New music: The Alarm, Old Crow Medicine Show

In this column I review the final album release featuring the late Mike Peters with his groundbreaking band The Alarm, as well as an ambitious new collection from American troupe Old Crow Medicine Show.

Artist: The Alarm

Title: Transformation (Twenty First Century/Virgin Music Group)
You might like if you enjoy: The Alarm, U2, Simple Minds

Tell me more: Although Alarm frontman Mike Peters passed away after a 31-year battle fighting cancer on April 29, 2025, his incredible legacy has continued to grow thanks to the release of Transformation on May 29. The album's 12 songs crackle and soar via Mike Peter's passionate vocals, straightforward lyrics and winning arrangements. One of the most wonderfully surprising truths to be heard across the disc is how powerful and undiminished Peters' signature vocals sound despite the obvious challenges he faced during the recording of the album that spanned from Oct. 7, 2024 to Jan. 15, 2025. The anthemic opener "New Life," U2 flavored "Outlier," defiant "Saviour," "One In A Million" and uplifting "Live Today" (the latter is my favorite track on the album) are at odds with the challenging end-of-life struggles Peters faced during the recording of the album — all those tracks showcase his defiance to overcome seemingly impossible odds with candor and passion. Indeed, the fiery rocker "Chimera" offers a detailed look at some of the advanced medical procedures used by Peters' doctors to fight his disease. Other stellar cuts include the aptly-titled "Soul Town," life-affirming "In Unity" and celebratory "To Be Alive." As Alarm bandmate Jules Peters (she is also the wife of Mike Peters) notes in the album's press notes: "Mike lived a life of beauty and never gave up right to the very end." Make sure to get a listen to this essential album. Information: thealarrm.com.

Artist: Old Crow Medicine Show

Title: Union Made (Hartland Records via Firebird Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Old Crow Medicine Show, Molly Tuttle, Evan Felker, Maggie Rose

Tell me more: Two-time GRAMMY Award winning Americana string band Old Crow Medicine Show returns on June 5 with the highly-anticipated studio album Union Made, an ambitious collection that finds the Nashville-based troupe continuing to deliver infectious material steeped in Americana, country blues, folk and bluegrass that touches on themes ranging from political protest and a love of America to the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806) and even Civil War history with a masterful touch as the United States prepares for its 250th birthday. A number of top-tier guests join on the album which features 10 originals and two artful covers; Maggie Rose, Molly Tuttle, Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours, Del & Ronnie McCoury, Lee Oskar and John Carter Cash are among the musical greats who lend their talents to cuts on the album. The wide-ranging setlist includes the old-time styled opener "Howdy Do America," hard charging countrified "Lincoln Highway" featuring guest Ray Benson, politically-charged "Revolution Now" featuring Felker's signature vocals, the lovely "Last American Waltz" showcasing the gifted Molly Tuttle on lead and harmony vocals, a blazing take on Merle Haggard's joyous "Rainbow Stew," beautiful soul sortie "Beautiful Land" featuring singer Maggie Rose and harmonica great Lee Oskar, and the tender "Y'all All Come," the latter a wonderful call for unity. The parade of enticing songs comes to an inspired close with a cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth." 

OCMS co-founding member Ketch Secor says of the new album: "This is a fascinating time in our short history as a nation. We wanted to meet that moment by collecting a bunch of songs that speak to the joys and potentials, the rights and the wrongs of where we are today, where we're going, and what can embolden us to have a more perfect union in the future. There are wonderful, ghostly American sounds that only bands steeped in folk music traditions know how to conjure, and it seems like an important time for those voices to be heard." Old Crow Medicine Show will perform at the Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix, AZ on July 23. Information: crowmedicine.com.

Robert Kinsler

New music: Kacey Musgraves, The Knack, Duke Robillard

In this column I showcase the latest album releases from celebrated country music great Kacey Musgraves, power pop heroes The Knack and legacy blues singer-songwriter/guitar master Duke Robillard.

Artist: Kacey Musgraves
Title: Middle of Nowhere (Lost Highway/Interscope)
You might like if you enjoy: Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, Billy Strings

Tell me more: Kacey Musgraves is back! The acclaimed country music artist's seventh studio album has been met with widespread acclaim and for good reason. The 13-track album chronicles life's ups and downs with authenticity, heart and an infectious musical soundscape that will keep discerning listeners coming back again and again. There are so many highlights on the album, country music lovers will want to dive into the track listing with abandon. Musgraves wrote many of the songs after a painful divorce and period of isolation so the songs have a heft that will resonate with a single listen. The reflective ballad "Back On The Wagon," accordion-drenched two-stepping duet with Willie Nelson titled "Uncertain, TX," steamy "Mexico Honey," irresistible "I Believe in Ghosts" and aptly-titled "Loneliest Girl" are among the great originals on the disc. The playful "Horses and Divorces" is a winning duet teaming the top-tier vocal talents of Musgraves and Miranda Lambert. Based on the strength of her fantastic performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, fans will want to catch her in concert this fall. Musgraves' forthcoming "Middle of Nowhere" Tour includes dates in Phoenix, AZ on Oct. 17 and in Los Angeles on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19. Information: kaceymusgraves.com. 

Artist: The Knack
Title: Knackology: The Zen Recordings (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Cheap Trick, The Knack, Badfinger, Matthew Sweet

Tell me more: The power and excitement of The Knack's explosive power pop-meets-New Wave sound shines across the 19 studio, live and demo tracks featured on the newly-released Knackology: The Zen Recordings. From the ferocious opener "Let Me Out" (recorded live in Los Angeles in 1978), intoxicating rockers "Pop Is Dead" and "Ambition" (the latter two cuts from the band's essential 1998 LP Zoom) to a terrific cover of Badfinger's 1970 Pete Ham-penned hit "No Matter What," a breezy 1973 demo of "That's What The Little Girls Do," power pop perfection courtesy of "Can I Borrow A Kiss" and a hard rocking "Shine" captured at Leeds in 1991, magic abounds on this must-have collection. Among the other standouts are energetic live takes on some of The Knack's most beloved originals; inspired readings of "(She's So) Selfish" and "My Sharona" captured at a concert in Mountain View, California in June 1994 as well as the affecting "One Day At A Time" recorded in 2002 will thrill new and long-time fans of the Doug Fieger-led troupe. Mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Michael Graves, the package also includes liner notes from Grammy-winning set co-producer Lee Lodyga. Information: omnivorerecordings.com. 

Artist: Duke Robillard and His All Star Band
Title: Blast Off! (Nola Blue Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Dr. John, Tommy Castro, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Allen Toussaint

Tell me more: Duke Robillard, who recently celebrated his 77th birthday, is firing on all cylinders across his latest album Blast Off! Indeed, the legendary singer-songwriter/guitar great along with his All Star Band explore his love of blues, soul, R&B, jazz and more American roots genres across the 12-song collection. The album's parade of inviting cuts includes the exuberant Floyd Dixon-penned opener "When I Get Lucky," the jump blues sortie "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead (You Rascal You)," Chicago blues-styled ballad "Feel My Cares" showcasing Robillard's guitar chops and signature vocals, the instrumental swing foray "Play Boy Hop," soulful "Confusion" and lead guitar-anchored instrumental blues track "Galactic Grease." The album was produced by Robillard, and was recorded and mixed by John Paul Gauthier at Lakewest Recording in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Information: nolabluerrecords.com. 

Robert Kinsler