A simmering new melding of Southern rock and R&B arrives with the new JJ Grey album, while the Replacements and Shuggie Otis — yeah, you read that right — return with their first new music in ages.

Arriving as it does amidst of flurry of similarly themed songbook albums — from Rod Stewart to Paul McCartney to Jeff Lynne — Let’s Face the Music and Dance reminds us of Willie Nelson’s age-old command of the genre.

This is the first time that I’ve ever enjoyed enough records from the country and Southern rock genres to put together a list. Maybe I’m getting old and turning into that country music-loving guy that my relatives always told me I would

Looks like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays. Time to dig into some new music, then!

Willie Nelson’s official site is currently streaming the “world premiere” of “Roll Me Up,” the first song from his upcoming Heroes album and a tune that he’s been playing live since late last year.

Only in Austin. Wait, make that only in Austin when we’re talking about Willie Nelson.

A benefit Johnny Cash tribute concert, to be held April 20, 2012 in Austin, Texas, has confirmed appearances set for Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow.

Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson took the stage of the 1983 US Festival as confirmed crossover country stars — but without all of the sell-out slickness that’s attached to the term these days.

Atop our teetering stacks for this edition of New Music Monday are Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Corrosion of Conformity, Lyle Lovett and Matthew Shipp

Once you’ve heard Willie Nelson’ You Don’t Know Me: The Songs Of Cindy Walker, a strong album of covers, it’s easy to see where Nelson gets his knack for songwriting: He obviously studied Walker’s template and then took it in his own direction. What’s surprising here is that an album of 50-60 year old music still sounds so vital today. [...]