The year was 1996.

In her time off from Smashing Pumpkins, Nicole Fiorentino hit the studio to complete the impressive debut album for her band, the Cold & Lovely.

SINCE HIS ARRIVAL ON THE ISLE OF MANHATTAN in 1971, by way of his native San Antonio and the University of Miami, Will Lee’s professional life has been all about songs.

Beginning with the opening riff of “Dark Cloud” and spanning the course of this eight-song LP, Nicole Fiorentino cranks up the intensity of her melodic, alternative riffage on the latest from the Cold And Lovely.

THIS WAS A GREAT ISSUE FOR TWO (unrelated) guys named Lee: Geddy and Will.

IT’S 12:30 ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, AND I’M TALKING TO BRYAN BELLER, who’s on his way to the helicopter that will take him to tonight’s sold-out Dethklok show.

Mickey sometimes uses a click track because he speeds up a bit now and again. But really, he’s pretty good.

When producing this North Carolina folk-rock band’s latest, producer Rick Ruben was likely reminded of his work on the 1994 Tom Petty album Wildflowers. Like Petty on Wildflowers, the Brothers brilliantly blend rock intensity with folk jangle, making timeless tunes with memorable melodies. Bob Crawford brings up the bottom, moving serious air through his upright. His contributions are at times stark and spare, leaving sonic space for brothers Seth and Scott Avett to play off each other. The Avetts have a knack for lyrical elegance and harmonic style, and their band, rounded out by cellist Joe Kwon, seems to have mastered the art of framing the Brothers’ work.