Rolling Stone's 2009 Fall Music Preview : Rolling Stone

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From Weezy and Mariah to Weezer and the Flaming Lips, some of 2009's most anticipated albums are hitting stores this season. Big debuts from Adam Lambert and Monsters of Folk are due, along with eagerly awaited releases by Pearl Jam, Mariah Carey, 50 Cent and Shakira. Read up on 60 of the fall's discs, plus get your first listen to new tunes from Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar, and watch exclusive live performances and sneak peeks featuring fresh tunes by Say Anything, the Avett Brothers, Clipse and more.

September

Pearl Jam
BACKSPACER 9/20

LOWDOWN: "It was all based on the brand new idea to us of 'Let's write the songs before we record them,' " Eddie Vedder has said of Backspacer, which is the shortest Pearl Jam album yet but also "tight and concise," according to guitarist Mike McCready. "I don't think there's a record out there that has better lyrics," adds bassist Jeff Ament. Photo: Dyson/WireImage

WATCH IT:
Pearl Jam's music video for "Fixer,"
directed by Cameron Crowe

The making of Backspacer, directed by Danny Clinch

GET MORE:
• Live: Pearl Jam Break Out New Songs, Rarities,
Ronnie Wood in London
• Live: Pearl Jam Ignite San Francisco as Outside
Lands Festival Kicks Off

REVIEW:
• Review: Backspacer (2009)

Mariah Carey
MEMOIRS OF AN IMPERFECT ANGEL 9/29

LOWDOWN: Mimi is either crazy in love or ready for revenge on her latest LP, a 17-song album stocked with gooey ballads and a strong cover of Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is." "A lot of the songs reflect a specific, different time in my life," Carey says of the Tricky Stewart and The-Dream-produced record. "Some were even inspired by movies, actual events in my own life or friends telling me what they've been through." Photo: Gallay/WireImage

HEAR IT:
"Obsessed"

GET MORE:
• Mariah Carey Fires Back at Eminem in New Single "Obsessed"
• Mariah Carey's Memoirs to Include Mini-Magazine and Advertisements

LAST TIME:
• Review: E=MC² (2008)

Yoko Ono
Plastic Ono Band
BETWEEN MY HEAD
AND THE SKY 9/22

LOWDOWN: Yoko Ono touches on electronica, guitar rock and piano ballads viacollaborations with ex-Cibo Matto member Yuka Honda, Japanese electro rocker Cornelius and more musicians — including son Sean, who convinced her to revive the Plastic Ono Band name for her first set of new tracks since 2001.