian.

The follow-up to 2004's 'The Ride' is a timely 13-track song cycle about American immigration.

The all-female Japanese experimental rock outfit led by The Boredoms' Yoshimi P-We returns with a fifth album.

The Detroit party-rockers return with a third album.

Brendan O'Brien produced this third release for the Chris Cornell-led band.

This intricate second album for the Brooklyn-based band led by Edward Droste is their first for Warp Records.

Dylan's first studio release since his 2001 hit 'Love And Theft' is his 44th album overall.