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Todd Alsup
Todd Alsup
The openly gay NYC pop/soul piano man wears his heart on his sleeve with the romantic “You Are,” a song penned for his partner illustrating the inequities of current marriage laws. His bluesy “The Good Fight” builds nicely and may have the legs to propel this independent self-produced release to major play. June 22. (toddalsup.com).

Toni Braxton
Pulse
The queen of the heartbreak ballad doesn’t stray from that winning formula here with “Yesterday,” a powerful duet featuring Trey Songz. Also strong on Braxton’s seventh album is the more upbeat “Make My Heart,” as well as the Beyoncé-like “Lookin’ at Me.” Atlantic Records (atlanticrecords.com).

Dixie Chicks
Playlist: The Very Best of Dixie Chicks
No one need be embarrassed by this stellar collection of hits recorded by this Grammy-winning trio. Contains lead tunes like “Wide Open Spaces” and “Not Ready to Make Nice” from all four of their #1 country-charting albums, as well as an exclusive PDF with photos and other tasty bonus features. June 1. Legacy Recordings (sonymusic.com).

Sarah McLachlan
Laws of Illusion
Just in time for the 2010 installment of her renowned Lilith Fair (which visits Houston on August 18), McLachlan returns with her first studio album in seven years. Its first single, “Loving You Is Easy,” is happy, layered, and everything we’ve come to expect from this mainstay of popular music. June 15. Arista Records (sarahmclachlan.com).

Tracey Thorn
Love and Its Opposite
Formerly half of the alt-pop duo Everything But the Girl, Thorn’s crystal-clear vocals wrap themselves around the lyrics of this thoughtful, second solo album. The intelligent “Oh, The Divorces” leads an impressive collection of pop/easy listening tunes often delicately laced with strings and woodwinds. Merge Records (mergerecords.com).

Ash Gray and The Girls
This Could Be a Wild Night
Originally an Austinite, Ash’s retro-pop sound (think the Mamas and Papas trapped in the Partridge Family’s touring schoolbus) hearkens back to a simpler time when referring to women as girls wasn’t necessarily considered a slam. Light and fluffy, their music is best when experienced visually. LuvRock Records (ashgrayandthegirls.com).

My Glorious
Home Is Where the Heart Breaks
Disturbing cover art aside, this European power threesome is Gossip-y when it rocks hard, and Red Hot Chili Pepper-y when it slides into a ballad. The throbbing lead single, “You Should Be Dancing,” is the standout here. Intergroove Records (myglorious.com).