The most interesting record this week is the "Tempest," Bob Dylan's 35th studio album.

It is only his fourth since the big comeback that was 2001's still-excellent "Love and Theft." (Look, "Time Out of Mind," the 1997 album generally regarded as the end of a Rather Grim Period in Dylan's catalog, is lovely, but until I hear the version that doesn't have Daniel Lanois all over it, I'm fine, thanks.)

"Tempest" is dark, tricky stuff, not quite the mind-blower that was "Time Out of Mind," but far richer than the comparatively thin "Together Through Life."

The opener, "Duquesne Whistle" starts with some old-timey plink before popping to life, a distorted chord and Dylan's beloved organ cutting through the drum-trot, 19th and 20th centuries bumping into each other on the street and tipping their hats.

There is noirish stuff here, from Dylan croaking "You say I'm a gambler, you say I'm a pimp / But I ain't neither one" (sure, buddy) on "Duquesne Whistle" to the piping hot death all over "Tin Angel," the nasty "Pay in Blood" and the bluesy single "Early Roman Kings."

The newsmakers have included the 14-minute title track, a whacked-out epic about the Titanic disaster. It's pure gonzo journalism and post-modern revisionism (there's a character named Leo in there, and, come on, that's pretty funny). The other is "Roll On John," a striking mediation on the death of John Lennon. Why now? Your guess is as good as mine. It might be as good as Dylan's.

Elsewhere this week, two acts get the Rick Rubin treatment: the Avett Brothers with "The Carpenter" and Texas heroes ZZ Top with "La Futura." (The Avett Brothers are playing the Austin City Limits Music Festival next month, and ZZ Top will be at the Backyard Oct. 27.)

The XX follow up their debut album with "Coexist," which sounds pretty much like the first, only more so. (You'll hear what I mean.)

Apparently indestructible, the Pet Shop Boys have a new one called "Elysium," while the Dave Matthews Band returns with "Away From the World," and the Raveonettes release "Observator." The new one from The Helio Sequence is called "Negotiations."

David Byrne & St. Vincent collaborate on "Love This Giant" (good timing, everyone; Byrne's book "How Music Works" is also out today, and the duo plays Oct. 5 at Bass Concert Hall).

Nelly Furtado, of all people, releases "The Spirit Indestructible," while David Guetta's 2011 album gets a repackage as "Nothing But the Beat 2.0" with a few new songs.

In the country of country, Kix Brooks delivers "New to This Town," Bucky Covington releases "Good Guys," and Vince Gill's new one is called "The Time Jumpers." No, really.

For those of you looking to round out your Kristen Stewart collection, "Snow White and the Huntsman" is now out on DVD and Blu-ray. (Come on, the coolest thing to come out of that movie was the "make a scary dish" challenge on the recent season of "Top Chef.")

And if you really need yet another version (or have a newly minted 15-year-old with a birthday coming up), check out the "Titanic Collector's Edition" which comes with a 3-D Blu-ray, a 2-D Blu-ray, six hours of special features, two all-new documentaries, a souvenir book and more.

Beware, David Bowie nerds who were looking forward to the "Bowie In Berlin" DVD: It's the same material as "Under Review – The Berlin Trilogy" (trust me, this means something to some people and those people are kind of bummed right now) ...

Great week for fiction: Look for "Telegraph Avenue," the new novel from Michael Chabon of "Kavalier and Clay" fame, and Junot Diaz ("The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao") releases a new collection of tough-minded short stories called "This Is How You Lose Her."

Superstar thriller writer Lee Child's newest "Reacher" book, "A Wanted Man," is in stores today, which means I will be buying it today and reading it tonight, probably all the way through.

Contact Joe Gross at 912-5926 or jgross@statesman.com.