It isn't every week that we're gifted with new albums by Neil Diamond, Johnny Mathis and Clay Aiken!

Throw in that new live album by Josh Groban, put 'em all in the CD changer, get the Jacuzzi warmed up, and guys--if you play your cards right--a night of hot romance is guaranteed to be yours!

Oh, excuse me--I've confused this blog with my other, better-trafficked one about personal relationships!

In that case, let me assure this blog's worthy readership that next week's release of Iron Maiden's Best Of 1980-1989 kicks royal butt! And that Limp Bizkt DVD will blow everybody's mind!

Neil Diamond: Home Before Dark (Columbia) The quintessential rockin' dude, Mr. Diamond has had his career significantly revved up by producer and label honcho Rick Rubin--who in the course of two records has given the distinguished songwriter a fluff-free setting that displays him in the finest light possible. I don't want to over-emphasize the man's impact on American culture, but get this: Mere seconds

Get ready for the big showdown in the next few weeks when the Battle Of The Babes really gets underway!

This week brings the debut album by England's Leona Lewis, winner of the UK's X Factor TV show, who's being trumpeted as the biggest new star since--oh, I don't know--Mariah Carey.

And next week? It's the long-awaited new album by Mariah Carey--the last big new star since Leona Lewis!

Many suspect the first singer to clue her audience into the fact that energy equals mass times the velocity of light squared will be the big winner!

We'll just have to wait and see!

Leona Lewis: Spirit (J Records) A great singer, something of a looker, and one of very few UK female artists to reach No. 1 here with her very first single, Leona Lewis would appear to have it all! Conspicuously being promoted by her starmaker label legend Clive Davis--who's pretty good at promoting this stuff--and famed TV types like Simon Cowell, it's likely that 2008 will be Leona Lewis's year. Unless--some have

Whew! After spending the past week in Austin, Texas at the annual South By Southwest music convention--where 3 million artists played one note simultaneously for four consecutive days--I'm sure glad to be back home!

Not just because I'm tired of being jostled around every minute by sweaty youths who smell of smoke and alcohol.

Not just because of the fact that of the 3 million artists who played, only 17 of them were any good.

And not just because I saw nearly every person I've ever met in less than 24 hours.

Nope. I'm just glad I found my house. I went down the street to Rite-Aid a few minutes ago and got lost!

Danity Kane: Welcome To The Dollhouse (Bad Boy) In a world where connections often overshadow musical performance skills, where appearance and appearance alone is the single biggest factor in an artist getting any sort of major label record deal, I'm just glad that oldtimers like Danity Kane are still around cranking out major new albums while they can!  Following up their

The first fruit of the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) suggested truth in labeling law appears to have surfaced in many of this week's newest releases--and while most consumer advocates are indeed gratified, the results may puzzle some.

From all indications, many artists felt the proposed law covered only their new album's title and little else.

As a result, many of the week's latest discs bear revealingly candid monikers. Among the most notable: The Elephant In The Room by hefty rapper Fat Joe, The Unfairground by UK cult figure Kevin Ayers, an artist many critics hold to be tragically underrated, Dreaming Of Revenge by onetime major label/now indie artist Kaki King, and--perhaps most refreshingly--Ego Trippin' by well-known rapper Snoop Dogg.

Some sources contend that potential penalties for artists who defy the new truth in labeling rule may be embarrassing for all parties. "We heard that Rick Ross actually wanted to call his new album Thriller to cop some of the