Front Row: Pop Recordings

Sept. 9

LL Cool J, "Exit 13" (Def Jam). The influential rapper mixes it up, thanks to an unlikely collaboration with Richie Sambora, some Indian instrumentation, and other surprises.

Jessica Simpson, "Do You Know" (Epic). Country roads lead the one-time pop star and Texas native home - and hopefully to a hit that will jump-start her career (wait, what career?).

Joan Baez, "Day After Tomorrow" (Bobolink/Razor & Tie). The 67-year-old folk matriarch continues to defy her age and era with a new album of songs written by Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Steve Earle, who produced it.

Sept. 12

Metallica, "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros.). Dorothy was right: There's really no place like home, and the metal gods crib from some of their hard-nosed '80s glory with a little help from producer Rick Rubin.

Sept. 16

Ne-Yo, "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam). It's Ne-Yo's world, and we just happen to live in it this year. The smooth operator and producer is back to making sweet R&B, and the terrific new song "Miss Independent" suggests he's got the dance floor in mind this time out.

Nelly, "Brass Knuckles" (Universal). The pride of St. Louis aims for the charts after a four-year recording hiatus. The album features Usher, Fergie, R. Kelly, Akon, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, Chuck D, and your Uncle Harry.

Amanda Palmer, "Who Killed Amanda Palmer" (Roadrunner). No one killed Amanda Palmer. Au contraire: Palmer is the one doing the killing here, with a contemplative solo debut that puts her songwriting and voice front and center. It almost keeps you from wondering about fellow Dresden Doll Brian Viglione. Almost.

Sept. 23

Pussycat Dolls, "Doll Domination" (Interscope). Everyone's favorite negligibly gifted but scantily clad burlesque troupe is back for another round of writhing and button-loosening.

Demi Lovato, "Don't Forget" (Hollywood). Miley who? Disney star Cyrus dominated the charts this summer, followed quickly by the Jonas Brothers. But the fall will be all about Team Demi, bolstered by a spunky debut of spiky pop songs.

Jenny Lewis, "Acid Tongue" (WEA). The indie-pop chanteuse doesn't have the Watson Twins on board for her sophomore solo album, but we're guessing it's just as charming as "Rabbit Fur Coat," with cameos from Elvis Costello and She & Him.

TV on the Radio, "Dear Science" (Interscope). Two years after TVOTR broke out of the Brooklyn underground with "Return to Cookie Mountain," the indie-rockers return with a funkier sound. New songs "Dancing Choose" and "Golden Age," both available on the band's MySpace page, suggest they're getting their Prince on.

Sept. 30

Jennifer Hudson, "Jennifer Hudson" (Arista). Hudson's star has been on the ascent since she won an Oscar for "Dreamgirls." But it's taken until now, more than four years since she was booted from "American Idol," to see how she pulls it off as a singer.

T.I., "Paper Trail" (Atlantic). Not to be outdone by Nelly, T.I.'s follow-up to last year's acclaimed "T.I. vs. T.I.P." is also a star-studded affair (Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, and so on). The Georgia rapper has already struck gold with the first single, "Whatever You Like."

James Taylor, "Covers" (Hear Music). Sweet Baby James fulfills a longtime dream by recording favorite tunes by everyone from the Drifters to the Dixie Chicks. Our sources at Taylor's Tanglewood show this summer are still raving about his renditions of the classics.

Ani DiFranco, "Red Letter Year" (Righteous Babe). The maverick singer-songwriter celebrates a milestone with her latest: it's her 20th album in just 19 years. DiFranco keeps the mood here casual and spirited, even ambient at times.

Oct. 7

The Pretenders, "Break Up the Concrete" (Artist First). Recorded in two weeks, the group's first new album in six years is a scrappy rocker inspired by Chrissie Hynde's return to her beloved Ohio.

Oct. 14

Lucinda Williams, "Little Honey" (Lost Highway). Sounds like someone put a bee in Lucinda's bonnet, and she's mad as hell on a rocking new album that restores some of the grit of earlier efforts. She's so raw on the title track that you'll hardly recognize her voice.

Ray LaMontagne, "Gossip in the Grain" (RCA). The contemplative Maine singer-songwriter offers a sneak peek of "Gossip" at his two sold-out Opera House shows Oct. 9-10.

Oct. 21

AC/DC, "Black Ice" (Atlantic) For those about to rock, you'll have to head to Wal-Mart. The big-box retailer has an exclusive deal to sell the Aussie headbangers' latest.

Oct. 28

Pink, "Funhouse" (Sony). If "So What," a kiss-off to her ex, Carey Hart, is any indication, Pink's in a feisty mood on her fifth release.

Nov. 4

Fall Out Boy, "Folie a Deux" (Island). Considering they announced details about their new album at a Democratic National Convention event, it's no coincidence the emo superheroes are releasing "Folie a Deux" on Election Day. No word yet on whether the lyrics will reflect the band's politics.

Nov. 11

Tracy Chapman, "Our Bright Future" (Elektra). It's been 20 years since Chapman arrived in her "Fast Car." She keeps her folk-rock motor running on this, her eighth studio album.

JAMES REED and SARAH RODMAN