[ disc-o-scope ]

rock/pop

There's a gentle robo-disco/Cornershop vibe to Eleanor Friedberger's solo debut, Last Summer (Merge): catchy, a little futuristic, occasionally mesmeric and exotic in a way that's hard to place. As the singer-guitarist of Brooklyn's Fiery Furnaces, she's proven her skill for peppy, churning guitar pop songs, and there's plenty of that here, but it's those light-tech touches that send the album into orbit. Friedberger plays Monday at Kung Fu Necktie (July 11, kungfunecktie.com). —Patrick Rapa

bluegrass

There are only seven songs on The Grascals' new Dance Til Your Stockings are Hot and Ravelin' — a Time Life EP celebrating the 50th anniversary of homespun TV favorite The Andy Griffith Show — but the bluegrass is as old-school and tight as it gets. Are these guys better than the original Dillards, who appeared on the show as the Darlings? Maybe. Plus the Grascals' swingy little commercial for their sponsor, Mayberry's Finest Foods, is a newish composition inspired by the show and right in line with those classic radio jingles that made early country music live broadcasts possible. —Mary Armstrong

old-time/americana

Americana with something for everybody — that's The Wilders' m.o. Want old-time fiddle tunes complete with drop thumb banjo accompaniment? Resident fiddler Betse Ellis has composed several irresistible dancers on the new self-titled album (Free Dirt). Segue from hard-core Appalachian to hard-core vocals on "L.A.," with words and attitude by guitarist/vocalist Ike Sheldon. Dobro player Phil Wade wrote a dandy acoustic honky-tonk song, "She Says (I Say)," but left the singing to Sheldon. Bass player Nate Gawron contributes thoughtful lyrics, as well, in the best reflective Americana tradition. —Mary Armstrong

soul/r&b

Jill Scott's been through a ton since her last studio album, and her latest, The Light of the Sun (Blues Babe), finds her in the mood to gab about it. Opening track "Blessed" is a jazzy improvised proclamation of gratitude for her new son. She gives the baby daddy who got away an earful on sassy don't-let-the-door-hit-ya anthem "Shame." And standout track "So in Love," a duet with Anthony Hamilton, is new-school TSOP at its finest, verifying that, even as a burgeoning movie queen and record label mogul, Jilly from Philly still has an ear turned toward home. —Josh Middleton