plus: Blind Melon, Dawn Robinson, Roy Jones Jr., more.

The Chemical Brothers [ tickets ]
"Come with Us" (Astralwerks)

One of electronica's star attractions releases its first studio full-length since 1999.

The act, consisting of synthesists Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, employed several guest vocalists and musicians for the new album, including Richard Ashcroft, of the Verve, and Beth Orton, who also sang on the Chemical Brothers' "Exit Planet Dust" album.

Prominent credited samples include material by Jim Ingram (from the Stax Records subsidiary label Respect) and '60s pop group the Association, among others.

Two of the album's songs were released in recent months as singles: "It Began in Afrika" and "Star Guitar."

Previews of all of the album's tracks can be heard at Astralwerks' Chemical Brothers website.

Hank Williams III [ tickets ]
"Lovesick, Broke & Driftin’" (Curb)

The latest from the grandson of country legend Hank Williams is his second solo album. The collection contains a dozen originals and a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City." Musicians include award-winning dobro player Randy Kohrs and ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, who appears on the anti-Nashville track "Trashville."

Last year, Williams appeared on a tribute album to his grandfather, "Timeless" (Lost Highway), performing the song "I'm a Long Gone Daddy." Williams is 29 years old, the same age at which his grandfather passed away.

The Curb label is also home to Williams' father, Hank Williams Jr., who on Jan. 8 released his most recent album, "The Almeria Club Recordings."

Click here to read a review of "Lovesick, Broke and & Driftin'."

Blind Melon
"Classic Masters" (Capitol)

Capitol Records serves up a collection of remastered versions of songs from '90s alt-rock act Blind Melon. "No Rain," "Galaxie" and "Toe Across the Floor" are among the 12 tracks featured on "Classic Masters."

In 2001, the label released the band's Grammy-nominated 1996 documentary, "Letters From a Porcupine," on DVD. Capitol maintains a website featuring downloadable Blind Melon video clips.

Dawn Robinson
“Dawn” (Q Records)

As a principal voice in the group En Vogue, Robinson was thrust into pop stardom as one of the '90’s original funky divas. Now, after several years of recording soundtrack singles (“Dr. Dolittle,” “Set It Off”) and a stint in urban-music supertrio Lucy Pearl, Robinson attempts to carve her own identity with “Dawn.”

Robinson’s first solo project, “Dawn” features creative input from an array of celebrity producers. Credits include Pajam ('NSync, Sisqo), Travon Potts (Christina Aguilera) and the Mysphitz’s Ivan Barios and Carvin Haggins (Jill Scott).

The album’s 12 original songs combine hints of rock and R&B with traditional soul sounds; lyrics reference En Vogue, Lucy Pearl and “Lady Marmalade.” Its first single, released to radio in mid-January, is the funky, upbeat “Envious.”

Roy Jones Jr.
"Round One: The Album" (Virgin/Body Head)

Light-heavyweight boxing champion Roy Jones Jr. has formed Body Head Entertainment, and is trying his hand at the music business.

His debut album, which will be distributed by Virgin Records, features guest spots from Mystikal and Scarface, among others.

The album's first single, "That Was Then," (which features Dave Hollister, Perion and Hahz the Rippa) is currently at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart.

Other new releases:

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - "Body & Soul" (Real World)
David Bridie - "Act of Free Choice" (Nettwerk)
Citizen Cope - "Citizen Cope" (DreamWorks)
Cracker - "Forever" (Back Porch)
Curlew - "Meet the Curlews" (Cuneiform)
DJ Encore and Engelina - "Intuition" (MCA)
Deryl Dodd - "Pearl Snaps" (Lucky Dog)
Dream Theater - "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" (Elektra)
Hedder - "Ventillate" (Gold Circle)
Richard Kendrick - "Murder and the F Word" (Versailles)
Dave Kerman/5UU’s - "Abandonship" (Cuneiform)
King Diamond - "Abigail II: The Revenge" (Metal Blade)
Kazu Matsui - "Bamboo" (Narada)
Marc Moulin - "Top Secret" (Nettwerk)
Mujician - "Spacetime" (Cuneiform)
Nebelnest - "Nova Express" (Cuneiform)
John Scofield - "Überjam" (Verve)
The Tunnel Rats - "Tunnel Vision" (BEC Recordings)
Unwritten Law - "Elva" (Interscope)
Vapourspace - "Sonic Residue from Vapourspace" (Magna Carta)
Jaguar Wright - "Denials, Delusions and Decisions" (MCA)
Various artists- "Café del Sol, Vol. 3" (Water Music)
Various artists- "Lords of Karma: A Tribute to Vai/Satriani" (Versailles)

Compiled by Jon Zahlaway with Rob Evans, Scott Henkemeyer, Randi Schmelzer and Marc Weidenbaum.