New music by Van Morrison, Joan Osborne, Bridget Kelly, Fastball & more

Our blogger is heading off on vacation so this week's notes on our New Releases are a little rushed, but here goes:

One of the masters, Van Morrison, has a new album - we think it's his 37th! - coming out next month. It includes some blues and soul covers as well as original songs, and we've added one of those, "Transformation," to our New Music bin. Another master, Jeff Beck, guests on guitar.

Another good pairing: Joan Osborne is bringing out an album of Bob Dylan songs. We'll be playing several selections, but our feature pick this week is "Buckets of Rain."

Remember Fastball? We have to admit to losing track of this Austin, Texas, band since its late '90s breakout with All The Pain Money Can Buy and the single "The Way." But they've kept on keeping on, and released Step Into Light earlier this year. We're catching up now with a song called "We're On Our Way."

We turn on the electric blues with the Bridget Kelly Band, a group from Florida led by singer Kelly and her husband, guitarist Tim Fik. Bone Rattler is the name of their fourth album, and we're featuring a don't-let-the-door-hit-you-in-the-butt song called "Ain't Missin' You."

Our other pick for the New Music playlist this week is a timely track from Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's The Nashville Sound. It's called "White Man's World." We'll let it speak for itself.