It's a rare day of special promise: a brand spanking new Paul Simon album, Surprise. All cool people obviously must hear this. Partly, this is a collaboration with Brian Eno. What sweet wonders await us? [36 page Paul Simon photo gallery]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers release their two CD set Stadium Arcadium. The single "Dani California" doesn't sound like much to me — it's barely better than the crappy Pearl Jam. It is, however, a hit single already. Curious though for a band with a new double album that they only played one new song for their big Saturday Night Live showcase last week. For a second number, they went all the way back to "Give It Away." What, there wasn't another new song worth playing?

Nick Lachey, the ex-Mr. Jessica Simpson has a new album. I didn't know that he was even a singer. Is there no end to his talent? Anyway, What's Left of Me is apparently about the breakup of his marriage. Thus, the AMG reviewer describes it as something of a boy band Blood on the Tracks. Kind of a Back Street Boys thing — with a little bit of Coldplay in the mix. Ouch.

Saving the cheesiest for last, Neil Young has a new album about Living With War. He brags on whipping up a whole album from scratch in a couple of days, but frankly it SOUNDS like it was thrown together in a couple of days. It's not like he spent any time thinking up these formulaic guitar blues. On the other hand, sometimes he manages to squeeze maximum effect out of plain generic elements.

Specifically, the centerpiece track "Let's Impeach the President" at least halfway works. There is, let us say, minimal melodic development, but it is kinda catchy in a dumb way. It has a certain brash boyish charm. By accident of my mix programming, I put this on a car CD followed immediately by some classic Judas Priest. Given the theme of the Neil Young sillyfest, the self-defense of the one "Breaking the Law" plays like a musically complimentary and intellectually appropriate answer from the president. Imagine W screaming, "You don't know what it's liiiiiiiiiiiiiike!"

Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases, courtesy AMG:

Paul Simon Surprise Warner Bros.
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Pop/Rock

Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere Downtown
Neo-Soul, Alternative Rap, Underground Rap, Alternative Pop/Rock, Hip-Hop

Nick Lachey What's Left of Me Jive/Zomba
Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop

Matmos The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast Matador
Electronica, Experimental Techno

Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium Warner Bros.
Funk Metal, Alternative Pop/Rock

Art Brut Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Banana/Fierce Panda
Indie Rock

Susana Baca Travesías Luaka Bop
Latin Folk, Afro Peruvian

The Black Heart Procession The Spell Touch & Go
Indie Rock

Jirí Barta Moscheles, Hummel: Cello Sonatas Hyperion
Classical and Romantic Chamber Music

C.J. Chenier The Desperate Kingdom of Love World Village
Zydeco, Creole

Popa Chubby Stealing the Devil's Guitar Blind Pig
Contemporary Blues, Modern Electric Blues

Harry Connick, Jr. Harry on Broadway, Act 1 Sony
Traditional Pop, American Popular Song

Alan Curtis Vivaldi: Motezuma Deutsche Grammophon
Baroque Opera

Daedelus Daedelus Denies the Day's Demise Mush
Electronica, Indie Electronic, Ambient Techno, Experimental Techno

Kimya Dawson Remember That I Love You K
Anti-Folk, Indie Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Lo-Fi

Diamond Rio Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Arista
Contemporary Country

The Eighteenth Day of May The Eighteenth Day of May Hannibal
Indie Pop

The Everyothers Pink Sticky Lies Kill Rock Stars
Garage Rock Revival, Indie Rock

Extra Golden OK-Oyot System Thrill Jockey
Afro-Pop, Worldbeat, Indie Rock

Fairport Convention The Fairport Companion Castle
British Folk-Rock, Progressive Folk, British Folk, Folk-Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Grandaddy Just Like the Fambly Cat V2
Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedelia

Lynn Harrell Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No. 2; Prokofiev: Symphony-Concerto Avie
Modern Orchestral Music

Jolie Holland Springtime Can Kill You Anti-
Neo-Traditional Folk, Folk-Jazz, Singer/Songwriter, Lo-Fi, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter

Chris Isaak Best of Chris Isaak [CD/DVD] Wicked Game/Reprise
Pop/Rock, Roots Rock, College Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

The Isley Brothers Baby Makin' Music Def Soul Classics/Def Jam
Contemporary R&B, Urban

Jagged Edge Jagged Edge Sony Urban Music/Columbia
Urban, Contemporary R&B

Korn Live and Rare Sony
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Post-Grunge, Rap-Metal

Teena Marie Sapphire Cash Money
Contemporary R&B, Urban

McFly Just My Luck Universal
Pop/Rock, Punk-Pop

NOMO New Tones Ubiquity
Deep Funk Revival, Afro-Beat, Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk

Old Haunts Fuel on Fire Kill Rocks Stars
Indie Rock, Garage Rock Revival

Omar & The Howlers Bamboozled: Live in Germany Ruf
Modern Electric Texas Blues, Electric Texas Blues, Blues-Rock

Jordi Savall Boccherini: Fandango, Sinfonie & La Musica Notturna di Madrid [Hybrid SACD] Alia Vox
Classical Chamber Music

Dawn Upshaw Osvaldo Golijov: Ainadamar Deutsche Grammophon
Contemporary Opera

Original Soundtrack The Da Vinci Code [Original Movie Soundtrack] Decca
Original Score, Soundtracks

Stephen Pearcy Stripped Sidewinder Music
Hard Rock

Pony Up! Make Love to the Judges with Your Eyes Dim Mak
Indie Pop, Indie Rock

Snow Patrol Eyes Open A&M
Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock

The Stills
Without Feathers
Vice
Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental

Suga Free Just Add Water [CD/DVD] Laneway/Bungalo
West Coast Rap, G-Funk, Gangsta Rap

Marlo Thomas Free to Be You and Me Arista/Legacy
Sing-Along, Educational, Children's Stories

Trivium Ascendancy [CD/DVD] Roadrunner
Alternative Metal

Various Artists The Sound the Hare Heard Kill Rock Stars
Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock

Willie & the Poor Boys Poor Boy Boogie Castle
Retro-Rock, Roots Rock

Neil Young Living with War Reprise
Album Rock, Folk-Rock, Hard Rock, Singer/Songwriter