The 2008 spring music release calendar will feature sophomore follow-ups, the return of some old favorites and an actor defying convention by attempting to become a respected singer.  Here is what's in store for the mainstream music scene over the next few months.
 

SNOOP DOGG, EGO TRIPPIN'
RELEASE DATE: March 11
THE 210 TAKE: A list of what to expect from Snoop on his latest release: songs about getting high, songs about being high, songs about wishing to be high.

PANIC AT THE DISCO, PRETTY. ODD.
RELEASE DATE: March 25
THE 210 TAKE: An emo band releases a follow-up to the debut that made it famous. You know what that means ..... emo backlash. After all, if there's one thing emo kids like more than adopting a new band, it's disowning that band once it becomes famous (see Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Dashboard Confessional).

R.E.M., ACCELERATE
RELEASE DATE: April 1
THE 210 TAKE: On its 14th proper studio release, the band is brining back its distinct rock sound from the '80s and '90s. You know, back when R.E.M. was still relevant.

GNARLS BARKLEY, THE ODD COUPLE
RELEASE DATE: April 8
THE 210 TAKE: Unless the enigmatic duo has another “Crazy” in the bank, which would be one hell of a feat, it's hard to imagine this album reaching the critical or commercial heights of the previous release, 2006's St. Elsewhere.

MARIAH CAREY, E=MC2
RELEASE DATE: April 15
THE 210 TAKE: If we're going to live an age of glossy, substance-free pop music — and we've pretty much accepted it — can we at least have it done right? Thankfully, Mariah is coming back to show Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield and all the other wannabe divas how stylistic radio pop is supposed to sound.

MADONNA, HARD CANDY
RELEASE DATE: April 29
THE 210 TAKE: Madonna says in Entertainment Weekly of the new album, which features a collaboration with Justin Timberlake, “I'm gonna kick your ass, but it's going to make you feel good.” Whipped/shamed husband Guy Ritchie probably hears the exact same thing every night before bed.

3 DOORS DOWN, SELF- TITLED
RELEASE DATE: May 6
THE 210 TAKE: No one does radio-friendly, chart-ready pop rock quite like 3 Doors Down. Well, aside from Foo Fighters.

SCARLETT JOHANSSON, ANYWHERE I LAY MY HEAD
RELEASE DATE: May 20
THE 210 TAKE: Johansson does an album of Tom Waits covers on her first full-length foray into the music industry. What a shame. We were hoping she'd cover fellow actor-turned-singer Eddie Murphy's “Party All the Time.”