Some selected recent bluegrass releases:

        • Various, Down From the Mountain (Lost Highway; $18.98 CD only) — The soundtrack to a concert film by the O Brother crowd, this disc is worth the price just for the late John Hartford's wry take on “Big Rock Candy Mountain” and Dan Tyminski's bad-man song, “Wild Bill Jones.” But it's all top shelf.

        • Patty Loveless, Mountain Soul (Epic; $17.98 CD only) — The Eastern Kentucky-born country singer gets back to her roots in a soulfully sung set of traditional and contemporary bluegrass.

        • Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys and special guests, Clinch Mountain Sweethearts (Rebel; 16.98 CD only). The bluegrass great harmonizes with a pack of rootsy females, including Lucinda Williams, Maria Muldaur, Dolly Parton and Sara Evans.

        • Gillian Welch, Time (The Revelator) (Acony; $16.98 CD only) — More old-timey than bluegrass, this album of rawboned country songs, written, played and sung by Ms. Welch and her partner David Rawlings is a powerful companion to O Brother.

        • Del McCoury Band, Del and the Boys (Hollywood; $16.98 CD only) — The best hard-touring band in bluegrass delivers another fine set that delicately balances tradition and innovation, the dozen songs include a beautiful cover of Richard Thompson's highwayman motorcycle ballad, “1952 Vincent Black Lightning.”

        • Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, History of the Future (Skaggs Family/Hollywood; $17.98 CD, $11.98 cassette) — Hard-driving yet smooth, Mr. Skaggs and his superb band play state-of-the-art trad-grass, then give it a spin with new songs like “Halfway Home Cafe” and a remake of his old prog-grass band Boone Creek's “One Way Track.”

        • Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, Grateful Dawg (Acoustic Disc; $17.98 CD only) — A mix of bluegrass and contemporary improvisation, this soundtrack to Gillian Grisman's film about her father's long-running musical friendship with the late Grateful Dead leader ranges from a straight-ahead “Pig in a Pen” (by their bluegrass band Old and in the Way) to a gorgeously slow “Friend of the Devil” and beautifully textured “Arabia.”

        • Alison Krauss & Union Station, New Favorite (Rounder; $17.98 CD, $11.98 cassette) — Her most assured and varied album to date, with former Lonesome River Band member Dan Tyminski bringing a more traditional edge to the music, contrasting beautifully with Ms. Krauss' more delicate ballad style.

        • Nickel Creek, Nickel Creek (Sugar Hill; $16.98 CD only) — A trio of bluegrass prodigies — fiddler Sara Watkins, her brother Sean on guitar and mandolin master Chris Thile (with Chris' dad Scott on bass) — take a chamber-music approach to bluegrass, adding subtle Celtic and classical elements. Produced by Alison Krauss.

O, brother, bluegrass is big
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'Love Child' looks at babies with babies
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Theater partnership brings 'Monologues' to town in January
Blessid Union plans concert for wheelchair
DAUGHERTY: Everyday
De Asa Nichols builds businesses
KENDRICK: Alive and well
Silver bangles dangle from wife's arm
Cooking part of 'life goes on'
Tipping for takeout service a personal choice
Traditional 'hard cider' in season
Lunchtime chats begin
Get to it