The shunky beat, softly strummed guitar and sweetly layered atmospheric noodles of various wind instruments inform “Solstice (This Day the Sun Stands Still),” the opening track of Norine Braun’s new holiday offering December Falls.

Americana rock and soul band Idiot Grins’ 4th full-length album is a song-for-song recreation of the Louvin Brother’s 1959 classic Satan Is Real, that they have titled Thoughts & Prayers. Here the Oakland California band of piano/organ player Mike Conner, Evan Eustis on bass, mandolin and vocals, John Hansen singing, Michael Melgoza playing drums and Randy Strauss guitars gives it a go with a stripped-down guitar/piano/bass/drums and what they call “blood harmony.”

An acoustic guitar slips and sliding under snare hits as Maged gives forth on the state of things on the ender, “When Dreams Don’t Come True.” Again, he’s trying too hard with the lyric, but as with all he manages on this, his 4th full length, the production and playing is spot-on, and like with many here, it’s a well-written tune.

Inspired by Peter, Paul, and Mary’s albums, Eric H. F. Law has been writing songs since the age of 14 about his immigrant experience in New York City. On his new Better Angels album, the folk singer/songwriter uses catchy melodies, subtle production, and meditative lyrical content to reflect on his current life.

One would be remiss not to notice the musicians on Eight Days Across America. Tomoko Akaboshi and Fung Chern Hwei plays violin; Amuka, Layonne Holmes, Sarah Naughton, and Gina Volpe (who also plays guitar) sing; Ron Lawrence manages viola, Tomas Ulrich, violoncello, and Tristan Marzeski percussion. Andrew Synowiec joins Volpe as the other electric guitarist.

 
 

Noisy guitar riffs, bass growl, and a sly beat make up, what for me, is the best tune here, “Let Burn.” All the high-end guitar screaming and crunching makes for a wonderfully tight killer little epic. While, “The Mist,” ending Magic Beans, gives us a truly romantic read from Marnerides’ vocal and the band easing in sweetly behind him…until the inevitable bombast. Still, they do allow for enough guitar noodling space.

The classic band Yes, currently consisting of Steve Howe, Alan White, Jay Schellen playing additional drums, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, and Billy Sherwood, have shouldered on despite personal changes and original members’ deaths. On their 26-date 26-date, “The Royal Affair Tour,” they happened to stop into Sin City, and this is where and when this new live record was recorded.

“clair” is a great mover, with a fun popping base and shimmery guitar effects. It’s written in a sly 60’s psychedelia style, with Thompson managing his best flights of warbly vocal. By far, this is my most favorite tune on the wall.

Mark Vickness presents a finger-picked guitar instrumental album pretty much unlike anything you have ever heard. On his latest Interconnected, he enlists Mads Tolling’s violin, Joseph Hebert’s cello, Dan Feiszli’s bass, and Ty Burhoe’s tabla across nine compositions that bring “acoustic fusion” to the fore.

Opening with the title track, we get Vickness’ strong picking style flowing into the string players, lifting us until the last third of the tune when Burhoe’s tabla really gets us going. As is evident throughout this album, Vickness lets his fellow players shine, speaking to his humbleness allowing others their due.

“I’ll See You In My Dreams” ends, a much better tribute to friends who’ve gone than the beginning tunes mining the same lyrical line. Springsteen tells us here, “Death is not the end.” Let’s just hope Letter to You is not the end of the albums he makes with the E Street Band.