What a complex experience this is, modern poetry set in the back seat of a roaring rock ‘n’ roll muscle car. The effect, as Cavalcade unfolds, is at first very visceral and then deeply illuminating.

The mighty Maharajas’ latest single “Black Box” (Chaputa Records), perhaps a teaser for their upcoming new album, is a winner. Up-tempo and rockin,’ “Black Box” to my ears bears a strong Fuzztones/Music Machine influence

Anyone who came of age in the 1980s can instantly visualize one scene when hearing the name “Billy Vera and the Beaters”: Michael J. Fox and future wife Tracy Pollan slow dancing to “At This Moment” on the TV sitcom Family Ties.

Everything will kill you, eventually. Pay enough attention to media reports and you’ll discover that consuming just about anything will lead to your early demise.

With a smart assist from Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples transforms Funkadelic’s “Can You Get To That” from a sing-along slab of greasy-good uplift into this Americana-inflected groover.

To answer the obvious question, yes the Howlin’ Brothers do indeed howl on their major label debut called Howl. They also hoot, holler, bash away at banjos while fiddling as the barn burns down.

Last month we got a taste of UK acid jazzers The Brand New Heavies’ first release since 2006′s Get Used To It, and the advance single “Sunlight” signaled a pretty decent return.

Guitarist Steve Morse joined us as Deep Purple released both deluxe and vinyl editions of their new album Now What?!, a comeback which has already topped the charts in four countries — and gone Top 20 in 13 more.

The advance publicity for the fourth official solo album by Sonic Youth member/author/art damaged polymath Thurston Moore offered a challenge: You may think you know where a Thurston record does or does not factor into your world

James McCartney, a musician with a blessing/curse of a last name, tries to come to terms with the strength needed to overcome such strokes of luck/misery on “Strong as You”