The Tulsa, Okla.,-based singer-songwriter has a reputation for writing superb sad songs, but his new record shows a wider range of emotions, with novelistic details in the lyrics.
The Hackensaw Boys have been performing together for nearly 20 years. The veteran act has a knack for storytelling, and many of its songs are about the band's hometown.
This Slingshot exploration of the Kansas City music scene features a mini-documentary series about romantically-involved musical duos, just in time for Valentine's Day.
For "One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs," veteran music writer Maura Johnston recommends "The Sweetest Girl" by the band Scritti Politti. They're known mostly for their 1985 hit "Perfect Way."
Kevin Parker's fourth album as the leader of Australian rock band Tame Impala comes after a five-year gap. It's music that comes wrapped in its own bubble, far from the cascading miseries on the news.