plus: Sevendust, Radiohead [ tickets ], Madonna, Barenaked Ladies, Kittie, Shelby Lynne, Natalie Merchant, The Cure, more.

Garth Brooks [ tickets ]
"Scarecrow" (Capitol Nashville)

Last October, Garth Brooks announced that he was retiring to spend more time with his three young daughters. While stating that his touring days were over, he said he'd try to release a final album.

"Scarecrow" is that "final" album, and it spawned two radio hits even before its release: "Wrapped Up in You," which currently sits at No. 12 on Billboard's country singles chart, and "Beer Run" a duet with George Jones that is at No. 25.

To promote the album, Brooks will play three concerts in the coming weeks. An hour of each concert will be broadcast live on CBS-TV. In a statement released last week, Brooks--who last year said that he was retiring from touring--said that broadcasting only a handful of performances will allow him to reach a broad audience while avoiding an extensive road trip.

The first concert--his first full show in three years--takes place on Tuesday (11/13) at the Great Western Forum near Los Angeles. All tickets for the show sold out within 20 minutes of going on sale on Nov. 6.

Brooks will also perform aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise on Nov. 21, and at an undisclosed third location on Nov. 28. (The Enterprise will be returning to Norfolk, Va., from a mission in the Middle East.)

In his 12-year career as a major label artist, Brooks has sold more than 100 million albums, which is more albums than any other solo artist has sold in U.S. history, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Paul McCartney [ tickets ]
"Driving Rain" (Capitol)

McCartney is following his post-Sept. 11 charitable endeavors with this latest entry in his expansive recording catalog. The album will feature the musician's latest single, "Freedom," which he penned shortly after the terrorist attacks.

On Oct. 20, McCartney performed "Freedom" at the close of the Concert for New York benefit, and public response to the song prompted him to rush it into production as a charitable single, which he released last week. It is the second charity single McCartney released in as many weeks; the single "From a Lover to a Friend" was released the previous week. Proceeds from the singles will be directed to the Robin Hood Fund, which distributes funds to victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and New York City emergency workers.

Streaming audio previews of both "From a Lover to a Friend" and "Freedom"--both of which appear on "Driving Rain"--as well as the track "Lonely Road," can be accessed at Capitol's Paul McCartney website.

Video footage of McCartney's Concert for New York rehearsals and other related activities are available at his official website.

Rob Zombie [ tickets ]
"Sinister Urge" (Geffen)

The latest from Rob Zombie, who is currently on tour with Ozzy Osbourne, is his second solo studio album, and his first since officially disbanding his group, White Zombie.

The collection of B-movie-flavored heavy metal includes guest appearances from Osbourne, Tommy Lee (Motley Crue, Methods of Mayhem), DJ Lethal (Limp Bizkit, House of Pain), Kerry King (Slayer) and Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys, Invisbl Skratch Piklz), as well as an orchestra.

Zombie's official website features streaming audio and video for the songs "Dead Girl Superstar" and "Feel So Numb."

Click here to read liveDaily's recent interview with Zombie.

Jewel [ tickets ]
"This Way" (Atlantic)

Pop-folk poet Jewel follows-up her 2000 double-disc spoken word album, "Chasing Down the Dream," with "This Way," her first collection of all-new music since 1998.

The album's first single, "Standing Still," was produced by Jewel and guitarist-producer Dann Huff (Faith Hill). It marks the first time that the singer has worked as a producer. Streaming video of "Standing Still" is available at Jewel's official website.

To promote the album's release, Jewel is scheduled to perform at a handful of holiday radio concerts.

Sevendust
"Animosity" (TVT)

These Atlanta-based rockers are back with their third release, which features the first single, "Praise." Streaming audio and video of the track is available at the group's official website

A limited number of copies of the new album will include a bonus live CD that will only be offered at a select group of retail outlets, according to the group's website.

"Animosity" is the follow-up to 1999's "Home." Both that album and the group's self-titled 1997 debut have been gold-certified by the Recording Industry Association of America.

The group launched a U.S. tour last month.

Radiohead
"I Might Be Wrong" (Capitol)

The elusive British rock quintet's latest is an 8-song EP featuring live versions of tracks from its most recent albums, "Kid A" and "Amnesiac." The tracks were recorded at the group's summer 2001 concerts in Berlin, Oslo, Oxford, England and Vaison La Romaine, France. The EP also contains a new song, "True Love Waits."

Streaming audio and video from "I Might Be Wrong" is available at the band's official website.

Madonna
"GHV2" (Maverick/Warner Bros.)

The Queen of Pop caps an already high-profile year by releasing her second greatest-hits collection. "GHV2" picks up where 1990's multi-platinum "Immaculate Collection" leaves off, boasting chart-toppers from 1992 and beyond. "Deeper and Deeper," "The Power of Goodbye," "Beautiful Stranger," "Ray of Light," "Don't Tell Me," and "Music" are among the songs included on the 15-track release.

The singer is also releasing a DVD/VHS home video from her sold-out, summer-2001 Drowned World tour. The video was taped at Detroit's Palace of Auburn Hills and aired as an HBO concert special in August.

Barenaked Ladies
"All Their Greatest Hits, Disc One: 1991-2001" (Reprise)

The Canadian pop act Barenaked Ladies celebrates its 10-year career with "All Their Greatest Hits," which features 19 hits and two new songs--"It’s Only Me (The Wizard of Magicland)" and "Thanks That Was Fun." To registered members of its mailing list, the group recently emailed links to streaming versions of the new songs.

The B-sides "Lovers in a Dangerous Time," a cover of the Bruce Cockburn hit, and "Get in Line," which appeared on the "King of the Hill" soundtrack, are also among the tracks on "All Their Greatest Hits."

The album includes a 20-page booklet tracing the Barenaked Ladies’ career, with a song-by-song commentary penned by singer Stephen Page.

Barenaked Ladies are on tour as a headlining act and as part of various holiday radio shows.

Kittie
"Oracle" (Artemis)

These hard-rocking ladies are back with the follow-up to their gold-certified, 1999 debut, "Spit." That album featured the group's breakthrough singles "Brackish" and "Charlotte."

The music video for "What I Wanted," the first single from "Oracle" (Artemis), is being streamed at the Kittie's official website.

Originally a quartet comprising vocalist Morgan Lander, drummer Mercedes Lander (the two are sisters), bassist Talena Atfield and guitarist Fallon Bowman, the group has been downsized to a trio following Bowman's sudden departure from the group in August.

Kittie will precede the album's release with a Monday night (11/12) appearance on the syndicated radio program "Rockline." The group is in the midst of a promotional tour that comprises both concert performances and in-store appearances.

Shelby Lynne
"Love, Shelby" (Island)

For her previous Island release, last year's "I Am Shelby Lynne," the singer found a cohesive, alt-country pop sound. For her new album, she branches out into such genres as jazz, rock and R&B.

"Love, Shelby" includes the rarely covered John Lennon song "Mother."

Lynne's official website is streaming samples of all of the album's songs.

Natalie Merchant
"Motherland" (Elektra)

"Motherland" marks Merchant's fourth solo album since leaving 10,000 Maniacs in 1994, and her first studio album in three years. T-Bone Burnett (The Wallflowers, Counting Crows) produced the collection.

Merchant is scheduled to appear on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on Monday night (11/12). She kicked off a tour to support "Motherland" last month.

The Cure
"Greatest Hits" (Elektra)

Goth-pop grandaddies the Cure release yet another greatest-hits album this week. This package boasts "a representative selection of the Cure's defining single moments as chosen by [singer] Robert [Smith]," according to the band's official website.

Classics like "Boys Don't Cry," "Lovecats" and "Just Like Heaven" are included, as well as two new tracks, "Cut Here" and "Just Say Yes." Streaming audio and video for "Cut Here" can be found at the Cure's official website.

Smith recently discussed the compilation with LiveDaily.

Other new releases:

AKA - "Pigeonomics" (J-Bird)
Allure - "Sunny Days" (MCA)
Fred Anderson - "On the Run: Live at the Velvet Lounge" (Delmark)
Bluetip - "Post Mortem Anthem" (Dischord)
Johnny Bush - "Green Snakes" (Texas Music Group)
Larry Carlton - "Deep Into It" (Warner Bros.)
Dee Carstensen - "Can You Hear a Lullaby" (Sugar Beats)
Frank Catalano - "Live at the Green Mill" (Delmark)
Clairvoyants - "Your New Boundaries" (Badman)
Petula Clark - "A Sign of the Times" (Varčse Sarabande)
Jesus and Mary Chain - "The Complete John Peel Sessions" (Strange Fruit)
Joe Cormier - "The Dances Down Home" (Rounder)
David Dondero - "Shooting at the Sun with a Water Gun" (Future Farmer)
Garrison - "Be a Criminal" (Revelation)
Boy George Presents - "Lucky for Some" (J-Bird)
Goodheart-Allen-Powell Trio - "I Can Climb a Tree, I Can Tie a Knot, I Can Have a Conversation" (Road Cone)
John Thomas Griffith - "Aluminum" (Valley Entertainment)
Gutbucket - "Insomniacs Dream" (Knitting Factory Works)
Carly Hennessy - "Ultimate High" (MCA)
Himsa - "Death Is Infinite (EP)" (Revelation)
Earl "Fatha" Hines - "At the Party" (Delmark)
King Crimson - "VroomVroom" (Discipline Global Mobile)
M.E.S.T. - "Destination Unknown" (Maverick)
Barry Manilow - "Here at the Mayflower" (Concord)
Miracle - "Keep It Country" (Universal)
Movielife - "Has a Gambling Problem (EP)" (Drive Thru)
Ms. Toi - "That Girl" (Universal)
Maura O’Connell - "Walls and Windows" (Sugar Hill)
Yuji Oniki - "TVI" (Future Farmer)
Problem Solvaz - "Problem Solvaz" (Del-Fi)
Shakira - "Laundry Service" (Epic)
Red Shirt Brigade - "Home of the Cannon Saints" (Arborvitae)
The Saturday People - "The Saturday People" (Slumberland)
June Tabor - "Rosa Mundi" (Green Linnet)
The Takers - "Never Get Out of These Blues Alive" (Rubric)
Sir Charles Thompson - "I Got Rhythm: Live at the Jazz Showcase" (Delmark)
UGK - "Dirty Money" (Jive)
Cuong Vu - "Come Play with Me" (Knitting Factory Works)
KeKe Wyatt - "Soul Sista" (MCA)
Zero 7 - "Simple Things" (Palm Pictures)
Various artists - "Altered States, v.2" (Bliss)
Various artists - "It Came from Memphis, Vol. 2" (Birdman)

Soundtracks and scores:
"Jonny Moseley: Mad Trix" (Palm Pictures)
The Elbereth Orchestra - "Lord of the Rings" (Paras)
Harry Gregson-Williams - "Spy Game" (Universal Classics)
Randy Edelman - "Black Knight" (Varčse Sarabande)

Original cast recording:
"Ziegfeld Follies of 1936" (Universal Classics)

Compiled by Jon Zahlaway with Rob Evans, Christina Fuoco, Scott Henkemeyer, Marc Weidenbaum and James Woster.