The sweeping, deeply inspiring “Rise” keeps the synths, even as Todd Rundgren begins looking outward rather than inward.

“Might As Well Smile” explores a new kind of song for Beth Hart, part of a new kind of album – one framed by hope, rather than pain.

As sun-flecked as Ron Sexsmith’s melodies no doubt are, his lyrics often run the other way. “Can’t Get My Act Together,” however, feels brand new.

Boz Scaggs released his biggest-ever hit this month in 1976, providing the big-bang moment for an up-and-coming band named Toto along the way.

Daryl Hall has said he and Robert Fripp were trying to combine sounds from two different cultures to “form a third kind of music.” They did.

If you’re expecting another rootsy upbeat rocker from the BoDeans, the frankly scarifying blues of “Slave” likely comes as something of a shock.

“Wolflight” is a colloquialism for the time just before dawn, when the world is rousing itself. Steve Hackett seems to be similarly coming alive again.

Combine David Gilmour’s “Out of the Blue” – released March 27, 1984 – with the best of The Final Cut, and you’d get the next great Pink Floyd album.

His current All-Starrs buoy everything that surrounds them — including, it’s clear, Ringo Starr himself. The ultimate bandmate, Starr sounds whole again.

This is as close as we’re apparently going to get to what should have happened in 2013, after the Beach Boys’ reunion tour with Brian Wilson.