It's been over a decade since Bob Seger put out an album. I for one am indeed eager to Face the Promise. This must be heard.

Lionel Richie also has his first album in awhile, Coming Home. I really hated ol' Lionel back in the day. Lionel and Kenny Rogers were both members of the ruling committee of the Anti-Christ. (The Anti-Christ is, of course, a committee).

Flibildy fleu! Back in my day even the bad music had tunes. In these years of tuneless and vulgar anti-social hippity-hoppity and metallic nonsense, though, Lionel Richie and even the dreaded Kenny Rogers don't sound too bad. Lionel has certainly showed some significant skills at composing actual melodies. I'll just say I'd listen to Lionel Richie over the Basement Jaxx. The devil drives a hard bargain.

Justin Timberlake has a new album this week, FutureSex/LoveSounds. Lord help us, previews suggest something intended to be half Prince, half Marvin Gaye. Being Justin Timberlake (wonder what you'd see from the Timberlake portal), I would guess the result would actually land somewhere closer to a poor man's Wham.

The Town and the City is the latest studio album from Los Lobos, a band always worth hearing.

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

Basement Jaxx Crazy Itch Radio XL
Left-Field House, Club/Dance, Progressive House, House

The Black Keys Magic Potion Nonesuch
Punk Blues, Garage Punk, Indie Rock, Blues-Rock

Mastodon Blood Mountain Reprise
Post-Hardcore, Power Metal, Progressive Metal, Grindcore, Death Metal/Black Metal, Thrash, Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal

Justin Timberlake FutureSex/LoveSounds Jive
Club/Dance, Urban, Dance-Pop

The Album Leaf Into the Blue Again Sub Pop
Post-Rock/Experimental, Indie Pop, Indie Electronic

Esther Apituley Violent Viola Challenge
Viola Music

Buju Banton Too Bad Gargamel Music
Contemporary Reggae, Dancehall

Barenaked Ladies Barenaked Ladies Are Me Desperation
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Brazilian Girls Talk to La Bomb Verve Forecast
Downtempo, Downbeat, Club/Dance, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Richard Buckner Meadow Merge
Alternative Country, Country-Folk, Singer/Songwriter

Kasey Chambers Carnival Warner Bros.
Country-Folk, Singer/Songwriter

Citizen Cope Every Waking Moment RCA
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Shawn Colvin These Four Walls Nonesuch
Contemporary Folk, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Folk-Pop

Daz So So Gangsta Virgin
Hardcore Rap, Gangsta Rap, West Coast Rap

The Draft In a Million Pieces Epitaph
Post-Hardcore, Punk Revival

Electric Six Switzerland Metropolis
Indie Rock

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Arvo Pärt: Da Pacem Harmonia Mundi
Modern Choral Music

Everclear Welcome to the Drama Club Eleven Seven
Alternative Pop/Rock, Hard Rock