My Chemical Romance, Aterciopelados, Los Tucanes de Tijuana and The Radio Dept.

My Chemical Romance returns with its second major label album, The Black Parade. The lite goth and emo band is still riding high from the success of 2004's Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and a DVD + live CD compilation released early this year. The New Jersey theatrical rockers have had their share of disses by music critics and fans alike for their generic sounding punk rock, and this time around, for turning themselves into Green Day clones. Nonetheless, their new single and video, Welcome to the Black Parade, is rapidly climbing the charts around the world. Most importantly, pretty boy Gerard Way, the band’s singer, is now a ravishing blonde.

Colombia’s Aterciopelados have ended their extended hiatus with their first album in almost six years. Oye brings singer Andrea Echeverri and bassist Hector Buitrago back to the fore with a set of fresh songs that aims to please their old followers and woo new fans. The electronic downtempo that defined their last two records is out, replaced by acoustic sounds more in tune with the band’s earthy first releases over ten years ago. Echeverri's keen observations on society are sharp as ever, whether poking fun at consumerism in “Don Dinero,” criticizing beauty-obsessed women in in “Oye Mujer” or giving shout-outs to famous protest singers in “Canción Protesta.” In Oye, Aterciopelados deliver some of their most focused songs to date.

Mario Quintero’s Los Tucanes de Tijuana have churned out their 26th album Amante De Lo Bueno (Lover of Good Things), with album number 27 already slated for a year-end release. Los Tucanes have produced hit after hit since forming in 1987, becoming Mexico’s most successful norteño band in the process. Notorious for their gangsta narcocorrido Mis Tres Animales (My Three Animals) – a clever nod to drug trafficking – the band now only writes love ballads and party songs. Can you say crossover? Their new single “Sin Ti Soy un Loco” is already heating the regional music charts across the U.S.

The Radio Dept. is another Swedish music act trying to make its way to American shores on the current wave being ridden by José González, The Knife, Love is All and Peter, Bjorn and John. We, for one, welcome our Swedish overlords. The British and Americans have forgotten how to create indie pop that doesn't suck leaving it to the Swedes – remember ABBA? – to take over. The Radio Dept.'s second album, Pet Grief, is being released this week in both the U.K. and the U.S., coinciding with a featured spot on Sophia Coppola's new movie Marie Antoinette. The follow-up to their 2003 Lesser Matters is brimming with twelve near-perfect guitar-driven electronic pop songs a la an updated Pet Shop Boys and My Bloody Valentine. Go vikings.