Record ReviewS

Tim McGraw

Album: “Damn Country Music”

Grade: B

Few veteran artists straddle contemporary and traditional country music styles as well, and as entertainingly, as Tim McGraw. On his new album, “Damn Country Music,” McGraw includes tunes George Jones would have felt comfortable performing, while others push country music into new territory.

On the traditional side, the cheating song “Don’t Make Me Feel At Home” conjures up the sort of psychological dilemma found in classic country works by singers like Johnny Paycheck. “Here Tonight,” with harmony vocals by daughter Gracie McGraw, draws on upbeat Celtic sounds with the timeless, celebratory feel of early Dixie Chicks.

On the moody country-rocker “Losin’ You,” McGraw and longtime producer Byron Gallimore mix atmospheric and dramatic touches to great effect. The melodic, sunny pop of “California,” which features country duo Big & Rich, is the aural equivalent of the ocean breezes and palm trees that, in the lyrics, prove so alluring to a woman the singer loves.

—Michael McCall, Associated Press

Billy Gibbons & The BFG’s

Album “Perfectamundo”

Grade: B-

Billy Gibbons’ first solo album after more than 45 years and counting with ZZ Top is a detour to Cuban and Latin rhythms where his recognizable array of hot and nasty guitar tones leaves room for plenty of Hammond B-3 organ and dance-inducing timbales, congas and bongos.

Gibbons, who studied Latin percussion as a youngster with Tito “King of the Mambo” Puente, reconnected with his mentor’s signature sounds after an invitation to the 2014 Havana Jazz Festival. Though he missed the event, it inspired Gibbons to explore the palette of Afro-Cuban sounds.

“Perfectamundo” sounds mostly like Gibbons having a great time away from his other job. “Sal y Pimiento” cooks, “Piedras Negras” rocks with a Keith Richards-like acoustic guitar intro and on “Hombre Sin Nombre” Gibbons bathes his voice in more special effects than Cher. It all ends on a high note with the nearly fully-instrumental “Q-Vo,” which both swings and shakes.

—Pablo Gorondi, Associated Press

Ellie Goulding

Album: “Delirium”

Grade: B-

It’s got lots of beats and it would probably be near-impossible NOT to dance to it.

With “Delirium,” her third album, British singer Ellie Goulding has put together what’s essentially a playlist of singles destined for frequent repeat on the radio and in the clubs, all with catchy rhythms and her “this can only be Ellie Goulding singing” distinctive vocal style.

She’s pulled out the big guns, working with big-name producers like Max Martin, and has already announced a world tour for the album. It will likely be a high-energy event — there aren’t any ballads as such in the 16 tracks.

Overall, “Delirium” is a polished effort, if not a particularly memorable one. It includes “Love Me Like You Do,” her smash hit from the “Fifty Shades of Gray” movie.

It gets repetitive, dance track after dance track, and lyrically it’s fairly bland but if you’re looking for something that will get you to move, this will do it.

—Deepti Hajela, Associated Press