Along with the sweltering heat, August delivers long-promised titles from DMX, Jessica Simpson and OutKast, the much-delayed debut from celebutant Paris Hilton, and the first disc by buzzed-about rapper Rick Ross. A dude named Dylan has something new to contemplate, too.

AUGUST 1

DMX, Year of the Dog ... Again (Sony Urban Music)

The sound: After a three-year absence, the X man gets his fire back.

What to expect: The latest alliance of DMX and producer Swizz Beatz has resulted in a fresh batch of hard-hitting tracks such as "We In Here," "I Run Sh*t" and "Come Thru (Move)." Forever about drama, the rapper's chaotic off-screen life is also chronicled in string-laden Tupac-like ballads and the Scott Storch-produced rap prayer "Lord Give Me a Sign."

We predict: At the very least, having a new album will get X off the rap sheet and onto the rap charts.


Five for Fighting, Two Lights (Columbia Records)

The sound: Falsetto rock for the SUV set.

What to expect: FFF singer John Ondrasik writes the kind of ultra catchy ballads that usually end up on break-up-and-make-up mix-tapes. His fourth album is no exception, with evocative weepers like the first single, "The Riddle," a song written for his children in which he says, "Here's a riddle for you/ Find the Answer/ There's a reason for the world / You and I."

We predict: Slow dancing. Lots of slow dancing.


Rick Ross, Port of Miami (Slip N Slide/Def Jam)

The sound: Big beats and big boasts from a big man.

What to expect: Jay-Z himself has anointed hefty rapper Rick Ross as the next big thing, so you know he's got skills. He's established a serious rep with the rumbling singles "Blow" ("Mo' cars, mo' clothes, mo' money means mo' dough to blow!") and "Hustlin'." And the guests are lined up for his debut; expect hellos from Akon, Lil Wayne, Mario Winans, Lyfe Jennings, Young Jeezy and boss Jigga himself.

We predict: A serious look at the underbelly of the Miami scene.


AUGUST 8

Dirty Pretty Things, Waterloo to Anywhere (Interscope/Vertigo)

The sound: Aggressive and shambolic Brit rock.

What to expect: Tabloid regular Pete Doherty isn't the only former Libertine who can sing about being a mess -- old band-mates Carl Barat and Gary Powell make a chaotic noise on their new band's full-length debut. The band's jittery disc is like the Arctic Monkeys without the hype -- expect slashing guitars, slacker lyrics and catchy choruses. 

We predict: A bit too English for U.S. domination, but college/satellite radio seems like a sure bet.


AUGUST 15

Christina Aguilera, Back to Basics (RCA)

The sound: The "Dirrty" girl goes retro with a jazzy sound spiked with real smart beats.

What to expect: This two-disc set balances Aguilera's love of hip-hop and R&B with her appreciation of jazz and blues. The first disc combines the old and new schools; the second finds "Beautiful" co-author Linda Perry helping the now-married singer indulge her Etta James jones. The horn-blasting first single "Ain't No Other Man" has already served notice that Xtina hasn't lost her touch.

We predict: Aguilera to make Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears and the rest look like also-rans.


Paris Hilton, Paris (Heiress/Warner Bros.)

The sound: Rock, pop, hip-hop, reggae...like Paris herself, this debut album is a little all over the place.

What to expect: The hotel heiress has smartly backed her unproven pipes with an A-list of some of the hottest producers on the planet, from Scott Storch (Beyonce) to J.R. Rotem (Rhianna). The disc has already spawned a surprise hit with the breathy reggae tune "Stars Are Blind" and features a totally un-ironic cover of the Rod Stewart hit, "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy."

We predict: Does it really matter? We just hope there's no Milli Vanilli moment in Paris' future.


AUGUST 22

OutKast, Idlewild (LaFace)

The sound: Like Christina, OutKast are going retro jazz, but you know Andre 300 and Big Boi will put their own special stank on it.

What to expect: When album release dates came and went over the course of nearly a year, it seemed like Dre and Boi were on shaky ground. As it turns out, that ground was shaking because of the pair's inventive beats, which this time around are keyed to the 1930s-style jump jazz and blues found on songs like the Cab Calloway-inspired first single, "Mighty O.

We predict: There are no sure things in the music biz, but OutKast are about as close as they come.


Kelis, Kelis Was Here (Jive)

The sound: The R&B diva with the hip-hop flow is sassier than ever.

What to expect: Her "Milkshake," may have brought the boys to the yard, but R&B diva Kelis has occasionally confounded during her career. This time out, she's riding the solid hit "Bossy," and gets some production help from big hitters like Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo Green, the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am and Swizz Beatz. Hubby Nas drops in with a few rhymes to spice things up, too.

We predict: "Bossy" is already one of the summer's key jams. Expect to hear singles from this one well into the fall.


Mars Volta, Amputechture (Universal)

The sound: Don't expect these modern masters of prog to get any less dense. It's their second concept album in a row.

What to expect: Opening with a seven-minute epic ballad entitled "Vicarious Atonement," Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez have their phasers set on stun. That's brief compared to the 17-minute "Tetragrammaton," one of the centerpieces of the eight-track disc inspired by everything from this year's pro-immigration rallies to homicidal priests. Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante cameos. We predict: If you've been looking for a new black-light poster disc, this one should do the trick just fine.


AUGUST 29

Bob Dylan, Modern Times (Columbia Records)

The sound: Dylan goes really old school, dipping his toe into old-timey string band music.

What to expect: The 10 songs on Times are something of a bookend to a trilogy of acclaimed albums that began with 1997's Grammy-winning Time Out of Mind and included 2001's Love and Theft. The new tunes include "Thunder on the Mountain," "Spirit on the Water" and "Workingman's Blues," all recorded with Dylan's tireless touring band.

We predict: Four decades into his career, Dylan's on another creative roll. Here's another classic to lay alongside Highway 61 Revisited and Blood on the Tracks.


The Roots, Game Theory (Def Jam)

The sound: Patented thinking man's hip-hop with a live instrument thump.

What to expect: Drummer ?uestlove describes the album as "very mature, serious and very dark," pointing to such tracks as "It Don't Feel Right," and the war-themed "False Media" as examples of their no-joke vibe. The group also takes on government spying with "New World," and supplements their rhythmic mastery with samples from Sly Stone, the Ohio Players and the Jackson 5.

We predict: This fall, expect backpack hip-hop lovers to be roaming campuses with this one loaded onto their iPods.


Jessica Simpson, A Public Affair (Epic Records)

The sound: Breezy, breathy pop that refuses to give away any secrets.

What to expect: Nick Lachey had his chance to dish on the divorce, now it's her turn. But except for a few cheap shots in the video for her "Public Affair," it seems like Simpson is taking the high road. Heavy hitters like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and the ubiquitous Scott Storch should make sure the beats on her fifth album will drown Nick's mopey ballads out on pop radio.

We predict: Songs that sound like her short-shorts look: fun, sexy and cheesy.