CHRIS STAMEY Lovesick Blues [Yep Roc] Having spent much of his career in the producer’s chair, Chris Stamey fittingly applies lessons learned behind the scenes to this, his first solo album in seven years. Following a recent reunion with his seminal power-pop band the dB’s, Stamey ups the musical ante on Lovesick Blues. The album is lushly arranged and brimming with emotion, and Stamey adds a personal perspective to the radiant pop approach that’s... 

TIFT MERRITT Traveling Alone [Yep Roc] Although Tift Merritt has always shown a knack for vivid, poignant songs, her albums have occasionally ducked nuance in favor of emphasizing her robust voice. That changes on Merritt’s latest, a collection that draws much of its power from the quieter moments. She embraces the dusty romance of a solitary life on the road in the title track, sighs through curtains of steel guitar on “Feeling of Beauty”... 

LIAM FINN FOMO [Yep Roc] You’re almost certainly wondering what FOMO means, so let’s clear that up: It’s an acronym that stands for “fear of missing out,” a common affliction of musicians who are always on the road. Liam Finn devotes his sophomore record to combating that feeling with a batch of pop songs buoyant enough to brighten the occasional dark spot. Finn, the son of Crowded House leader Neil Finn, delivers catchy melodies in a strong,... 

GANG OF FOUR Content [Yep Roc] Gang of Four roared out of the chute more than three decades ago with Entertainment!, one of the post-punk era’s finest albums. A prime influence on the alternative-rock crowd, the British quartet framed punk’s subversive spirit in jagged rhythms and shards of staccato riffs. Remarkably, the group’s first album of new material since reuniting in 2004 picks up right where its early work left off. Armed with sturdy... 

STEVE WYNN & THE MIRACLE 3 Northern Aggression [Yep Roc] Steve Wynn still is whipping up a sonic storm nearly three decades after he first piloted the Dream Syndicate on its critically acclaimed debut, The Days of Wine and Roses. With his current band, the muscular and visceral Miracle 3 (guitarist Jason Victor, drummer Linda Pitmon and bassist Dave DeCastro), he careens through a blistering set of psychedelic-dosed rock on Northern Aggression.... 

PETER CASE Wig! [Yep Roc] To paraphrase 19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, Peter Case has learned that what doesn’t kill you makes you rock harder. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter survived a near-fatal heart attack last year to create his liveliest album in years. “Banks of the River” kicks with a jolt of bluesy rock ‘n’ roll, and the roadhouse ride continues from there. Teaming up with longtime X drummer DJ Bonebrake... 

PAUL WELLER Wake Up the Nation [Yep Roc] Each new Paul Weller album is cause for cautious optimism. He’s never really made a bad record, but over the last three decades, he’s failed to recapture the energy of his seminal mod-punk trio the Jam. On his 10th solo effort, Weller comes as close as he likely ever will to a Jam reunion. That’s true in terms of personnel—Jam bassist Bruce Foxton joins him on two tracks—and performance. Despite moments... 

JOSH ROUSE El Turista [Yep Roc] Longtime Tennessee resident Josh Rouse’s relocation to Spain has clearly given this soft-spoken singer-songwriter a burst of inspiration. However, the sound of El Turista suggests his true fascination these days resides with Brazilian rhythms, as filtered through the influences of Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto and Gilberto Gil. Sung partially in Spanish and only occasionally in English, El Turista exudes charm befitting...