There are a number of big name album releases this week, though none of them looks like anything to me. One thing does look somewhat intriguing though, Steve Nieve: Welcome to the Voice. I haven't heard much about it, but Elvis Costello's right hand man has what is listed as an "opera," with performances by Elvis, Sting and the Brodsky Quartet. I remain healthily skeptical of classical music turns by pop musicians — even Elvis — but this lineup should be worth a listen.

Also, Wilco has Sky Blue Sky. I would be more likely to call their undistinguished songwriting Sucky Bland Sucky, but some critic types really think this band is the shiznit. In fairness, it's not just critic types, as this album is currently #5 at Amazon.

I would maybe slightly more favor the third album by Gretchen Wilson, One of the Boys. She generally strikes me as lowest common denominator modern commercial "country" music, but at least I can remember one or two hooks from "Redneck Woman." That's more than I can say for Wilco, to which I've given more careful listening.

Linkin Park has a new album Minutes to Midnight, their third. I don't understand why they've sold three trillion albums, but they looked halfway like somebody last week on Saturday Night Live. Still, I couldn't remember a thing about either of those songs after watching carefully. However, they're the #1 seller currently at Amazon, so what do I know?

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

The Horrors Strange House Loog
Garage Rock Revival, Punk Revival

Linkin Park Minutes to Midnight Warner Bros.
Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge, Rap-Metal

Rufus Wainwright Release the Stars Geffen
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Chamber Pop, Singer/Songwriter

Wilco Sky Blue Sky Nonesuch
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Indie Rock

Gretchen Wilson One of the Boys Sony
Contemporary Country, Country-Pop

Mayer, Albrecht New Seasons: Handel for Oboe & Orchestra Deutsche Grammophon
Baroque Music for Oboe & Orchestra

John Anderson Easy Money Warner Bros./Raybaw
New Traditionalist, Honky Tonk

Barry & the Remains The Remains [2007 Bonus Tracks] Epic/Legacy
Frat Rock, Garage Rock

Stefano Battaglia Re: Pasolini ECM
Structured Improvisation, Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Creative

J.D. Blackfoot The Ultimate Prophecy Radioactive
Pop/Rock

Melanie C This Time Red Girl
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Urban

Betty Davis Betty Davis [Bonus Tracks] Light in the Attic
Funk, Soul

Betty Davis They Say I'm Different [Bonus Tracks] Light in the Attic
Funk, Soul

Dry Branch Fire Squad Thirtieth Anniversary Special Rounder
Bluegrass-Gospel, Traditional Bluegrass, Progressive Bluegrass, Appalachian Folk, Old-Timey, Contemporary Bluegrass, String Bands

Dungen Tio Bitar Kemado
Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Psychedelic, Prog-Rock/Art Rock

The Fall A World Bewitched: Best of 1990-2000 Artful
College Rock, Indie Rock, Post-Punk

Five Blind Boys of Mississippi Something to Shout About? Shout
Traditional Gospel, Southern Gospel, Black Gospel

Funeral for a Friend Tales Don't Tell Themselves Atlantic
Post-Hardcore, Screamo, Emo

Genesis Genesis 1976-1982 Atlantic/Atco/Rhino
Pop/Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Album Rock, Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary

Good Shoes Think Before You Speak Brille
Indie Rock

The Groovie Ghoulies 99 Lives Green Door
Punk-Pop

Guided by Voices Live from Austin, TX New West
Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Guitar Dealin with Signal and Noise Onitor
Indie Rock, Indie Electronic

Ian Hunter Shrunken Heads Yep Roc
Album Rock, Hard Rock, Singer/Songwriter

I Am the Ocean ...And Your City Needs Swallowing Uprising
Post-Hardcore, Progressive Metal

Jefferson Airplane Sweeping Up the Spotlight: Jefferson Airplane Live at the Fillmore East 1969 RCA/Legacy
Album Rock, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Pop/Rock, Hard Rock

Luny Tunes/Tainy Los Benjamins: La Continuacion Machete Music
Reggaeton

Megadeth United Abominations Roadrunner
Speed Metal, Heavy Metal

Michaelangelo One Voice Many Columbia
Psychedelic Pop, Folk-Rock

Roscoe Mitchell Composition/Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3 ECM
Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz, Avant-Garde, Structured Improvisation, Modern Composition, Free Improvisation