Yusuf Islam (who seems to have lost the "Islam" portion of his name), better known by his former name of Cat Stevens, returns with his first album of pop songs since 1978.

The Irish singer-songwriter returns with a second album.

The second album for the tongue-in-cheek rock duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass serves as the soundtrack to their movie of the same name.

This is the first release for the new project from blink-182's Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus.

James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) guests on the former Belle & Sebastian singer's second solo outing, which finds her reworking traditional British folk songs.

The Australian country singer (who also doubles as Nicole Kidman's husband) wrote all or part of 10 of the 13 songs on this fourth solo album.

This is the second album for the D.C.-based duo of Ian MacKaye (Fugazi) and Amy Farina (The Warmers).

This compilation includes a dozen songs recorded live for BBC Radio.

The South London grime artist becomes Def Jam's very first female MC with the release of this solo debut LP.

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.

Now that Britney has dumped him, all he has is his music. Ouch.

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

The debut-full-length release for the 16-year-old country-pop singer-songwriter was produced by Nathan Chapman and Robert Ellis Orrall.

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

The Grammy-winning neo-soul singer's follow-up to 'Get Lifted' was produced by Kanye West, will.i.am and Raphael Saadiq.

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 Tom Jenkinson's first new album in two years, and the English electronica artist's tenth disc overall.

The artist currently known as Diddy's first release in five years features production by will.i.am, Pharrell, Just Blaze and Kanye West, with a huge roster of contributors including Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Jamie Foxx, Big Boi, Nas, Mary J. Blige, and Fergie.

The veteran British folkie is joined by Espers, Devendra Banhart and Beth Orton on his latest release.

This 43-song, 4-disc set is composed of all new recordings in roughly four different styles (one per disc): rock, country, acoustic bluegrass, and ballads.

This is the third album for the country singer who gained stardom following the release of 2005's 'Modern Day Drifter.'

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 debut full-length release for the Canadian hardcore punk band was produced by Jon Drew.

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.

This second solo disc for the G-Unit rapper includes contributions from 50 Cent, Young Buck and Mobb Deep.

This is the second album for the New York-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter.

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.

This is the debut LP for the Atlanta-based singer best known for his work with OutKast and as a member of the Organized Noize crew.

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.

Jermaine Dupri co-produced the latest studio disc for his current girlfriend, the most-assuredly-not-20-year-old Janet Jackson. Nelly guests.

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.'

Kanye West, Pharrell Williams and Timbaland are among the producers on the rapper's fifth disc, which also includes appearances by Nelly and R. Kelly.

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.

The country singer's second 2006 album is another change-of-pace: a disc full of love songs produced by Alison Krauss.

The soul singer tackles 14 country tunes with the help of producer Buddy Miller and guests Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless And Patti Griffin.

Following acclaimed, sample-driven efforts 'Endtroducing' and 'The Private Press,' 'The Outsider' detours DJ Shadow into more conventional hip-hop, with rappers such as David Banner and Q-Tip guesting.

'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.