SHELBY LYNNE — Pasadena, Calif., 2000 FOCAL POINTS Photographer James Minchin III illuminates the spirit of rock ’n’ roll “The images I like most are those where I’m able to just get out of the way,” says photographer James Minchin III. “I prefer to document what’s actually happening rather than trying to create something.” That unerring eye for capturing a revealing moment has earned the trust and admiration of a diverse array... 

DAR WILLIAMS  Making sense of the modern world through the myths of an ancient time   When she titled her eighth and latest album In the Time of Gods, singer and songwriter Dar Williams wasn’t just looking for something that sounded lofty. On the contrary, Williams has lately been fascinated with Greek mythology and its gods and goddesses—Zeus, Hermes, Athena and their compatriots, whose tales she considers a prism through which to see the... 

ELVIS COSTELLO National Ransom [Hear Music] Elvis Costello has touched on a wide variety of genres during his career, but he usually sticks with one style at a time. On National Ransom, he finally blends two of his distinct artistic modes into one. Last year’s Secret, Profane & Sugarcane featured a band of Nashville acoustic-music ringers, who here are joined by Costello’s longtime rock outfit, the Imposters. The combination is a versatile...