After a somewhat dull summer of album releases, August came back and rocked in like a hurricane (Sorry Scorpions, I just had to rip you off - but I don’t have the cheesy German accent.). Even though big time artists like Christina Aguilera and Outkast just released albums, their early sales are a little less than desired by the record companies, which could be scary for record retailers. The fall is the time of year where the record companies bank on their yearly profits. And when the “High School Musical” soundtrack is the biggest album of the year so far, you know the s--- has hit the fan. But as August fades and the leaves start to fall, the album release slate becomes increasingly full. This fall promises to answer the following questions:

• Is Justin Timberlake the next one album solo wonder, a la David Lee Roth?
• Has Janet’s nipple ruined her career?
• Can a rock album stay at #1 for more than one week on the charts?

These questions may not be answered very soon, but they at least are questions to ponder as we move into the holiday months. But for now, here is a week by week rundown of the albums hitting your record store shelf or ITunes play list this fall:

September 5th

Audioslave - Revelations: Revelations was the last chapter in the bible. Is “Revelations” the last chapter in Audioslave’s career? With statement like “no fall tour”, and “Chris Cornell solo album”, it looks as if the end is coming. But if it means the Rage reunion I want to see, I hope this is the end.

Beyonce - BDay: The second rate Janet Jackson or Mariah Carey releases her latest solo album. Let’s see how much longer she can ride boyfriend Jay-Z’s coattails. Not exactly one I am waiting to hear….

September 12th

Mars Volta - Amphetcture: The former At the Drive In members come back with their blend of psychedelic and trippy art-rock. If the new single “Viscera Eyes” is any indication, it could be just as good as “Frances the Mute”.

Mastodon - Blood Mountain: The Atlanta metal-prog-rock powerhouse releases their major label debut. From the few songs heard so far, it doesn’t look like they’ve compromised their sound. If you have no idea who they are, just think of a more metal version of Tool.

Papa Roach - Paramour Sessions: As wimpy as it was, “Scars” saved their career. Now, the second phase of their career begins. Let’s hope they don’t go all Goo Goo Dolls on us and stuff. “To Be Loved” is a strong indication that they probably won’t be heading in that direction.

Justin Timberlake - Futuresex/ Love Sounds: Is Justin going to become the first boy band member to stake out a successful solo career; or will this CD end up in the dollar bin with CD’s from JC Chasez and Nick Carter? “SexyBack” is not really what his hardcore group of fans was screaming for, but other tracks could save Timberlake.

John Mayer - Continuum: John is becoming dependable in his career, but he may be uncomfortable with his success. The album boasts a far more soulful, and bluesy approach to this music. Will this alienate fans of “Daughters” and “Your Body Is A Wonderland”? The verdict is still out…

Black Label Society - Shot to Hell: What’s shot to hell is Black Label’s live performance. Guess Zakk Wylde cant hide behind studio vocal tricks in a concert, which becomes a big wannabe biker convention in the process.

Bob Seger - Face the Promise: Seger have been promising a new album for 12 years, and has not delivered. Now that the record is coming out, the question is: Does anyone outside of Detroit care?

September 19th

New Found Glory - Coming Home: If I have to see their new video on MTV Hits one more time, I am gonna start thinking that they have a reality show going with them. “Danity Kane meets New Found Glory”. A truly terrible idea indeed.

Mushroomhead - Savior Sorrow: Can Slipknot’s former nemesis come back with a new lead singer and triumph once again? If you think otherwise, I think the entire rock community of Cleveland will have something different to say.

Janet Jackson - 20 Years Old: Janet’s been trying to save her career since that breast accidentally popped out a few years ago. Her new idea for success: make a complete bland R&B song with Nelly, and watch it go nowhere. It is now official: No one from the Jackson family is a viable artist anymore.

Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor: Kanye West’s protégé releases his debut album. Yeah, he’s got glasses… Yeah, he skateboards…. But it has a little bit different flavor to the music and gets us away from the sea of Yung Joc’s and Rick Ross’s that plague rap today.

September 26th

Ludacris - Release Therapy: “Money Maker” may not be the best leadoff single from a Ludacris album, but I figure one of the most versatile rappers in the game has something up his sleeve.

October 3rd

And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - TBA: Before Mars Volta, the Austin boys were wowing crowd with their prog-rock. Take it from me, Mars Volta may put out better CD’s, but these guys are way better live.

Killers - Sam’s Town: With the reaction of their single “When You Were Young”, the Killers seem to be the lock of the fall for a huge album. The band infused more guitars in their sound, and may shed some of the 80’s influences with the new record.

Jet - Shine On: The Australian garage rock exports come back with another dose of their AC/DC meets the White Stripes sound. But will they have to kick Wolfmother’s ass, to take their crown back for Australian rock supremacy?

October 10th

Lloyd Banks - Rotten Apple: Wasn’t this supposed to be out four months ago? Haven’t there been 3 or 4 released from this already? 50 Cent, keep your artists in line!

Trivium - The Crusade: It’s time for Trivium to make good on their potential and become the next metal saviors that many magazines predict them to be. Or else, they’ll be working at Sea World in Orlando with all the losers they went to high school with.

October 17th

Winger - IV: Sorry, I just needed a good laugh…

Fergie - Duchess: The more than annoying Black Eyed Peas singer makes her solo album, which you could see coming for at least the past year. With her song “London Bridge” hitting #1, one can only hope that she brings the real London Bridge, and it falls down…

October 24th

My Chemical Romance - The Rise and Fall of My Chemical Romance: A big concept record that has taken a while to record and release. Could this be the fall of MCR? This will be emo’s first big test for long term major success and career outside the 15 year olds that love this band. Somehow, I think there’s a good song or two out of the bunch.

October 31st

Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist: With the promises of this album being like the band’s remarkable older material, I was disappointed to hear “Through the Water”, the first song off the album. A band I once idolized is starting to sound bored and tired.

November 21st

Incubus - Light Grenades: After the so-so reaction they received for their last album, will Incubus stay political and go on tirades of Bush? Or will they return to their “Make Yourself” form, to please the fans? It’s still too early to tell…

Killswitch Engage - As Daylight Dies: Shame on the metal community for not making this the biggest band in the genre. They’re the one metal band out there with real crossover potential, and metal fans are too busy bitching up a storm about other bands. Make it right, and buy the damn record…

There are plenty more releases that are on the slate for the fall, but I am just way too tired to list them all. Working on weekends will do that to you, but most of you probably already know that. Within the next few weeks, we will be discussing fall tours that will be hitting your town. But for now, I gotta go see some muthaf---in’ snakes on a muthaf—kin’ plane. Nothing like dumb fun to get you through life…