The likely top thing to take a chance on this week is a vicious rock band from Nashville. The Kings of Leon are back with their third album, Because of the Times. I just know that I'll be willing to lend an ear to the reprobates that created the immortal "Holy Roller Novacaine." For one thing, it's the perfect song to be blaring out of the truck of a violent and volatile redneck cop like Shane Vendrell on The Shield. Plus, I've seen multiple high reviews for this new album, all talking about artistic growth and expanding their sonic palette. Also, they're rated as high as #6 in Amazon sales currently.

Martina McBride is Waking Up Laughing, and why shouldn't she? Personally, I can't remember a single song from among her numerous hits [something I'd say of very many interchangeable modern "country" singers], but she's sold tens of millions of albums, and this is top ten already.

Hilary Duff has a new album this week. I haven't seen anything to suggest that she has any actual talent [then again maybe I just haven't paid sufficient attention], but per the album title I will grant that she has Dignity. I suppose we should be grateful at this point for a teen idol who is not flashing beaver like arch-rival Lindsay Lohan, or just generally not acting like a stupid spoiled whore.

From the archives, there's a tasty sounding 3 disc box covering the entire recording career of Ralph and Carter Stanley, the Stanley Brothers The Definitive Collection 1947-1966.

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

Hilary Duff Dignity Hollywood
Teen Pop, Dance-Pop, Pop/Rock

Fountains of Wayne Traffic and Weather Virgin
Pop Underground, Indie Pop

Kings of Leon Because of the Times RCA
Alternative Pop/Rock, Garage Rock Revival, American Trad Rock, Southern Rock

Timbaland Timbaland Presents Shock Value Blackground/Interscope
Urban, Pop-Rap, Dance-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock

The John Abercrombie Quartet Third Quartet ECM
Modern Creative

The Academy Is... Santi Fueled by Ramen
Indie Rock, Emo

Leif Ove Andsnes Schubert: Piano Sonata D. 958; Lieder; Fragments Albany
Romantic Piano Music

Beyonce B'day [Deluxe Edition] Columbia
Contemporary R&B, Urban

Black Sabbath The Dio Years Rhino
Album Rock, British Metal, Heavy Metal

Peter Blegvad Orpheus the Lowdown Ape
Sound Art, Sound Sculpture, Experimental, Avant-Garde

Jonatha Brooke Careful What You Wish For Bad Dog
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Ruth Brown Definitive Soul Rhino
Jump Blues, R&B, New York Blues, Urban Blues

Brandi Carlile The Story Columbia
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Chevelle Vena Sera Epic
Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge

Jarvis Cocker Jarvis Rough Trade
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Britpop, Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Dirty Looks Dirty Looks/Turn It Up Stiff
Power Pop, New Wave, Rock & Roll

Kurt Elling Nightmoves Concord
Vocal Jazz, Vocalese, Post-Bop, Ballads, Modern Creative

Erasure I Could Fall in Love with You Mute
Alternative Pop/Rock, Club/Dance, Dance-Pop, Pop/Rock

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager Atlantic
Emo, Indie Rock, Indie Electronic

Idlewild Make Another World Sequel
Alternative Pop/Rock

Alan Jackson/George Strait/Jimmy Buffett Live at Texas Stadium MCA Nashville
New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country

Killing Joke Inside Extremities, Mixes, Rehearsals & Live Candlelight
Post-Punk, New Wave, Alternative Pop/Rock

Alison Krauss Hundred Miles or More: A Collection Rounder
Contemporary Bluegrass, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Bluegrass, Contemporary Country, Traditional Bluegrass, Progressive Bluegrass

Larry the Cable Guy Morning Constitutions Warner Bros.
Standup Comedy, Country Comedy

Jeff Lorber He Had a Hat Blue Note/EMI
Smooth Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz

Martina McBride Waking Up Laughing RCA/Sony/BMG
Contemporary Country

Melee Devils & Angels Warner Brothers
Indie Rock, Punk-Pop

Mink DeVille Cadillac Walk: The Mink DeVille Collection Capitol
Rock & Roll, Pop/Rock, New York Punk

Mother Hips Kiss the Crystal Flake Camera
Alternative Country, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Paul Motian/Bill Frisell/Joe Lovano Time and Time Again ECM
Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Creative

My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult The Filthiest Show in Town Rykodisc
Alternative Dance, Club/Dance, Industrial

My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult The Resurrection of Luna Rykodisc
Alternative Dance, Alternative Pop/Rock, Club/Dance, House, Industrial

Mark O'Connor The Essential Mark O'Connor Sony Classics
Contemporary Chamber Music

Southwest Chamber Music Carlos Chavez: Complete Chamber Music, Vol. 4 Cambria
Modern Chamber Music

Jean-Claude Zehnder J. S. Bachs früheste Notenhandschriften (J.S. Bach's Earliest Autographs) Carus
Baroque Organ Music

Original TV Soundtrack One Tree Hill - Music from the Television Series, Vol. 3: The Road Mix Maverick/Warner Sunset
TV Soundtracks, Emo, Indie Rock

Ozomatli Don't Mess with the Dragon Concord
Alternative Pop/Rock, Rock en Espanol, Blues-Rock, Alternative Rap

Corinne Bailey Rae Live in London & NY Capitol/EMI
Neo-Soul, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Martin Sexton Seeds Kitchen Table
Alternative Folk, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk

Sia Lady Croissant Astralwerks/EMI
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Pop

Sick Puppies Dressed Up as Life Virgin
Post-Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock

Sly & Robbie Strictly Drum and Bass: The Roots of Sly and Robbie Trojan
Roots Reggae

Todd Snider Peace, Love and Anarchy Oh Boy
Americana, Alternative Country, Singer/Songwriter

The Stanley Brothers The Definitive Collection 1947-1966 [Box Set] Time Life
Traditional Bluegrass, Bluegrass-Gospel, Close Harmony, Bluegrass, Traditional Country, Old-Timey

Stars of the Lid And Their Refinement of the Decline Kranky
Process-Generated, Electro-Acoustic, Post-Minimalism, Experimental Ambient, Ambient

Static-X Cannibal Warner Bros.
Alternative Metal, Industrial Metal, Rap-Metal

Los Straitjackets Rock En Espanol, Vol. 1 Yep Roc
Garage Rock Revival, Surf Revival, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Instrumental Rock

Koko Taylor Old School Alligator
Electric Chicago Blues, Modern Electric Chicago Blues, Chicago Blues

Throbbing Gristle Part Two: Endless Not Mute
Experimental Rock, Experimental, Industrial

The Twilight Sad Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters Fat Cat
Indie Rock

Various Artists Florida Funk: 1968-1975 Jazzman/Now Again
Funk

Various Artists Lou Harrison in Retrospect New World
Contemporary Vocal, Chamber, and Choral Music

Gina Villalobos Miles Away Face West
Roots Rock, Country-Rock

Paul Wall Get Money, Stay True Swishahouse/Asylum/Atlantic
Dirty South, Southern Rap, Hardcore Rap

Chris Whitley/Jeff Lang Dislocation Blues Rounder
Slide Guitar Blues, Blues-Rock, Modern Acoustic Blues

Wreckless Eric Big Smash [Bonus Tracks] Stiff
New Wave, British Punk, Pub Rock