New Albums

Tom Waits, “Alice” and “Blood Money,” Anti. In these two albums, Waits and his collaborators bring to bear a new level of authority and ambition, corralling the often obstreperous music in two thematic frameworks.

Also:

Bratmobile, “Girls Get Busy,” Lookout!

Brazzaville, “Rouge on Pockmarked Cheeks,” South China Sea Music

Coal Chamber, “Dark Days,” Roadrunner

Ray Charles, “Thanks for Bringing Love Around Again,” Crossover

Fatboy Slim, “Live on Brighton Beach,” Southern Fried/Ministry of Sound

Lauryn Hill, “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0,” Columbia

Etta James, “Burnin’ Down the House,” Private Music/RCA Victor

The Makers, “Strangest Parade,” Sub Pop

Musiq, “Juslisen,” Def Jam

Naughty by Nature, “iicons,” Naughty Music/TVT

Pitchshifter, “P.S.I.,” Sanctuary

Various artists, “Family Values Tour 2001,” Elektra

Warren Zevon, “My Ride’s Home,” Artemis