This week we’re going to do some traveling. Whether it’s back in time, to another country, or just down South; this week’s new music releases are taking us away. And I don’t know about you, but I love traveling. So grab your bags and don’t bother making a mix tape for the ride, because all the music you need is right here.

Chris Isaak- Mr. Lucky

Oh, hi Chris Isaak. You’re back. Remember “Wicked Game”? You know, “And I wanna fall in love…with you” Yes, I told you we were traveling back in time. Despite the fact that we haven’t heard from this guy in awhile, Chris Isaak just has one of those voices I’ll always be a fan of. Not only is he back with a new album, Mr. Lucky, but he’s got a new TV show as well. The Biography Channel will soon be airing his Inside the Actor’s Studio like program for musicians. So obviously now is a good time for him to come out with some new music himself. The album is great, and comes with a huge perk: a duet with Michelle Branch (yes, I am a fan). While ”I Lose My Heart” is a really pretty song with a country-ish twang, I wish he gave Michelle a larger part (like a solo somewhere in there). Isaak also has a duet with Trisha Yearwood, which is one of my favorite songs on the album, showcasing Trisha’s beautiful voice throughout. I’m not sure any of the songs on Mr. Lucky will surpass “Wicked Game,” but it’s nice to hear Chris singing again.

K’Naan- Troubadour

And now we’re traveling far, far away. What? You’ve never heard of K’Naan? OK, neither had I. But I’m telling you, you totally need to start listening. First of all, Troubadour, K’Naan’s second studio album, was mostly recorded at Bob Marley’s home studio in Jamaica. So you already know the guy’s pretty cool. K’Naan was born and raised in Somalia and raps about his home country, his experiences, and so much more. I’d describe him as a much cooler, more hardcore version of The Black-Eyed Peas. It’s rap, but it’s rap that you can sing along to; rap that holds incredible meaning behind the words. K’Naan sings lyrics like: “They don’t teach us the ABCs/We play on the hard concrete/All we got is life on the streets” and “How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday/When injustice had him caged and trapped in every way/How did Ghandi ever withstand the hunger strikes and all/Didn’t do it to gain power and money if I recall.” Umm, but I swear, it’s fun music! If you don’t believe me, just listen to “Bang Bang,” which features Adam Levine of Maroon 5. I’ve had it on repeat all day and you probably will too.

Joe Bonamassa- The Ballad of John Henry

Joe Bonamassa is going to take us down South. OK, so really he was born and raised in Utica, New York, but his blues-rock music will make you feel like you’re down South; or at least in an underground Chicago bar somewhere. I’ll admit I’m not a big listener of the blues genre of music, but something about Joe Bonamassa’s new album, The Ballad of John Henry, has me really feeling the blues. But in a totally good way. I mean, come on, he does a cover to the song titled “Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter.” I have absolutely no idea what that means, but the song is pretty much a blast. The title track and “Happier Times” almost remind me of a cleaner version of the Drive-By Truckers, so I automatically liked it. But my favorite track might have to be “Feeling Good” a bluesy-rock take on the recently made popular by Michael Buble Bobby Darin original. Who ever said the blues would make you sad? After listening to Joe Bonamassa, I know I’m feeling good.

Yes, it’s true, I don’t have an mp3 player. This is not really by choice, I must admit—my iPod broke a couple months ago and the so-called “Geniuses” at my local Apple store told me that the cost of fixing it would be (shockingly) the same as buying a new one. It really bothers me that Apple’s products (and most gadgets these days) are basically designed to break after about a year, thus forcing you to buy a new one, so I simply refused. I went iPod-less.

I love reading, so I figured my morning commutes would be fine. Think of all the books I could get through! I might finally plow through that stack of New Yorkers under my bed! As for walking around, I’d be better off—less likely to get hit by a bus while crossing the street and not paying attention, less likely to get targeted for mugging, less likely to run into a glass door (yes, this has actually happened to me).

Who am I kidding?

Not having an mp3 player in New York City is excruciating. I here every siren and every cat call as I walk down the street. I sit on the subway and am inundated with noise: crying children, people yelling at each other or cackling loudly, and the garbled feedback from the train announcer. But the worst part? It’s the people with mp3 players who are the most annoying.

Sometimes their music is so loud I can tell exactly what song is playing. Sometimes there are multiple players with competing sounds. Sometimes people are just soooo into their music they feel the need to sing/hum/tap/rap along. They never ever hear you when you say “excuse me”.

Was I like that before? Did I walk around in an iPod fog, oblivious to the goings-on around me? Could you hear Arcade Fire leaking from my little white ear buds? Not having an mp3 player has made me realize just how obnoxious I probably was back when I had one, and yet it makes me yearn for something, anything, to tune them all out.

Maybe I should just buy earplugs?

Anyone who is either:

A) Obsessed with Apple products

B) A total nerd

C) Bored at work, or

D) Unable to avoid people who are A, B or C

has heard the news from Apple land.

Yes, my friends, it is time to toss that Generation 4 iPod (now named the iPod Classic) because there is a new boy in town and he is much sexier than his older brother.

The new iPod is here and it is deeeeeeeelicious. Forget the antiquated old click wheel. This bad boy is all touch screen, just like his cousin, iPhone. He also boasts wireless internet where you can browse the web, watch YouTube videos and – brace yourselves – download new songs directly to your iPod.

No, Generation Instant Gratification, there is no need to wait until you get home to DL that hot new Timbaland song (because you know there will be a new one on the radio by the time you get home, anyway); just load the iPod internet browser and get it now. Like, right now.

Other hot news from Mr. Jobs:

A new Nano with a bigger screen for video viewing. Oh, and a $200 price drop on the iPhone. No more $600 price tag; this beaut can be yours for only $400.

That may seem like a lot, but it is right in line with other mega phones like the Crackberry and Treo.

Oh, and even better, you can now download songs from iTunes, edit them down to a 30 second segment and make them your ring tone!

I don’t think it gets much better than this.

But, then again, I am both B and C (see above).