*SEPTEMBER*

Jill Sobule, Underdog Victorious (September 7): The "I Kissed a Girl" girl returns. The lead single, "Cinnamon Park," borrows its hook from Chicago's "Saturday in the Park." (Artemis)

Dolly Parton, Live and Well (September 14): Recorded live at Dollywood in Tennessee, this double CD leans heavily on Dolly's recent bluegrass albums while including a smattering of big hits ("9 to 5," "Jolene"). (Sugar Hill)

Various Artists, Will & Grace: Let the Music Out! (September 14): Karen (Megan Mullally) croons with Carly Simon, while Will (Eric McCormack) and Barry Manilow warble "Living With Grace." Kevin Bacon (as part of his Bacon Brothers band) also stars, and there will be previously released songs by J. Lo, Cher, and Elton John. (BMG)

The Prodigy, Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned (September 14): The chart-topping U.K. electro-punks' first full-length release in seven years features Juliette Lewis, Princess Superstar, Oasis's Liam Gallagher, and a track sampling "Thriller." Eek! (XL/Maverick)

Liza Minnelli, The Best of Liza Minnelli (September 14): Spans Liza's classic years at Columbia, EMI, and MCA and features the unreleased "Me and My Baby" from Chicago. (Legacy/Columbia)

Also new in September:

Nancy Sinatra [see page 70], Anita Baker, Green Day, Joss Stone, Tears for Fears, Brian Wilson, Leonard Cohen, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the Strokes (live), Supergrass (best of), Lucinda Williams (live double CD).

*OCTOBER*

R.E.M., Around the Sun (October 5): R.E.M. were determined to get their politically charged new one in stores pre-election. Partially recorded in the Bahamas but guaranteed reggae-free. (Warner Bros.)

Fatboy Slim, Palookaville (October 5): Boasting a funked-up cover of the Steve Miller Band's 1973 number 1 "The Joker" featuring Bootsy Collins, Fatboy's fourth full-length also features Blur's Damon Albarn. (Astralwerks)

Various Artists, Left of the Dial: Dispatches From the '80s Underground (October 5): This four-CD set surveying the start of alternative/college rock includes several seminal bands with now out members, including R.E.M., Husker Du, and Faith No Mere. (Rhino)

Ruben Studdard (October 12): Contemporary gospel fare, including songs by the Commodores and Al Green, plus some standards ("His Eye Is on the Sparrow") and an R. Kelly collaboration. (J)

Le Tigre, This Island (October 19): The party-rockin' "feminist punk electronic" trio vie for mainstream visibility. Says member JD, "It's incredibly important for us to have a presence in pop culture right now." (Strummer/Universal)

Beck (October 26): Ubiquitous White Stripes singer-guitarist Jack White joins Beck on one as yet untitled song. The Dust Brothers, who helmed Beck's 1996 Grammy winning Odelay, produce. (DGC/Geffen)

Also new in October:

Duran Duran, Tom Waits, Vanessa Williams (Christmas album), Cake, Janis Joplin (deluxe Pearl reissue), Willie Nelson, the Ditty Bops, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (double album), the Donnas, Clay Aiken (Christmas album).

*NOVEMBER*

Rammstein (November 2): Features "Mein Teil," the latest hit from the German industrial hunks, inspired by Deutschland's gay cannibalism scandal. The chorus details consuming a specific organ. Guess which one. (Universal)

Fantasia (early November): The American Idol champ, who entered the charts at number 1 with her first single ("I Believe"), collaborates with R&B hit machines Missy Elliott and Jermaine Dupri. (J)

Kelly Clarkson (November 9): Autumn's Idol onslaught continues with the follow-up to Clarkson's double-platinum 2003 debut, Thankful. Includes her current hit, "Breakaway," from The Princess Diaries 2. (RCA)

Tony Bennett, The Art of Romance (November 9): The legendary jazz singer serves up interpretations of "Close Enough for Love" and "Gone With the Wind" as well as his first-ever original lyrics. (RPM/Columbia)

Rufus Wainwright, Want Two (November): Features four tracks (including "Gay Messiah") available via iTunes since late June. (DreamWorks)

Also new in November:

Shawn Colvin (best of, with new tracks), Faith Evans, Seal (best of), U2.

*DECEMBER*

Judas Priest (December 28): The definitive Priest lineup--reunited with openly gay singer Rob Halford--drop a new heavy metal opus just in time to commemorate their 30th anniversary. (Epic)

Mariah Carey (December): Let's put Glitter behind us. Tentatively slated for late autumn, Mariah's new offering reportedly balances high energy dance tracks with R&B jams and soaring ballads. (MonarC/Def Jam)

Jennifer Lopez (December): New hubby Marc Anthony duets on "Runaway," and another ex, P. Diddy, is said to contribute writing and producing (Sorry, Ben!). Features a remake of Dean Martin's lounge staple "Sway." (Epic)

Backstreet Boys (December): No reality TV fame, no solo breakouts--it's reunion time! The Boys have been back in the studio since February cutting tracks. Word has it they'll be collaborating with Boyz II Men and Take 6 on this one. Teenybopper-pop pro Max Martin produces. (Jive)

Also due by New Year's Eve: Sum 41, olanda Adams. Fabolous, Queens of the Stone Age.

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