If this is what they call the calm before the storm in terms of reasons to visit the record store, then whatever clouds are looming just around the bend had better bring on a hurricane. Because this is about as slow as it gets in new release land, baby.

Not that there isn't a little something for everybody among this week's precious few offerings, because there most certainly is. You've got the soundtrack for a critically acclaimed movie, two new collections from a longtime underground buzz-band, some choice reissues, and a smattering of the sort of blues releases that guys like Josh Hathaway get all excited about.

Hell, you've even got a new solo album from an ex-Beatle.

And even though said ex-mop-top is only Ringo, in years past this alone would have had "those crazy kids ringing the registers at the record store" (to quote any number of old school record guys from that era). As it stands, most people know Ringo these days mainly as the guy who fronts those annual "All-Starr Band" oldie-but-moldie tours, or from his occasional television commercials. Which is kind of sad if you think about it.

Ringo's new Liverpool 8 marks his return to Capitol, the label of his glory years with the Beatles, and is also his first solo album in about five years for a major label. Studio wizard and sometime Eurythmic Dave Stewart had a hand in the production, and the record has been described as "Beatle-esque," especially on the autobiographical title track.

From underground darlings the Eels, we get two new collections. Meet the Eels: Essential Eels 1996-2006, Vol. 1, is a hits collection that comes with a bonus DVD featuring all of their videos. Useless Trinkets: B Sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased 1996-2007, is a rarities collection, that also features a bonus DVD of the Eels 2006 performance at Lollapalooza.

Looking elsewhere, there is the soundtrack for the critical hit movie Juno, which mixes classic tracks from the Kinks, Velvet Underground, and Mott The Hoople with more modern fare from Cat Power and Belle and Sebastian.

For blues fans there are new collections from Otis Clay, Eric Lindell, and Billy C. Farlow. In country and bluegrass, there are new offerings from Trisha Yearwood (a collection of Love Songs) and the Steeldrivers. Leading the week's reissues are a couple of new entries from Legacy's Beautiful Ballads series by Barry Manilow and Aretha Franklin, as well as new collections by the Spice Girls, Rick Nelson, and Commander Cody (for all those who remember that song "Hot Rod Lincoln").