On The Shelf: Tomorrow’s New Releases Revealed Today

It’s a pretty grim week for new music, with cover-tastic albums by Jimmy Buffett and Rod Stewart competing for rack space against the year’s first batch of holiday releases from the likes of Wynonna and James Taylor, among others. (And don’t even get us started on the soundtrack to The Biggest Loser.)

We’ve already given you our take on new records by Lloyd Banks and the Blood Brothers; after the jump, find out more about new records from Rod Stewart, The Gothic Archies, and Ali Lohan.

Rod Stewart, Still the Same … Great Rock Classics Of Our Time The artist: Former Faces lead singer who can’t stop chipping away at any remaining bits of legacy he might have. The sound: Rod repeats his crime against Tom Waits’ “Downtown Train,” only this time with “Missing You,” “The Best Of My Love,” and other lite-rock standards. The first in line: Your mom.

The Gothic Archies, The Tragic Treasury: Songs From A Series Of Unfortunate Events The artist: Chief Magnetic Field Stephin Merritt, accompanied by Lemony Snicket on accordion. The sound: Gloomy and doomy–appropriate enough, since each song scores a different volume of Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events collection. The first in line: Snicket completists; saddoes who wore out their copy of 69 Love Songs long ago.

Ali Lohan, Lohan Holiday The artist: Lindsay’s little sister. The sound: Peppy, piercing renditions of your favorite holiday tunes, with guest spots by Lindsay, Ali’s mom Dina, and … Amy Grant. The first in line: Sharp-eared TMZ devotees who will scour the Lindsay-Ali duet “Lohan Holiday” for any references to “snow.”

On The CD Front [Pause & Play]