“We Could Run” – Beth Ditto. The former lead singer of The Gossip released her first solo album last week. Her voice is still awesome, and she takes the music in a poppier, more radio-friendly direction. It may lack the rawness of The Gossip’s best work, but it is still mighty fine.

“Somebody Else” – The 1975. I came across this song by accident a week or two back. It sounds like something I would have listened to in 1984-85. Something really good, that is.

“I Ain’t No Joke” – Eric B. & Rakim. The rumors have been strong for some time that hip hop’s greatest original duo may be getting back together after over 20 years apart. This week they announced a show at The Apollo Theater in New York to honor the 30th anniversary of their legendary Paid In Full album. That show will be something else.

“300 MPH Torrential Outpour Blues” – The White Stripes. Last week was the 10th anniversary of the Stripes’ final album, Icky Thump. Don’t get me wrong, I love just about everything Jack White does. But none of his post-Stripes work, in its many forms, measures up to the brilliance he and Meg dropped on the world. Interestingly enough the album disappeared from Spotify last week in advance of a deluxe reissue. Thank goodness for videos. Here White shows that even if he just has an acoustic guitar, if he still has an amp and effects pedals, he can still blow the roof off the joint.