The second album for the Seattle-based four-piece band was produced with Erik Blood.

As its first independently released album, Weezer still remains true to form with a collection of Pinkerton-esque pop rock.

The pianist's follow-up to last year's Historicity, where he worked as part of a trio, is a solo album of originals and covers.

Known as the frontman for Las Vegas-based rock group, The Killers, Brandon Flowers ventures out on his own with a solo debut that sounds achingly similar to the melodic, Vegas-themed music of his band but with a more self-conscious approach.

The longtime New York indie band returns with another album of garage-rock and experimental instrumentation with its album, Lisbon.

The title of Plant's new album revives the name of his pre-Zeppelin psychedelic band from the '60s and combines folksy rock with his own solo work.

Linkin Park team up again with legendary producer Rick Rubin for its fourth album in attempt to create a genre all of its own.

The soul singer returns with his first release on indie label Plug Research after Interscope Records shelved what would have been his second album, Love for Sale, in 2006.

The electro-funk duo returns with its third album of new wave-inspired songs and crooning synthesizer-heavy jams.

Nick Cave brings the experiences and sounds of his 30-year career to the table with the second release from his latest musical project since the Bad Seeds, with more of the trademark soaring piano, crunchy guitar, violins and mandolins to create an experimental new album.

The fourth release for the R&B singer features guest appearances by Nicki Minaj and Drake.

Kevin Barnes expands his musical experimentation with the latest release from this Athens, Georgia indie-pop band, adding R&B stylings to the mix with the appearance of guest vocalist Janelle Monáe.

The Austin rock band that gained mainstream exposure on the UNKLE song With You in My Head featured in the film "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," releases its third album on new label Blue Horizon.

Vancouver singer/songwriter Stephen McBean returns as the main musical mastermind behind this psychedelic rock outfit, combining stoner metal with dreamy pop.

The Icelandic singer-songwriter's second album was produced by Sigur Ros' Kjartan Sveinsson.

The indie-pop legends from Glasgow--that had a well-documented influence on Nirvana frontman, Kurt Cobain--keep at it 20 years since their last release with a new album of upbeat alterna-rock.

This is the first studio album Charles Lloyd has with Jason Moran, Reuben Rogers, and Eric Harland, having previously worked on the recorded live album Rabo de Nube.

You Are Not Alone finds Mavis Staples teaming up with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, who produced the album and penned several of the songs, and while Tweedy may seem an odd fit, he obviously knew what he was up to, crafting material that fits Staples' gospel-fueled vocals.

Simian Mobile Disoc's James Ford produces The Crocodile's follow-up to its 2009 debut album, Summer of Hate.

This is the second full-length album for the British dubstep producer.

The alternative rock trio's eighth album was produced by Van Rivers and the Subliminal Kid.

The album of Eastern-influenced music is the fourth release for the trio from Florida who met at a Hare Krishna commune.

This is the first studio album in nine years for the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, indie rock band Superchunk.

Jamey Johnson's latest album is a 25-track double album with the first half, The Black Album, devoted to dark emotions and the other half, the White Album, devoted to more positive songs.

The debut full-length album for the Jose Gonzalez-led trio.

The British alternative rock band's its eleventh album was produced by Martin Glover.

The British electronic duo return with an album featuring production from such names as Appleblim, Dubfire, Paul van Dyk, and High Contrast.

The third album for the son of Steve Earle was produced with Skylar Wilson.

The New York City band led by Adam Pierce releases its seventh album.

The band led by Phil Cook releases a six-track album which was completed in six weeks.

The Detroit producer introduces some funk and rock music with a backing band on his fourth full-length solo album.

The latest album for Jason Beck and produced with Boys Noize shares the same name as the film starring his alter ego Chilly Gonzales, Feist, Peaches, and Tiga.

The eight-track album follows the earlier released mini-album, The Night Before.

Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor return to release the duo's fourth studio album after disbanding in 2004.

This is Pablo Diaz-Riexa's second album as El Guincho.

The third album for the Des Moines, IA-based band was produced by Nick Raskulinecz.

The band that began as a project with Simon Wohan, while Kip Ulhorn was still with the Panthers, releases its latest album of Krautrock-influenced music.

The second part to the Swedish pop artist's trilogy of albums combines pop, dance, and hip-hop and includes collaborations with Diplo and a duet with Snoop Dogg.

The NY-based band returns with its fourth, self-titled release, which was mixed by Alan Moulder and highlights the band's dark-themed, post-punk style.

Portland's indie-punk trio's fifth album is full of fist-pumping rock anthems about relationships and regret.

Having been compared to everyone from Norah Jones to Billy Joel, this singer-songwriter returns with her sophomore release that further exemplifies her musical talent and bold lyricism.

The Grammy-nominated band's follow-up to its self-titled album is the last album with guitarist Chris Stapleton on lead vocals, who left the bluegrass group earlier this year to pursue other projects.

The rock-and-roll legend's latest release is his second album of duets with such artists as Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Merle Haggard, John Fogerty, Kid Rock, Kris Kristofferson, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Keith Richards, and Slash.

The German electronic trio is now just a solo project of remaining member Markus Popp.

This is the fourth full-length album for the band led by Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices.

The band fronted by Page Hamilton includes yet another new line-up for its seventh studio album.

The fifth album for the alternative rock band was produced by Brendan O'Brien.

The second full-length album for the Canadian band is the conclusion to a trilogy of albums that began with the debut album The Pink Ghosts and the EPs Blankets and Tin Fist.

The Sea and Cake singer challenged himself to create something different with his third solo album.

The second album for the rock trio was produced by Peter Katis.

The debut album for the duo from Manchester, England, features Kylie Minogue on one track.

Chicago's hard rock arena-headliners return with another album of heavy metal hits that recall early Metallica and Iron Maiden while maintaining their trademark dark sound.

The first album for the metal band after its split with Geffen features five new songs and nine live songs.

The real-life musician couple's debut album combines classic-rock textures with more pop-oriented love songs.

After a six-year hiatus, the sisters of arena rock are back with a more acoustic-heavy sound that's still as electrifying as ever.

The British jazz quartet's follow-up to Knee-deep In The North Sea, its Mercury Prize-nominated debut album, was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with producer John Leckie.

The live album was recorded during Richard Thompson's tour of the West Coast in February, with a majority of the tracks from performances at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall.

This is the latest album for the quartet of Canadian psychedelic rockers.

Songwriter Ryan Bingham has grown tremendously on this third full-length. Barely 30 years old, his previous work showed promise but carried the excess expected of a novice. Bingham won both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for "The Weary Kind," the theme song from the film Crazy Heart. The song was produced by T-Bone Burnett, creating a partnership extended on Junky Star. Bingham and his Dead Horses--drummer Matthew Smith, bassist Elijah Ford, and guitarist Corby Schaub, prove the song was no fluke. The sound is pure Americana; these 12 lyrically sophisticated yet direct songs, reflect a host of tense, lost, desperate, individuals dreaming the same dark dream, one that suggests that we are all growing tenser with the times. Bingham has trimmed his songwriting to the bone, while learing to use metaphor and metonomy like a veteran. A former rodeo rider, he wears his influences proudly: Guthrie, Dylan, Van Zandt, Ely, Earle, Clark, and Hubbard. He begins with a sandblasted vision of America in "the Poet." Amid acoustic guitars, a lonesome harmonica ,restrained electric and bass drum, Bingham's whiskey-smoked vocal offers a lyric theme the entire album turns on: "As I keep walking, people keep talking/About things they've never seen or done/Homeless sleep in the park, lovers kiss in the dark/Me, I keep moving on through time." Time is suspended as Bingham's protagonists tell stories from the road (some of them bone-chilling), from America's past and present, physically and psychologically. Rootlessness as peace of mind is portrayed via country rock in "The Wandering," but the feeling in "Strange Feeling In The Air," the title track, a deeply moving acoustic murder ballad (they are strewn throughout the album), and the angry uptempo "Depression," reflect a contradiction: constant movement is the key to survival, not necessarily peace. "Hallelujah" is another murder ballad with a disturbing twist. "Lay My Head On The Rail," is pure folk poetry illustrated by a lone acoustic guitar. The blues in "Hard Worn Trail," are rooted in poverty worry, strained, broken relationships resulting in the search for comfort. It doesn't come anywehre on Junky Star. "All Choked Up Again," set to Waylon Jennings' brand of outlaw country closes it out by mining the existential darkness deeper. Bingham is unflinching, but his songs hold out for a glimmer of something else. The only real consolation Junky Star offers is that no one need feel alone in her or his desperation-this is a true accomplishment. Bingham has delivered a set of songs that mirrors our uncertain times in a musical language that doesn't unduly distort or romanticise them. ~ Thom Jurek

The Goo Goo Dolls worked with several producers--including Butch Vig, Tim Palmer, John Fields, and Rob Cavallo--on the ninth studio album for the rock band from Buffalo, New York.

The Clientele’s 2009 album Bonfires on the Heath was one of the best, most hauntingly beautiful records of the band’s impressive career. So strong that it spawned an equally wonderful EP made up of songs recorded at the Bonfires sessions that were deemed suitable for the album itself. Hard to believe that they couldn’t find room for the title track "Minotaur" as its fragile melody and sweetly swaying dynamics would have fit in perfectly. The same with the bouncing and sweet "Paul Verlaine"; it would have been one of the more memorable tracks there. That these songs were indeed left off only points out how good Bonfires was, and how easily the Clientele concoct note-perfect autumnal pop. Add in a moodily drifting cover of The West Coast Pop Art Experiment's creepy ballad from the late 60s,“As the World Rises and Falls,” a couple of tracks that hit the usual Clientele sweet spot between heartbreak and tender melancholy, and a long spoken word ramble from leader Alasdair MacLean, and you have a record that rises above stopgap or left-overs status. Minotaur is as essential as anything else the band has released and whether as part of Bonfires or on its own, the record stands as a welcome addition to their legacy as one of the great indie pop bands of their era. ~ Tim Sendra

The latest solo album for the My Morning Jacket guitarist features his father on the bassoon, clarinet, and saxophone.

The first album on new label Savoy Jazz has the guitarist joined by drummer Rudy Royston and violinist Eyvind Kang.

The band from Hollywood, California, returns from hiatus to release its second album.

This is the first solo album for the Radiohead drummer.

The debut full-length album for the British quartet was produced by David Kosten.

Following the influence of artists such as Iggy Pop and David Bowie, !!! went to Berlin to produce their texturally full-bodied--pop yet still heavily brooding--new album.

The Finnish metal band's seventh album features guest appearances by Gavin Rossdale, Brent Smith, Dave Lombardo, Lacey Mosley, and Joe Duplantier.

The second full-length album for the Canadian trio led by Elizabeth Powell was written while she was recovering from a hemorrhagic vocal polyp.

The second full-length album for the Athens, Georgia-based alternative rock band was produced by John Agnello and features Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis as a guest artist.

Recorded over three performances at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in April 2009 in Brooklyn, New York, it is the Scottish rock group's first live album/DVD release.

After gaining attention with their vinyl single Hey Boy, the Tennessee five-piece band releases its debut album produced by Shane Stonebeck.

Justin Vernon was so impressed with Sean Carey's ability that he was invited to be a part of Bon Iver's touring band. Now comes Carey's solo debut album recorded at his own home and Vernon's studio in Wisconsin.

The Los Angeles band led by Michael Fitzpatrick goes for 1960s soul on its debut album.

The second album for the band was mainly recorded in the duo's living room in Winterville, Georgia.

Little Big Town's fourth studio album was produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick, who also contributed as a songwriter on the album.

The San Francisco-based trio releases its first album on the Kill Rock Stars label after a successful release of its self-titled debut.

The American Idol songstress returns with her highly anticipated third album featuring--for the first time as a bonus track--Fantasia's signature song from her acting role in The Color Purple.

The second studio album for the Berkeley group was produced with Bangladesh and the group's own Young L.

The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde and Welsh singer/songwriter JP Jones collaborate on an album about love.

The husband-and-wife Swedish duo's third album was recorded with an Icelandic choir.

The Grammy Award-nominated singer's sophomore release is full of pop-rock gems and features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg and Rivers Cuomo.