Ryan Adams, September and 29 (Lost Highway) Mr. Adams makes good on a promise of three records in one year with this pair of new releases. Again joined by the Cardinals on September, the group continues to deliver quality roots-rock-meets-country material.

Jamie Cullum, Catching Tales (Verve/Forecast) Recorded in both London and L.A., Catching Tales is a little lighter on the covers than his 2004 release Twentysomething, and it includes collaborations with fellow artists, like Dan the Automator and Pharrell Williams.

Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better ... With Franz Ferdinand (Domino/Epic) They’ve been holed away in a farmhouse in the Scottish countryside making the follow-up to their megaselling self-titled debut that featured the hit “Take Me Out.” We know the masses will buy it, but will the critics?

1 Liz Phair, Somebody’s Miracle (Capitol) Liz Phair started out as an indie rocker taking a lo-fi approach and leaving her heart on her sleeve before turning toward the pop side of songwriting on her 2003 self-titled album. With her fifth record, be prepared for a mix of both.

ALSO NOTEWORTHY: David Gray, Life in Slow Motion (ATO/RCA); My Morning Jacket, Z, (ATO/RCA); and Sheryl Crow, Wildflower (Interscope/A&M)