Weezer - Weezer
Release Date: June 17

Unless you're be celebrating your middle school graduation later this spring, you're probably among the massive majority that thought that Weezer's 2005 album, Make Believe, was absolute trash. But unless you have a heart of stone, then you probably still hang on tightly to the fading glimmer of hope that Weezer might some day return to the innocent, authentically geeky pop rock that made their first two records so endearing. Well, by naming their upcoming disc just Weezer and sticking to a monotone red cover, perhaps they're attempting to channel the success of the classic, similarly self-titled "blue album" that made them stars in 1994. Don't forget, though, that they tried this same trick with the "green album" in 2001 and the best thing that can be said for that effort is that it's better than Make Believe.

Elvis Costello and the Imposters - Momofuku
Release Date: April 22

Along with fellow elder statesmen Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Elvis Costello falls right behind the completely crazy Sly Stone on the list of rock'n'roll's most enigmatic characters. Little is known about this month's forthcoming Momofuku except the tracklist and the fact that it shares its strange title with the name of the dude who invented ramen noodles. For a while it looked as though it'd only be available as a download or as a double vinyl set, but now it appears it will see a CD release two weeks after the other formats drop. Though he's made a habit of making collaboration albums with whomever he can get his hands on, Costello has returned to recording with his trusted Imposters - the Attractions with a different bass player - for their third proper album together.

Islands - Arm's Way
Release Date: May 20

Islands will never be as good as the Unicorns; it's that simple. But that certainly isn't to say that their second full-length album isn't going to channel some of the gritty, pop-based guitar rock of defunct, mystically-named band (look to title track "Arm's Way" as proof of that). Return to Sea was a slight preview of what's to come from the group, but the album wasn't anything miraculous from such a talented group of upstarts. Here's to hoping that the playfulness makes a huge appearance on the album this summer.

Usher - Here I Stand
Release Date: May 29

In the last several months, Usher has been making a concerted effort to be more . artsy. Unbelievable as it may seem, his last few singles have been testaments to the selling power of Justin Timberlake's latest efforts. As such, Here I Stand has the potential to be a darkhorse masterpiece like FutureSex/LoveSounds. And if Usher is to inherit the "King of Pop" title that's been so liberally given to him, this disc better be something more than Confessions 2.

Wolf Parade - Kissing the Beehive
Release Date: June 17

Spencer Krug seems unable to do any harm lately, but Wolf Parade's - the group that really put his name on the indie map - second full-length album is make or break. The first single, "Call it a Ritual," gives a glimpse into the murky, thumping world that the album will probably explore. But let's just hope that the group doesn't completely fall into dark territory. Oddly, Apologies to the Queen Mary was one of the best dance records that wasn't made to be a dance record. If there aren't any resurrections of "Shine a Light" or "I'll Believe in Anything," then this album might not be enough to continue Krug's burgeoning legacy.

Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head
Release Date: May 20

Yes, it's that Scarlett Johansson. Yes, she's doing a tribute album to Tom Waits. Yes, David Bowie appears on two of the tracks. And no, it will not suck. For an album that has taken so long to come to fruition, there's no doubt that the woman we all fell in love with in "Lost in Translation" is not just trying to pump out a trashy album to make a few bucks. This sucker has been in the making for years and the woman actually has the chops to pull it off - at least we're pretty sure she does. Expect the unexpected with this one.

Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Release Date: June 17