May flowers with Fleet Foxes, Musiq Soulchild & Galactic

Mayday (plus two), we're shouting, as a barrage of long-playing music treats hits the ground running from the likes of Musiq Soulchild, Fleet Foxes and Galactic.

PHILLY'S OWN: As a guiding light of Philly's neo-soul scene, Musiq Soulchild keeps his options and his listeners' ears open. His third Atlantic album, "musiqinthemagiq" (A-), is mostly about making and maintaining a grown-up relationship, with marital vows like "sayido." That holds true even when some tempting "single" thing comes on to him. But stylistically, the Musiq man's keeping things fresh with infusions of hip-hop, jazz, blues and even, on the strings-swept closer ("likethesun"), with a touch of classical. Special faves - the Sam Cooke-flavored "lovecontract," urban acoustic "waitingstill" and good-grooving "yes," wherein Musiq vows to keep on lovin' through the wear and tear " 'cause I'm more attracted to what's inside of you."

NOBLE BEASTS: Feeling the pressure of their newfound success, Seattle folk rockers Fleet Foxes struggled long and hard to not repeat themselves on their new album, "Helplessness Blues" (Sub Pop, B+), says front guy Robin Pecknold. Yet they're hardly reinventing the wheel here. The music still nods to the honeyed harmonies and smart production flourishes of Crosby, Stills & Nash, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and The Beatles. But hey, none of those forefathers are kids anymore, pining for love and direction. So let's give the Foxes props for keeping those sweet, earnest and poetic styles alive - even daring a breezy suite on "The Shrine/An Argument" - to connect with today's young-at-hearts. Fleet Foxes headlines the Tower Theater, May 21.

STILL CUTTING THE MUSTARD: Before reggae, ska and dancehall, the Jolly Boys burned up the Jamaican pop chart with a rustic, rubbery style of island music they called mento (probably where the candy got its name). Now we get to welcome the old boys back with "Great Expectation" (GeeJam, A-), hitting the beach with their campfire soul voices and unplugged guitar, banjo, bongos, rumba box and sax flavored-renderings of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab," Steely Dan's "Do It Again," Bobby Fuller's "I Fought The Law" and the Doors' "Riders on the Storm." Many grins to go around.

Old-time Southern gospel and country make a good match as the Blind Boys of Alabama "Take The High Road" (Saguaro Road Records, B). Rising country star Jamey Johnson co-produced the set and brought in a crack band and special guests Hank Williams, Jr. ("I Saw the Light") and Willie Nelson ("Family Bible" ), as well as Oak Ridge Boys, Lee Ann Womack and Vince Gill.

Also mashing things up, though with fewer sparks, is the blending of Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Del McCoury Band on "American Legacies" (McCoury Music/Preservation Hall Recordings, B-).

Rocking-blues piano legend Ian Stewart is honored by Ben Waters' "Boogie 4 Stu" (Eagle Rock, B) with help from fellow Brits P.J. Harvey, Jools Holland and (at various times) Stewart's old playmates in the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts and Mick Jagger (on the standout track, Dylan's "Watching the River Flow") .

JAMTASTIC: New Orleans' funkiest party band, Galactic, truly burns on "The Other Side of Midnight-Live in New Orleans" (Anti, A-) with special guests Cyril Neville, Trombone Shorty and the South Rebels Brass Band. Bet you can't sit down.

SPEED DATING: Working out "Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony" (Columbia, B), deep-dishin' vocalist Brandi Carlile comes on lots like k.d.lang in her orchestral touring mode. Ms. lang, not incidentally, has her own new (and same-sounding) set, "Sing It Loud" (Nonesuch, B-), to peddle.

Grabbing me more - the flirty/cooing pop ruminations of Priscilla Ahn "When You Grow Up" (Blue Note, B+) and the hot-blooded smartypants rock of Kristeen Young with "V The Volcanic" (www.kristeenyoung.com, B+).

At once quaintly "old timey" and sophisticated, the haunting parlor folk refrains of Kate & Anna McGarrigle are gathered on "Tell My Sister" (Nonesuch, A) to honor Kate's recent passing. Assembled by the gals' Princeton-spawned producer, Joe Boyd, the package combines their first two, highly acclaimed studio albums with a bonus CD of previously unreleased, mostly demo recordings, sparely splendid.