Plus: Ringo Starr [ tickets ], Billy Joel [ tickets ], more

Beck [ tickets ]
"Modern Guilt"
(Interscope)

The hipster singer/songwriter returns with a follow-up to 2006's "The Information." "Modern Guilt" was produced with Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton and, according to a press release, explores Beck and Danger Mouse's shared interest in psych-rock, folk, electronic minimalism and orchestration.

Beck will share "Modern Guilt" with fans during a North American tour that finds the artist performing many festival dates, including the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco (8/22), Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle (8/30) and Austin City Limits Festival in Texas (9/27). The Southern California crooner will also play his biggest hometown headlining show to date: Sept. 20 at the Hollywood Bowl.

Willie Nelson [ tickets ]/Wynton Marsalis [ tickets ]
"Two Men With the Blues"
(Blue Note)

The country legend and the jazz great combine their ample talents on this live collection of standards and blues numbers. "Two Men With the Blues" was recorded during a two-night stand dubbed "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues" in early 2007 at Lincoln Center in New York.

"Two Men With the Blues" features such well-known offerings as "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It," "Ain't Nobody's Business," "Caldonia" and "Stardust." There has been no word as to whether Nelson and Marsalis will tour together in support of the album--but keep your fingers crossed.

The Melvins [ tickets ]
"Nude with Boots"
(Ipecac)

The alt-metal pioneers are back with their 16th studio album. Recorded in Los Angeles over the past two years, "Nude With Boots" features the same lineup--career Melvins Buzz Osborne (guitar, vocals) and Dale Crover (drums) with Jared Warren (bass, vocals) and Coady Willis (drums) of fellow Seattle indie rockers Big Business--that recorded the group's previous effort, 2006's "(A) Senile Animal."

The influential band will support "Nude with Boots" with a 23-city North American tour. The trek kicks off July 16 in Santa Barbara, CA.

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band
"Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band Live 2006"
(Koch)

This CD features the Beatle performing with such talents as guitarist/vocalists Billy Squier and Edgar Winter and percussionist/vocalist Sheila E. The ensemble handles a number of Starr/Beatles classics, like "Yellow Submarine" and "Photograph," as well as milestone songs from the careers of the other participants (notably Squier's "Everybody Wants You" and Winter's "Frankenstein").

Billy Joel
"The Stranger: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition"
(Sony)

The singer/songwriter/pianist's great fifth album, originally released in 1977, gets a major makeover on what's really its 31st anniversary. "The Stranger: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition" is a 4-disc box set that includes the entire original album (remastered by producer Phil Ramone), two live CDs from the era, and a DVD of TV/video performances.

More new releases:
Bad Religion, "New Maps of Hell" (Epitaph)
The Baseball Project, "Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails" (Yep Roc)
Donna the Buffalo, "Silverlined" (Sugar Hill)
Gaelic Storm, "What's the Rumpus?" (MRI)
Jean Grae, "Jeanius" (Blacksmith)
Great Big Sea, "Fortune's Favour" (Warner Bros Canada/Red Eye USA)
Kerli, "Love Is Dead" (Island)
Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Medium Rare" (Bosstones Music)
Van Morrison, "Common One" (Polydor)
Van Morrison, "Inarticulate Speech of the Heart" (Polydor)
Ratatat, "Lp3" (Beggars Xl)
Scar Symmetry, "Holographic Universe" (Nuclear Blast)
UFO, "Obsession" (Caroline)

Soundtracks and scores:
"Mamma Mia!" (Decca)
"Weeds: Music From The Series Vol. 3" (Lion's Gate)