plus: Tha Dogg Pound, Nanci Griffith [ tickets ], Blu Cantrell, Gillian Welch, Judas Priest, ‘Rush Hour 2,’ ‘American Pie 2,’ Greg Osby, Perry Farrell, more.

Various artists
“NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 7” (Epic)

Producers have lined up another roster of chart-toppers for the seventh installment of “NOW That’s What I Call Music!” (Epic). The collection is poised to repeat the success of its predecessor, “NOW! Vol. 6,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and has sold nearly 3 million copies since its April 3 release.

“NOW! Vol. 7” includes proven hits from Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, Jennifer Lopez, 'NSync, American Hi-Fi and R. Kelly. Streaming-audio samples of the disc’s 19 tracks are available at the official NOW! website.

The “NOW!” phenomenon (click here for details) shows no sign of stopping. In the U.K., the series is up to Vol 48; that edition has sold 900,000 copies.

When “NOW! Vol. 4” was released in the U.S. in July 2000, it became the first album of previously released hits to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

The Crystal Method [ tickets ]
"Tweekend" (Interscope/Outpost)

The Crystal Method’s latest is the American electronic act's first since its 1997 debut, "Vegas," which spawned the ubiquitous hit single "Busy Child" (recognizable for its repeated vocal riff, "I guess I didn't know"). The new album was primarily recorded in the group's studio--named the Bomb Shelter--in Glendale, Calif., and features guests Scott Weiland, of Stone Temple Pilots; Tom Morello, of Rage Against the Machine; DJ Swamp, an associate of Beck; and Jon Brion, best known for producing work by Fiona Apple and Aimee Mann.

Video-documentary snippets currently available on the group’s official website capture the Crystal Method--duo Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland--in the studio during the recording process. A video for the album's first single, "Name of the Game," is also viewable at the band's website.

MTV2 will mark the release of the group’s new album by airing a "making of" special about “Tweekend” on various dates between now and Aug. 4. A documentary of the group’s upcoming tour, meanwhile, will be shot by a fan who won a talent contest on iFilm.com.

Tha Eastsidaz
"Duces 'N Trayz ... the Old Fashioned Way" (TVT/Doggy Style)

This collection is the sophomore effort from Snoop Dogg’s rap trio the Eastsidaz, which also includes Tray Deee and Goldie Loc. Guests--the mainstay of hip-hop releases these days--include Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Soopafly, Suga Free, Mobb Deep, Lil' Mo and Butch Cassidy, many of whom figured in the debut Eastsidaz album, released in 2000.

"I Luv It," the new record's initial single, is supported by a video that pays tribute to the '70s films "The Warriors" and "The Longest Yard"--as well as a certain Budweiser commercial--and features former child star Gary Coleman. The video is in rotation on BET, and featured on the Eastsidaz official website.

The trio will launch the album with a Tuesday morning (7/31) appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” radio program, and will also tape a performance for the BET program “106 and Park” later that same day, according to the group’s website.

Snoop is currently on the road with Bad Azz, Tha Liks, Daz Dillinger, Doggy's Angels and Kurupt.

Tha Dogg Pound
"2002" (Death Row)

This week’s offering from Death Row Records is comprised largely of previously unreleased material by artists who are no longer on the label--or, in the case of 2Pac, are deceased.

The record is credited to Tha Dogg Pound, which was, at one time, the name of a rap duo that consisted of Kurupt and Daz Dillinger. The pair hit big on their self-titled Death Row debut in 1995. After leaving Death Row, the duo was forced to drop the Dogg Pound moniker, so they now record as Dillinger & Young Gotti, whose "D.P.G." album was released in May 2001. Both also have solo careers going, in particular Kurupt, whose album "Space Boogie: Smoke Odyssey" debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 album chart last week.

Former Death Row regular Snoop Dogg appears on "2002," as do Dr. Dre, Xzibit, 2Pac, Jay-Z and Beanie Siegel, among others. Sewing the whole thing together is producer Gregory "Hutch" Hutchinson, better known as Cold 187um, a member of the hip-hop act Above the Law.

The album credits Suge Knight, Death Row's fabled head, as executive producer; Knight is due to be released from prison a week after "2002" hits stores. MTV News has reported that one song on this album includes tape of a newscaster saying that Snoop told police that Knight killed 2Pac, who was shot to death in 1996.

Nanci Griffith
"Clock Without Hands" (Elektra)

This esteemed country singer titled her new album after the novel published 40 years ago by Carson McCullers. Griffith's record contains 14 songs, all but one of which she co-produced with Ray Kennedy, who has worked with Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams. Several of the cuts invoke Vietnam, reflecting her personal life (she is divorced from a Vietnam vet, singer-songwriter Eric Taylor) and her humanitarian work with the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation.

Most of the songs on the new album were penned by Griffith, but the collection does house several covers, including songs by Paul Carrack, best known for his work with Squeeze and Mike + the Mechanics, and John Stewart of the Kingston Trio. Carrack's "Where Would I Be," from his album of last year, "Satisfy My Soul," is the first single from "Clock Without Hands."

In mid-August, Griffith will kick off an extensive world tour in support of her latest release, several dates for which will feature an orchestra; Griffth's last album, "A Dust Bowl Symphony" (1999), was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Blu Cantrell
“So Blu” (Arista)

Soul songstress Blu Cantrell releases her debut album, “So Blu” (Arista), as her Dallas Austin-produced single “Hit ‘Em Up in Style” sits atop the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Austin, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and L.A. Reid are among the noted R&B producers who worked on the record. Cantrell co-wrote the bulk of the album’s tracks.

Streaming-audio samples for “Hit ‘Em Up in Style,” “Till I’m Gone,” “I’ll Find a Way,” “One” and “Waste My Time” are available on Cantrell’s official website.

Gillian Welch
"Time (The Revelator)" (Acony)

Country singer-songwriter Welch releases her third full-length on Acony Records, the label she founded with David Rawlings, who produced the new album and with whom Welch has written many of her songs.

The release of "Time (The Revelator)" comes a week after the release of the soundtrack to "Down from the Mountain," a documentary film that features Welch and Rawlings, as well as Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and the late John Hartford, among others. The film is described by Yahoo! Movies as a "concert documentary showing the Nashville performances of the country and bluegrass music stars involved with the recording of the 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' movie soundtrack."

According to roots-music journal Fiddlin' Around, Welch plans to reissue her first two albums--1996's "Revival" and 1998's "Hell Among the Yearlings"--through Acony.

Judas Priest
“Demolition” (Atlantic)

The latest from Judas Priest marks the group’s second album with vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens. Formerly the Rob Halford impersonator in a Priest tribute band, Owens landed his dream gig when Halford--who fronted Priest for over 20 years--split in the early ‘90s.

“Demolition” was produced by Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton, and is the follow-up to 1997’s “Jugulator,” which debuted at No. 82 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Detailed information about the group’s new album and upcoming tour, as well as samples of several “Demolition” tracks, are available at the group’s official website.

Various artists
“Rush Hour 2” soundtrack (Def Jam)

The soundtrack to the upcoming “Rush Hour” sequel--starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker--is a hip-hop-infused collection that features tracks from LL Cool J, Ludacris, Montell Jordan, Macy Gray, Slick Rick, Method Man, Redman and others.

Various artists
“American Pie 2” soundtrack (Universal)

Another sequel, another soundtrack. This one features material from Blink-182, Green Day, Uncle Kracker, 3 Doors Down, Alien Ant Farm and more.

Greg Osby
"Symbols of Light (A Solution)" (Blue Note/Metro Blue)

Jazz alto-saxophonist Osby enlisted a string quartet for "Symbols of Light (A Solution)." In this week's issue of CMJ, Osby said of the Blue Note release: "I've definitely availed myself of Bartok String Quartet, some of the Bach choral etudes, and things like that."

Click here for a liveDaily interview with Osby from last year.

Perry Farrell
"Song Yet to Be Sung" (Virgin)

This item was originally scheduled for a July 17 release, but was pushed back to July 31. Click here to see the information on this album that is contained in the July 17 edition of liveDaily's weekly New Releases feature.

Other new releases:

Bass Hit - “Generation Bass” (Priority)
Dickey Betts Band - “Let’s Get Together” (FreeFalls)
Big Ass Truck - “The Rug” (Terminus)
Bilal - “1st Born Second” (Interscope)
Camoflauge - “Strictly 4 da Streets” (Universal)
C.J. Chenier - “Step It Up!” (Alligator)
Da Beatminerz - “Brace 4 Impak” (Priority)
The Del Gators - “Pound Down” (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Dhol Foundation - “Big Drum Small World” (Narada)
Full Force - “Still Standing” (TVT)
Gangsta Boo - “Both Worlds: *69” (Loud)
Bill Laswell - “Carlos Santana: Divine Light” (Columbia/Legacy)
Lycia - “Compilation Appearances, Vol. 2” (Projekt)
John Medeski, Robert Randolph, The North Mississippi All Stars - “Word” (Atlantic)
Monte Montgomery- “ Wishing Well” (Texas Music Group)
Ms. Toi - “That Girl” (Universal)
Mystic - “Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom” (Jcor)
Owls - “Owls” (Jade Tree)
pete. - “pete.” (Warner Bros.)
Sam Phillips - “Fan Dance” (Nonesuch)
Sarah Pierce - “Birdman” (Valley Entertainment)
Ike Reilly - “Salesmen & Racists” (Universal)
Blake Shelton - “Blake Shelton” (Warner Bros.)
Rafe Stefanini - “Glory on the Big String” (County)
Jeremy Stephens - “Scarlet Banjo” (Rebel)
Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat - “Bad Juju” (Lucky Seven/Rounder)
Cyndi Thomson - “My World” (Capitol)
The Undecided - “More to See” (Tooth & Nail)
Utah Saints - “Two” (Nettwerk)
Varnaline - “Songs in a Northern Key” (E Squared)
Tommy Wiggins - “Big Apple Hum” (FreeFalls)
Kim Wilson - “ Smokin’ Joint” (M.C.)
Thalia Zedek - “Been Here and Gone” (Matador)
Various artists - “Funky Precedent Vol. 2” (Matador)
Various artists - “Whole 9 Yards” [Mixed by Dylan Rhymes] (Bliss)

Compiled by Jon Zahlaway with Marc Weidenbaum and Scott Henkemeyer.