In greatly expanding the possibilities for vibraphone and marimba, Patricia Brennan’s ‘More Touch’ takes us to exciting new sonic territory fueled by exceptional musicianship and a lot of gumption.

Secret, secret – I’ve got a secret: Styx’s “Mr. Roboto” arrived 40 years ago today as a nonsensical band-busting hit. I turn it up every time.

Jose James is taking yet another big career leap forward with ‘On and On,’ a searching exploration of the music of Erykah Badu.

Perfectly self-contained, ‘OK Computer’ nevertheless reads as a watershed between what Radiohead was – and what they would become.

Musicians capable of anything deserve to play in a setting where anything goes. Thankfully, Tomas Fujiwara is allowing us to hear that with ‘March On.’

With ‘Recoil,’ Brad Henkel, Dustin Carlson and Samuel Hall set out and succeeded in making a freeform record that’s not just uncommon, but uncommonly good.

After a seven-year gap, Mike Keneally did thankfully resume answering his main calling in making adventurously catchy records, and ‘The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat’ shows no loss of mojo for him.

On ‘Triptych I, II & III,’ Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp never, ever wander aimlessly trying to figure out what to play next. It all comes out naturally and it comes in the form of actual melodies, even if those melodies are constantly shifting and mutating.

A swampy alternate version of Walter Becker’s twangy delight “Cringemaker” bowed for the occasion of his 73rd birthday. Check it out at Walter Becker Media.

It probably goes without saying that if you like The Necks previous records, you’re going to like ‘Travel,’ too, guaranteed. It’s a familiar sound but the songs will still take you on an engaging journey where you’re not sure beforehand where they wind up.