The great songwriter returns with his 44th album and his first since 2001's excellent "Love and Theft." "Modern Times" features 10 new Dylan originals he recorded this winter with his touring band: guitarists Stu Kimball and Denny Freeman, multi-instrumentalist Donnie Herron, bassist Tony Garnier and drummer George Recile.

After finishing up yet another round of dates at minor-league ballparks, which concludes on Sept. 9 in Fargo, ND, the singer/guitarist/keyboardist will embark on a fall tour in support of "Modern Times" beginning with an Oct. 11 date in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The fall tour is currently scheduled to conclude on Nov. 18 in Philadelphia and will feature Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters and The Raconteurs rotating through the opening slot.

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Jessica Simpson [ tickets ]
"A Public Affair"
(Sony)
Having spent time on both the big and small screen, in the "Dukes of Hazzard" remake and on the reality TV show "Newlyweds," Simpson is back to try and make some noise on the charts with her fifth solo album.

"A Public Affair" is Simpson's first since 2004's "Rejoice: A Christmas Album," and her first non-holiday album since 2003's triple-platinum "In This Skin." The new album's first single, the bouncy title track, is already a hit on radio.

Simpson claims a songwriting credit on nine of the 12 songs that will appear on the new album. Producers who had a hand in the set include Lester Mendez, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Cory Rooney, Scott Storch and Stargate.

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Ray LaMontagne
"Till the Sun Turns Black"
(RCA)

The pop crooner hopes to build upon the success of his acclaimed 2004 debut, "Trouble," with this set of 11 new songs.

The CD reportedly finds the singer moving beyond the simple acoustic feel of his first CD to focus on more complex musical arrangements. The first single from the album is the track "Three More Days."

LaMontagne recently made news when he dropped off his co-headlining tour with the band Guster--reportedly due to scheduling conflicts.

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The Black Crowes
"The Lost Crowes"
(Rhino)

As hinted at by the title, "The Lost Crowes" isn't so much a new album as it is two old ones. This two-disc set features tracks from a pair of albums that the Crowes recorded but never officially released: 1993's "Tall" and 1997's "Band."

The Black Crowes will support this release with a lengthy fall tour, which is currently scheduled to kick off Sept. 7 in Richmond, VA. As part of that tour, the Crowes will perform at the mammoth Vegoose music festival in Las Vegas during Halloween weekend.

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Dream Theater
"Score: 20th Anniversary World Tour Live with the Octavarium Orchestra"
(Rhino)

This three-disc package was recorded on April 1, 2006 at Radio City Music Hall--closing night of Dream Theater's 20th anniversary world tour with the Octavarium Orchestra. The set includes such tracks as "The Root of All Evil," "I Walk Beside You," "Another Won" and "Afterlife."

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More new releases:
Beach Boys, "Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary" (Capitol)
Beenie Man, "Undisputed" (Virgin)
BT, "The Binary Universe, (Digital Sound)
Dirty Dozen Brass Band, "What's Goin' On" (Shout Factory)
Godhead, "The Shadow Line" (Cement Shoes)
John Lithgow, "The Sunny Side of the Street" (Razor & Tie)
Old Crow Medicine Show, "Big Iron World" (Nettwerk)
The Roots, "Game Theory" (Def Jam)
M. Ward, "Post-War" (Merge)
Pete Yorn, "Nightcrawler" (Red Ink)