November is typically one of the quieter months for live music, so it seemed like a good time to catch up on some new music. All of the music I mention below is available on all major streaming platforms, so you might want to add these to your playlist. If you are interested in purchasing physical products (CD or vinyl), I suggest you go to Bandcamp.com or better yet, buy music directly from the artist via their website or at shows.

You may not instantly recognize the name Josh Thayer. Still, there is a good chance that you have heard him play because, for the past few decades, he’s played bass for various musicians and was a member of the bands Love Minus Zero, Hadley Transfer Station and Fancy Trash.

However, a series of recent events, including his father’s death, led to Thayer moving away from his role as a sideman and stepping out on his own. On his debut album, “It Will Still Keep Feeling Rough,” for the first time, former local resident Thayer writes and sings all the songs and plays most of the instruments. He did the majority of the recording in his basement but did work with a few collaborators, including his bandmate in Fancy Trash, drummer Jason Smith.

“And I see a future sense of grief/And I need a sleep, a peace, a new dream to believe/To get me through to tomorrow,” he sings against a powerful drum beat and robust electric guitar on “Punch, Crumble, and Crawl” one of the many songs that find him struggling to find a way through loss. While that song and other like “Prepare to be Consumed” are musically heavy, it’s not all hard rock here. Songs like “Peaceful Passing” have an almost hymn-like quality, and he uses synthesizers to create a dreamlike mood on “Say What You Mean.”

Thayer penned these songs during a challenging period, infusing each with his personal experiences and emotions. Yet, despite the roughness of the journey, “It Will Still Keep Feeling Rough ” is ultimately a work of hope and resistance that marks a promising start to this new chapter of his musical career.

“You Never Lose That Grip” is local hero Ray Mason’s 15th album, and I stress “solo album,” because he has also regularly released albums with his own band and the Lonesome Brothers. The album was recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by Tom Mahnken (Trailer Park) at his studio in Ashfield. Mahnken brought in an impressive group of local musicians, including keyboardist Ken Maiuri, guitarist Dennis Crommett and drummer Chet Pasek to help flesh out these tunes.

Like most of Mason’s solo work, the 10 upbeat tracks here are heavily influenced by 1960s pop-rock, especially on tracks like “Here’s to the Whole Damn Thing,” where keyboardist Ken Maiuri adds some nice psychedelic touches, including some strings.

Haydenville resident Mason said these songs “explore the human condition and all that it brings on a daily basis.” He even writes about music “On a Nightly Basis,” where he sings/speaks about the joy of “sitting in a room/listening to the radio/ why would I ever want to break outta here” with some help from backing vocalist Olive Bruno.

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While “It’s What You Do” sums up exactly what he does: “You see it/ you write it / You feel it/ And then you write that too/ Why? /Because it’s what you do.” And with the addition of “You Never Lose That Grip” to his already extensive catalog, we are lucky that creating infectious pop-rock music is exactly what Ray Mason does.

Ray Mason will be at Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.

This album is Christa Joy’s fourth release of original material, but her debut with her fantastic band, the Honeybees. In case you are not familiar, the Honeybees are a country band, and this album features honky tonk to classic country ballads that sound straight out of Nashville. Joy’s pure, honeyed voice is perfect to deliver this twangy collection of tunes and she proves she has the gift to craft a melodic song with lyrics ranging from the sentimental to the sassy.

The album opens with “Omens,” a classic country ‘done me wrong’ song with a twist of humor. Joy berates herself for missing all the omens, like a black cat and a horseshoe upside down, which indicates she is about to be dumped. This song is a true toe-tapper that benefits from Timothy Bowles’ pedal steel. The lighthearted “God Gave Me Two Babies” is an honest look at her experience of being the mother of twins. “God gave me two babies/ He must be crazy/ And certainly a man,” she sings aside some striking electric guitar from Lisa Marie Ellingsen.

On a more serious note, the tender “Night Star,” is a touching ballad about her devotion to her children.

And if you ever wanted to hear a countrified version of a Pixies song, The Honeybees cover of “Here Comes Your Man” features some nice harmonies from LexiWeege, which turns the song on its side and totally reinvents it.

Christa Joy and the Honeybees will perform at the Parlor Room on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m.

And here are a couple of singles worthy of your attention:

Luke Concannon is a relatively new singer-songwriter on the local scene. He currently resides in Guildford, Vermont, by way of Ireland, where he had a successful career as part of the group, Nizlopi. For “I Wanna Dance With You,” he teamed up with multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Darius Christion (Macklemore, Mumford & Sons) to create a wonderful folk song that has elements of pop and hip-hop. This lovely love song with its memorable chorus, it is sure to win Concannon more fans on this side of the ocean.

Finally, new music from the Northampton-based band LuxDeluxe. They have kept us waiting for seven long years and this new single is a solid Rolling Stone inspired rocker that is guaranteed to have you up and dancing. Frontman Ned King gives it his all in a voice that was made for rockin’. “Far Away From It All” is great fun and the band promises more to come.

LuxDeluxe will hold a record release show on Friday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m at the Iron Horse in Northampton.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.