By:

Staff

Our writers highlight a handful of notable records scheduled to hit the shelves this Tuesday. Plus, check the full list of this week's releases:

Christina Aguilera

Back to Basics

RCA

Following up her previous smash album, 2003's Stripped, newly married Christina Aguilera, the vocal-range-of-doom diva, is removing the XXXTina vibe and heading in a soul/jazz direction with the double-disc Back to Basics. By now, we've all heard the superb DJ Premier-produced lead single, "Ain't No Other Man," so if that's any indication of the strength of material, then the disc ought to be very interesting. Other production on the album comes courtesy of Kwame, Mark Ronson, and Linda Perry. The emphasis this time around is on songs and vocals, as apposed to statements and proclamations, as was the case with previous singles such as "Dirrrty" and "Beautiful." ~Chris Gliddon 

Band: http://www.christinaaguilera.com/

Label: http://www.rcarecords.com/artists.html

Audio: http://myspace.com/christinaaguilera 

Buzzcocks

Songs for Lonely Americans

Cooking Vinyl

It�s sad when a band�s music is eternally linked to a less than stellar time in your life -- music is supposed to be escapism, after all. Thanks to a now ex-girlfriend who worshipped the ground this seminal British punk band walked on, I cannot hear the Buzzcocks� music without feeling some sense of loss or longing. And if the Pavlovian response weren�t enough, the band has gone and named this disc Songs For Lonely Americans. Twist the knife, why don�t you? If you have no such subconscious connections, you�ll likely be able to enjoy this release, which comprises �Sell You Everything,� the band�s second single from its 2006 album, Flat Pack Philosophy, as well as a live version of �16� and an unreleased studio outtake of �Every Day and Every Night.� ~Zach Hothorn

Band: http://www.buzzcocks.com/

Label: http://www.cookingvinyl.com/

Audio: http://www.myspace.com/buzzcocksofficial 

Pete Droge

Under the Waves

Puzzle Tree

If you don�t love Pete Droge, he�s gonna kill-uh himself. So give the guy a chance. Try to forget that his best known song was a �90s flash in the pan off the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack. Try to remember that he�s released four solo albums since then. Try to remember that he was also in the Thorns with Matthew Sweet and Shawn Mullins. Try to remember that he�s sang on and produced tracks for Stone Gossard, Kim Richey, and Mary Lou Lord. Can you do that for a hard working man? If not, at least try to accept his latest, Under the Waves, with an open mind. If you do, you�re likely to find some heartstring-tugging sad-slacker anthems. ~John Zeiss

Artist: http://www.droge.com/

Label: http://www.droge.com/puzzletree/records.html

Audio: http://www.myspace.com/petedroge

Guillemots

Through the Windowpane

Polydor

The London-based Guillemots' full-length debut reaches American shores, boasting an impressive track record that includes a nomination for the 2006 Mercury Prize. A four-piece pop group fronted by Fyfe Dangerfield with backing from a classically trained double-bass player and a former death-metal axe-slinger from Brazil, it�s no surprise that the band's sound is orchestral and elaborate, while Dangerfield's narrative lyrics branch from the intensely personal to whimsical imagined realms. Guillemots' music is the perfect end-of-summer comedown, uplifting and effusive without overlooking the contemplative days that lie ahead. ~Chris Sahl

Band: http://http://www.guillemots.com/

Label: http://http://www.polydor.co.uk/

"Made Up Love Song #43" MP3  

The Pipettes

We Are the Pipettes

Memphis Industries

Everyone seems to be talking about the Pipettes these days, trying to figure what these gals are all about. Their whole �60s girl-group schtick with the polka-dot dresses and choreographed dance steps has people wondering if they�re (a) genuinely of a throwback mindset, with the aim of reviving music from its so-called post-Beatles decline as per their official mission statement, or (b) a group of charlatans trying to make a few quick bucks peddling some po-mo, ironic, retro vibe that the indie set is sure to eat up. What? You we�re expecting an answer? We�re not your mother; it�s not our job to tell you what to think. Decide for yourself. ~Justin Sheppard

Band: http://www.thepipettes.co.uk/

Label: http://www.memphis-industries.com/

Audio: http://www.myspace.com/thepipettes 

Pat Travers and Carmen Appice

Superstition

Akarma

What do you get when combine two oft-neglected yet exceedingly talented, rock stars of the �70s for one hit-laden record? Classic-rock gold, that�s what. This live disc finds thought-to-be-deceased guitar god Pat Travers unabashedly busting out some of his greatest tunes alongside Vanilla Fudge/Jeff Beck Group alum Carmen Appice. Included here is Travers�s arena-rock anthem �Boom, Boom� as well as my personal favorite, �Snorting Whiskey (Drinking Cocaine).� And I know I may sound a hell of a lot like Homer Simpson espousing the wonders of Grand Funk Railroad -- �The wild, shirtless antics of Mark Farner? The bone-rattling bass of Mel Shocker? The competent drum-work of Don Brewer?� -- but I don�t care. Fogies can rock too. ~Zach Hothorn

Pat Travers: http://www.pattravers.com/

Carmen Appice http://www.carmineappice.net/ 

Various Artists

Snakes on a Plane: The Album

Decaydence/New Line Records

Get those motherfuckin' songs on this motherfuckin' soundtrack! A companion volume to the film that became an Internet darling months before its release, Snakes on a Plane: The Album boasts new snake-themed songs from Cobra Starship (featuring members of the Academy Is�, the Sounds and Gym Class Heroes) and "Ophidiophobia" (the fear of snakes -- I had to look it up) from Gnarls Barkley-ite Cee-Lo. Most of the album is dedicated to remixes of songs by good-times-had-by-all-types like All-American Rejects, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco. In keeping with the movie's populist viral marketing campaign, co-distributors New Line Records and Decaydence launched a contest on the social networking site TagWorld that allowed fledgling bands to complete for a place on the soundtrack. The winner, Captain Ahab's "Snakes on a Brain," keeps with the album's self-aware exuberant camp. Included on the enhanced version of the CD are some of the best amateur videos and songs released on the Internet and inspired by a movie no one has yet seen. ~Chris Sahl

Label: http://newlinerecords.com/home/index.php

Audio: http://www.tagworld.com/snakesonaplane