New Releases: Beastie Boys Are Back... Or Are They?

The Beastie Boys are back after a three-year absence. But hold on a second, there are no vocals on this record. The Mix Up is an entirely instrumental disc. Still, let's just be thankful that The Mix Up comes out this week because it usually takes the trio five or six years to get their shit together. Three? That's unheard of for the two Adams and a Mike, even if there are no vocals.

You might remember Art Brut from their fabulous Bang Bang Rock And Roll debut that you couldn't get out of your head or CD player for a full year. Eddie Argos' group will release It's A Bit Complicated on Tuesday, so save some space in your brain, because their lyrics and hooks will soon be filling it.

Nobody has had more drama this year outside the studio than Kelly Clarkson. The first American Idol champ has been openly criticized by label guru Clive Davis, fired members of her inner circle and cancelled a not-so-anticipated North American tour. Thus, My December, out this week, is probably not going to net her many more Grammy Awards. But we're sure it'll still sell (a little).

Here are some of this week's other releases:

RYAN ADAMS Easy Tiger (Lost Highway/Universal)
FRANK BLACK Best Of - '93-'03 (Cooking Vinyl)
BOYS NIGHT OUT S/T (Ferret)
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS Do It Again (Astralwerks/EMI)
THE CLICK FIVE Modern Minds And Pastimes (Warner)
EVE TO ADAM Queens To Eden (EMI)
BRYAN FERRY Dylanesque (Virgin/EMI)
GORE GORE GIRLS Get The Gore (Bloodshot/KOCH)
JULIANA HATFIELD The White Broken Line — Live Recordings (Ye Olde/Redeye)
NICK LOWE At My Age (Yep Roc/Outside)
METRIC Grow Up And Blow Away (Last Gang/Universal)
PHAROAHE MONCH Desire (Universal)
RASPUTINA Oh Perilous World (Filthy Bonnet)