Cover Your Bases

With the World Series going on, it seemed a good time for a baseball allusion. Besides, we have a lot of good music to talk about this week, covering many of the stylistic categories that comprise “roots music,” whatever that is. First and foremost, there’s something new from the great songwriter-poet Leonard Cohen. If that’s not your thing, dig into some topical country tunes with the up-and-coming Jack Grelle. Get your soul on with Melissa Etheridge’s tribute to the Stax catalog, or just honky-tonk the night away with Courtney Granger. Whatever you’re looking for, these records are each straight-up home runs. (Corny, I know.)