Artist:	Title:	Label/Due date:
Dave Alvin	"West of the West" (a tribute to the songs and songwriters of California; producer: Greg Leisz; Hear here)	(Yep Roc, May 30, 2006)
Sophie Barker (of Zero 7)	"Earthbound" (released last year in Britain; producer: Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie; Hear here)	(Emperor, May 30, 2006)
Boards of Canada	"Trans Canada Highway [EP]" (Hear here)	(Warp, May 30, 2006)
Boy Kill Boy	"Civilian" (Hear here)	(U.K. - Vertigo/Mercury, May 29, 2006)
Celtic Frost	"Monotheist" (band's first album in 13 years; producers: Celtic Frost, Peter Tägtgren)	(Century Media, May 30, 2006)
Chatham County Line	"Speed of the Whippoorwill" (producers: Brian Paulson, Chatham County Line; Read here)	(Yep Roc, May 30, 2006)
Les Claypool	"Of Whales and Woe" (Hear here)	(Prawn Song, May 30, 2006)
Cordovan	"Highway 10 Blues" (Hear here)	(Lunaticworks Jazz, May 30, 2006)

BTW: For this jazz-inflected album, the man behind Cordovan, Los Angeles producer/composer/bassist Greg Reeves, says he wanted to capture a vibe and make a soundtrack for trips to the desert, "whether that means cruising out in the vast expanse of the Mojave, or meandering around with the top down through Vegas or Palm Springs, or sitting on a giant boulder in Joshua Tree." He tells P&P, "Sonically, I was looking to avoid big beats in favor of a lighter, more classic and restrained groove, not unlike (Bobby Hutcherson's) 'Montara,' or Miles Davis' 'In a Silent Way' - I wanted it to feel warm and not too heavy, and let the melodies and harmonies create the tension and release." Considering his eclectic influences, ranging from rock to reggae to jazz, Reeves' personal record collection is equally a mixed bag. "My collection (CD and vinyl) has a lot of jazz (mostly '60s-'70s), new electronic/dance stuff, soundtracks, dub, some hip-hop, and also the occasional seriously pop record like Kylie Minogue," he says. "Ninety percent of the time, it's vintage jazz that ends up on the turntable. Current fave I've been spinning a lot is 'Montara.' "

Crash Radio	"Minutes to Miles" (producer: Chris Badami)	(Trustkill, May 30, 2006)
Crazy Frog	"We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong) [CD-single]"	(U.K. - Universal, May 29, 2006)
(Matthew) Herbert	"Scale" (Hear here)	(!K7, May 30, 2006)
Marva King	"Soul Sistah" (Hear here)	(U.K. - Expansion, May 29, 2006)

BTW: King, who was a backup singer for Prince and the New Power Generation, starred in the Tyler Perry movie "Diary of a Mad Black Woman."

Legendary Pink Dots	"Your Children Placate You From Premature Graves" (Hear here)	(ROIR, May 30, 2006)
Orson	"Bright Idea" (producer: Noah Shain; Hear here)	(U.K. - Mercury, May 29, 2006)
Peeping Tom (fronted by Mike Patton)	"Peeping Tom" (guests: Norah Jones, Massive Attack, Kool Keith, Dub Trio, etc.; Read here)	(Ipecac, May 30, 2006)
Surel	"For My Good" (Hear here)	(Remedy Entertainment/Red Distribution, May 30, 2006)

BTW: Surel, a singer, songwriter and producer, wanted to expand the boundaries of R&B and pop with her debut album and "show that you can't put God in a box," she tells P&P. "You can't just worship Him on Sunday and go on with the rest of your week. He is always present. With that in mind, I took the music that influences me from hip-hop, to jazz and R&B and wrote lyrics that have meaning to me. I hope that they will have meaning to the listener as well. I wanted music that you don't have to censor for your children, for your home and or life. It is God-inspired music with a positive message."

George Thorogood and The Destroyers	"The Hard Stuff" (self-penned originals with a few covers)	(Eagle Rock, May 30, 2006)
Triniti	"Triniti" (producer: Ross Cullum)	(U.K. - Universal, May 29, 2006)
Various artists	"Rescue Me [TV soundtrack]" (FX firefighter drama; includes the theme song, "C'mon C'mon," by the Von Bondies)	(Nettwerk, May 30, 2006)