With the excitement of the Grammys now long gone, it's time for the music business to stand or fall purely on the quality of its new product!

In short? If all of this week's new releases are top-notch, quality stuff, then I think we can count on years and years of a healthful, thriving music business! But if, on the other hand, most of this week's albums are dreary and stale reruns of an earlier, better time, it might be appropriate for everyone in the industry to just throw in the towel, admit defeat, and perhaps individually focus on improving their own personal lots in life--and business be damned!

Well, you can take a look for yourself--but as far as I can see, any week that features a lot of great reissues, good albums by really old artists, and a new album by the Jonas Brothers is conclusive proof that music's on an upswing like never before!

Speaking purely as a rock critic, I don't think I'm alone in comparing this year's music riches to those released in the golden year of

After that fabulous Superbowl show--just imagine, BruceSpringsteen, Jennifer Hudson and Faith Hill all in one place--and next week'sGrammy Awards, I, like you, think this may be the most exciting week in musichistory!

And indeed, it's this week--when music's movers and shakerscongregate in Los Angeles for their beloved awards ceremony--that they'll beanticipating the sales figures of this week's new releases, arguing whetherit's likely Melinda Doolittle will outsell Cannibal Corpse, and discussing whatexactly that whole "digital download" thing is in the first place!

True, there may be a few fistfights, and yes, some recordlabel folks won't feel comfortable having to hitchhike home due to ongoingbudget cuts, but one thing's for sure: When it comes to this week's newreleases--just like next week's Grammys--everyone'sa winner, baby!

The Fray: The Fray (Epic)  From seemingly out ofnowhere comes the Fray, the Denver-based band whose rise to internationalstardom came with their smash

Have you ever heard the expression "workmanlike"?

That's a nice way of saying "nothing terribly extraordinary going on, but still...it could be worse."

I wish I could say that this week's new releases represented a "workmanlike" effort on part of today's major labels to release records that America is clamoring for--but, sadly, that would be...incredibly sexist! I mean, women work too!

So, to be diplomatic--and for that matter politically correct--let's just say that everybody, whether male or female, should agree that this week's releases are less than compelling!

Let's meet for coffee and discuss it further!

Bee Gees: Odessa (Expanded Edition) (Reprise/Rhino)  Oh, what the hell--I just spent two entire minutes writing a review of an album that just got delayed two weeks, so why not start this week's blog off with the album that, brand new or not, is the best thing coming out this week? That of course would be this deluxe reissue of the Bee Gees' spectacular 1969 album Odessa--a

They say that the earliest scents you encounter in alifetime are the ones that stay with you the longest--aromas that burrowthemselves deep into the nooks and crannies of the brain, waiting to emergewith an unexpectedly powerful burst of recognition many years later. Yourgrandmother's cupboard? Vick's VapoRub?Calamine lotion? Take a whiff today andyou'll swear you were back indiapers!

Likewise, take a good long look at these, the mostcompelling of this week's new music-related releases. Study them. For, indeed,this is the first indication of the best 2009 will have to offer!

Smell them!

Who knows? By next December we may be clamoring for the goodold days of January!

Glasvegas: Glasvegas (Columbia)  Usually when I compile a list ofthe week's 10 spotlight releases, the lead item is a no-brainer! This week,however, everything's so good I don't know whereto start! Why not begin with one of the latest UKbuzz bands, Glasgow'sGlasvegas? They've assembled a catchy, deliberately anthemic