Measuring Up

When an artist releases an album that really resonates with a wide swath of people, it can be a challenge to match that kind of momentum with a follow-up. In a way, it’s unfair to compare one album with another; it’s like comparing one sentence to another. Both have intrinsic value and each says something completely different. But it’s in our nature to compare and contrast. So, we lead off with exploring how new music from Sturgill Simpson and the Lumineers compares to their previous efforts. Then we get into how Del McCoury’s interpretation of Woody Guthrie’s legacy measures up. And we round it out with some exquisite tunes from envelope pushers Andrew Bird and Ben Harper. See what you think of it all.