Foo Fighter's <i>Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace</i>
Photo: RCA

Foo for Thought: If you like the sound of the recent reissue of Foo Fighters' 1997 album, The Colour and the Shape, you might want to feast your ears on the band's sixth effort, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace — for it, they reteamed with Colour producer Gil Norton. Fans who preordered the disc via iTunes got a download of "The Pretender," while ones who did so through Ticketmaster became eligible to buy advance tickets to upcoming Foo concerts. Everyone who picks up the disc will get to hear "Long Road to Ruin," "Erase/Replace" and "Ballad of the Beaconsfield Miners," but keep an eye out for a few bonus tracks floating around overseas and elsewhere too ("Seda" and a demo of "Once and for All" in particular).

Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Don't pay attention to the plural form in the title of Will.I.Am's solo album, Songs About Girls — the Black Eyed Pea's effort actually revolves around just one relationship. "It was just me being a young dude making dumb decisions. But I was just growing up into a man, learning how to juggle a career with a relationship," he said of the LP subject matter in a recent press release. Songs features Snoop Dogg, video game sound effects, club bangers, Brazilian funk beats and a surprise writing contribution from Electric Light Orchestra's Jeff Lynne.

Cole Chamber: While Will.I.Am kept his slate of Songs pretty clean of guests, Keyshia Cole apparently doesn't have any reservations about piling them onto her new LP. Written entirely by Cole, Just Like You hosts Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim on the first single, "Let It Go," and Diddy, T.I., Anthony Hamilton, Young Dro and Too Short elsewhere on the set. And that's not to mention producers Rodney Jerkins, Bryan-Michael Cox and Scott Storch — talk about a full house.

Cheet Sheet: The Cheetah Girls aren't doing too shabby — in a time when CD sales are way low, the fact that the group's two soundtracks have both gone multiplatinum is way impressive. The trio got together with J.R. Rotem for their new one, TCG — which, despite the other release, is acting as their proper studio debut. Don't miss "Break Out of This Box," "Do No Wrong" and "Fuego" — a song that'll gear up fans for the Girls' next release, a Spanish-language album due in the spring.

Singer/Songwriter Supremes: Beyond all those big names, there's a heap of indie talent in the mix this week as well. Here's the cream of the crop:

· If you're not into hippie-dippy singer/songwriters, Devendra Banhart probably isn't your bag, but that doesn't make him any less fascinating (as proven in this recent video interview with John Norris.) Recorded at his rustic bohemian home in Los Angeles' Topanga Canyon, Banhart and his crew employed everything from tablas and pots and pans to water drums and chimes for Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. Tracks include "Tonada Yanomaminista," "Shabop Shalom" and "Samba Vexillographica."

· José González bounces back this week with his new one, In Our Nature. The Swedish star obviously took his time with the follow-up to his debut, 2003's Veneer, and said in a recent press release that he "wanted to bring out the primitive aspects of human beings" with his second effort. Tracks include "Cycling Trivialities," "Time to Send Someone Away" and "Killing for Love."

· And if you're still thirsty for more singer/songwriter goodness, there's always Iron and Wine. Sam Beam's first studio album since 2004, The Shepherd's Dog includes "Carousel" — a song that features veiled references to Iraq — plus "Flightless Bird, American Mouth," "Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car" and "Lovesong of the Buzzard."

Song Title of the Week:

"Platonic Sleepover Massacre" from the Bled's Silent Treatment

Album Cover of the Week:

Dragons of Zynth's Coronation Thieves

Other Notables:

Arch Enemy's Rise of the Tyrant
The Swedish death-metallers recently shot a video for "Revolution Begins," one of the songs featured on their new LP, and it should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from the band. The clip was shot in a gravel pit amid pyros, and at one point, when the wind changed, drummer Daniel Erlandsson's hair caught fire. (He suffered a few minor burns.) Be on the lookout for the limited-edition version of Tyrant — it includes a bonus DVD with live tracks and more.

Down's Down III - Over the Under
It's been five long years since Phil Anselmo ganged up with Pepper Keenan and his other mates for another effort — they tried to do so a few years ago, but the New Orleans natives' plans were sidelined when Hurricane Katrina hit the Crescent City. The band wound up cutting 15 songs in Los Angeles for the effort — among them are "Nothing in Return (Walk Away)," "In the Thrall of It All" and "3 Suns and 1 Star."

Dethklok's The Dethalbum
In a case of life imitating art spoofing life, the once-fictional animated metal band is actually coming to real life with an upcoming Adult Swim tour. If you're a fan of the band's "Metalocalypse" show, don't miss the deluxe edition of The Dethalbum — it has a DVD with the first episode from season two, plus seven more songs and a video for "Bloodrocuted."

New Releases:

· All Time Low - So Wrong, It's Right (Hopeless)
· Arch Enemy - Rise of the Tyrant (limited-edition version comes with DVD; Century Media) [Buy Now]
· Athlete - Beyond the Neighbourhood (Astralwerks) [Buy Now]
· Baby Drew - Free (Oarfin)
· Devendra Banhart - Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon (Beggars )
· Barcelona - Absolutes (Curb Appeal)
· Bear Claw - Slow Speed: Deep Owls (Sickroom)
· Tony Bennett - Tony Bennett Sings the Ultimate American Songbook, Vol. 1 (RPM/Columbia/Legacy)
· The Bird and the Bee - Please Clap Your Hands (EP; Blue Note)
· The Bled - Silent Treatment (Vagrant) [Buy Now]
· Chris Botti - Italia (with CD; Columbia)
· Jim Brickman - Homecoming (Savoy Jazz)
· Nappy Brown - Long Time Coming (Blind Pig)
· The Cave Singers - Invitation Songs (Matador)
· The Cheetah Girls - TCG (Hollywood)
· Keyshia Cole - Just Like You (Geffen) [Buy Now]
Read: "Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim Bring Back Biggie Memories Via Keyshia Cole Collabo"
· Dethklok - The Dethalbum (Williams Street) [Buy Now]
· Down - Down III - Over the Under (Down/ILG/WMG) [Buy Now]
· Dragons of Zynth - Coronation Thieves (Gigantic)
· Steve Earle - Washington Square Serenade (limited-edition version comes with DVD; New West)
· Melissa Etheridge - The Awakening (Island)
· Farewell - Isn't This Supposed to Be Fun!? (Epitaph) [Buy Now]
· Rascal Flatts - Still Feels Good (Lyric Street) [Buy Now]
· Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (RCA) [Buy Now]
Read: "Dave Grohl May Be Fond Of String Quartets, But Foo Fighters Haven't Gone Soft"
· Freezepop - Future Future Future Perfect (Cordless/Rykodisc)
· The Glass - Couples Therapy (EP; Plant) [Buy Now]
· José González - In Our Nature (Mute)
· Gorilla Zoe - Welcome to the Zoo (Bad Boy)
· The GoStation - Passion Before Function (Edge Delay)
· Jessica Greene - 4 the World (Habakkuk)
· Daryl Hall and John Oates - Home for Christmas (U-Watch/DKE)
· Herbie Hancock - River - The Joni Years (Verve)
· Hell Rell - For the Hell of It (Koch)
· Engelbert Humperdinck - The Winding Road (EH Productions)
· Hurt - Vol. II (Capitol) [Buy Now]
· Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog (Sub Pop)
· Jagged Edge - Baby Makin' Project (So So Def)
· Georgie James - Places (Saddle Creek)
· Kafani - Money's My Motivation (Koch)
· Dan Kaufman - Force of Light (Tzadik)
· Chaka Khan - Funk This (enhanced; BMG Strategic Marketing)
· Luca - Fractions (Funzalo)
· Raul Malo - Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites (New Door)
· Ky-Mani Marley - Radio (Vox)
· Matt Pond PA - Last Light (Altitude)
· Nellie McKay - Obligatory Villagers (Vanguard)
· Erin McKeown - Lafayette (live; Signature Sounds)
· Bill Medley - Damn Near Righteous (with bonus DVD; Westlake)
· Raul Midón - A World Within a World (Manhattan)
· Joni Mitchell - Shine (Hear Music)
· Travis Mitchell - Waiting on Tomorrow (Rock Ridge)
· Mountain Home - Mountain Home (Drag City)
· Meshell Ndegeocello - The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams (limited-edition version comes in soft pack; Decca)
· Bobbie Nelson - Audiobiography (Justice)
· Olivia Newton-John - Christmas Wish (Brickhouse; available at Target)
· Office - A Night at the Ritz (New Line)
· Gilles Peterson - Gilles Peterson Digs America 2 (Luv N Haight)
· Queen Latifah - Trav'lin' Light (Verve) [Buy Now]
· Les Sabler - Sweet Drive (The Music Force)
· Jill Scott - The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 (Hidden Beach)
· Sea Wolf - Leaves in the River (Dangerbird)
· The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Wolfgang's Big Night Out (Surfdog)
· Billy Joe Shaver - Everybody's Brother (Compadre)
· Shocking Pinks - Shocking Pinks (Astralwerks)
· Small Sins - Mood Swings (Astralwerks)
· Corey Smith - Hard-Headed Fool (Razor & Tie)
· Stereoside - So Long (Bieler Bros.) [Buy Now]
· Supagroup - Fire for Hire (Foodchain)
· Sweet Honey in the Rock - Experience ... 101 (Appleseed)
· Randy Travis - Songs of the Season (Word)
· Treaty of Paris - Sweet Dreams, Sucker (Airport Tapes & Records)
· Tunng - Good Arrows (Thrill Jockey)
· Two Gallants - Two Gallants (Saddle Creek)
· The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour (Epitaph) [Buy Now]
· Will.I.Am - Songs About Girls (Interscope) [Buy Now]
Read: "Will.I.Am Talks Up Black Eyed Peas Tour, Solo LP — And Theater Tour?"
· Gerald Wilson Orchestra - Monterey Moods (Mack Avenue)
· Wayne Wonder - Foreva (VP)
· Various artists - Celebrate Catmas! 'Tis the Season of Taking (Heavenly Clouds)
· Various artists - Give Us Your Poor (Appleseed)
· Various artists - Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (two CDs; Vanguard)
· Various artists - Rick Ross Presents: Miami Takin Over (CHP Entertainment)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Tony Bennett - Snowfall - The Tony Bennett Christmas Album: Deluxe Edition (with DVD; RPM/Columbia/Legacy)
· Miles Davis - The Complete 'On the Corner' Sessions (six-CD box set; Columbia/Legacy)
· The Doors - The Very Best of the Doors (two CDs; Rhino) [Buy Now]
· Eskimo Joe - Black Fingernails Red Wine (with DVD; Rykodisc)
· Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Bang! The Greatest Hits of Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Rhino)
· Fred Hammond - The Essential Fred Hammond (two CDs; Verity)
· Billie Holiday - Lady Day: The Master Takes and Singles (four-CD box set; Columbia/Legacy)
· John P. Kee - The Essential John P. Kee (two CDs; Verity)
· King's X - Best Of (Rhino)
· The Lemonheads - Best of the Lemonheads: The Atlantic Years (Rhino)
· Bob Marley & the Wailers - Exodus (30th anniversary sets; special edition comes with DVD; Island)
· Donnie McClurkin - The Essential Donnie McClurkin (two CDs; Verity)
· Ministry - Ministry (Rhino) [Buy Now]
· Moby - Moby: Songs 1993-1998 (Rhino) [Buy Now]
· Frank Sinatra - A Voice in Time (1939-1952) (four-CD box set; Columbia/ RCA Victor/ Legacy)
· Hezekiah Walker - The Essential Hezekiah Walker (two CDs; Verity)
· White Lion - The Best of White Lion (Rhino)
· Winger - The Very Best of Winger (Rhino)
· Yaz - Greatest Hits (Rhino)

Music DVDs:

· The Casualties - "Made in NYC" (with CD; Side One Dummy) [Buy Now]
· Madonna - "Impact: Songs That Changed the World - 'Like a Virgin' " (SRO) [Buy Now]
· Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price - "Last of the Breed: Live in Concert" (A&E)
· Nirvana - "Impact: Songs That Changed the World - 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' " (SRO) [Buy Now]
· Pearl Jam - "Immagine in Cornice (Picture in a Frame)" (Monkeywrench) [Buy Now]
· The Ramones - "Impact: Songs That Changed the World - 'I Wanna Be Sedated' " (SRO) [Buy Now]
· Run-DMC and Aerosmith - "Impact: Songs That Changed the World - 'Walk This Way' " (SRO)

Digital Releases:

· The Decemberists - The Perfect Crime #2 EP (Capitol) [Buy Now]
· Deerhoof - untitled compilation (Kill Rock Stars)

Coming Attractions:

October 2:
· Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees (digipak; Vagrant) [Preorder]
Read: "Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba Is Back To His Old, Prolific Self"
· PJ Harvey - White Chalk (Island)
· J. Holiday - Back of My Lac (Capitol)
· Soulja Boy - Souljaboytellem.com (Interscope) [Preorder]
· Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Magic (Columbia)

October 9:
· Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus (Atlantic) [Preorder]
· Jennifer Lopez - Brave (Epic) [Preorder]
· She Wants Revenge - This Is Forever (Geffen)

October 16:
· Eve - Here I Am (Geffen) [Preorder]
Read: "Eve Fulfills Her 'Fantasy' With Robin Thicke, Says She's Still Cool With Dr. Dre"
· Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light (Interscope) [Preorder]
· Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vols. I & II: Fire & Water (Vagrant) [Preorder]

• 2007 VMA: Foo Fighters And Guests Live From The Fantasy Suites

• Foo Fighters
• Keyshia Cole
• The Cheetah Girls
• Will.I.Am

Gwen, Beyonce, Paris, Game, More At The 2006 American Music Awards

• Gwen Stefani
• Beyoncé
• Weird Al Yankovic
• Game
• Josh Groban