Reactions were mixed for some reason as ‘Pleasant Dreams’ arrived 45 years ago today, but this stands as the Ramones’ last truly great album.

Here is “Puma and the Spider Monkey,” an advance single from percussionist Mike Dillon’s upcoming album ‘Mike & Beignet Go to the Zoo.’

Here is “The Subtext,” the second advance single from the Kris Davis Trio’s upcoming album ‘Lost In Geneva’. This is what acoustic jazz in the 21st century sounds like when it’s on its game.

Here is “Melodian,” a single from the upcoming album ‘Transmission’ by the horn-led funk-soul sextet the Huntertones.

Here is the advance single “Illumination” from Cindy Blackman Santana’s upcoming album ‘Coherence.’

Here’s a brand new single from the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio.

Steve Matteo surveys a new trio of deep-dive music books on Muscle Shoals, the Grateful Dead and the Record Plant with simply stunning visual presentations.

JabFung’s ‘In Real Life’ comes only a year after their debut, but the big story for the second album is the addition of a trumpet player – and not just any trumpet player.

The sad and early death of Gene Clark 35 years ago this week couldn’t overshadow a remarkable stint as the Byrds’ principal songwriter in the mid-1960s.

Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ arrived 55 years ago today as one of the 1970s’ most important records – and one of music’s most complex joys.