Lucinda Williams’ gruff slur on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” conveys just how few times the fates allow us the moments we’d like.

A pessimist’s anthem for any era, Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows” never loses its blunt force wisdom.

Mick Jagger’s take on “Waiting on a Friend,” from the Rolling Stones’ newly issued ‘Hampton Coliseum – Live In 1981,’ becomes a character study.

With everything that’s gone on, the idea of new music — any new music — from Jethro Tull has to be greeted with unbridled jubilation.

Life is, as this song reminds, full of strange delights — like finding Neil Young amongst pizzicato strings.

With “Rock ‘n’ Roll Again,” Blackberry Smoke got my toes tapping. There’s not much more you can ask for from this type of song.

Alison Moyet’s return to a synthpop has been triumphal — a culmination of everything she began as part of Yaz.

Elsewhere, Neil Young’s Storytone might exceed its own grasp, might try to do too much. But not this song.

James McMurtry has never sounded more visceral, more close up and present.

“Where’s Mantis Evar,” originally by Monkey House, combines elements of the Breithaupt Brothers’ writing modis operandi in a rock setting.