It’s been nearly two years – and thanks to 2020 – it feels so much longer since a who’s who of music gathered at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in 2019 to pay tribute to Willie Nelson on the occasion of his 85th birthday. “Willie Nelson: American Outlaw” (Blackbird Production Partners/Caroline Records), features the likes of George Strait, Jimmy Buffett, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, Eric Church and many others, some singing with, all singing about, their hero, Willie Nelson. When you amass this kind of talent singing the songs from the amazing arsenal that is Nelson’s catalogue, the result is staggering. Highlights include Chris Stapleton’s “Whiskey River,” and Vince Gill’s, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” along with duets, “The Harder They Come” (with Buffett), “Always On My Mind” (with Stapleton and Derek Trucks), and an all-star performance of “On The Road Again.” The talent is flawless, but what really stands out is the star-studded performers’ love and adoration of legend Nelson. The concert was filmed and aired on A&E this year, but the two-CD set includes a DVD of the full-length live show. Mamas don’t let your babies grow up without Willie.

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Fiona Apple’s “Fetch The Bolt Cutters” (Epic Clean Slate) is a curious conundrum. This, her fifth album, was recorded in and perhaps more notably, with her Venice Beach home. Apple bangs on walls and stomps on the ground. If this collection doesn’t scream self-reliance, there isn’t a record that does. Raw and unbounding, “Cutters” features the artist at her purist, hand-clapping, chanting and using just about anything else she had lying around the house she could find to make some noise. She whispers, she screams and if you’re keeping track at home, at least five of her dogs are credited with being on the record: Mercy, Maddie, Leo, Little and Alfie. Historically and musically, Apple’s always been known for using her voice as her primary instrument, and here, the singer creates a wild symphony by just rolling out of bed and putting her feet on the floor. In the past, Apple has said that it was John Lennon who was her idol, but from an experimental standpoint, she comes off a lot more like Yoko Ono. There are no pop pretenses or forms anywhere to be found on “Cutters.” And depending on how you like your music, that might be a blessing or a curse.

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Alt-rock god Bob Mould has amassed a serious collection of albums that he’s released, between his bands Husker Du and Sugar, and his solo efforts. On “Distortion: 1989- 2019” (Demon Music Group), Mould celebrates his work with Sugar and as a solo artist, and there is no shortage of music: This gigantic anthology totals 295 tracks incorporating 18 studio albums, four live albums and two albums of collaborations, plus rare treats. It’s a whopper. Mould’s ability to facilitate encounters between the raw edges of punk and classic songwriting is a major feat, and one that makes his art unlike any other rocker. Ask any musician worth his salt, and he or she can expound on the work that makes up Mould’s creative and crafty genius. Of “Distortion,” Mould has said, “It’s called that because it describes the music and it fits the world that we live in. In this new age, everybody shares their life in real time. And I’m not done yet.” Having inspired iconic bands ranging from the Pixies to Nirvana, Mould is on the cusp of a new decade and this mammoth set signifies a prolific journey. Structured in chronological running order, the set starts with his solo release, 1989s Workbook, which provides a fine intro into his psyche. The intensity and vibrancy of Mould’s genius remains a definitive force to be reckoned with. This set will stand the test of time. And half the fun and glory is experiencing the journey.

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