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).

This more typically abstract effort for the German duo is their first release for Ipecac and their first album since 2004's poppier 'Radical Connector.'

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.

The jazz vocalist mixes originals with covers of songs by the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen for her third album, a follow-up to 2004's "Careless Love."

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

Beyonce's second album features production by Rodney Jerkins, Sean Garrett, the Neptunes, Rich Harrison and Swizz Beatz and a guest appearance by Jay-Z.

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

'Slappers' is the second solo album for the vocalist best known for her work with Herbert.

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

The hip-hop collective's eighth album is their first for Def Jam records, and also features the return to the group of rapper Malik B.

The Los Angeles-based California-rock outfit led by Darren and Ann Do Rademaker returns with a third album.

Dave Grohl and the Dixie Chicks guest on the singer-songwriter's third album.

The Wu-Tang star's fourth solo album includes contributions from Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, Ginuwine and Raekwon.

The Tim Kasher-led band has lost its cellist (Gretta Cohn) but added a horn section for its latest release, produced, as always, by Mike Mogis.

The mega-stars follow 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' with their own 'Purple Rain,' a sure-to-be-huge (and definitely all over the musical map) soundtrack to their movie musical of the same name.

Chris Thomas (U2, Pulp) produced this brief, self-titled follow up to the Johnny Borrell-led band's 2004 debut 'Up All Night.'

This B-sides and rarities complilation contains 18 previously-released (although not always easy-to-find) tracks.

This is the tenth album for the very large Nashville band led by Kurt Wagner.

John Darnielle follows 'The Sunset Tree' with this equally personal 12-song set.

The Slint and Tortoise guitarist's second solo album under his given name expands on the sound of his first by adding a rhythm section into the mix.

Rob Schnapf produced album number three for the James Walsh-led band.

Brendan Canty (Fugazi) produced this third album for the Oregon band, down to the duo of Hutch Harris and Kathy Foster after the departure of original drummer Jordan Hudson.

The singer-songwriter's fifth release finds him backed for the first time by a full band, which includes Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists) and Jordan Hudson (The Thermals). Neko Case and My Morning Jacket's Jim James guest.

The Stars vocalist makes her solo debut, backed by members of that band as well as of Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think, and Metric.

This is the second solo outing for the former Archers Of Loaf and Crooked Fingers frontman.

This posthumous release--the late James Yancey's third solo album--was near completion at the time of his February 2006 death. Unlike 'Donuts,' this disc (featuring appearances by Madlib, Busta Rhymes and Common) is largely based on live instrumentation rather than samples.

The heiress and reality television semi-star covers Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" (answer: no) and duets with Jadakiss on her recording debut.

The singer's fourth album features production from will.i.am, Cee-Lo, Linda Perry, Max Martin and Raphael Saadiq (but, for the first time, not the Neptunes). Husband Nas also guests.

The Canadian musician's follow-up to 'Infiniheart' was once again recorded solo at his home.

Anyone disappointed by the last Daft Punk album might enjoy this funky, largely instrumental second album for the New York duo.

This 2004 debut album for the Austin, Texas band was re-released (with four bonus tracks mixed by Spoon's Jim Eno) in 2006 when the band signed with Barsuk.

The indie-pop trio from Illinois--making their debut with 'Kindness'--features former members of Maserati and Absinthe Blind.

One of six (!) new albums recently recorded by the Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. frontman, the mostly-acoustic 'Let Me Go' is a vinyl-only release (that conveniently comes with a full CD version of the album).

Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Warren Ellis (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds), and Will Sergeant (Echo and the Bunnymen) guest on the band's first album in four years, which ditches the aggressive, electronic elements of their previous two outings in favor of a more traditional blues-rock homage.

The 'Basics' in the title of this double-disc set are the jazzy blues and soul sounds of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, which Aguilera tackles with the help of Linda Perry and DJ Premier.

Eminem, 50 Cent, and Nate Dogg are among the guests on the Detroit rapper's second release.

Three former members of Jane's Addiction--including guitarist Dave Navarro--are joined by singer Steve Isaacs for this new project.

This seven-song follow-up to 2004's 'Blue Cathedral' adds a bit more melody and cleaner sound to the band's usual noise assault.

The latest studio outing from the prolific singer-songwriter features production by Mike Napolitano (along with DiFranco herself) and contributions from touring musician Todd Sickafoose.

This double album marks the first solo release for the "brother" half of the brother-sister duo Fiery Furnaces. While the 'Holy Ghost' disc is as bizarre and experimental as recent Furnaces releases, 'Winter Women' marks a detour into more accessible pop.

This debut LP (which actually collects tracks from three previous EPs together with a few new songs) from the English singer-songwriter combines indie rock with lo-fi electronics and '60s and '70s pop influences.

This is the first studio output for the original lineup of the metal band since 1990's Seasons In The Abyss.

Members of the Wu-Tang Clan guest on their fellow member's second solo disc. The roster of producers includes Pete Rock and MF Doom.

Dave Sardy and Tony Doogan produced this debut LP for the new band from former Libertines member Carl Barat.

Fourteen tracks by the late French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg are covered (in English) by the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Portishead, Placebo, Tricky, Jarvis Cocker and Cat Power.

The rapper's sixth album includes production work from Scott Storch and Swizz Beatz.

Mos Def and the Dave Matthews Band guest on the hip-hop group's first release in four years, which finds them now working without Cut Chemist.

One-half of the superstar production duo The Neptunes, Pharrell steps into the limelight with this long-delayed solo debut, which mixes both rap and R&B and includes collaborations Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, and Jay-Z.

The rocker's third solo disc has only one Heartbreaker (Mike Campbell) in tow, with the rest of the instrumentation handled by Jeff Lynne (who also produces) and Petty himself.

Pink and Sly & Robbie guest on the latest Spearhead offering, which was produced by Michael Franti with Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys) and mixes reggae, hip-hop and R&B.

The first album in 32 years for the legendary glam-punk band features guest appearances from Michael Stipe, Bo Diddley and Iggy Pop. Only David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain return from the Dolls' original lineup, however.

This is the second album for the British garage rockers.

The John Roderick-led Seattle indie rockers return with a third album.

Not-so-prolific Welsh singer-songwriter Green Gartside returns with his first Scritti Politti album in seven years.

This is the second album for the Australian band led by Luke Steele.

The Bay Area post-punkers get political on their third album, which was recorded without departed guitarist Sara Jaffe.

This is the third album (and first American release) for the Swedish brother-sister electro-pop duo of Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson.

'Savane' is the final album from the acclaimed guitarist from Mali, who died in March 2006 after a three-decade recording career which found him injecting American blues into traditional African music.

This sophomore set finds the Texas five-piece utilizing a 1970's classic rock / soft rock sound.

This is the debut full-length for the Lawrence, Kansas band consisting of Matt Suggs (Butterglory), Rob Pope (The Get Up Kids), and John Anderson, Zach Holland, Dustin Kinsey (Thee Higher Burning Fire).

This is the solo debut for the Manic Street Preachers frontman.

Johnny Marr guests on the singer-songwriter's first album in three years and her first disc for the Young God label.

Members of the Jayhawks combine with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Soul Asylum's Dan Murphy and Big Star's Jody Stephens for the pseudo-supergroup's first release in eight years.

Doug Boehm returns as producer for this ten-track set.

This is the full-length debut for the new duo of Death From Above 1979's Jesse Keeler and that band's producer, Al-P.

This is the second release for the second incarnation of Helmet, which features frontman Page Hamilton backed by a new rhythm section.

This Brazilian dance-rock outfit may be "Tired Of Being Sexy," but that didn't stop Sub Pop from making them the first South American addition to its roster. This is their debut.

This is the solo debut for the veteran turntablist / DJ / producer, formerly of Jurassic 5.

The stadium-sized English trio returns with a follow-up to its 2004 hit 'Absolution,' again produced by Rich Costey.

They're either a bit early or a bit late with their new year's tidings, but the experimental Brooklyn band is back with 11 new tracks.

Leslie Feist, Joan Jett, Josh Homme and Beth Ditto are among the guests on the electro-sleaze (and we mean that in a good way) artist's third LP.