THE ROBERT CRAY BAND Nothin but Love [Mascot]  For decades, singer and guitarist Robert Cray has been in an odd position. He’s credited with bringing the blues back into the mainstream yet criticized for making the genre shiny and acceptable. His fans outnumber his detractors, though, and Nothin but Love reveals why. Produced by Kevin Shirley, the album is audacious and potent yet tidy and accessible. Cray and his band prefer their blues soundly... 

FLYING COLORS Flying Colors [Mascot] Flying Colors spotlights five veteran musicians with unbeatable progressive pedigrees—guitarist Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple), drummer Mike Portnoy (who recently exited Dream Theater), bassist Dave LaRue (a frequent collaborator of Morse and Portnoy), keyboardist Neal Morse (formerly of Spock’s Beard) and singer Casey McPherson (Texas’ Alpha Rev). Think Toto—top-flight players who don’t look...