This week’s list of major new releases is like a musical smorgasbord. A little brooding pop, a little retro-disco, a little beer ‘n chips rock, a little Texas hip-hop. Here’s your rundown.

Scarlett Johansson “Anywhere I Lay My Head”

Well, I guess there’s a reason that Scarlett doesn’t have an official website. SHE’S A FRICKIN’ ACTRESS!! The fact that she has found success in one entertainment medium shouldn’t be enough to dissuade you from buying the album, but in light of the pieces of musical finery made by the likes of Eddie Murphy, Russell Crowe (in 30 Odd Foot of Grunts), Kevin Bacon (as one of the Bacon Brothers), Keanu Reeves (as a member of Dogstar), John Travolta…need I go on?

Anyway, this album is intriguing because it’s a set of Tom Waits covers-definitely not the unchallenging easy road to success here. It’s produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek and David Bowie is among the record’s guest performers. Indie-tastic!

3 Doors Down “3 Doors Down”

http://www.3doorsdown.com

3 Doors Down are essentially America’s Nickelback (I say this under the assumption that you all know Nickelback comes from Canada). It’s meat-and-potatoes hard rock with not even a whiff of anything “alternative” or vaguely “urban”. Anthems like “Kryptonite” and the power ballad “Here Without You” could have been hits in the hard-rockin’ heyday of Bob Seger just as easily as they’ve become hits in this day and age. This self-titled affair is the band’s fourth album and it’s preceded by the single “It’s Not My Time”, which is steadily moving up the charts. One day, 3 Doors Down will put out a killer Greatest Hits album. Till then…

Bun B. “II Trill”

Again, no current website. The only official one I see of his hasn’t been updated in 3 years. ‘Sup with that? Anyway, Bun B is best known as 1/2 of Southern rap trailblazers UGK. After suffering the tragic loss of his rhyme partner Pimp C last year (just as UGK scored their first #1 album), Bun is now officially, totally and completely a solo artist. His sophomore solo effort, “II Trill” (the first was released when Pimp C was incarcerated) features guest verses from his departed partner, as well as all the usual suspects: of course there’s a Lil’ Wayne cameo!!

Donna Summer “Crayons”

http://www.donnasummer.com

The Queen of Disco returns with her first studio non-holiday album since 1991’s “Mistaken Identity”. An entire generation has come of age since Donna last released a record, but Ms. Summer remains true to her signature pop/dance sound, and those pipes can still give you chills. The housewives and aging queens will eat this one up. Check out this clip of the recording session for 1982’s “State of Independence”, which featured Donna and just about every singer in the world at the time…and Christopher Cross.

Jesse McCartney “Departure”

He’s been a teen idol twice: first as a member of pre-teen boy band Dream Street, and then as a Ryan Cabrera-ish singer/songwriter with the hit “Beautiful Soul”. Now, Jesse McCartney is looking to capitalize on his sudden notoriety as a songwriter (he co-penned Leona Lewis’s “Bleeding Love”) by releasing his third solo album, “Departure”. First single “Leavin'” has already hit the Top 10 on the pop charts, and McCartney is turning out to be one of the ore surprising post-teen idol successes.

Also in stores this week: the latest indie rock darlings Flobots, a solo album by Tears for Fears’ Curt Smith, the Kidz Bop Kids tackle the Eighties, and this week’s head-scratcher, a hits compilation from 2001’s 1-hit wonder, Alien Ant Farm.

Get your full list of this week’s releases here: http://www.pauseandplay.com/cdfront.htm

Happy shopping!