plus: Bruce Cockburn, Dennis James, others.

Alan Jackson [ tickets ]
"Drive" (Arista)

Big-league country singer Alan Jackson releases a new album featuring a dozen new studio recordings and a bonus live cut.

The album's first single, "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)," is currently at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart, and has been on the chart for eight weeks. The song, written in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is Jackson's fastest-charting single ever. (U.S. Congressman Mac Collins had the song entered into the official U.S. Congressional Record on Nov. 16.) Jackson's performance of the song at the most recent Country Music Awards show is streamed on his official website

Jackson has sold 35 millions copies of his previous 10 albums, according to his label. He is currently on tour.

Concrete Blonde [ tickets ]
"Group Therapy" (Manifest)

Seminal L.A. post-punk band Concrete Blonde releases its first album of original material since 1993's "Mexican Moon." Singer Johnette Napolitano disbanded Concrete Blonde in 1995 to concentrate on her art career, but for "Group Therapy," the group's original lineup of Napolitano, guitarist James Mankey and drummer Harry Rushakoff is back together.

Concrete Blonde kicks off a tour in support of the album on Jan. 18.

The B-52's [ tickets ]
"Nude on the Moon: The B-52's Anthology" (Rhino)

This two-disc collection contains 35 tracks that span the B-52's entire 25-year career. Songs featured include the hits "Rock Lobster," "Love Shack" and "Roam."

Also included are rare and previously unreleased tracks, including Moby's remix of 1992's "Is That You, Mo Dean? (Interdimension Mix)," the David Byrne-produced version of "Queen of Las Vegas," and live versions of "Quiche Lorraine" and "Whammy Kiss."

Rolling Stone's Michael Azerrad wrote the liner notes for the set, the booklet for which also contains commentary from the band's members and previously unseen photos, according to Rhino.

The B-52's debuted 25 years ago on February 14, 1977, at a friends' Valentine's Day party in their hometown of Athens, Georgia.

Bruce Cockburn
"Anything Anytime Anywhere (Singles 1979-2002)" (Rounder)

Cockburn's hits collection takes its name from one of two new tracks that the Canadian singer-songwriter recorded for the release. The album also features 14 previously released songs, and a second new track titled "My Beat," which features a guest appearance from Patty Griffin.

Rounder and True North Records plan later this year to begin re-releasing 18 digitally remastered Cockburn albums, including "In the Falling Dark" (1976), "Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws" (1979), "Humans" (1980) and "Stealing Fire" (1984).

Cockburn plans to launch an acoustic tour in support of the new album on Feb. 28.

Dennis James
"Cristal: Glass Music Through the Ages" (Sony Classical)

Country-pop singer Linda Ronstadt shepherded this unique project, which explores the under-recorded glass-harmonica repertoire. The album's featured performer is glass harmonica player Dennis James, who has previously recorded with Ronstadt.

Ronstadt co-produced "Cristal" with John Boylan. She is among the vocalists and instrumentalists who accompany James. Also among the performers are sopranos Ruth Ann Swenson and Véronique Dietschy.

The compositions include pieces written for the glass harmonica by Mozart and Beethoven. There are several contemporary compositions, including one by California-based composer Garry Eister, "Glass and Strings," featuring the Emerson String Quartet.

Other new releases:

Blood for Blood - "Outlaw Anthems" (Victory)
Bolt Thrower - "Honour-Valour-Pride" (Metal Blade)
Brooklyn Run - "Brooklyn Run" (MCA)
Edify - "Edify" (MCA)
Electric Hellfire Club - "Electronomicon" (Cleopatra)
Fleshcrawl - "Soulskinner" (Metal Blade)
DJ Chris Gainer - "Directions" (Bliss)
Jon Dee Graham - "Hooray for the Moon" (New West)
Alan Jackson - "Drive" (Arista)
Dayna Kurtz - "Postcards from Downtown" (Kismet)
Willie Nelson - "The Great Divide" (Lost Highway)
The Shiners - "Bonnie Blue" (Planetary)
Skyclad - "Another Fine Mess" (Demolition)
Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs - "Guitars, Guns & Gold" (Triple X)
Nobukazu Takemura - "Sign" (Thrill Jockey)
William Topley - "Feasting with Panthers" (Lost Highway)
Various artists - "I Love Serge" (Ark 21)
Various artists - "Voyage Into the Chillout Zone" (Hypnotic/Cleopatra)
Various artists - "We Praise You: A Tribute to Fatboy Slim" (Cleopatra)

Soundtracks and scores:

"Gosford Park" (Decca)
"A Walk to Remember" (Epic)