Nine Inch Nails’ new soundtrack and 11 more things you must hear this week

Nine Inch Nails gets its “Tron” on this week, leading a batch of new music releases that includes titles from Cardi B, Sarah McLachlan, Chase Rice and 38 Special, as well as new projects from Billie Eilish’s brother and Greta Van Fleet’s guitarist (all subject to change).

Album of the Week — Nine Inch Nails, “Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” (The Null Corporation/Interscope): During the 15 years since their Academy Award-winning score for “The Social Network,” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have maintained a line of separation between their film work and the band Reznor started 37 years ago in Cleveland. That changes — at Disney’s request — for this sci-fi epic, the first Nine Inch Nails release in five years. There’s plenty of the troupe’s gritty industrial rock flavor throughout the 24-track set, particularly on the single “As Alive As You Need Me to Be.”

Cardi B, “Am I the Drama?” (Atlantic/Warner): The New York rapper’s second album, seven years in the making, features her 2020 Megan Thee Stallion collaboration “WAP” among its nearly two dozen tracks, along with more recent singles such as “Outside” and “Imaginary Playerz.” Other guests include Janet Jackson, Lizzo, Selena Gomez, Cash Cobain, Kehlani and more.

The Cowsills, “The ‘Cocaine Drain’ Album” (Omnivore): The sibling vocal group (the inspiration for “The Partridge Family”) was clearly singing about “other things” on this unreleased album from 1978, which was produced by Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan collaborator Chuck Plotkin. Finally seeing the light of day, it includes five bonus tracks not intended for the original release.

The Favors, “The Dream” (Darkroom): Less than a year after his second solo album, Billie Eilish’s brother Finneas O’Connell joins forces with fellow singer-songwriter Ashe (Ashlyn Wilson) for a lush 12-song set accompanied by a full string ensemble.

I Prevail, “Violent Nature” (Fearless/Concord): The Detroit hard rock troupe, which debuted with a viral sensation cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space,” drops its fourth full album and first as a quintet after the departure of “clean” vocalist Brian Burkheiser.

Los Straitjackets, “Somos Los Straitjackets” (Yep Roc): The masked guitar group, which has been working with Nick Lowe in recent years, delivers its first new album in 13 years, a 15-song set that includes a version of “Spinout,” originally recorded by the quartet’s Eddie Angel in his other band, the Neanderthals and now featuring guest vocals from “SpongeBob SquarePants’ Tom Kenny.

Sarah McLachlan, “Better Broken” (Concord): The Canadian songstress’ first new album in 11 years features guest appearances by Wendy Melvoin of Prince’s Revolution and MUNA’s Katie Gavin, the latter on the track “Reminds Me.”

Mirador, “Mirador” (Republic): Greta Van Fleet guitarist Jake Kiszka and Ida Mae’s Chris Turpin join forces for a hard-rocking new project that was produced by multiple Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb.

Motion City Soundtrack, “The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World” (Epitaph): The Minneapolis pop-punk troupe’s seventh album is its first in 10 years, with Fall Out Boys’ Patrick Stump and Citizen, Sincere’s Mat Kerekes along for the welcome-back.

Chase Rice, “Eldora” (Dack Janiels/Firebird Music): The country favorite co-wrote all 12 songs on his eighth album, which features guest collaborations with Elvie Shane, Kashus Culpepper, Wyatt McCubbin and Madeline Edwards.

The Third Mind, “Right Now!” (Yep Roc): The third album from the psychedelic-minded “supergroup” that includes Dave Alvin, Counting Crows’ David Immergluck, Camper Van Beethoven’s Victor Krummenacher, Jesse Sykes and others.

38 Special, “Milestone” (self-released): It’s been 21 years since this Southern rock outfit got caught up in a new album, and its comeback is assisted by Train’s Pat Monahan, Randy Bachman and Survivor’s Jim Peterik.

Album Title of the Week: pdqb, “Sermons of the Electrofying Messiah” (Snyaptic Cliffs)

More new titles for Sept. 19…

John Calvin Abney, “Transparent Towns” (Canyon/Well Kept Secret)

Acceptance, “Phantoms/Twenty”(self-released)

Afternoon Bike Ride, “Running With Scissors” (Friends of Friends)

Ala.ni, “Sunshine Music” (No Format)

American Television, “You Are Not Alone” (Smartpunk)

Arrows In Action, “I Think I’ve Been There Before” (Nettwerk)

Ashen, “Chimera” (Out of Line Music)

Atmoshpere, “Jestrures” (Rhymesayers Entertainment)

Bad Cop Bad Cop, “Lighten Up” (Fat Wreck Chords)

Bad Self Portraits, “I Think I’m Going to Hell” (Midtopia0

Biffy Clyro, “Futique” (14th Floor/Warner)

Big Big Train, “Are We Nearly There Yet? (Live Around the World)” (English Esoteric Recordings)

The Big Ol’ Nasty Getdown, “Volume 3” (self-released)

Black Lips, “Season of the Peach” (Fire)

Jonathan Blake, “My Life Matters” (Blue Note)

Blood Brothers, “Help Yourself” (Gulf Coast Records)

Bones Shredder, “Morbid Little Thing” (Sunken Teeth)

Kadhja Bonet, “Battlewear” (self-released)

Boo Boos, “Young Love” (PIAS) E of eels

Jeff Bradshaw, “The Cure” (self-released)

Briscoe, “Heat of July” (ATO)

Castle Rat, “The Bestiary” (King Volume)

Cesar & the Idem Colony, “Retrieval” (Cala Bou)

Cole Chaney, “In the Shadow of the Mountain” (Ridgeline)

Chatterton, “Tiny Empire” (7th Heaven)

Aaron Cole, “Where Do We Go From Here?” (self-released)

Joy Crookes, “Juniper” (Epic)

Cuddle Magic, “Underwater” (Egghunt)

David Cultura, “Cultura” (Create)

Deaf Club, “We Demand a Permanent State of Happiness” (Three One G/Southern Lord)

Ded, “Resent” (UNFD)

Dilyara, “Celestial Odyssey” (self-released)

The Divine Comedy, “Rainy Sunday Afternoon” (self-released)

The Dreadnoughts, “Polka Pit” (Punkerton)

Dug, “Have at It!” (self-released)

Dylan Earl, “Level-Headed Even Smile” (Gar Hole)

Benjamin Elgar, “Make It Through the Night” (self-released)

Elninodiablo, “The Downey Groove” (self-released)

Erdling, “Steh den Sturm” (Out of Line Music)

Newton Faulkner, “Octopus” (Cooking Vinyl)

The Favors, “The Dream” (Darkroom/Interscope)

Ruby Friedman Orchestra, “Chimes After Midnight (Label 51 Recordings)

Frog, “The Count” (self-released)

Golden Apples, “Shooting Star” (Lame-O)

Evan Greer, “AMAB/ACAB” (Get Better)

Greywind, “Severed Heart City” (FLG)

The Happy Fits, “Lovesick” (Diamond City/Many Hats)

Kieran Hebden and William Tyler, “41 Longfield Street Late ’80s” (Temporary Residence Ltd.)

Heretoir, “Solastalgia” (AOP)

Eric David Hoegemeyer, “Elementa 001” (Mishbaka)

Home Free, “Challenge the Sea” (self-released)

Evan Honer, “Everything I Wanted” (Cloverdale)

Horace Pinker, “Now and the Future” (People of Punk Rock)

Hunxho, “Her 2” (300 Entertainment)

IDID, “I Did It” (Starship Entertainment)

Igorrr, “Amen” (Metal Blade)

Ilham, “Uhm…OK?” (self-released)

J. Fla, “Moon Eater” (self-released)

Jacoozy, “Still Afloat” (self-released)

OBN Jay, “Me Against the World” (OBN Entertainment/MNRK Music Group)

Kamelot, “Ascension 1995-1998” (Noise)

Kittie, “Spit XXV” (Sumerian)

KennyHoopla, “Conditions of An Orphan//” (The Orchard)

Lawn, “God Made the Highway” ((self-released)

Le Concorde, “Second Mansions” (self-released)

Vincent Lima, “To Love a Thing That Fades Out” (Island)

Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson, AM PM Soho Live (Expression/BFD/The Orchard)

Chase McDaniel, “”Lost Ones” (Big Machine)

Ali McGuirk, “Watertop” (Signature Sounds)

Madilyn Mei, “A Thousand Songs About It All: Act I” (Mercury)

Toro y Moi, “Unerthed: The Hole Erth Unplugged” (Dead Oceans)

Claire Morales, “Lost in the Desert” (self-released)

Kendra Morris, “Next” (Colemine/Karma Chief)

Motion City Soundtrack, “The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World” (Epitaph)

mum, “History of Silence” (Morr Music)

Nation of Language, “Dance Called Memory” (Sub Pop)

Chloe Navarre, “Periwinkle” (That’s Nothin’)

NewDad, “Altar” (Fair Youth)

Jon Nolan & Good Co., “Slow Cooker” (Strolling Bones)

Novembers Doom, “Major Arcana” (Prophecy Productions)

Ocean Alley, “Love Balloon” (Community Music)

Hunter Oliveri, “Teen Slug” (Spinefarm)

Bones Owens “Best Western” (Thirty Tigers)

The Oxys, “Pearls Before Swine” (Cleopatra)

Doe Paoro, “Living Through Collapse” (self-released)

Paradise Lost, “Ascension” (Nuclear Blast)

The Paradox, “Do It Again” (Hundred Days)

Jordan Patterson, “The Hermit” (self-released)

Paxton Spangler Band, “Trick Bag” (Eastlawn)

Photo Ops, “Opening Up to Strangers” (Odd Man Out/gemini recordings)

Pink Fuzz, “Resolution” (Permanent Teeth)

The Pink Stones, “Thank the Lord…It’s the Pink Stones” (Normaltown)

The Prize, “In the Red” (Goner/Anti Fade)

Propaganda, “Remix Encounters” (Bureau B)

Public Opinion, “Perpetual Motion Machine” (Side One Dummy)

Queensbridge, “Uhm…OK?” (self-released)

Kojey Radical, “Don’t Look Down” (Atlantic)

Michael Ragonese, “Chasing Calm” (self-released)

Ray and Paul, “Fading” (self-released)

Ready For the World, “Ready Sonique” (SRG-ILS Group/Virgin Music)

Reverse Yr Curse, “Where Are We Going and When Will We Get There?” (self-released)

Joanne Robertson, “Blurrr” (AD 93)

Josh Ross, “Later Tonight” (Mercury Nashville)

Leith Ross, “I Can See the Future” (Republic)

Runaway June, “New Kind of Emotion” (Quartz Hill MusicGroup)

Cecile McLorin Salvant, “Oh Snap” (Nonesuch)

Jack Schneider, “Streets of September” (Jeffers)

Peter Sampfel, Friends & Daughters, “Song Shards…” (Jalopy)

Scarlet Rae, “No Heavy Goodbyes” (Bayonet)

Scorpion Milk, “Slime of the Times” (Peaceville)

Shabason, Krgovich, Tenniscoats, “Wao” (Western Vinyl)

Jackson Scribner, “Depression Kids” (State Fair)

Joan Shelley, “Real Warmth” (No Quarter)

Patrick Shiroishi, “Forgetting is Violent” (American Dreams)

Species, “Changelings” (20 Buck Spin)

Structure Sounds, “Stolen Sounds” (Wiretap)

Summerbruise, “Infinity Guise” (SideOneDummy)

Sweet Water, “Shine On” (Golden City)

C. Tappin, “Familiar Unknowns” (Ropeadope)

John Taylor, Tramonto, Marc Johnson and Joey Baron, “Tramonto” (ECM)

Thelma & James, “Starting Over” (Big Loud)

Toned Jesus, “Songs to Sun” (self-released)

Total Wife, “Come Back Down” (Julia’s War Recordings)

Mike Tramp, “Songs of White Lion Vol. III” (Frontiers Music srl)

Trapper Schoepp, “Osborne” (Blue Elan)

The Third Mind, “Right Now!” (Yep Roc)

Tithe, “Communion in Anguis” (Profound Lore)

Total Wife, “Come Back Down” (Julia’s War Recordings)

Kristina Train, “County Line” (Blue Elan)

Mike Tramp, “Songs of White Lion — Vol. III” (Frontiers Music srl)

DD Verni & the Cadillac Band, “Buckle Up” (Deko Entertainment)

Voices of Fire, “Ophanim” (Warner)

Sammy Virji, “Same Day Cleaning” (Astralwerks)

Vittra, “Intense Indifference” (self-released)

Waverly Drive, “Decadence” (self-released)

Maura Weaver, “Strange Devotion” (Feel It)

Georgia Weber and the Sleeved Hearts, “Big in Japan” (self-released)

Wednesday, “Bleeds” (Dead Oceans)

Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, “Mossy Oak Shadow” (Run For Cover)

Wilder Maker, “The Streets Like Beds Still Warm” (Western Vinyl)

Zach Williams, “Jesus Loves” (Essential/Provident)

Yachtley Crew, “Seas the Night” (Earache)

Lola Young, “I’m Only F***ing Myself” (Island)

Eric Zayne, “Sunset & La Brea” (Astra)

From The Vaults:

Ambrosia, “Ambrosia” (Music on CD)

America, “Hat Trick” (Music on CD)

Bad Wolves, “Die About It (Deluxe)” (Better Noise Music)

The Boomtown Rats, “The First 50 Years: Songs of Boomtown Glory” (Mercury)

Buckingham Nicks, “Buckingham Nicks” (Rhino High Fidelity)

Cazwell, “Hits All Over Your Face (The Peace Bisquit Collection)” (Peace Bisquit/Snowcone)

Ray Charles, “Ingredients in a Recipe For Soul” (Tangerine)

The Cowsills, “The ‘Cocaine Drain’ Album (Deluxe Edition)” (Omnivore Recordings)

Jim Croce, “The Definitive Croce” (BMG)

Damiano David, “Funny Little (Fears) Dreams” (Arista)

Djo, “The Crux Deluxe” (self-released)

Fanny, “Rock and Roll Survivors”/“Rock and Roll Survivors Live Opera 1974″ (Cherry Red)

Bryan Ferry, “Frantic” and “Avonmore” (BMG)

Kamelot, “Ascensions 1995-1998” (Noise)

Larkin Poe. “Bloom (Deluxe)” (Tricki-Woo)

Jazz Passengers, “In Love” (self-released)

Bobby Goldsboro, “The LP Collection Vol. 2” (JGJ)

Anne Murray, “Here You Are” (Capitol/UMe)

Charley Pride, “Endlessly: A Tribute to Brook Benton” (Music City)

The Rays, “Bob’s Crew: The Complete Recordings 1955-1962” (Jasmine)

Real Estate, “The Wee Small Hours…” (Domino)

Terry Reid, “Bang, Bang You’re Terry Reid”/“Terry Reid”/“River” (JGJ)

The Charlie Rouse Band, “Cinnamon Flower (Deluxe)” (Resonance)

Shonen Knife, “Our Best Place (Expanded Edition)” and “Minna Tanoshiku” (Good Charamel)

Various Artists, “The Hits Album: Later 70s” (Sony Music/Universal)

Various Artists, “With a Little Help From My Friends: Covers of the Beatles 1967-1970” (Strawberry/Cherry Red)

Yonny, “Everywhere, But Always (Deluxe)” (Warner)

Soundtracks:

“The Devil Wars Prada: A New Musical (Original West End Cast Recording)” (EMI)

The Girlfriend — Prime Video Original Series Soundtrack” (Lakeshore)

“EA Sports College Football 26: Halftime, Vol. 2” (Lakeshore)

“McWalter — Original Motion Picture Score” (Lakeshore)

“Pirates! The Penzance Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)” (Center Stage)

“Rabbit Trap — Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (Lakeshore)

“Task — Original Series Soundtrack” (Lakeshore)