Heartless Bastards
The Mountain
Fat Possum

One of the best band names in recent memory, Cincinatti’s Heartless Bastards, released their third album earlier this year. Produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Trail of Dead, Patty Griffin), The Mountain is filled with backwoods coos and swampy howls, as lead singer/frontwoman Erika Wennerstrom channels Robert Plant/Led Zep with an estrogen kick to it. She actually came up with the group name from a video trivia game in a bar where she started out in Dayton. The band can play with peel-the-paint intensity contrasted by embelishments of mandolins, banjos and even touches of strings. Stand-outs include the title track, strutting “Early in the Morning,” plaintive yet rocking “Out at Sea,” and down-home “So Quiet.”

Del Castillo
Smilin’ Castle Records

The fourth and latest self-titled album from Austin Latin Rock band Del Castillo is another lively set of Flamenco-filled songs in Spanish and English. Numbers such as “Boricua Del Cielo” and “Noche Brava” are sexy and rhythmic — the latter’s bump and grind on par with anything Santana’s turned out in recent years. The dreamy “Castles” needs to be placed on the right soundtrack, as does the instrumental “Café Sin Leche.” The rest of the album is equally fine, including the drunken norteno waltz of “Corazon Loco.” Talk about the perfect support band for Los Lobos. Sign ‘em on for some tour dates!

Joe Cassady and the West End Sounds
The 47th Problem
Avenue A Records

Though founded in Manhattan’s quite urban Lower East Side in 2005, Joe Cassady and the West End Sound come off like sonic cousins to The Drive-By Truckers with a touch of early ’90s Soul Asylum recklessness. Cassady and crew spin dizzy tales such as “Beirut Boogie” and a fine homage in “Willie Mays.” In ballads like “Find My Way Home,” that saloon-rock sway emerges, while the band goes dreamy for “Heavy Poems.” The influences range from Texas troubadours like Townes Van Zandt to beatnik-era early Dylan (and mid-’60s Bob as well), which ain’t a bad bunch of touchstones at all.

Tat
Soho Lights
Red Wagon Records

Equal parts Joan Jett and Clash, Tat, fronted by bad girl-cute raven-haired lead singer and guitarist Tatiana DeMaria, Tat made its little mark on the Warped Tour in recent years, including an appearance in 2008 on one of the smaller stages that certainly drew a pretty good crowd on the Pomona, California (L.A. County Fairplex) stop. Last year’s EP was a great taste, and this full album is just as winning. The band’s out the gate for “Road to Paradise” and gets quirky and self-effacing for “Sumpathetic Lies.”  When the trio tears it up with op-infused hooks on tunes like “I Don’t Want To (Love You),” the glammy “Everything I Want,” or “Taking It All,” you’re sucked in for the fun. The tribute “Sandra Dee” is a bit oddball, but than again, why not?

Paula Sinclair
Steady Girl
Old Sombrero Music

The alt — but not too much so – country of Oregonian Paul Sinclair is both spry and quite crafted, recalling Carlene Carter a bit during her heydey, as well as Patty Loveless. She has the root-twang thang down in the opening “Something Sweeter” and then nails a cover of Steve Earle’s “Fearless Heart.” The forlorn “Drifting” conveys those heartaches, and she kicks up her boots for “Medicine Burn” and mines restlessness over the groove glide of “Looking For Love.”

The Soul of John Black
Black John
Eclecto Groove Records

Damn right it’s S-O-U-L. From the acoustic title track to bubbly funk of “Ever Changin’ Emotions” to the gospel-touched resolve of “Never Givin’ Up,” John Black is the real deal. He’s not retro; he’s carrying on a heritage of blues and rhythm & blues with contemporary hip hop elements as well, all anchored by his earthy and organic slide guitar. Check out the rising organ and layered vocals of the churchy “I Knew a Lady” or the cityscape feel of “Push Into the Night.” Cool stuff here.

And one for the kids that mom and dad can enjoy too:

The Baby Grands
TBG
Backspace Records

Children’s music isn’t as easy as some might think. It’s about more than a catchy ditty (though you need that). Kids will spot a fake and walk away from something that doesn’t fully engage them. While I’ve never caught The Baby Grands live, the studio tunes are short (another criteria for the best kids’ stuff) and playful, but never forced, including “Wet Nosed Friend,” the Jimmy Buffett for children-styled “Sugar Makes Me Loco,” almost Beatleish “Panda Rock,” lighty bouncy “Surfer Shake,” and the calmdown double-shot “Sleep Lullaby” and “You Are Getting Very Sleepy,” which might work at bedtime. Nice.