Chicha Libre - 'Canibalismo'

The latest from the Brooklyn-based sextet Chicha Libre is the appropriately titled “Canibalismo,” the follow-up to its 2008 debut, “Sonido Amazonico.” On this sophomore release the group takes its cue from a 1929 essay by Brazilian writer Oswaldo de Andrade, who stated that cultures continuously cannibalize each other while uniting them in the process.

Here the band’s music style – “chicha,” named after Peruvian corn-based hooch – demonstrates it has a healthy appetite as it devours, and then sonically regurgitates, Peruvian cumbia and Andean music spiced with ’60s psychedelic surf-guitar rock. Over the course of originals, a couple of ’70s chicha chestnuts and tunes by Richard Wagner and Erik Satie, the band re-creates the chicha style with nervous cumbia rhythms, cheesy-sounding keyboards and twangy surf/spaghetti-western guitars over English, Spanish and French lyrics laced with ’60s sound effects.

– Eric Feber, The Pilot

Download “Muchachita del Oriente,” “Danza del Millonario”

Lee Brice - 'Hard 2 Love'

The Curb Records folks are working like things possessed in promoting Lee Brice, the latest hot young country stud.

 
“Hard 2 Love” is a brilliant production with some thoughtful, unusual arrangements. Brice’s voice is straight country, warm and manly with a bit of twang, but it is the song lyrics that will command your attention – “I’m hard to love, but you say that you need me,” from the enjoyable single “Hard to Love.”
 

Brice has written hits for Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean, but there is nothing as good as listening to him alternate between boo-hoo stuff and some absolutely hilarious situations, many of which are echoes of his life in Myrtle Beach.
 

The four-time Academy of Country Music nominee, who is en route to superstardom, sings mostly about relationships, for the most part aiming for, and making a direct hit to, the funny bone. You will salivate when you hear “Beer.”
 

– Frank Roberts

Download “Hard to Love,” “Beer”

Andrew Bird - 'Break It Yourself'

Andrew Bird, the alt-rock artist who has helped elevate whistling from an office co-worker annoyance to a delicately beautiful musical accompaniment, recently released his sixth solo effort, “Break It Yourself.”

The atmosphere of the album is predictably lush and textured, like Bird’s previous efforts. What makes this collection stand out a bit is Bird’s continuous experimentation on violin – in his hands, the instrument transforms into a weeping gull, a steel drum, a mandolin, a fiddle and more.
 

It is interesting to note that, though the Chicago-based singer/songwriter clearly enjoys playing with sound, much of the album was recorded live to eight-track “at the barn,” according to the liner notes. The production imbues the album with a sense of naturalism and immediacy, as though the listener were sitting in the room while the musicians played and the singers sang.

– V. Bourne, The Pilot

Download “Danse Caribe,” “Near Death Experience Experience”

Catherine Russell - 'Strictly Romancin' '

Catherine Russell’s fourth solo album further cements her growing reputation as a truly talented straight-ahead jazz and blues vocalist with an affinity for the Great American Songbook and an appreciation for blues classics.

Russell shuns fancy vocal runs and endless scatting in favor of lyric interpretation – whether on a conversational jumper like “I’m Checkin’ Out, Goom’Bye,” pushed by John Allred’s sassy trombone; the quiet bluesy/jazzy “Romance in the Dark”; or her heartfelt blues-ballad take on Ivory Joe Hunter’s mournful “Don’t Leave Me,” enhanced by Mark Shane channeling the blues man. Check out “He’s All I Need,” a gospel duet featuring Russell and her 86-year-old mother, Carline Ray.
 

This 14-track CD is a gem because of Russell’s superb dusky alto vocalizing and the fine work of her musicians, including several from her 2010 chart-topping “Inside This Heart of Mine” CD and some, like Shane, from her road band.

– Marvin Leon Lake
 

Download “I’m Checking Out, Goom’Bye,” “Don’t Leave Me”

Mud Morganfield - 'Son of the Seventh Son'

The first national release by Muddy Waters’ oldest son, Larry “Mud” Morganfield, builds on the earthy, raw blues perfected by his iconic father.

The appropriately titled recording clearly demonstrates the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. But make no mistake, Morganfield forges his own identity and songs while celebrating the style developed by his dad.
 

The Chicago-recorded project was lovingly helmed by top producer Bob Corritore, who also doubles as one of the session’s harmonica players. Working with original compositions that sound as if ghost-written by his legendary pop, Morganfield fronts a band that includes such top session players as drummer Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, keyboardist Barrelhouse Chuck and guitarist Billy Flynn. He keeps the proceedings strictly old-school ’50s and ’60s Chicago-style with no rock overtones or modern touches.

 
– Eric Feber, The Pilot

Download “Son of the Seventh Son,” “Loco Motor”

Ray Stevens - 'Encyclopedia of Recorded Comedy Music'

Ray Stevens’ new release, somewhat appropriately called “Encyclopedia of Recorded Comedy Music” is, in thickness, the recorded equivalent of the now-defunct printed Brittanica. The CD is huge – 108 songs.
 

Stevens spent two years working with his buddy Buddy Kalb putting this undertaking together. The contents feature songs popular between the ’30s and the 2000s. They come from both the country and pop music worlds, and are arranged alphabetically.
 

Novelty songs and parodies are all part of the ha-ha package. Most of the songs are familiar, but Stevens has found several that, for the most part, are unfamiliar. They made him laugh, so he put them in. A good example: “The DooRight Family.” Then there is the saucy “I’m Kissin’ You Goodbye (Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth”).
 

If you are feeling grumpy, turn to the “Encyclopedia.”

– Frank Roberts

Peter White - 'Here We Go'

“Here We Go” is doing quite well on the charts since its release last month – a testament to the broad appeal of Peter White’s music, encompassing contemporary jazz, pop and Spanish guitar.

Is White’s follow-up to 2009’s “Good Day” his best ever? Arguably not, even though it shines production-wise; features stellar musicians like saxophonist Dave Sanborn, pianist Philippe Saisse and saxophonist Kirk Whalum; and hits some musical high points.

The title tune, introduced by its spoken title and White’s gentle strumming, metamorphoses into a grittier, up-tempo track with real sax action – Sanborn’s commendable soloing. Whalum blows soulfully on “Our Dance,” while Saisse is a big presence throughout, especially on the self-penned ballad “Time Never Sleeps” and the disco-flavored “Joyride.”

White plays all instruments on the reggae-lite “My Lucky Day.”
 

– Marvin Leon Lake

Download “Here We Go,” “Joy Ride,” “My Lucky Day”

The Shins - 'Port of Morrow'

After about five years, singer/songwriter James Mercer re-emerges with The Shins on their fourth album, “Port of Morrow,” and a new cast of supporting characters.

The melodies are infectious; the rhythms inspire steering wheel finger-tapping; the lyrics are reflective but not inaccessibly deep. The single “Simple Song” exemplifies not just the album’s over-arching theme of love, but also its overall musical craftsmanship.

Mercer’s voice sounds more solid and true, less plaintive and affected than on previous albums, despite being nearly unrecognizable in falsetto on the final, title track.
 

The Shins frontman may have relinquished a few bandmates since the Grammy-nominated “Wincing the Night Away” and the hugely popular “Chutes Too Narrow,” but in many ways, this new set of tunes results in a more conventional and cohesive pop record than his previous endeavors.

 
– V. Bourne, The Pilot
 

Download “Simple Song,” “Bait and Switch”

Bonnie Raitt - 'Slipstream'

Your heart is achin’ and breakin’. You need something to cheer you up. This record – “Slipstream” – is not for you. The lyrics in 62-year-old Bonnie Raitt’s first CD in seven years are mostly about heartbreak.

Her skilled, soothing voice, her production, her excellent band have produced a release that will keep you enthralled. Call it country, or soul, or bluesy, or reggae, but, certainly, call it beautiful.
 

Here is a vocalist who doesn’t screech or shout at you. No need – she makes her point in a selection of songs penned by Bob Dylan, Loudon Wainwright III and others.
 

Much of the credit must go to her band. The pace is mostly slow and steady, but Raitt does offer a wonderful blues-jump item, “Ain’t Gonna Let You Go.” Vocally, she excels on “Not Cause I Wanted To.”
 

– Frank Roberts

Download “Not Cause I Wanted To,” “Million Miles”
 

In concert with Mavis Staples. 8 p.m. June 13, nTelos Wireless Pavilion in Portsmouth. $25.25-$80.25.

Theory of a Deadman - 'The Truth Is ...'

Alt-rockers Theory of a Deadman released another Howard Benson-produced album, “The Truth Is …” on Roadrunner Records last summer.

The Vancouver, Canada, band known for its No. 1 hit “Bad Girlfriend” in 2008, has again hit the charts with its fourth studio album, which deals with bitter relationships and guys behaving badly.
 

Lead single “Lowlife” offers a humorous take: “I got a beer-stained T-shirt looking like Joe Dirt / something ’bout me just ain’t right.”

The 12-song disc does have some guilt-free offerings, too, including its third single “Hurricane” and the war-inspired “We Were Men” – both showing that Tyler Connolly and company are capable of writing songs that offer a level of maturity beyond the college years.

– Patty Jenkins, The Pilot

Download “Hurricane,” “Head Above Water,” “Easy to Love You”

In concert 7:30 p.m. April 17 at The NorVa, 317 Monticello Ave., Norfolk. $20 advance, $23 day of show. 800-745-3000.