At 89, Label: Appleseed Recordings. Release Date: Sept. 3

It was a small crowd in an even smaller room, the low-lit rotunda of Manhattan's art-deco Spiegeltent. There was a piano, an upright bass, and not much else. And then there was Martha Wainwright.

Ryder wears her influences on her sleeve. The cream of the female rock cannon, like Janis Joplin and Melissa Ethridge are heard, but the sound is distinctly her own.

As this new release will attest, his songs and talent run much much deeper than he is many times given credit for. There is also some down right smoking guitar work laid down, another talent where he frequently is not given his proper due. I have a feeling that Jaggedland will be the CD that shows the world that Marshall Crenshaw is not a one trick pony.

One of Dallas Texas' favorite sons and Old 97's front man Rhett Miller is back with a new self titled solo album. This is his fourth solo outing dating back to 1989's Mythologies which was recorded while Miller was still in high school and produced by his future Old 97's running mate Murray Hammond.