Marcus Randolph’s debut album ‘Transplant’ is heartfelt but also very loose, and it’s both of those qualities together make it a fun listen.

Juggling power-pop instincts with roots rock influences, the Successful Failures produce a sound that exercises both the body and the brain cells.

Never has anyone made spunky roots rock go down so easy like Robert Randolph and his Family Band. All that’s needed is a heapin’ helping of soul and, of course, maximal pedal steel guitar. There’s plenty of both on ‘Got Soul.’

On ‘Live At The Barn,’ The Wood Brothers brought Little Feat attitude with Taj Mahal worldliness and soul to Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Woodstock barn last summer.

‘The Royal Gospel’ by Cyril Neville’s Royal Southern Brotherhood should be eliciting a lot of hosannas in response.

Once again Lucinda Williams excels at making her pain, perseverance and hope relatable to ours, like few others can.

With ‘Let Me Get By’ the TTB is a full-time, fully mature and fully self-contained ensemble ready to conquer the world. Already, they’re well on their way to doing just that.

With ‘Break Up the Concrete,’ released Oct. 7, 2008, the Pretenders found their old edge – but not with a return to hard-driving punk styles.

Though David Crosby has lamented the fact that Roger McGuinn seems uninterested in a long-hoped-for Byrds reunion, the two remain friends.

‘Complicated Game,’ James McMurtry’s first album in seven years, finds his narrative rigor once again in sharp focus.