Dashboard Confessional [ tickets ]
"Dusk and Summer"
(Vagrant)

The Florida-based emo-pop quartet, which is led by singer/songwriter Christopher Carraba, releases the follow-up to 2003's highly successful "A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar."

Carraba wrote and recorded the new album during a two-year period with famed producer Don Gilmore. Known for his efforts with such superstar acts as Pearl Jam and Linkin Park, Gilmore had previously worked with Dashboard Confessional on the song "Vindicated," which appeared on the "Spider-Man 2" soundtrack. The band also enlisted longtime U2 collaborator Daniel Lanois to help with production.

The first single from the album is "Don't Wait." The band will support "Dusk and Summer" with a summer tour that kicks off, in earnest, on June 30 in Toronto.

Julie Roberts [ tickets ]
"Men & Mascara"
(Mercury Nashville)

The clock has yet to strike midnight on Julie Roberts' amazing Cinderella story. Many people already know Roberts' "Oprah"-friendly inspirational story--that she was discovered and signed by Mercury while she was working as an administrative assistant in that label's Nashville offices.

Having inked a contract in 2003, Roberts released her eponymous debut in May 2004. "Julie Roberts" proved to be a Top 10 country smash, thanks in large part to the success of the singles "Break Down Here" and "Wake Up Older."

"Men & Mascara" is the singer's second full-length album, and was produced by Byron Gallimore (Lee Ann Womack, Faith Hill). The first single/video is the album's title track, which is already a hit on country-music television channels and programs.

India.Arie [ tickets ]
"Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship"
(Universal)

The two-time Grammy winner returns with her long-awaited third full-length CD. The album--India.Arie's first since 2002's "Voyage to India"--includes a cover of Don Henley's popular single "The Heart of the Matter," and also features "I am Not My Hair," a collaboration between the 30-year-old R&B/soul star and acclaimed Senegal-born vocalist Akon.

Pet Shop Boys
"Fundamental"
(Rhino)

British dance-pop pioneers The Pet Shop Boys return with their first batch of new songs since 2002's "Release." The album--which contains 11 new originals penned by the Boys (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe) as well as a Dianne Warren composition titled "Numb"--was produced by Trevor Horn, who has worked with such A-list stars as Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Seal and Tom Jones. The disc's first single is "I'm with Stupid," which was a Top 10 hit in Britain.

Hank Williams Jr.
"That's How They Do It in Dixie--The Essential Collection"
(Curb)

This 12-track, single-disc compilation features such all-time favorite Bocephus boogies as "Family Tradition," "All My Rowdy Friends are Coming Over Tonight," "Country Boy Can Survive," "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" and "My Name Is Bocephus."

More new releases:
David Benoit, "Full Circle" (Peak)
Bjork, "Surrounded: Dual Disk Brick" (Rhino)
The Brand New Heavies, "Get Used to It" (Delicious Vinyl)
John Digweed, "Transitions" (Thrive)
Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Snake Farm" (Sustain)
Glenn Hughes, "Music for the Divine" (Frontiers)
Iio, "Poetica" (Made)
Brad Mehldau Trio, "House on Hill" (Nonesuch)
Brad Mehldau, Renee Fleming, "Love Sublime" (Nonesuch)
Metal Church, "A Light in the Dark" (Steamhammer)
Steve Miller Band, "Fly Like an Eagle: 30th Anniversary" (Capitol)
Grant Lee Phillips, "Nineteeneighties" (Zoe)
Billy Talent, "II" (Atlantic)
Wayman Tisdale, "Way Up!" (Rendezvous)
Various Artists, "Woody's Winners: 20 Classic Tracks from the Films" (Castle Pie)

Soundtracks and scores:
"Tarzan--The Broadway Musical" (Disney)
"Superman Returns" (Rhino)
"Kingdom Hearts, Vol. 2" (EMI)