DVDs, CDs and books: May 31, 2011

A look at some of the DVDs, CDs and books hitting stores this week:

DVDS

"Biutiful" (R): In Barcelona, an underworld hustler (Javier Bardem, working wonders in an Oscar-nominated performance) struggles to care for his kids, keep their unstable mother (Maricel Alvarez) on an even keel -- and face his own mortality as he fights a losing battle with cancer in a bleak drama from Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ("Amores Perros," "Babel").

By contrast, Nicolas Cage drives us to distraction in "Drive Angry" (R), a "Ghost Rider is Gone in 60 Seconds" mash-up, playing the vengeful John Milton (English majors, please stifle your laughter), who busts out of hell -- in a '65 Buick Riviera -- so he can track down the creep who killed his daughter and kidnapped his granddaughter. And from there, we're off to the realm of the unseen and unknown. A washed-up jazz musician (Mickey Rourke) betrays a sinister gangster (Bill Murray) in the thriller "Passion Play" (R), while Kevin Kline headlines "Queen to Play" (not rated), playing a recluse who introduces a hotel maid (Sandrine Bonnaire) to the intricacies of chess. Director Gregg Araki ("Mysterious Skin") explores a small town's secrets in the comedy "Kaboom" (not rated).

A stampede of all-time favorites leads the Blu-ray Disc roundup, including a special edition of George Lucas' breakthrough "American Graffiti" (PG), Sergio Leone's epic spaghetti Western "Once Upon a Time in the West" (PG-13), the John Wayne Westerns "Big Jake" (PG-13) and "Rio Lobo" (G), and Richard Harris as "A Man Called Horse" (R). Director Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon" and "Lolita" also make their Blu-ray bows, separately and as part of a Kubrick collection that includes such classics as "2001: A Space Odyssey," "A Clockwork Orange" and "Dr. Strangelove."

Topping today's TV-to-DVD transfers (unrated unless otherwise noted): "Rookie Blue: The Complete First Season," "True Blood: The Complete Third Season," "SGU: Stargate Universe -- The Complete Final Season," a new volume of "Ellery Queen Mysteries" and "Have Gun Will Travel: Five Season Pack."

CDS

Eddie Vedder, "Ukulele Songs": Last we heard from Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder as a solo artist, he was penning tunes for the "Into the Wild" soundtrack, which was almost as stirring as the film itself.

Now he's back with "Ukulele Songs," with Cat Power's Chan Marshall, Glen Hansard of the Frames and the Swell Season helping out.

Some of the songs were written a decade ago, but despite their age, they certainly haven't grown old.

Also in stores: Black Stone Cherry, "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea"; Kate Bush, "Director's Cut"; Death Cab For Cutie, "Codes and Keys"; Flogging Molly, "Speed of Darkness"; Jordan Knight, "Unfinished"; Dave Matthews Band, "Live at Wrigley Field"; The Melvins, "Sugar Daddy Live"; and My Morning Jacket, "Circuital."

BOOKS

"The Neon Graveyard" by Vicki Pettersson: The Las Vegas author wraps up her Signs of the Zodiac Series with a pregnant Joanna Archer, stripped of her power, joining forces with a band of Shadow agents to take on her demonic foe.

And "Shanghai Girls" author Lisa See continues the story of sisters May and Pearl, and Pearl's troubled teen daughter, Joy, in "Dreams of Joy," set in Communist China.

Also hitting shelves: "The Art of Alice: Madness Returns" by R.J. Berg; "Centuries of June" by Keith Donohue; "Chain Lightning" by Elizabeth Lowell; "The Girl Who Disappeared Twice" by Andrea Kane; "Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain" by David Eagleman; "Kiss of Snow" by Nalini Singh; "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life with Frank" by Barbara Sinatra; "LIFE The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton: Expanded, Commemorative Edition" by Life Magazine; "Mama Ruby" by Mary Monroe; "The Midnight Palace" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon; "The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture" by David Mamet; "The Seed" by Jon Gordon; "Through My Eyes" by Tim Tebow; and "Trader of Secrets" by Steve Martini.