We get an unusually rich bounty of new albums this week. Top intriguing pick for us hicks is Wagonmaster by Porter Wagoner. Brother Porter is one of the most famous country singers ever because of his 20 year TV series, yet is probably one of the most underrated artistically.

He's a couple of months short of 80 years old, but it looks like ol' boy still knows how to get his freak on with some Bible beating, Southern goth, and some serious mental disturbance. This album features a song called "Committed To Parkview" which Johnny Cash wrote for him years ago after finding that they had both spent time in the same Nashville detox center. The album was produced by Marty Stuart, and also includes a contribution from Porter's classic banjo picker Buck Trent. "My Many Hurried Southern Trips" was co-written with his old partner Dolly Parton.

The biggest talk has been for Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full, partly because it's Macca and partly because it launches a new Starbucks record label. I don't care much about those machinations, but his last album was easily the best thing he'd put out in 20 years. He started work on this album in 2003, took a break for the completely separate Chaos And Creation In The Backyard album that came out in 2005, and came back to this. According to his note included on the Amazon page, he figures about half the songs were written pre-Chaos and half after. Note that McCartney plays all the instruments himself except for some string sections.

Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band Live in Dublin has 23 songs on two CDs, and there's also a DVD version. (Note that the DVD is cheaper than the CDs.) The Sessions Band rates higher musically in my book than the E Street Band. I'm particularly interested in hearing what they've done with "Blinded by the Light." Amazon reviewer Scott Holter compares this performance of "Jesse James" to prime time 1980s Pogues. That surely sounds promising.

Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash was produced by John Jr, and features a strong crop of June lovers including Willie Nelson, Ralph Stanley, Loretta Lynn and Billy Joe Shaver. Best of all, for her top key hit "Ring of Fire," we get Elvis Costello.

Good Girl Gone Bad is Rihanna's third album. I know she's a big name, but I can't remember any of her songs. But she's real popular, and she sure is cute. Plus, all the reviews I'm seeing have been gushing about how good it is.