Yah, I'm surprised they don't have that feature on their web page.

It looks like you can search for a group or song and see a list of albums they have... but then if you try to click on it for details it fails cause it try to open itunes.

Two options:

1) You can browse with an iTunes-like interface with App Store, just click on the "Music" link.

2) You can search on Apple's website. on the iTunes page about halfway down there's a box that says "Search iTunes Store". It works!

The iTunes app is like a virus too. I got my last machine accidentally infected and had a terrible time trying to remove all of its parts after I couldn't figure out how to prevent it from running. It inserted almost as many fingers in my stew as anti-virus software does.
We need a small, transparent, runs-only-when-you-ask-it-to app (like AdAware for spyware) to protect against, and root out these invasive weeds.

Except for apps I start, this machine (Tranquility) has only 28 processes running, but that takes constant vigilance to protect against ambuscades like iTunes.