On June 7, Michelle Shocked [ tickets ] plans to release three new albums on her own Mighty Sound label.

The first set, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," is a rock album produced by Dusty Wakeman (Dwight Yoakam).

The second, "The Memphis Minnies," is a tribute to country/blues artist Memphis Minnie (who recorded in the '30s and '40s) that features collaborations with Rickie Lee Jones, Lucinda Williams, Victoria Williams and others.

The final set of the trilogy is "Baby Mine," described in a press release as "a Western swing twist on Disney music produced by Nick Forster."

A new Herbie Hancock [ tickets ] album featuring new collaborations with artists including Sting, Carlos Santana, Annie Lennox, John Mayer and Damien Rice is set for release this fall.

The CD will be co-released and distributed by Starbucks Hear Music, Hancock Music and Vector. It will be sold at traditional outlets and at Starbucks stores.

A DVD-companion to Stan Ridgway [ tickets ]'s 2001 album "Holiday in Dirt" hits stores Feb. 22. It includes 14 short films by 14 separate filmmakers based on the album's songs. Each film was made with a budget of $500.

Filmmakers who contributed to the project include Phil Harder, Rick Fuller, Steve Hanft, Carlos Grasso, Jim Ludtke, Chuck Statler, Katherine Gordon, Simon Blake, Dan Brown, Hernan Barangan, David Roth, Heidi Frier & Charles Bowe, and Dave Moe.

Us3 [ tickets ] will issue its first U.S. album in seven years, "Questions," on April 26.