Veruca Salt “Ghost Notes” El Camino Sonicly, there has not been a lot that has changed about Veruca Salt during the past two decades. The guitars are not quite as crunchy as they once were, but the overall feel of a Veruca Salt song has remained more or less the

Bilal “In Another Life” Entertainment One It almost seems like Bilal does not want people to like him as much as they should. Back at the turn of the 21st century, Bilal was coyly flirting with R&B while popular musical tastes were anywhere but. He has always been a talented

Meg Baird “Don’t Weigh Down the Light” Drag City The element that is responsible for perhaps the biggest influence on Meg Baird’s newest solo effort does not come in the form of an instrument or a producer. Rather, it is a city. After her last album, Baird moved from her

The Lonesome Trio Self-titled Sugar Hill Records Consisting of “The Office” and “Daily Show” alum Ed Helms and Oberlin College mates Ian Riggs and Jacob Tilove, The Lonesome Trio has a bit of the “entertainer’s stigma” to overcome. Plenty of actors have dabbled in music, with varying degrees of success,

Muse “Drones” Warner Bros. After the grandiose cacophony of 2012’s “The 2nd Law,” Muse decided to take its next album back to the basics. So, of course, “Drones” is a fully orchestrated concept album with more than a hit of Queen on the aftertaste. As musicians, Muse is fantastic. This

Florence + The Machine “How Big How Blue How Beautiful” Island Florence Welch has made a point to let everyone know how stripped-down her newest album is. It is curious, then, that the first single from the album would be “What Kind of Man,” featuring a 36-piece orchestra backing Welch’s

Joe & Vicki Price “Night Owls” Independent Joe and Vicki Price are genuine, bona fide Iowa legends. Anyone looking to verse themselves on the essentials of Iowa blues should start with the Prices — and with good reason. “Night Owls,” the couple’s latest release, features some songs that fans of

Superchief “Trophy Room” Magnetic Eye If you are a fan of good, old-fashioned, hard-driving rock music, and you are not already a fan of Superchief, you need to come to Jesus. The Des Moines five-piece has been churning out quality music for a good while now, but in “Trophy Room,”

Superchief “Trophy Room” Magnetic Eye If you are a fan of good, old-fashioned, hard-driving rock music, and you are not already a fan of Superchief, you need to come to Jesus. The Des Moines five-piece has been churning out quality music for a good while now, but in “Trophy Room,”

Mumford & Sons “Wilder Mind” Gentlemen of the Road/Island Two words drew me to the new Mumford & Sons offering: “no banjo.” For all but the most ardent folk fans, the frantic banjo and double bass attack of 2012’s “Babel” came on a little strong. Even the band’s biggest fans