New Albums

* Kirk Franklin, “The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin,” Gospo Centric. Has some sugary soul-pop, but other passages retain a rousing, tradition-based sound, recruiting stirring gospel voices such as Shirley Caesar and the late Willie Neal Johnson.

Also:

Code Name: Rocky, “Infinity,” Oglio

Dan the Automator, “Wanna Buy a Monkey?” Sequence

Dimitri From Paris, “After the Playboy Mansion,” Astralwerks

Tanya Donelly, “beautysleep” 4AD/Beggars Banquet

Damien Jurado & Gathered in Song, “Break Chairs,” Sub Pop

Paul Kelly, “Nothing but a Dream,” SpinART

Lambchop, “Is a Woman,” Merge

Local H, “Here Comes the Zoo,” Palm Pictures

Luminous, “Luminous,” Bleep Records

Masters at Work, “Our Time Is Coming,” Tommy Boy

Midnight Oil, “Capricornica,” Liquid 8

Joey Ramone, “Don’t Worry About Me,” Sanctuary

Josh Rouse, “Under Cold Blue Stars,” Rykodisc/Slow River

Pete Seeger, “Greatest Hits,” Columbia/Legacy

Sneaker Pimps, “Bloodsport,” Tommy Boy

Tindersticks, “Trouble Every Day,” soundtrack, Beggars Banquet

Various Artists, “Queen of the Damned,” soundtrack, Warner Bros./Reprise

Keller Williams, “Laugh,” SCI Fidelity