A surprising number of great projects are still crossing my radar for the first time this deep into the year.

A member of the elite underground Phoenix country music scene, Glasheen brings a personal style that refuses a label. Opening with a classic Jimmy Rodgers-inspired train song and moving directly into a driving rockabilly adjacent jam of “Ms. Green” and landing in the snarky barroom romp “When She Drinks” — where Glasheen informs a bro that his girlfriend, sister and mom are really gay when they drink — this LP has a bit of almost everything. The album covers a range of emotions, styles and themes.

Glasheen had released a few of these singles earlier this year, but the majority of the album was new upon its late November release. And together, it presents a more interesting and complete picture of the artist.

Personally, I find a lot of desert in this effort, which brings a great local vibe from a scene that doesn’t get enough credit for its unique style. “Riding Until My Tank Runs Clean” seems to put you on a dark, desert highway, driving without a plan. This is a solid late-year album.

It’s about damn time. I’ve been following the Soda Crackers for years, and the band has undergone significant changes throughout that period. Now, as frontman and consummate showman, Zane Adamo, has settled back in his hometown of Bakersfield, it seems like the “Sun-Fun-Stay-Playboys” have landed on the right combo. And they’ve put out a debut LP with several solid originals and well-chosen covers to prove they’ve got the chops.

And while this self-titled album clearly is an homage to the classic Bakersfield Sound, there are touches of modernity in the original writing and production, which are critical to keeping a sound alive. You can’t just cover the old songs — you need to make people want to listen to your music. Adamo and the boys have accomplished that on this album.

It is worth noting that if you can see these guys live, you should. It’s a hell of a good time. But first, brush up on your dancing.

A collection of story songs more in the Americana space than a pure honky tonk area, Kane’s vocal style allows me to get lost in the performance or follow the trajectory of the characters. Nice stuff here.

Thanks to the algorithm, I found Jail Preacher, and I like this EP. I’m a few weeks behind the release, but the strong twang, solid harmonies and just the right amount of working-class religious allusion for my taste make this collection a solid listening experience. These Sacramento-based players bring a nice balance of trad country, ‘90s swagger and Southern rock. Also, I love the band’s label name: Poverty Ridge Records.

This is a perfect EP for December. Proven songs in a softer, low-fi package. Majcen’s songwriting shines in this straightforward production.

I asked Tod’s team if this song was timed to drop after any particular social media kerfuffle or other such nonsense, and I was assured it was just the last new song of the year. Ok, sure. I’m a bit over this trope — we get it. You’re hardcore and did the time. I hope the other songs on this album feature a bit more depth of character. That said, this is a banger and a great addition to his honky tonk collection.

I’d advise against listening to this while driving on a freeway if you don’t want points on your license.

This song drips of Texas. And I mean that in the best possible way.