On the Record

Rod Stewart, Various Artists, The Bird and the Bee

Is it unfair to criticize a formerly great artist for his latter-day sins? Rod Stewart better hope so, because for every white-hot Faces tune he had his hand in early on he clicked off a dozen that were the musical equivalent of Mom Jeans later.

Let’s see … Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Gene Autry, Waylon Jennings, Tanya Tucker, Guy Clark. Yes, please! This three-disc set has more bruisers and shit-kickin’ derelicts than most, and is all the better for it.

Perfectly pleasant pop from Los Angeles duo Greg Kurstin (“bee”) and Inara George (“bird”), Ray Guns, the duo’s sixth release, is a sweet aural treat awash in upbeat keys and glistening jazz strings. File under: pink sprinkles on donuts, candy canes, cinnamon toast.

Good For: Dancing, relaxing