Credit: Epitaph

“Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes,” the first studio album from SoCal’s Social Distortion in six years, opens with  instrumental “Road Zombie.” It’s a straight shot of adrenalin to the heart and it sets the tone for what’s ahead: a solid, energetic jolt of rock and roll tempered with experience and confidence.

Best known for its 1990 hit, “Ball & Chain,” Social D has shifted to Epitaph Records for the new release, plus switched a few members. This is the band’s first set with new bassist Brent Harding and drummer David Hildalgo Jr. (he’s the son of Los Lobos’ David Hildalgo).

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Panic at the Disco

It’s been three years since we’ve a new album from Panic! At the Disco, but the band is coming back with “Vices & Virtues,”  on March 29. The new set was produced by Butch Walker and John Feldmann.

As you may recall, Panic! At the Disco has been through a little upheaval since we last heard from them. The former foursome is now a duo: singer/instrumentalist Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith. In 2009, guitarist/vocalist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker left the group. They were replaced by Ian Crawford and Dallon Weekes for Panic’s tour with Blink-182, but aren’t permanent members.

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Robert Plant

Credit: AP Photo

Robert Plant will return to the road in April to continue to support his fine September album, “Band of Joy.”

Slash

Credit: Matt Sayles/AP

If Slash never picked up his guitar again, he’d already go down in history as one of the most inventive electric guitarists in rock history. Time Magazine put him at No. 2 on its 2009 list of the 10 Best Electric Guitar Players of All Time, behind only Jimi Hendrix and in front of such guitar gods as  B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.

As part of Guns N’ Roses, Slash is responsible for sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide and that great, instantly recognizable lick that opens “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and many more.

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Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam

Credit: AP Photo

It’s still slow in album release land as labels are holding off on releasing the big guns until March. Still there are some choice sets coming this week, including Gregg Allman’s first solo album in 14 years as well as new sets from James Blunt and The Decemberists and a tasty live collection from Pearl Jam.

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Jennifer Lopez gets an assist from Pitbull on her latest single.

Just in time for the Jan.19 season premiere of “American Idol” with new judge Jennifer Lopez, J-Lo drops a new single, "On the Floor,"  to let us know she is back on the music block.

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Taylor Swift

Credit: Matt Sayles/AP

Hold on folks, it just got even worse. After Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” set a record this week for the lowest sales tally ever for an album in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, it looks like that record will fall next week.

The good news for Cake is that its first album of new material in years, “Showroom of Compassion,” will likely come in at No. 1. The bad news is that the title may do so by selling less than 40,000 copies. Right now, according to Hits Daily Double, it is on track to sell between 37,000-42,000. Debuting at No. 2 will be “Thank You Happy Birthday” from Cage the Elephant. Swift falls to No. 3. Bruno Mars will be No. 4 and Nicki Minaj at No. 5. The “Country Strong” soundtrack continues to do well, despite the movie flopping at the box office, as it rises five spots.

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Britney's back with a vengeance.

Welcome to the first Music Power Rankings of 2011. The music business comes to a halt over the holidays and it takes a number of weeks for it to ramp back up. Hence, we took a few liberties with this week’s rankings towards the bottom; however, Britney Spears comes by her No. 1 ranking totally honestly.

Excitement around her new single, “Hold It Against Me” had reached fever pitch by the time the song, the first from her upcoming March album, rolled out Monday morning. By the end of the day, it was No. 1 on iTunes and and will likely debut at No. on the Billboard Hot 100 next week.  When we think about where the abyss she was in both musically and, more importantly, personally, only a few years ago, it’s a marvelous and triumphant resurrection.

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Gwen Stefani performing on the "Today" show...in the previous decade.

Credit: AP Photo/Pete Kramer

Gwen Stefani is the new face of L’Oreal Paris cosmetics. She follows in the footsteps of Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez.

The first commercial featuring the No Doubt frontwoman pushing the brand will debut during The Golden Globe Awards on  Sunday (Jan. 16).

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"Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark's" official opening has been delayed once more.

For the fifth time,  the opening of the Broadway musical, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” has been delayed.

In December,  the show announced the opening would move from Jan. 11 to Feb. 7. Now, producers said “Spider-Man” will officially open now March 15. The delay is “to allow for more time to fine-tune aspects of the show, including the new ending,” according to a statement attributed to lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris.

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