By Paul V.

Spring and summer 2005 just might go down as the most lackluster, malaise-muddled six months in new music.

There were very few superstar releases and even fewer buzz-band debuts. Maybe the slim pickens was due to the record labels holding their big guns until the evergreen months of record sales that run from early September right up to Christmas? Perhaps, but who will be the champs at the cash register this fall? There are a few contenders out there, so take a look at who's bringing the noise in the next few months.

SEPTEMBER

Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang (Virgin)
The buzz is that the Stones get their blues mojo back with a stripped down, more focused -- and most importantly -- hook-filled effort. And Mick gets scathingly political on "Sweet Neo Con."

Kanye West - Late Registration (Roc-A-Fella)
The prolific hip-hopper enlists everyone from Jay-Z, Common and Brandy to Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Jamie Foxx, and Shirley Bassey (via sample) for his second disc. Big ups to this non-homophobic rapper.

Barbra Streisand - Guilty Pleasures (Sony)
La Streisand reunites with lead Bee Gee Barry Gibb -- whom she originally collaborated with 25 years ago on the multi-platinum record Guilty -- for 11 new tracks, two of which are duets with Gibb.

Dandy Warhols - Odditorium Or Warlords Of Mars (Capitol)
This Portland quartet remains as trippy and blissed-out as ever as they further their dirty pelvic pop-rock sound. The lead single is entitled "Smoke It." 'Nuff said.

Lil' Kim - Naked Truth (Atlantic)
Our feisty, 5-foot rap diva drops one last jam of an album before spending time behind bars for perjury. That explicit mouth of hers can only help her fend off those "friendly" prison mamas.

Death Cab For Cutie - Plans (Atlantic)
With melodies softly soaring through the atmosphere, this much beloved sensitive-guy outfit makes their major label debut without missing a heartbeat. "Soul Meets Body" is simply gorgeous.

Bonnie Raitt - Souls Alike (Capitol)
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer puts out her 18th record, self-produced for the first time. It's an effort she describes as stretching out a little from her trademark, swampy, rootsy-blues sound.

Rihanna - Music Of The Sun (Def Jam)
Poised to be the first female breakout star of the dancehall movement, this 17-year old Caribbean-born lovely was discovered by Jay-Z. Lead single "Pon De Replay" is a bombshell.

Sarah McLachlan - Bloom Remix (Arista)
McLachlan's folksy/breezy style gets some makeover dance polish, courtesy of Sly & Robbie, Thievery Corporation, Junkie XL, Talvin Singh, and more. "Trainwreck" is a standout.

Pussycat Dolls - PCD (A&M)
Time will tell if these dancer/singer sex kittens can sustain their purr for an entire CD's worth of tracks, beyond the mega "Don't Cha" (or just end up being the 2005 answer to the Spice Girls).

Super Furry Animals - Love Kraft (Beggars Banquet)
There must be delicious magic mushrooms growing in Wales, because SFA drop their most psychedelic and LSD-laced record to date, super-achieved on the sprawling "Atomik Lust."

Tracy Chapman - Where You Live (Elektra)
Chapman returns with her modern musical landscapes and eloquent tales of spirituality and compelling social conscience. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) guests on bass for lead single "Change."

Echo & The Bunnymen - Siberia (Cooking Vinyl)
Their first record in four years features the polished synergy of band-founders Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant. Gorgeous melodies and swirling, thundering, mesmerizing guitars rule the day.

Desperate Housewives - Original Soundtrack (Hollywood)
Wisteria Lane gets flooded with estrogen on this female-only collection, featuring everyone from Shania Twain, kd lang, and Jewel, to Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan, and Joss Stone.

Jamiroquai - Dynamite (Sony)
Jamiroquai singer/leader Jay Kay is rumored to have gotten more cohesive and diverse on his latest hippy-dippy set of funk jams, such as "Electric Mistress" and "Hot Tequila Brown."

Sheryl Crow - Wildflower
For her sixth effort, Crow mixes pensive and emotional flourishes with her trademark every-woman pop songs and guitar-light hooks. Love of Lance is heard throughout.

Las Vegas - Original Soundtrack (Image Ent.)
Sin City hums with remixes by Sean Paul and Kool and the Gang, Stereophonics and Tom Jones, and Wayne Newton and Legion of Doom. Elvis Presley is also featured alongside Fatboy Slim, Pussycat Dolls, and Esthero.

Gang Of Four - Return The Gift (V2)
Original UK agit-rockers reform to re-record seminal tracks from their first three albums, while disc two features their classic tracks remixed by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ladytron, Dandy Warhols, and many more.

NOVEMBER

Depeche Mode - Playing The Angel (Reprise)
The world's foremost subversive synthetic pop group churn out renewed vigor for album #11, Expect those minor-key melodies and cyber-pulsing electro grooves we've come to know and love.

Madonna - Confessions On A Dancefloor (Maverick)
Madge gets back on her horse with a future-disco sound, courtesy of uber producer Thin White Duke. Aiming for the dancefloor vibe of her earliest hits, it could be subtitled: "Big With The Gays."