With very little mainstream competition this week, Mariah Carey and her Charmbracelet can spread out and make themselves at home in this week's new releases column.

Charmbracelet, the latest in Carey's middle-school throwback album titles, finds the singer back in the game after the temporary setback that was Glitter. Carey's latest effort — and first on new label Def Jam — features guest spots from labelmates Cam'ron, Jay-Z and Freeway.

Just because the "8 Mile" soundtrack is still riding high on the charts doesn't mean it's too soon to release another CD of music from the film. More Music From "8 Mile" features such hip-hop staples as "Juicy" by Biggie, "Shook Ones" by Mobb Deep and "C.R.E.A.M." by the Wu-Tang Clan.

Sad but true, our time above the new releases list has come to an end already. Unlike last week's robust selection of new albums, it's slim pickins for December 3. See for yourself.

Out Tuesday, December 3:

• 3 - Half Life (Planet Noise)
• 4 Ft. Fingers - From Hero to Zero (Golf)
• Arrogants - Nobody's Cool (Shelflife)
• Artisokka - Hiding Place in the Arbor (Shelflife)
• Big Heat - The Good, the Bad & the Nutty (Knockout)
• Blades of Grass - Blades of Grass are Not for Smoking (Cherry Red)
• Bone Daddy - Everybody's Got One (The Orchard)
• Mariah Carey - Charmbracelet (Island/Def Jam)
  Read: "Mariah Carey Insists She Just Needed Sleep, Taps Family History For New Clip"
  Buy Now: Charmbracelet (MonarC/Island/Def Jam)
• Francisco Cespedes - Ay Corazon (WEA Latina)
• Cher - You Better Sit Down (Disky)
• June Christy - Cool Christy (Proper Pairs)
• Congress of the Cow - Congress of the Cow (M-Theory)
• Consumed - Pistols at Dawn (Golf)
• Dando Shaft - Dando Shaft/Lantaloon (BGO)
• DC Talk - Free at Last: The Music (Forefront)
• Dixie Hummingbirds - Journey to the Sky (P-Vine)
• Doom Kounty Electric Chair - Cuban Healed Killers (Persuasion)
• Dr. Victor - Faya (Gallo)
• Joey Eppard - Been to the Future (Planet Noise)
• Four Star Riot - Best Things (The Orchard)
• G-Man - Grin Groove (The Orchard)
• G-String - Punker Loser Drunker (Crazy Love)
• Ghost - Under the Moonlight (Music Ambassador)
• Gia - Gia (The Orchard)
• Green Pajamas - Northern Gothic (Shelflife)
• Josh Groban - Josh Groban Live in Concert (Warner Bros.)
• John Hammond - Southern Fried (Water)
• Hellboys - Mutant Love (Revel Yell)
• The Honkeys - Tequila Mockingbird (Golly Gee)
• Kings of Harmony - Fountain of Blood (P-Vine)
• Penny Lang - Gather Honey (Borealis)
• Lauren County Animal Co. - Fine Animal Gorilla (Quicksilver)
• Brigitte LeClerc - Fratata (Analekta)
• Mantler - Sadisfaction (Tomlab)
• Marilyn Manson - Interview (Chrome Dreams)
• Margarita - Peligro (WEA Latina)
• Mind Cycle - Mind Cycle (The Orchard)
• Moon - Matthew Moore Project (Cherry Red)
• Mr. Wicked - So Ruff So Tuff (Familia)
• Tracy Nelson - Deep Are the Roots (P-Vine)
• Nucleus - Labyrinth/Roots (BGO)
• Koffi Olomide - Best of Koffi Olomide (2 CDs, Next)
• Phobia - Means of Existence (Deathvomit)
• Pop Cherry - Straight Up (The Orchard)
• Queer for Girls - Android Sex & Cartoon Drugs (Feedback Boogie)
• Resorte - F=KX Rebota (WEA Latina)
• Royal Beat Conspiracy - Dig It (Bad Afro)
• The Scruffs - Wanna Meet the Scruffs (Cherry Red)
• Shabazz - Better Day (The Orchard)
• The Shiners - See Rock City (Planetary)
• Shuttle 358 - Understanding Wildlife (EFA-CAR)
• Spillshadow - Magnificent, Just Like You (Nevaeh)
• Sweatmaster - Sharp Cut (Bad Afro)
• Vaux - On Life, Living (EP, Volcom)
• Vitesse - You Win Again Gravity (Hidden Agenda)
• Wolfstone - Almost an Island (Phantom)
• Various artists – "Analyze That" soundtrack (TVT)
• Various artists - Big Greek Music (Madacy)
• Various artists - Brazil Boogie (Nascente)
• Various artists - Cumbia Sonideras ... Total (WEA Latina)
• Various artists – "Empire" soundtrack (Motown)
• Various artists - Just Ragga (Vols. 1-6, Charm)
• Various artists - More Music From "8 Mile" (Interscope/Shady)
  Read: "More Music From '8 Mile' Due On Second Soundtrack"
• Various artists - Reggae Hits Vol. 31 (Jetstar Phonograhpics)
• Various artists - Total Zouk (4 CDs, Next)
• Various artists - Total Zouk 2 (4 CDs, Next)
• Various artists - Un Ano de Exitos Vol. 3 No. 1 (WEA Latina)

• DVD: Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words & Music (Pioneer Entertainment)

• Aaliyah - I Care 4 U (Universal)
  Read: "Aaliyah LP Will Have Hits, Six New Songs, DVD Of Her Videos"
  
• DJ Envy - Block Party (Epic)
• Whitney Houston - Just Whitney (Arista)
  Buy Now: Just Whitney (Arista)

• Dashboard Confessional - Unplugged 2.0 (Vagrant)
   Buy Now: Unplugged 2.0 (Vagrant)
• Nas - God's Son (Columbia)
    Read: "Nas Sets Release For God's Son, Pooh-Poohs Jay-Z's Challenge"
  Buy Now: God's Son (Columbia)
• New Order - Retro (Box Set, Warner Bros.)
• S Club - Don't Stop Movin' (Universal)

• Mariah Carey
• Eminem
• Josh Groban
• dc Talk