If you've been hankering to put a Tori Amos winter-themed album next to your Aimee Mann, Jewel, and Sarah McLachlan X-Mas CDs, you are in luck. Amos has confirmed that her next album is a solstice-centric collection. We're told to expect "strings, brass, tubular bells and harpsichord." Works for me, and thank your respective gods that she's not doing yet another damn version of "Silent Night." Although we may get another of Joni's "River." But Tori does that one proud live.

If we're placing bets, I suspect a re-recorded "Winter."

(Word is also to expect live recordings of her upcoming European gigs after her very successful run of official bootlegs during her last tour).

ALSO COMING THIS FALL
Sean "Diddy" Combs - Last Train To Paris (Sept 22)
Madonna - Celebration (Sept 22)
Pearl Jam - Backspacer (Sept 22)
They Might Be Giants - Here Comes Science (Sept 22)
Nelly Furtado - Mi Plan (Sept 29)
Paramore - Brand New Eyes (Sept 29)
Barbra Streisand - Love Is The Answer (Sept 29)
Air - Love 2 (Oct 6)
The Gossip - Music For Men (Oct 6)
Sting - If On A Winter's Night (Nov 27)

TBA: Aerosmith, Christina Aguilera, Kris Allen, Aly & AJ, Annie, Marc Anthony, Melissa Auf der Maur, Barenaked Ladies, Basement Jaxx, Mary J. Blige, Blur, Michelle Branch, Cassie, Cee-Lo, JC Chasez, Devo, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Eve, The Flaming Lips, The Fray, The Fugees (yeah, ok), Garbage, Heart, Allison Iraheta, Michael Jackson, Adam Lambert, Lil Jon, Shirley Manson, Massive Attack, Matchbox Twenty, Metro Station, Mika, No Doubt, Roxy Music, Santigold, Shakira, Tegan And Sara, Robin Thicke, Trans Siberian Orchestra, and Amy Winehouse when she gets her shit together.

TOO FAR AWAY? Here's what's left of the summer:
Cobra Starship - Hot Mess (Aug 11)
Queen Latifah - Persona (Aug 11)
The Roots - How I Got Over (Aug 11)
Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor (Aug 11)
Lil Wayne - Rebirth (Aug 18)
Reba McEntire - Keep On Loving You (Aug 18)
Sean Paul - Imperial Balze (Aug 18)
Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major (Aug 18)
David Guetta - One Love (Aug 25)
Imogen Heap - Ellipse (Aug 25)
Whitney Houston - I Look To You (Aug 31)
Billie Myers - Tea and Sympathy (Sept 1)
Juliette Lewis - Terra Incognita (Sept 1)
Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs (Sept 8)
Jay-Z - Blueprint 3 (Sept 11)
Muse - The Resistance (Sept 14)
Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 (Sept 15)
Mariah Carey - Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel(Sept 15)