Albums

From classical crossover (Josh Groban) to classic bad boys (The Clash) to classic rock (Robert Plant) to just plain classic (Bob Dylan) and classy (Johnny Cash), class is certainly in session (High School Musical) on the blockbuster records that will make perfect gifts this holiday.

Josh Groban, "Awake" Il Divo, "Siempre" U2, "U218 Singles" Keith Urban, "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing" "High School Musical" soundtrack Jay-Z, "Kingdom Come" Carrie Underwood, "Some Hearts" Mary J. Blige, "The Breakthrough" Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Stadium Arcadium"

Robert Plant, "Nine Lives" The Doors, "Perception" Rhino, "What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves (1967-1976)" Johnny Cash, "Johnny Cash at San Quentin" The Clash, "The Singles" Rascal Flatts, "Me and My Gang" Justin Timberlake, "FutureSex/LoveSounds" Bob Dylan, "Modern Times"

Independent Labels

Indie music fans can be forgiven to looking ahead to 2007.

On the horizon for the first or second quarter are new releases by an all-star lineup of indie superstars, including new albums from singer/songwriter Bright Eyes, orchestral rock band Arcade Fire and pop darlings the Shins.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

This holiday season brings us new music from Public Enemy's Flavor Flav, a holiday-themed boxed set from Sufjan Stevens and a collection of Bright Eyes rarities, among other goodies.

The buzz on a new album from harpist Joanna Newsom started months ago, and long time Chicago rock act Califone finally landed on the Billboard charts. Fans will have new music from Aiden, the Haunted and three new CDs worth of Tom Waits for the holidays.

And there's plenty more independent releases already making an impact, including sets from Senses Fail ("Still Searching"), Converge ("No Heroes"), Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies ("Love Their Country"), Xzibit ("Full Circle") and Mindy Smith ("Long Island Shores").

Here's a look at several notable indie releases.

Capsules compiled by Todd Martens, with additional reporting by Jonathan Cohen and Katie Hasty.

Bright Eyes, "Noise Floor" The Hold Steady, "Boys and Girls in America" Nellie McKay, "Pretty Little Head" Joanna Newsom, "Ys" Cobra Starship, "While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets"

Sufjan Stevens, "Songs for Christmas" Tom Waits, "Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards" The Haunted, "The Dead Eye" Aiden, "Rain in Hell" Flavor Flav, "Flavor Flav"