The summer is typically a slow time for the record industry. With students out of school and others working summer jobs or traveling, record companies have a harder time finding their audience during those summer months.

“In recent years, it seems like most major labels push their big releases between March and June, and again from September to November,” said Nate Niceswanger, owner of Zzz Records in Des Moines.

Niceswanger said that despite the traditional summer slip in sales, his store still does fairly well over the summer. He attributed this to a lack of dependence on students.

Locally, Niceswanger said he expects indie rock to continue to reign supreme at his store.

“There are some pretty big names coming out – most notably Interpol, Spoon and Shellac – and I expect all of those to do very well upon release.”

Take a look at the major releases for the summer (all are subject to change):

June 5

Marilyn Manson, “Eat Me, Drink Me”

Collaborating strictly with bassist Tim Sk”ld, Manson aims for a different, more romantic approach with his sixth album.

Paul McCartney, “Memory Almost Full”

Started before the release of his previous album, “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard,” this album draws on McCartney’s memories of the past.

Rihanna, “Good Girl Gone Bad”

R&B star Rihanna collaborates with Ne-Yo, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and others for her third album.

Shellac, “Excellent Italian Greyhound”

The self-described “minimalist rock trio” releases their first album in seven years. The title is a reference to drummer Todd Trainer’s dog.

June 12

Queens of the Stone Age, “Era Vulgaris”

Inspired by frontman Josh Homme’s daily drive through Hollywood, he describes the record as “dark, hard and electrical, sort of like a construction worker.”

Toby Keith, “Big Dog Daddy”

June 19

Bon Jovi, “Lost Highway”

The White Stripes, “Icky Thump”

Approaching their 10th anniversary, the garage-rock revivalists release their first album to include a title track.

June 26

Ryan Adams, “Easy Tiger”

Featuring a collaboration with Sheryl Crow, an early Rolling Stone review suggests this may be the alt-country star’s best record yet.

The Beastie Boys, “The Mix-Up”

One of the original hip-hop acts goes all-instrumental, though Mike D says plans for a version with vocals are in the works.

Kelly Clarkson, “My December”

July 3

Three 6 Mafia, “Last 2 Walk”

The eighth album from the Academy-Award winning Atlanta rap group includes guest spots on the album names such as Paul Wall, The Game and Lil’ Jon.

T.I., “T.I. vs T.I.P.”

Velvet Revolver, “Libertad”

After some changes in direction, the supergroup finally release their second album.

July 10

Bad Religion, “New Maps of Hell”

The punk band’s delayed follow-up to 2004’s “The Empire Strikes First” is their first album to have a title not echoed in a song title or lyric.

Interpol, “Our Love to Admire”

Though the band has been tight-lipped about their new sound, they have acknowledged using more keyboards on this album, their major-label debut.

The Smashing Pumpkins, “Zeitgeist”

The product of a partial reunion (Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin return), this is the band’s first album since their 2000 breakup.

Spoon, “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga”

The Austin-based indie-rock group follows up their 2005 release, “Gimme Fiction,” which was one of Zzz Records’ best sellers for that year.

July 17

Korn, Title TBA

July 24

Sum 41, “Underclass Hero”

Sum 41’s fifth album overall, but their first without former guitarist Dave Baksh.

July 31

Common, “Finding Forever”