14 albums by Greater Boston musicians to listen to this winter

While some view winter as a time for hibernation, Greater Boston musicians are roaring into the new year with an avalanche of new music. Some, like Emma Blanc, Mel Starr, and Sam Saomek Srithongkum, are making notable debuts. Others, like Six Going On Seven and The Grownup Noise, are reviving beloved lineups. Rapper SeeFour is releasing his first album since a spot on Netflix hip-hop competition catapulted him into the national spotlight, and fans of archival releases can enjoy everything from 1970s garage punks DMZ to a 45 by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Decades before “six-seven” became a common slang term, there happened to be a Boston indie rock band called Six Going On Seven. The group’s first new record in over 20 years couldn’t be more perfectly timed. Back in the day, the trio of Josh English (vocals and bass), James Bransford (guitar) and Will Bartlett (drums) shared plenty of bills with emo giants like Jimmy Eat World and the Get Up Kids, but they’ve maintained their smart and distinctive sensibility that somehow draws on ‘80s pop and Homer’s “Odyssey” at the same time.

Chronic pain might not seem like a natural topic for a jazz/funk album. But for the supremely talented Cambridge-raised singer-songwriter and saxophonist Emma Blanc, it’s the foundation for their debut EP, which examines both how pain impacted their personal and educational development. This mix of vocal and instrumental folk, jazz and funk was largely written while recovering from a set of major surgeries. Blanc has used music as a key part of their recovery process, and with their compelling songwriting and sophisticated playing, they’re an exciting emerging musical voice.

Master composer Osvaldo Golijov is the longtime composer-in-residence at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. For this career-spanning album, he’s made deeply profound new recordings of four of his works as he examines themes of friendship, hope, memory and faith. The performers include the Arethusa Quartet, Animato Quartet, violist Barry Shiffman and double bassist Nicholas Schwartz. The title piece was the final composition that Golijov wrote for his late longtime collaborator, violinist Geoff Nuttall. “Esperanza” was composed for Francis Ford Coppola’s film “Megalopolis.”

Boston rockers DMZ were among the titans of the 1970s garage rock scene that exploded out of venues like The Rat and Cantones. Frequent favorites at CBGB, they had their shot at national stardom in 1978 when they were signed by Sire Records for an album that was produced by Flo and Eddie of Turtles and Frank Zappa fame. But in one of Boston rock’s great “what if” yarns, the sessions were stymied by the Blizzard of ‘78, which trapped the band in a Long Island studio without food or beds. Shortly before the blizzard, the band — Jeff “Monoman” Connolly, JJ Rassler, Paul Murphy and Rick Coraccio — went into a different studio to lay down some basic tracks, which have recently been unearthed. They include rawer versions of cuts that made it to the album as well as several songs that weren’t on the Sire release, including a cover of the Sonics’ “He’s Waitin’.” The album is slated to be released in January, with a specific date to be announced.

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Self-taught Boston singer-songwriter Mel Starr shows that they’re a strikingly fully-realized voice with this concept album about how a death can lead to a family’s unraveling. It’s a heavy topic, but Starr’s wide musical range and powerful singing and writing invite multiple listens. With the help of local engineer June Isenhart, Starr has helped craft a wide sonic universe that spans from plaintive chamber folk to twangy indie-country, and the album ends on a warm, joyful note.

Mel Starr celebrates the release of “Wild Thing” on Feb. 18 at Club Passim.

The last time Somerville songwriter Paul Hansen released an album by his longtime band The Grownup Noise, he wrote and played every note. Now he’s welcomed back the band’s original lineup, which also includes Katie Franich (cello/vocals), Adam Sankowski (bass/vocals) and top-shelf session drummer Kyle Crane, for their first record together in over a decade. The result is a set of beautifully dreamy and impeccably crafted harmony-driven songs about middle-aged life. The Grownup Noise have been playing around Boston (and the country) for the better part of 20 years, and now their name truly fits them.

The Grownup Noise celebrates the album release at Deep Cuts in Medford on Feb. 7.

The estimable Boston duo of Ethan Robbins (vocals/guitar/mandolin) and Ariel Bernstein  (vocals/percussion/banjo) have been making high-quality roots music nonstop since the pair met in 2012. This is the sixth full-length record by the nationally touring combo, and it has touches of rockabilly swagger, soulful bluegrass and heartfelt indie-folk about love, life and nature. The pre-release single “I Know This Girl” has enough grit, drive and backbeat to make Cold Chocolate worthy heirs to The Band.

Cold Chocolate celebrates the release of “Not Gonna Stop” on Feb. 12 at Club Passim.

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The vibrant Boston early and modern vocal ensemble Tapestry has recorded for several of the most prominent classical labels. For its first independent release, the group is focusing on music from France. It ranges from the Celtic-adjacent folk sounds of Brittany to the beloved Paris chanson of Édith Piaf’s repertoire. But this is no nostalgia trip, thanks to the fresh and innovative arrangements. The gorgeous vocals by Cristi Catt and Daniela Tosic are joined by Jeremiah McLane on accordion, James Falzone on clarinet and rhythm guitarist Andrew vanNorstrand in a release that will delight any Francophile.

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Kerrin Connolly’s endearing and witty YouTube presence helped make them a prior fan favorite of the Massachusetts Tiny Desk Contest. Connolly is still uploading low-fi original and cover videos, but these studio recordings really bring home their talent for writing, playing and singing perfect pop pieces that combine a big sound with homemade household instruments. From the wailing, assertive “Avalanche” to the circus-like “Funny,” Connolly wrote and played everything except for the strings, which were handled by Ellis Piper.

Kerrin Connolly celebrates the album release at The Burren on Feb. 21.

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Mattapan-bred rapper SeeFour gave Boston hip-hop a rare shot of national recognition when he appeared on the Netflix competition series “Rhythm + Flow.” Now he’s readying the follow-up to his electrifying 2023 LP “Spirit of a Warrior.” While the music and concept are still in development, SeeFour’s manager and PUTINWORK Records CEO Robert “ROB.” Kelley-Morgan said it will explore SeeFour’s “range as an artist and his growth as a man.” The release is slated for a March date, to be announced.

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If you’re resolving to get some inspiration and high artistry into your 2026 playlist, a fine place to start is the debut LP by the uniquely versatile pianist and composer Sam Saomek Srithongkum. A higher power is the running theme among the five selections, which range from a praise medley and the hymn “This Is My Father's World” to “Obsession” by Brazilian composers Dori Caymmi and Gilson Peranzetta (sung by baritone Graham Lin). The impeccable recording, which was arranged by Saomek Srithongkum and soprano saxophonist Eli Brandt, finds an uplifting space between jazz, classical and pop sounds.

Sam Saomek celebrates the album release March 6 at the Lilypad in Cambridge.

Most vinyl collectors associate classical music with 33 RPM long-playing albums. But for the hardcore stereophile, it’s often the 45 RPM, with its deeper grooves, that provides the most satisfying listening experience. This winter, a wide range of landmark mid-20th century classical recordings made for RCA’s famed Living Sound series will be reissued as double 45 vinyl records. A number of the titles feature the Boston Symphony Orchestra or the Boston Pops. This studio recording, released in 1959, found the BSO playing with one of the all-time violin virtuosos, Jascha Heifetz. Another 45 finds the Pops, conducted by Arthur Fiedler, playing several Gershwin pieces with pianist Earl Wild. The project will be releasing 45s each month throughout the year, with the exact release schedule to be announced.

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Boston singer-songwriter and guitarist (and school teacher) Sam Berquist has a take on roots music that wonderfully balances grit and whimsy. “Rifle and the Dove” is a joyful ode to acceptance, while “Smoke” is a catchy country yarn that offers a post-mortem of a failed relationship. This deliciously crisp record was co-produced by bassist/drummer Dave Westner and features such local string music greats as mandolinist Sean Staples. Bergquist, who cut his teeth in the local roots outfit Loose Change, is slated to showcase at the Folk Alliance International Conference in New Orleans this winter, so it’s likely that the rest of the country will start hearing about this sincere and charming talent.

Harvard faculty Kiku Adatto and Michael Sandel believe it’s never too early for ethical reasoning and civil dialogue. Their Babayan Project promotes these values to children through Adatto’s book “Babayan and the Magic Star” about the transformation of a once-scary monster. An audio version was narrated by Yo-Yo Ma for WBUR’s Circle Round podcast in 2019. Now, Ma, singer Carolyn Yujie Hao, drummer Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, guitarist Lyle Brewer, percussionist Fabio Pirozzolo and other A-list Boston session players are bringing the story to a musical setting aimed at children aged 3 to 9. The record ranges from rap to Latin to contemporary pop, providing a fun way for both kids and their parents to learn about nature, civility, and friendship.