David Cook – David Cook
Season seven American Idol winner David Cook releases his major-label debut album this week and the results should be no surprise to anybody that watched him on the show: it’s friendly, angst-free post-grunge, more commercial than DAUGHTRY, sounding a bit like an American Our Lady Peace.
 
 
Belle & Sebastian – The BBC Sessions (Deluxe Edition)
The BBC Sessions collects recordings Belle & Sebastian made for the BBC between 1996 and 2001 including four tracks from If You’re Feeling Sinister, four songs recorded for John Peel’s show in 2001 that have never been released officially until now, and six more songs originally found on albums and singles. It’s a wonderful document of the band in a more relaxed setting and is an essential purchase for Belle & Sebastian fans. A deluxe edition that adds a second disc made up of a raucous live show from 2001 is also released this week.

Beyoncé – I Am…Sasha Fierce (Deluxe Edition)
Buoyed by a flimsy gimmick made to justify the spreading of 40 minutes of music across two CDs, I Am…Sasha Fierce contains little evidence that Beyoncé is making a radical progression or being any more bold than before. The I Am half, filled with adult contemporary ballads, is mostly dry and featureless. The Sasha Fierce half, when compared to the majority of B’day, is less fun, less impulsive, and yes, less fierce.
 
Dido – Safe Trip Home
Working with producer Jon Brion — and on one track, Brian Eno — has deepened Dido’s elegant trip-hop, turning Safe Trip Home into the singer/songwriter’s richest and best record yet.
 
 
 
Ace Hood – Gutta
Angelo Badalamenti – The Edge of Love (Original Soundtrack)
Isobel Campbell/Mark Lanegan – Sunday at Devil Dirt
Pelle Carlberg – The Lilac Time
Miley Cyrus – Breakout (Platinum Edition) (CD/DVD)
Il Divo – The Promise
The Doors – Live at the Matrix, San Francisco, March 10, 1967
Frizzell & Friends – This Is Our Time
Sammy Hagar – Cosmic Universal Fashion
Kieran Hebden/Steve Reid – NYC
David Holmes – The Holy Pictures
Randy Houser – Anything Goes
Femi Kuti – Day by Day
Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke
Ricky Martin – 17
Momus – Joemus
Morley – Seen
Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things (2CD/DVD)
Mudvayne – The New Game
Mystery Girls – Incontinopia
Nickelback – Dark Horse
The Orb – The BBC Sessions 1989-2001
Phish – At the Roxy (Atlanta ‘93)
Earl Scruggs – The Ultimate Collection: Live at the Ryman
Señor Coconut – Around the World (Bonus Tracks)
Señor Coconut – El Baile Alemán (Bonus Tracks)
Blake Shelton – Startin’ Fires
Stereophonics – Decade in the Sun: The Best of Stereophonics (Deluxe Edition CD/DVD)
Rod Stewart – The Definitive Rod Stewart (Deluxe Edition CD/DVD)
Gene Vincent – Born to Be a Rolling Stone
Wu-Tang Clan – Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan
Hector Zazou/Swara – In the House of Mirrors
Various Artists – Boots, Buckles & Spurs: 50 Songs Celebrate 50 Years of Cowboy Tradition
Various Artists – The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 11A: 1971
Original Soundtrack – Gonzo: Music from the Film