Still going strong 15 years and 13 albums into her career (and that's not including live recordings or other compilations), Ani DiFranco returns with 12 new tracks backed by a five-piece band.

This debut release from Anti-Pop Consortium rapper Beans continues the experimental, genre-defying approach to hip-hop of that now-defunct group, mixing intelligent lyrics with cutting-edge production.

Southern California native Harper has gained a cult following for his jam-band-like approach to roots rock. This is his fifth studio LP.

The newly-reformed Teddy Riley creation returns with its fourth album.

A former member of UK hip-hop outfit So Solid Crew, Ms. Dynamite (aka Niomi McLean-Daley) earned Britain's Mercury Music Prize for this debut effort.

Perhaps finding "Chantal Passamonte" too dull a name for an experimental electronica artist signed to Warp Records, the former Warp publicist adopted the Mira Calix moniker prior to her 2000 debut. This is her second full-length release.

The eleventh album from Bill Callahan and (Smog) features new vocalist Sarabeth Tucek.

The Amsterdam-based rockers who gave us college-radio hit albums 'Palomine' and 'Lamprey' return with their fifth LP.

The first true solo album for the Cypress Hill DJ includes vocal appearances by Amy Trujillo, Everlast, Josh Todd (Buckcherry), and Greg Dulli (Afghan Wigs).

This is the major-label debut for the Bay Area punk rockers (whose initials stand for "A Fire Inside"), who got their start in Ukiah, Calif. in 1991. Garbage's Butch Vig produces.

This is the second album for the alt-folk trio from Vancouver, Canada.

Scotland-born Nick Currie recorded this latest collection of strange pop tunes in his new home of Tokyo, then handed them off to John Talaga (Super Madrigal Brothers) for remixing.

A bit of a concept album (set as a play about sex and relationships), 'The Ugly Organ' is the Nebraska band's fourth LP, following 2000's acclaimed 'Domestica.'

Named after the setting of the 1985 film "The Goonies," 'So Long Astoria' is the major-label debut (and fourth studio LP) for the power-pop five-piece. Included here is a cover of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer."

No, it's not *that* kind of drum'n'bass album. Instead, Rhode Island's Lightning Bolt literally consists of just two instrumentalists on drum and bass, and together the pair generate an experimental sonic fury on this, their second full-length.

Portland, Oregon's The Thermals recorded this "no-fi" (otherwise known as "very, very, very lo-fi") debut album direct to four-track at the house of founding member Hutch Harris.

The veteran prog-rock outfit led by guitarist Robert Fripp returns with their first full album of new material in thee years.

The third solo album from the former Junior M.A.F.I.A. member utilizes production and vocal contributions from Swizz Beatz, Missy Elliott, Timbaland and Method Man.

The sophomore release for the Brooklyn rapper features appearances by the ubiquitous Missy Elliott, Ashanti, M.O.P., Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg.

Jason Molina rocks out a bit more on this latest offering, which finds the singer-songwriter backed by the same musicians on the 'Mi Sei Apparaso Come Un Fantasma' live album. Steve Albini produces, and to quote the official press release, "This is the first Songs: Ohia record with more than one song that could be played at a strip joint or monster truck show."

Lou Barlow (Sebadoh) is still the heart of The Folk Implosion, but on the lo-fi band's fourth full-length release, his supporting cast has changed. Gone is co-founder and writing partner John Davis; in his place are Sebadoh drummer Russ Pollard and Alaska guitarist Imaad Wassif.

Hersh's sixth solo album finds the Throwing Muses founder working with Howe Gelb (Giant Sand).

The debut album from Adelaide, Australia's Mark Mitchell (who records as Clue To Kalo) is a mix of indie rock and electronica, drawing comparisons to everyone from Badly Drawn Boy to Dntel.

Back together for the first time since their 1996 breakup, the college radio faves offer up 12 new tracks on this self-titled release. The lineup here includes original co-founder Kristen Hersh, drummer David Narcizo and bassist Bernard Georges, with fellow co-founder (and Hersh's half sister) Tanya Donelly on hand as well to contribute backing vocals.

This debut effort from Liverpool's The Coral is an inventive mix of numerous musical styles.

This second album for the Manchester (by way of Germay) electronica/Krautrock duo features guest vocals from Brian Molko (Placebo).

On this long-delayed release, the Minus 5's Scott McCaughey, Ken Stringfellow (the Posies) and Peter Buck (R.E.M.) team up with all four members of Wilco for 13 original tracks.

This breaktrhough sixth album for the German band combines a variety of disparate elements, most notably moody indie rock and glitchy electronica (think Hood's Cold House), to great effect.

First appearing on Jay-Z?s The Dynasty, rapper Freeway finally arrives with his full-length debut, which features appearances by Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Faith Evans, Nelly, and Mariah Carey.

The former member of Guided By Voices returns with a solo album (his fourth), recorded in his Michigan home.

This debut disc for the New York duo of Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner was originally released in 2001 on Germany's International Deejay Gigolos label and immediately generated such buzz (partly due to the album's infectious 'electroclash' sound, and partly due to the pair's notoriety in the fashion scene) that English label Ministry Of Sound snapped up the album (and the duo) for a reported £2 million.

They may not be easy to look up in search engines, but this very-much-rock quartet from Leeds, England could be found in all the UK music magazines, thanks to a much sought-after EP and this debut album.

This is the second solo outing for the former Verve frontman.

'Beauty Party' represents experimental hip-hop artist Mike Ladd's second album in a planned trilogy, the first being 2000's 'Gun Hill Road' by The Infesticons. Unlike its predecessor, the Majesticons disc ventures into commercial rap territory (albeit with a satirical bent), attempting to skewer contemporary hiphop by beating it at its own game.

Richard Warren's third LP, produced by Flood, finds the multi-instrumentalist moving more toward mainstream electro/synth pop, closer to bands such as New Order and Primal Scream than his more experimental albums 'Volume 1' and 'Volume 2.'

This is the sophomore release for the Boston-based alt-rockers.

After taking 12 years off prior to 2000's 'The Friends of Rachel Worth,' the legendary Australian indie-pop band is suddenly undergoing a bout of creativity as evidenced by yet another release this very same decade.

Kyoto, Japan's Nobukazu Takemura plays all of the instruments (and computers) on his latest release of playful, poppy electronica, which features vocals from a speech synthesizer.

The Glaswegian guitar rockers emerge with their second full-length album, an even more intense affair than their 2001 debut 'Story In White.'

This is the debut full-length release for the New Zealand rockers, who have drawn comparisons to everyone from The Stooges and AC/DC to, of course, the White Stripes, and have been the subject of fawning articles in the UK music press (but then again, who hasn't) in recent months.

The latest full-length from the Chicago-based multimedia collective is a big step forward for the group, adding more vocals and an emotive indie-pop feel to their experimental electronic sound. Recommended for fans of the latest releases by bands such as Dntel, Hood, and Boards of Canada.

Chan Marshall's first album of new material since 1998 was recorded in Los Angeles with Adam Kasper (Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam), who in turn brought in friends such as Dave Grohl and Eddie Vedder.

This disc compiles tracks from three previously-released EPs by the indie rock trio, who originally got their start composing music for NPR's "This American Life." Also included are three brand-new tracks.

The Tucson, Arizona-based duo of Joey Burns and John Convertino return with their fourth full-length album.

Al Jourgensen is back, and, apparently, angrier than ever. Included here on the industrial band's eighth album is a cover of Magazine's "The Light Pours Out of Me."

The Australian instrumental trio, known for their dark, minimalist, atmospheric sound, includes Bad Seeds' violinist Warren Ellis, guitarist Mick Turner, and drummer Jim White.

Thirsty Ear's Blue Series continues with the unlikely pairing of avant-garde jazz pianist (and Blue Series curator) Matthew Shipp with the experimental New York hip-hop outfit Anti-Pop Consortium. This is also the very last album to be released by APC, who have officially disbanded.

One of the highlights of Dntel's 2001 debut album was "This Is the Dream of Evan & Chan," where Dntel electronica mastermind Jimmy Tamborello was joined by Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard on vocals. Satisfied by those results, the two continued to collaborate (by mail), eventually resulting in enough material for this full album that ventures more into synth-pop/new wave territory than their previous single.

Folkie Dar Williams returns with her sixth album, which is perhaps her most diverse and fullest-sounding yet, enhanced by the presence of a host of contributors including Alison Krauss, John Medeski, Bela Fleck, and John Popper.

Beseiged by legal problems (he was arrested in Chicago on child pornography-related charges) and rampant bootlegging of an earlier effort ('Loveland') that forced him to abandon that project, Kelly finally returns with a follow-up to 2000's 'TP-2.Com.'

John Hammond follows his successful album of Tom Waits covers, Wicked Grin, with his first-ever original material. Well, ok, so he only wrote one song on this new album, but it is his first. Complimenting that track are selections written by the likes of Tom Waits, George Jones, Jagger/Richards and David Hidalgo (who also appears on the album).

The Bay Area indie-pop band returns with their third album (and first in three years).

The solo debut for the Kings of Convenience guitarist (who also provided vocals on the recent Röyksopp album) features 10 tracks recorded in 10 cities with 10 different producers, including Schneider TM, Soviet, Prefuse 73, and Metro Area's Morgan Geist.

Nick Cave & co. return for a follow up to 2001's 'No More Shall We Part.'

Ted Leo, formerly of Chisel, returns with his fourth album of punk-influenced singer-songwriter indie-folk rock.

Country superstar Vince Gill returns with 17 self-produced tracks. Emmylou Harris, Amy Grant, and Michael MacDonald lend their voices.

This greatest hits/mix disc by the German DJ/producer includes two previously unreleased tracks. The accompanying DVD, culled from over 40 hours of footage, is part travelogue and part behind-the-scenes documentary of Van Dyk in action.

This is not your ordinary jazz trio. For their major-label debut, The Bad Plus work with alt-rock producer Tchad Blake, and include covers of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Blondie's "Heart of Glass," and Aphex Twin's "Flim" among their seven original tracks.

The first of two planned 2003 releases for the far-from-prolific Bristol-based electronica collective sees the group pared down to one original member: Robert "3-D" del Naja (although Grant "Daddy G." Marshall intends to return to the group for the next disc). Horace Andy returns to provide vocals on several tracks, and Sinead O'Connor also guests on two songs.

The fun-loving Britpop outfit, popular in the U.K. but unsuccessful to date in the U.S., returns with its fourth LP.

If you're even reading this, you most likely already know the life story of Queens' Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent), whose first attempt at rap stardom in the mid 1990s ended in a brutal attack that almost cost him his life. In recent years, however, 50 Cent was lucky enough to hook up with Eminem (who signed him) and producer Dr. Dre, which resulted in a track on the 8 Mile soundtrack and now this, his much-anticipated first full-length release.

This is the second LP for the band that was once Spiritualized--that is, before Jason Pierce fired them and hired a new Spiritualized.

The Smiths' guitarist takes a turn at the microphone for the first time, handling vocal duties for his new band, The Healers. The lineup also includes Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr) on drums and Kula Shaker bassist Alonza Bevan.

Mixing post-rock and emo with punk edigness and experimentalism, Chicago's Joan of Arc features members of the Owls and Cap'n Jazz, including Owls vocalist Tim Kinsella. On this fourth album, they are also joined by members of Califone, Isotope 217, and Ugly Casanova, among others.

One-hit wonders, you say? Well, the New York trio did score an MTV hit with "Popular," from their 1996 debut album, but it is a more mature and less commercial Nada Surf that returns now with a third LP, their first for indie label Barsuk.

Don't know Bonnie "Prince" Billy? You may know him better by his given name, Will Oldham, who recorded under his name as well as Palace Music throughout the 1990s. This is his third album under the Billy moniker, and features contributions from members of Lambchop.

This six-track disc is a collaboration between Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, drummer Glenn Kotche, and Jim O'Rourke (known for both his acclaimed recent solo albums and work with Wilco and Sonic Youth).

What could possibly be more relevant in 2003 than an 80s band covering their favorite hits of the 60s, 70s, and 80s? Tracks here include Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill," Buddy Holly's "Everday," and The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."

The new group led by Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins features a lineup including fellow Pumpkin Jimmy Chamberlin on drums and guitarists Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Skunk) and David Pajo (Slint, Tortoise).

Frequently compared to the Beta Band, this equally eclectic Isle of Wight-based duo of Paul Butler and Aaron Fletcher literally recorded this debut album in their shed.

Frontman of New York-based glam-rockers D Generation throughtout the 1990s, singer-songwriter Jesse Malin enlisted pal Ryan Adams to produce and play on this solo debut, which quickly garnered plaudits from the UK music press upon its fall 2002 release.

This is the third LP for the New York-based noise-rock trio, known for their intense live shows.

Available in two different versions, the latest from Lou Reed is based on the writings of Edgar Allen Poe. The 2-CD set includes tracks with readings of Poe by various actors (such as Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and Amanda Plummer), backed by Reed, while the single-disc set pulls only the more song-oriented pieces from the longer version. Hal Willner produces.

The latest installment in Thirsty Ear's Blue Series (which mixes cutting-edge jazz with elements of electronica and hip-hop), 'Equilibrium' showcases the talents of avant-garde pianist Matthew Shipp.

This is the fourth album for the Wisconsin-based indie/emo trio.

The Chicago-based post-rockers return with their sixth album, their once frenetic pace of releasing albums slowed over recent years due to numerous side projects (solo albums for vocalist Sam Prekop and guitarist Archer Prewitt, and work in Tortoise, among other things, for drummer John McEntire). Included here is the band's cover of David Bowie's "Sound and Vision."

The Seattle-based experimental space-rock outfit returns with their sophomore LP, following their 2001 debut 'Be Gentle With the Warm Turtle.'

This Gainesville, Fla.-based five-piece band, which mixes indie rock and alt-country with a bit of electronica, features John Orth, who also appeared on the 2002 release by the Modest Mouse side project Ugly Casanova. Brian Deck produces.

The London-based duo of Tom Findlay and Andy Cato return with their fourth LP, named after one of their club nights.

Brokeback is a side project for Eleventh Dream Day/Tortoise bassist Douglas McCombs (joined semi-permanently by second bassist Noel Kupersmith), supplemented here on this third album by Laetitia Sadier and the late Mary Hansen from Stereolab.

The Glasgow, Scotland-based band follow 2000's stunning 'The Great Eastern' with this, their fourth (and almost equally stunning) LP. Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev) returns as producer.

Crooked Fingers is a side project for Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann. This third album follows in the dark, drunken-blues/Americana tradition of the first two, which drew Bachmann comparisons to Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, among others.

The Microphones is an alias for Washington state-based Phil Elvrum, who returns here with a five-part concept album named after a mountain in his home state. The album is also being released in two limited edition alternate versions, one an a capella version called "Singing from 'Mt. Eerie,'" and one a drums-only version (!) called, naturally, "Drumming from 'Mt. Eerie.'"

This is the latest challenging release for Sole, one of the founders of the anticon collective of underground hip-hop artists.

The former Style Council and Jam frontman returns with a solo album, and finds Weller producing and playing most of the instruments himself, with the help of a few celebrity guests such as Noel Gallagher, Kelly Jones and Aziz Ibrahim.