What's new in stores today (besides hot licks by Michael Bolton AND John Secada?--- I know, haven't heard those names in a while) might require breaking open the piggy bank because man is this a good week for music. It will be hard to pick just one or two or five albums to take home, but if you must narrow it down, consider the following contenders:

Joshua James, Build Me This - Nebraska native/Utah resident folk artist follows up his 2007 LP with a fiery sophomore effort that at times brings to mind Ben Harper at his most relentless

Black July - Joshua James

Sea Wolf, White Water, White Bloom - Alex Brown Church will be in town Sept. 25 at In the Venue performing songs off this stunning follow-up to Leaves in the River. Inspired by recent true love, it maintains its predecessor's well-crafted narrative bent complete with stark cello and Brown's compelling vocals.

Wicked Blood - Sea Wolf

Girls, Album - Yes, the album is entitled Album and there's nothing tremendously groundbreaking about the group's sound but it is catchy. Listen to Lust for Life and just try to shake it out of your head. You can't. It's there for the day. Enjoy.

Lust For Life - Girls

Monsters of Folk, Monsters of Folk - featuring Yim Yames (Jim James of My Morning Jacket), Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and M. Ward. Supergroup trades songwriting/vocal duties and the result is what you'd expect. Yeah, it's solid.

Say Please - Monsters of Folk

Alexis Gideon, Video Musics - you missed him three times, folks! Here, in SLC - live!! See what you could have experienced live by purchasing this DVD/CD masterpiece - a hip-hop opera loosely based on Hungarian mythology paired with animation/claymation action. Brilliant and fun.

Whew! Also out today: Rain Machine (Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio), The Pig Pink (fancy themselves a digital Velvet Underground), Pearl Jam (forgive them their Target commercial - they support the little guy, too), Los Lobos (covering ... Disney?), Le Loup and Noisettes!

Now, you know what to do - make haste to the nearest record shop asap. Block out some time to listen to your goodies.