New albums are in stores today from Bjork and Elliot Smith. If that doesn't work for you, check out a single from Eve or get set up with a pre-order on iTunes.

Bjork – Volta

It’s a light week for new releases after one gets past the new Bjork album, Volta. The Belle of Coachella’s album is reviewed by Rolling Stone as part “Martian electronica” and part “id-channeling reveries,” among other things. Sounds like classic Bjork after a brief listen to “Earth Intruders” on iTunes. One needs to be a Bjork fan – this isn’t mainstream pop music. Rolling Stone is right though; the songs on Volta are all dark at first listen. But at least we can still listen to something fresh, original, and experimental from Bjork.

Elliot Smith – New Moon

Don’t try to find a copy for sale on iTunes or reviewed on Rolling Stone. This is perhaps because he’s even less mainstream than Bjork – and far less easy on the eyes*. Fans can, however, purchase New Moon on Amazon.com.

Elliot's site:

http://www.sweetadeline.net/

But Elliot on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/New-Moon-Elliott-Smith/dp/B000OMD4BG

Hip-Hop Stuff:

This stuff is so far off from the pop meant to be covered on this page, but it’s still worth a couple honorable mentions. These two rap albums are also out today.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Strength & Loyalty

http://www.bonethugsnharmony.com/

Mike Jones – The American Dream

http://www.whomikejones.com/

iTunes Pre-Orders:

50 Cent – Curtis

This one won’t be released until June 26 and will feature Akon, who is everywhere these days, as a guest star. But the rest of the list is diverse with lead Pussycat Doll Nicole Sherzinger, Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, Eminem, and Justin Timberlake. Producing credits go to Timberlake cohort Timberland, Eminem cohort Dr. Dre, and Eminem himself – because that’s how G-Unit rolls.

Maroon 5 – It Won’t Be Soon Before Long

Here’s another album that can currently be pre-ordered on iTunes and won’t be released for another two weeks.

New Pop Music Singles Available

Why do singles still hold their power? Because with a price of gas hovering around $3.00/gallon right now, buying music one song at a time seems appealing once again. Next month, if you’re willing to put up with Minority Report style embedded commercials, you can download single songs for free when We7 launches.

http://www.we7.com/index.html

Until then, here are some cheap one-offs to check out.

Eve – Tambourine

Because E-V-E is back!

Lifehouse – First Time

Upbeat for them.

Young Joc Featuring Gorilla Zoe – Coffee Shop

Definitely crunk.

Album Of Our Dreams:

The album one could only wish for that has no basis in reality and for good reason.

Paris Hilton – Jailhouse Rock

An album about life in a women’s prison would be hot.

*It is true, ugly musicians’ careers suffer. Meat Loaf is hardly doing well since releasing Bat Out Of Hell III. Taylor Hicks, the grey-haired American Idol? Hardly topping the charts. If you don’t look like Adam Levine of Maroon 5 or Ne-Yo, your success in pop music will be limited.