Simply the Beths

ELIZABETH Stokes, the leader of this excellent Kiwi indie-rock quartet, was taking antidepressants as they composed their fourth album, which may explain why this sounds a little more vulnerable than previous offerings.

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Parental questions are tentatively asked on Mother Pray For Me, while ’Til My Heart Drops is one of the prettiest things they’ve done. But just in case you think they’ve lost their buzz, Jonathan Pearce still crashes in at the perfect moments with jangly guitar at the ready on Metal and No Joy.

RODNEY CROWELLAirline Highway

CROWELL may have hit 75 years of age, but recently he seems to be enjoying a second flush of youth. After getting Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy to produce The Chicago Sessions a couple of years ago, he’s getting down with the kids as he collaborates like crazy on his new album. First off, Lukas Nelson reprises his sideman role that was so successful with Neil Young on country-rock opener Rainy Days In California, then Larkin Poe join in delicately on Louisiana Sunshine Feeling Okay, before Ashley McBryde duets on Taking Flight. Heaven Can You Help, alongside Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr, sounds like a lost Roy Orbison track.

BRYAN ADAMS Roll With The Punches