HOT TRACKS LISA ROBINSON

This ain’t no disco / no CBGBs / This ain’t no fooling around.

—“Life During Wartime,” Talking Heads.

Nevertheless, the bands play on—herewith, the new music: Kudos to Le Tigre for their strong electronic-punk CD Feminist Sweepstakes. Ex-Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval knocks us out once again with her exquisite voice on the luscious Bavarian Fruit Bread. Sexy and modem, Beautifulgarbage is the best one yet from Garbage. Hot on the heels of his concert tribute to himself is Michael Jackson's eight-years-in-the-making, brazenly titled Invincible— complete with trademark “whoo-hoo”s, strings, dance beats, and a rumored recording tab of $30 million. Mick Jagger lends his own great voice to collaborations with such partners as Wyclef Jean, Bono, and Rob (it worked for Santana) Thomas on his solo Goddess in the Doorway. Billy Joel enlists pianist Richard Joo for Fantasies & Delusions, Joel’s first album of instrumental, classical compositions. A two-CD set from Aphex Twin showcases Richard James’s trippy, moody, adventurous electronica. And, on her new CD, Britney Spears covers Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock & Roll.”

Roots: Blues great R. L. Burnside puts out the much-anticipated live Burnside on Burnside. John Mellencamp'sCuttin' Heads—with Chuck D on the standout, Delta-blues-influenced title track—is really good. Juke joint meets punk rock on North Mississippi Allstars'51 Phantom. New Orleans voodoo and vaudeville highlight Creole Moon, from the sublime Dr. John. Folklorist, blues singer, and guitar picker Roy Book Binder releases Singer-Songwriter Bluesman. Willie Nelson teams up with Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, and Rob (it worked for Santana) Thomas on The Great Divide. Hank Williams gets a tribute from Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, and others on Timeless. The incomparable Merle Haggard has Lefty Frizzell’s original guitarist, Norm Stephens, on Roots. Lyle Lovett does his greatest hits (plus two new tracks) on Anthology Vol. I, Cowboy Man.

Get on the good foot: For a serious lesson in funk, get The Jam: The Larry Graham & Graham Central Station Anthology, from Sly & the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham. While a lot of hip-hop has become as predictable as the last days of the hair bands, an exception is Nas, the street poet who on Stillmatic harkens back to more political, urban storytelling. Ja Rule'sPain Is Love samples Stevie Wonder and Tupac Shakur.

Encore: The Complete Peggy Lee & June Christy Capitol Transcription Sessions is a five-CD set from those two vocal giants. You can hear the Velvet Underground shows that guitarist Robert Quine taped in 1969 on Bootleg Series, Vol. I: The Quine Tapes. And boxed sets, greatest hits, reissues, and live albums are also out from Abba, the Grateful Dead, the Impressions, Quincy Jones, Waylon Jennings, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, the Doors, and James Brown.

Coming soon: New ones from Paul McCartney, Alanis Morissette, Bush, Lenny Kravitz, Natalie Merchant, Sneaker Pimps, Spiritualized, Vincent Gallo, Yoko Ono, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Angie Stone. Also, Christmas albums from Kelly Price, Candi Staton, and Toni Braxton.

And, for those who just can’t get enough of Rob Thomas, he’s co-written a single (“Tragedy”) for Marc Anthony's new pop album—even before Anthony needs a comeback.