‘Blow Your Mind’ doesn’t sound anything like what you might expect from someone who did a farewell tour not so long ago. This, in fact, is Wilko Johnson near his best.

It’s a shame this wonderful, mostly acoustic jazzy bonus cut from the late Terry Kath didn’t find itself on ‘Chicago X.’

It’s always a good indication that the music is working the way the artists intend for it to work when you struggle to pigeonhole it but can easily get a firm grasp of its emotional impact. Syrinx Effect ‘s ‘A Sky You Could Strike A Match On’ does just that.

Brownout’s instrumental explorations into the music of Public Enemy manage to tell a compelling, socially engaged story without using words.

The all-originals ‘Ours’ and all-covers ‘Theirs’ are both bulls eyes from Thumbscrew and a strong way to persuade the quality label Cuneiform to not give up the fight.

Billy Sherwood’s future impact on Yes comes into focus with “The More We Live – Let Go,” his first collaboration with Chris Squire.

Thollem ducks into a studio and jams with a noted, up-and-coming fusion guitarist and the drummer from an established garage-punk band.

Bart and the Bedazzled are like a cool combination of ’70s pop-singer Stephen Bishop and ’80s bands like the Style Council.

Simple, nuanced and damn near perfect, Judith Owen’s ‘RedisCOVERed’ meets and occasionally exceeds all expectations.

A comeback in the truest sense, ‘You Can’t Beat Youth’ returns the Maharajas to their garage-rock roots.