Scalawag
Wheel on Steel
self-released

Manchester can seem a bit like a musical black hole unless you’re a big fan of metal and hardcore (in which case it’s the place for you!). Scalawag is a bit of an alien in that aggressive scene, favoring a more laid back, song-oriented rootsy/jam sound that appeals to folks who like good songwriting, yet prefer electric guitars to a coffeehouse acoustic style. Their first release is “Wheel on Steel,” a pleasing, well-written and well-played affair with alternately Rolling Stones, Petty or Springsteen influenced songs. Guitarists Liam Spain and Peter Gustafson split the songwriting and drummer Jeffrey Baumann contributes one to the disc. Recently the band expanded its lineup to feature three additional players on harmonica, sax, keys and guitar, but the album maintains an uncluttered sound. Highlights include Gustafson’s danceable number “Juniper,” which features a great melodic, catchy chorus, and Spain’s straight-ahead lament to the end of summer, “Lost in the City.”

Rock My Soul
Eponymous
self-released

Unless you live in the South or attend a church with a bangin’ choir, you’re not likely to hear bonafide gospel tunes sung the way Rock My Soul performs them. The Seacoast-based non-denominational 25-member choir’s main goal is to celebrate the rich tradition of American gospel music, for music’s sake, not for religious reasons. Right from “Nobody’s Fault But Mine,” the choir comes out of the gate rockin’ tent revival style with lead vocalist Dawn Boyer’s huge voice leading the way (many of the choir’s members step into lead vocal duties). Boyer’s got that real soulful gospel vibrato down. (She’s also president of the Diversified Faith Gospel Project, which sponsored the CD.) The band is great, the arrangements are tight and well thought out, and the choir singers’ pitch is spot-on. Jenny Price shines as the lead vocalist on the band’s namesake “Rock My Soul,” and when they start clapping along? Halfway through the song? Hallelujah! It’s one great moment among many.

Ed Gerhard
Sunnyland
Solid Air Records
I really don’t know how Ed Gerhard makes his finger-style acoustic playing sound so effortless. His fingers just roll over the strings like a fire burning up dry plains. His latest work, “Sunnyland,” is an album of blues and a departure from his more ethereal work as of late. But blues is what inspired Gerhard to pick up the guitar when he was a kid, and as he mentions in the album’s liner notes, he’s having fun with it. True to form, though, Gerhard makes sure to put his stamp on these mostly traditional blues tunes. “Just Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes” features his lap steel along with some Turkish instruments, electric bass and a Corona bottle. The beautiful chord voicing that helps make Gerhard’s style unique finds its way into the songs too, like the accompanying acoustic on “Amazing Grace.” “Sunday Street Stroll” jumps and bounces, and acoustic guitar enthusiasts will certainly be pleased.