Jay-Z [ tickets ]
"Kingdom Come"
(Roc-a-Fella)

Merriam-Webster defines retirement as "withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from active working life." That's not, however, how many pop stars (see KISS, Cher, Barbra Streisand, etc.) define the word.

Jay-Z is the latest celeb to put retirement on hold. The rapper returns to action with the release of "Kingdom Come," a work that features the hit single "Show Me What You Got."

The hip-hop mogul kicked off a promotional campaign in support of the new CD on Saturday (11/18) by performing concerts in seven cities in just 17 hours.

Snoop Dogg [ tickets ]
"Tha Blue Carpet Treatment"
(Geffen)

It seems like hardly a day goes by without Snoop Dogg in the news. Recently, he's made headlines for being busted on charges of drugs and weapon possession at California airports. Then came word that official Snoop Dogg pet products will be sold on Amazon.com (great idea--why'd it take so long?).

Now, the man born Calvin Broadus will attempt to make news with something musical as he releases "Tha Blue Carpet Treatment." The album finds Snoop back in the lab (finally) with old partner Dr. Dre. The dynamic duo collaborated on three new tracks, ending a nearly five-year drought in Snoop-Dre works.

U2 [ tickets ]
"18 Singles"
(Interscope)

The legendary Irish band releases the first single-disc set to collect singles from its entire 26-year career, which began with 1980's "Boy" and has continued through 2004's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." The disc houses 16 past hits, including "With or Without You," "New Year's Day" and "Mysterious Ways." It also features two new songs: "Window in the Skies" and "The Saints are Coming" (recorded with Green Day).

Il Divo
"Siempre"
(Sony)

The platinum-selling vocal quartet returns with another batch of classical-crossover tunes. One of the more interesting numbers on "Siempre" is sure to be the lead-off track, a cover of the Moody Blues' classic "Nights in White Satin." Moody Blues fans might not like the rendition, but the Moodies will surely dig it--especially once the royalty checks start streaming in.

Sufjan Stevens
"Songs for Christmas"
(Asthmatic Kitty)

There have been a number of unexpected holiday-music offerings this season--including discs by Twisted Sister and Bootsy Collins. Add to that list "Songs for Christmas," a five-CD box set from indie-pop sensation Sufjan Stevens. The collection features many familiar yuletide classics, including "Silent Night," "We Three Kings" and "The Little Drummer Boy."

Other new releases:
The Beatles, "Love" (Capitol)
Brand New, "The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me" (Interscope)
Daughtry, "Daughtry" (RCA)
The Doors, "Perception" (Rhino)
Kenny G, "I'm in the Mood For Love ... The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time" (Arista)
Great Big Sea, "Courage & Patience & Grit--Great Big Sea in Concert" (Zoe)
Killswitch Engage, "As Daylight Dies" (Roadrunner)
KISS, "Alive! 1975-2000" (Island)
Loreena McKennitt, "An Ancient Muse" (Verve)
Oasis, "Stop the Clocks" (Sony)
Robert Plant, "Nine Lives" (Rhino)
Rammstein, "Voelkerball: Bildband" (Universal)
RBD, "Celestial" (EMI)
2pac, "Pac's Life" (Interscope)
Tom Waits, "Orphans" (Anti)