This debut album for the Icelandic band (who draw more comparisons to Coldplay than to their countrymates Sigur Ros) was released in the UK in 2002 to some acclaim, prompting a major label deal with DreamWorks and a U.S. rerelease in 2003.

'Sheath' marks the first album for the groundbreaking Sheffield, England techno outfit since 1996's 'Advance.' Gez Varley has left the duo, leaving Mark Bell (who in recent years has kept busy producing the likes of Bjork and Depeche Mode) as the sole member.

The New-York four piece makes its full-length debut with this 10-track effort that has drawn comparisons to the usual suspects (Joy Division, The Cure, The Pixies, et al) as well as to newer bands who also draw from the same sources (Interpol, Hot Hot Heat, et al).

The trio worked with producer Dave Eringa (Ash, Manic Street Preachers, Kylie Minogue) for this sophomore release.

Former Sunny Day Real Estate members Jeremy Enigk, William Goldsmith and Nate Mendel make their debut as The Fire Theft with this 13-track disc, co-produced by Brad Wood.

Fresh off the electroclash touring circuit (and apparently in need of a good shave), ever-vulgar Canadian Merrill Nisker (aka Peaches) follows her 2000 debut 'The Teaches of Peaches' with 12 new tracks, including a duet with Iggy Pop.

The Canadian singer-songwriter worked with producer Marius deVries (Björk, Massive Attack) for this third LP, which is actually the first half of what was originally planned as a double album ('Want Two' will instead arrive next year).

This is the fourth LP (and first released by Epitaph) for the indie-minded Minneapolis-based duo of Slug and Ant.

Still going strong at 57, the Grammy-winning artist offers 12 new tracks, with some A-list backing from the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Jill Cunniff, Jane Siberry, and Kate and Anna McGarrigle.

Unlike Jack and Meg White, this brother-sister garage-blues duo really are brother and sister. 'Gallowsbird's Bark' marks the full-length debut for New Yorkers Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger after several years touring with the likes of Spoon, The Kills and French Kicks.

This is the fourth album for the Neil Halstead-fronted band, who have taken on a more alt-country feel since their origins in Slowdive.

The first solo release for Dave Matthews (that's right, it's not the Dave Matthews Band this time out) finds him working with artists such as Tim Reynolds and Trey Anastasio (Phish).

The Canadian grunge act attempts to duplicate the multi-platinum success of 2001's 'Silver Side Up' with this latest release.

This Grammy-winning follow-up to their smash 2000 hit 'Stankonia' is an OutKast album in name only, as it is structured in the form of two solo discs: one each for Big Boi (Speakerboxxx) and Andre 3000 (The Love Below).

'North' is a song cycle of piano-based ballads dealing with the ups and downs romance--both the ending of one releationship and the subsequent beginning of a new love.

El-P and Mr. Lif guest on Aesop Rock's second LP for the Def Jux label.

The critics were not kind to this follow-up to 'Chocolate Starfish...,' which sees the band with a new guitarist (who won the slot in a competition held at various Guitar Centers!) replacing the departed Wes Borland.

Don't be fooled by the title: While 'Identity Crisis' would have perfectly suited her poorly-received predecessor, 2001's Glen Ballard-produced 'Love, Shelby,' that's not the case here, as these 12 self-produced tracks are more likely to connect with fans of her breakthrough disc 'I Am Shelby Lynne.'

New York singer-songwriter Leona Naess recorded this third album in Los Angeles with producer Ethan Johns (Rufus Wainwright).

The hardcore rapper returns with his fifth studio album, hoping to duplicate the #1 success of each of his four previous LPs.

'Permission To Land' is the debut LP for the rock four-piece from Norfolk, England (and we're talking the big, loud, stadium-rock end of the rock continuum, not the indie-rock end).

Officially an EP, this 10-track effort is actually a full 50 minutes long and contains all new material. Guests include Lenny Kravitz, Zap Mama, Queen Latifah, Angie Stone and Bahamadia.

The roster of this Los Angeles outfit (who make their debut with this self-titled release) includes members of Beck's touring band (Medal-Johnsen and Joey Waronker).

Less punk, more pop is the motto for the fourth album by the New Jersey emo band led by singer-songwriter Chris Conley.

'Reality' finds a now 56-year-old David Bowie working once again with longtime producer Tony Visconti. Included among the 11 tracks is a cover of Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso."

A 16-year-old white British girl singing covers of American soul classics? Odd as it may sound, that is the recipe for a hit, as evidenced by this debut album for Dover, England teenager Joss Stone, who tackles works by everyone from Aretha Franklin to, well, the White Stripes.

Linebacker large, white, and very country, Bubba Sparxxx nevertheless became an overnight success with his 2001 hip-hop debut 'Dark Days, Bright Nights,' which was co-produced by Timbaland. This follow-up LP was also helmed by Timbaland and Organized Noize.

Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan's side project returns with a second LP on which he's backed by Jeordie "Twiggy Ramirez" White (Marilyn Manson), Billy Howerdel (Tool's guitar tech) and Josh Freese (Guns N' Roses).

This is the third album from the husband-wife duo of Kori Gardner (keyboards) and Jason Hammel (drums). Spoon's Jim Eno produced, along with John Croslin.

John Schmersal and Enon return with their third LP, which features an increased vocal presence by Toko Yasuda.

The girls in question on this debut disc are Blake Babies veterans Juliana Hatfield (guitars, vocals) and Freda Love (drums) plus bassist Heidi Gluck (The Pieces).

The Seattle hard rock band's sophomore album was produced by Phil Ek (Modest Mouse, Built To Spill).

The duo of Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney) return with their fifth LP.

The soundtrack to Sofia Coppola's second feature film includes the first new music in over ten years from My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields (who scored much of the film), new music from Air, and older tracks from Squarepusher, Jesus And Mary Chain, and Death In Vegas.

The seventh LP for the San Francisco-based band sees the fractured band reunited, as singer and co-founder David Freel is rejoined by drummer Sean Kirkpatrick.

This is the second album for the Portland, Ore.-based indie five-piece led by Colin Meloy.

The San Francisco group's fourth album is its darkest in mood so far, perhaps a result of several changes in band membership since 2001's 'The Coast Is Never Clear.'

The indie rockers took four years to record this third album.

He's nothing if not prolific. Black's fourth album in two and a half years features 13 new tracks and appearances from some of his usual cohorts (Stan Ridgway, Joey Santiago).

Never one for original album titles, Seal returns with just his fourth LP in his 12+ year recording career. Trevor Horn produces.

Oft-compared to Joy Division, this unique British four-piece sports single-word names (Hamilton, Noble, Yan, and Wood), dons military apparel for their live shows, and tackles dark, weighty themes in their lyrics (Czech history, anyone)? 'The Decline' marks their full-length debut, drawing critical praise on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Atlanta-based singer-songwriter (who is frequently compared to Dave Matthews) attempts to duplicate the unexpected success of 2001's 'Room for Squares' with this third album.

Byrne's latest release originated as the soundtrack to the film 'Young Adam' (itself based on the novel by Scottish beat writer Alexander Trocci). Since the film is set in Scotland, and since the former Talking Head himself was born there, he decided to enlist members of Glasgow-based groups such as Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian and The Reindeer Section to assist with this music (only a small portion of which actually is heard in the film).

The Welsh band self-produced this fourth studio album.

America's favorite party animal attempts to move past the frat party/beer commercial sound of his hit debut album with this slightly more mature follow-up. Slightly.

A quick follow-up by Spiritualized standards, 'Amazing Grace' finds Jason Pierce with a new record label (his own Spaceman Records imprint) and a more immediate, less orchestral sound than on 2001's 'Let It Come Down.'

The Southern rockers make their major-label debut with this 12-track effort.

The fifth release from the Chicago-based outfit continue their foray into "modern classical" composition using acoustic instruments.

'Amateur Night' marks the first solo release for the former frontman of the Happy Mondays and Black Grape. Cabaret Voltaire's Stephen Mallinder co-produced.

This compilation consists chiefly of alternate versions of tracks from her recent LP 'Daybreaker,' including live recordings and remixes by Two Lone Swordsmen and Four Tet.

This is the third LP for the English trio of vocalist Sarah Nixey, former Auteurs frontman Luke Haines and former Jesus & Mary Chain member John Moore. Together, they sound a bit like Saint Etienne, but with a much more political and satirical approach to their lyrics.

Denmark's Raveonettes--now including two new members in addition to founders Sune Rose Wagner, Sharin Foo and their drum machine--make their major-label debut with this 13-track effort produced by Richard Gottehrer (Blondie). As on their debut EP, all songs are restricted to a single key (here, b-flat major) and must be shorter than 3 minutes.

The London-by-way-of-Los-Angeles-by-way-of-San Francisco rockers known as JAMC--er, make that BRMC--return with their second LP, which actually finds the group distancing themselves (at least a little) from the Jesus and Mary Chain-influenced sound of their debut.

This is the second album for the Brooklyn- (formerly Ohio-) based indie rockers fronted by singer Matt Berninger.

This is the third studio album for the Denver-based indie pop band led by Tammy Ealom.

The female UK synth pop duo of Client A and Client B (we presume those are pseudonyms, but one never knows) make their debut with this self-titled effort, the first release for the new record label from Depeche Mode's Andy Fletcher.

The fifth album from the Nebraska-born singer-songwriter is indeed influenced by the music of 1972 (the year Rouse was born).

Diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2002, veteran singer-songwriter Warren Zevon decided to record one final album. This 11-track effort includes contributions from numerous Zevon friends, including Ry Cooder, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Don Henley, Tom Petty, and Dwight Yoakam.

This is the second LP for the Montreal-based indie-pop quartet featuring actor Torquil Campbell, Evan Cranley (also a member of Broken Social Scene), Amy Millan and Chris Seligman.

This is the third album for the Winnipeg, Canada-based group led by former Propagandhi member John K. Samson.

The Kentucky-based Southern rappers return with a sophomore LP.

Mary J. reunites with P. Diddy (who produced her debut 'What's the 411?') for this latest release, which features appearances from 50 Cent, Eve, Jay-Z and Method Man.

This sophomore disc for the Southern California alt-metal outfit was produced by Robert and Dean DeLeo of the Stone Temple Pilots.

The Ontario, Canada band makes its Sub Pop (and U.S.) debut with this, their second LP, which mixes alternative rock with punk and soul.

The Bay Area punk band returns with its first album in three years.

The ever-prolific Robert Pollard returns with a brand-new GbV studio disc (the 15th or so since 1987), retaining the core group of musicians that has been with him for the last few albums.

Credited to Neil Young & Crazy Horse (expect electric rather than acoustic), this latest offering by the 57-year-old rocker is a 10-song concept album about the lives of the fictitious Green family.

The fourth collaboration between Michael Franti and Spearhead mixes the politically-inclined raps of Franti with the disco/funk rhythms of a live band.

Signed to a major-label deal after just one single, New York punk foursome The Star Spangles make their full-length debut with Bazooka!!!

This is the debut full-length for the Nashville-based rock band consisting of three brothers (the sons of a preacher) and their cousin.

The fourth release for the Portland, Ore. four-piece is a trip through 70's glam- and 80s synth- rock, complete with contributions from Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes (the latter produced much of the album), Chic's Nile Rogers, Bowie/T. Rex producer Tony Visconti, and, well, Evan Dando.

No, it's not actually a soundtrack, but it is--shockingly enough--the legendary German electronic band's first new studio recording since 1986's 'Electric Cafe.' While the title track "Tour De France" was released as a single in 1983 (and is found here in four new versions), the remaining 8 tracks are brand new compositions.

A showcase for their record label Star Trak, 'Clones' is a compilation of 22 Neptunes-produced and/or performed tracks, featuring A-list artists such as Nelly, Busta Rhymes, P. Diddy, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Nas.

This is the fourth album for the Florida-based emo band led by Christopher Carraba.

This is just the second full-length recording for the Birmingham, England experimental pop outfit founded in 1995. Included here is the track "Pendulum" from the recent EP of the same name.

If you think the concept of a guitar-drums blues duo from Detroit sounds a bit, well, familiar, consider this: Soledad Brothers guitarist Johnny Walker allegedly is responsible for teaching the White Stripes' Jack White how to play guitar. This is the Brothers' third studio LP.

The eighth studio album for Gene and Dean Ween is their strangest (and definitely most eclectic) in quite some time. (And many Ween fans will probably see that as a good thing.)

The fourth album for the Bay Area band finds them once again in light, summertime pop mode.

This party album from the Danish band Junior Senior has garnered attention throughout Europe with its mix of garage rock, pop and disco.

The first album in seven years for the UK punk outfit founded in 1978 features newly reunited members Jaz Coleman, Youth and Paul Raven, with Dave Grohl filling in on drums.

This is the fourth album for house music producer Brian Transeau, who has faded from the limelight a bit since his heyday in the mid-to-late 1990s, although has produced hits for the likes of Britney Spears and *NSync. Collaborators here include Rose McGowan, Scott McCloud (Girls Against Boys), and Guru (Gang Starr).

A former member of Billy Childish's band Thee Headcoatees, Holly Golightly has gained a wider following in recent months due to her guest appearance on The White Stripes' 'Elephant.' New devotees will have a lot to discover: this is her ninth solo album since 1995.

The Australian rockers, who have attracted attention in their homeland and in Europe with their early EPs, make their full-length debut with this LP.

Producer Brad Wood (Liz Phair) helms this latest release for the emo-rockers, which includes a cover of The Cure's "A Letter to Elise."

The third album for the dancer-turned-diva includes contributions from Sean Paul and Missy Elliott and contains a cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'."