From Neil Diamond to 50 Cent: new CDs all around
The Bad Plus ''Suspicious Activity?" (out Tuesday). The hyper-innovative acoustic jazz-rock trio, perhaps best known for its irreverent and imaginative covers (most recently of tunes by the Pixies, Black Sabbath, and Ornette Coleman), emphasizes originals this time out. Produced by Tom Waits/Pearl Jam helmsman Tchad Blake, the new disc features only one cover song, Vangelis's ''Chariots of Fire." The band plays in Boston Oct. 1 at the Somerville Theater.
Paul McCartney, ''Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" (out Tuesday). The title suggests Sir Paul may be weighing in on the intelligent design debate, but judging by the first single, the former Beatle's first album since 2001's ''Driving Rain" is more tea and sympathy than testimony. Nigel Godrich (Radiohead) produced. McCartney plays at TD Banknorth Garden Sept. 26-27.
Lil' Kim, ''The Naked Truth" (out Tuesday). The hardcore rap diva and future ex-con tells the truth, the whole truth, with a little help from the ubiquitous Kanye West, Scott Storch, and 7 Orelius. Expect cameos from several as-yet-unannounced guests. Kim will have exactly six days to enjoy the disc's release before beginning her prison sentence of a year and a day for perjury.
Sire Box Set, ''Just Say Sire: The Sire Records Story" (out Tuesday). The pioneering underground rock label celebrates its 40th anniversary, in 2006, with 61 tracks on three audio discs and a DVD of 20 music videos. Remastered classics by the Ramones, Talking Heads, the Smiths, Madonna, the Pretenders, Depeche Mode, Dinosaur Jr., and Wilco are among the stellar tracks on the disc, which was co-produced by Sire founder Seymour Stein.
Devendra Banhart ''Cripple Crow" (out Tuesday). The eclectic singer-songwriter releases his fourth full-length CD, his debut on XL/Beggar's Group label. Recorded at Bearsville studios in Woodstock, N.Y., with several producers, among them Pernice Brothers bassist/producer Thom Monohan, the collection continues in the mysterious vein of experimental acoustic music Banhart has helped pioneer.
Sigur Ros, ''Takk" (out Tuesday). Its last album was titled ''( )" and sung in a made-up language called Hopelandic, so odds are slim the band's major label debut suddenly finds the Icelandic art gods churning out pop hits. Early reports, however, praise the concise songwriting, pacing that occasionally exceeds glacial, and a whimsical arsenal of music boxes, celestas, bells, strings, horns, and the occasional rock guitar. Sigur Ros plays the Opera House on Thursday.
Barbra Streisand ''Guilty Pleasure" (out Sept. 20). Their first collaboration, ''Guilty," sold 12 million copies, so who can blame Babs and Bee Gee Barry Gibb for doing it again? The pair's second collection of uber-adult pop tunes includes a duet and strong political statements. The first single, ''Stranger in a Strange Land," is a tribute to soldiers who have died ''fighting someone else's war." The album will be released as a traditional CD and as a DualDisc -- the latter to include interview segments with Streisand and Gibb and several music videos.
Nada Surf ''The Weight Is a Gift" (out Sept. 20). The New York alt-rockers continue their effort, now in its ninth year, to find commercial life after ''Popular," the band's high-school themed geek-rock anthem. This collection of tender guitar ballads and majestic, minor-key melodies may not propel them up the charts, but fans of smart, pretty rock won't care. Check out the new tunes at the Paradise Oct. 8.
Neil Young ''Prairie Wind" (out Sept. 27). The veteran rocker's new disc, his first since 2003's so-called musical novel ''Greendale," is rumored to be an ambitious collection of reflections on his life and career, inspired in part by the brain aneurysm Young suffered last year. Emmylou Harris, Spooner Oldham, and the Fisk University Jubilee Singers are among the many guests on the album, recorded mainly in Nashville.
Blackalicious ''The Craft" (out Sept. 27) The pioneering Bay Area hip-hop duo's fifth disc, its first for the Anti label, includes a funk summit with George Clinton on ''Lotus Flower" and vocals from Floetry on ''Automatique," a heady slice of futuristic soul.
Big Star ''In Space" (out Sept. 27). Original members Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens joined forces with longtime touring companions Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of the Posies for the power-pop cult heroes' first album of new music in more than two decades. Buzz is loud and hopeful, comparing the sound to the band's beloved 1972 debut, ''#1 Record."
Ric Ocasek ''Nexterday" (out Sept. 27). The in-demand alt-rock producer and former Cars frontman -- who recently opted out of a Cars reunion tour -- releases a synth-saturated, pop-driven solo album, his eighth, on his own boutique label.
Gretchen Wilson ''All Jacked Up" (out Sept. 27). With titles like ''Skoal Ring," ''Politically Uncorrect," and ''California Girls" (not a remake of the Beach Boys' classic), expect a rip-snorting follow-up to the fist-pumping blue-collar anthems on Wilson's quadruple-platinum debut, ''Here for the Party."
Sheryl Crow ''Wildflower" (out Sept. 27). Crow steps out of new fiance Lance Armstrong's shadow and back into the spotlight for an October tour to support her fifth studio album, whose title track was inspired by her future stepchildren. Barring a radical mood swing, it'll be filled with a sturdy handful of the artist's ever-reliable, radio-friendly pop-rockers.
My Morning Jacket ''Z" (out Oct. 4). Armed with a new keyboardist and guitarist, the Kentucky rockers joined forces with British English producer John Leckie for an arty, soul-infused collection that concludes dramatically with a seven-minute ethereal blues opus entitled ''Dondante." Look for a Boston date mid-October.
Sinead O'Connor ''Throw Down Your Arms" (out Oct. 4). Tenacious O'Connor traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, to record this collection of '70s reggae protest songs and inspirationals with veteran producers Sly and Robbie at the helm. She'll hit the road this November in support of the disc.
Fiona Apple ''Extraordinary Machine" (out Oct. 4). What a saga. Label shelvings, Internet leaks, fired producers, rerecording of a completed album. No wonder she sounds so old. Considering her formidable gifts, however, good money says Apple's long-delayed follow-up to 1999's ''When the Pawn . . ." is worth the wait.
James Blunt ''Back to Bedlam" (out Oct. 4). Blunt may be the first former Kosovo peacekeeper to have a No. 1 single on the UK charts -- for five weeks, no less. Military career behind him, the British singer-songwriter storms the United States next month with a collection, produced by Tom Rothrock (Beck, Elliott Smith), that evokes the bittersweet balladry of Damien Rice and David Gray.
Jamie Cullum ''Catching Tales" (out Oct. 11). We just knew the adorable jazz-pop troubadour had a weird streak, and here it comes: The lead track from Cullum's new disc, the follow-up to his eloquent, energetic debut ''Twentysomething," is a collaboration with alt hip-hop innovator Dan the Automator.
Jamie Foxx ''Southern Gentleman" (out Nov. 1). Foxx proved his musical mettle in ''Ray" and on both of Kanye West's CDs. On his sophomore disc (anyone remember 1994's ''Peep This"?) he takes no chances: Pals such as Snoop Dog, former Creed crooner Scott Stapp, 50 Cent, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Kanye all stopped by the studio to pitch in.
Neil Diamond ''Neil Diamond" (out Nov. 8). Producer Rick Rubin worked wonders for Johnny Cash's career by stripping the country star's sound down to the bones, and he's taken the same approach with adult-pop icon Neil Diamond. Diamond will trot out the singer-songwriter within on a major tour planned for late 2005-early 2006.
50 Cent ''Get Rich or Die Tryin"' soundtrack (November) and ''Bulletproof" the video game (November). The busy rap star doubles up this fall with the release of the soundtrack to his movie, not to be confused with his first album (the new disc reportedly contains at least five new tracks), and a much-anticipated video game that features the rapper as well as his music.
Madonna ''Confessions on a Dance Floor" (out Nov. 15) It's back to the boogie for Madge, who returns to her former stomping grounds (and chart-topping years) with a collection of dance tracks that pay tribute to '80s house, French techno, New York disco, and all things groove. Stuart Price, a dance and electronica producer and Madonna's London neighbor, was at the helm. 