[ disc-o-scope ]

acoustic/ragtime/bluegrass

Louisville virtuoso Nathan Salsburg plays expressive instrumentals on his acoustic guitar and keeps things to-the-point, but robust. In just over a half-hour, his debut, Affirmed (No Quarter), cavorts between ragtime, Doc Watson-esque finger-picked bluegrass and one traditional vocal number — "The False True Love," sung with Julia Purcell of Louisville old-time combo Maiden Radio. —John Vettese

live/chamber-pop

For anyone who caught up with Baby Dee's classy, largely instrumental suite Regifted Light earlier this year, or the far-too-many who haven't had the pleasure, Baby Dee Goes Down to Amsterdam (Tin Angel) offers a quick and dirty tromp through the highlights of the big-hearted, crazy-voiced harpist/pianist's songwriting oeuvre, sampling both the unabashed tenderness and the chillingly dark, twisted recesses of her catalog, with lots of gleeful cackling along the way. Make a date with one of the most utterly singular talents of our time ... and go Dutch. —K. Ross Hoffman

folk

Boston's Glenn Jones — a collaborator and pal of our own dearly departed Jack Rose, who plays in a similarly dense, deft, folk-derived finger-picking style (so-called "American primitive," though it's really anything but) — is an immensely skilled guitarist, something that's evident from any given few seconds of The Wanting, his Thrill Jockey debut. But it's his spirit, grace, and subtle, sure compositional style, not mere technical wizardry, that makes these 11 songs without words such an uncommonly warm, welcoming and immersive listening experience. —K. Ross Hoffman

roots

If it's rootsy Americana, chances are Bearfoot writes and plays it. American Story (Compass) is a portrait of a young, fun, bluegrass-instrumented jam band. Their specialty is honky-tonking Cajun, with that dirty dip worked in. "If you want some, come and get your lonesome, there's enough to go around and then some. Ain't our first time spending our last dime, time hanging out to get a good time." Can I get an amen? They play World Café Live on Sunday (Nov. 13, worldcafelive.com). —Mary Armstrong