THIS WEEK

Approach No. 3: Offbeat Humor

Want to share a Beach Day with this critter? Trip Trap Attack (Kanine) is the debut of a trio that knows something about the seaside — even if (according to its P.R.) its hometown is “not your typical beach town.” That would be Hollywood, Florida, where “things seem exaggerated and a bit odd.” Which helps explain the cover art, rendered by band guitarist Kimmy Drake. She and the others “bonded over their love of ’60s girl groups,” and “their sound is heavily influenced by their surroundings. They make new music, but it’s old at heart. And it’s definitely sunny, but not without some murkiness.”

Delbert & Glen are vocalists McClinton and Clark, and on Blind, Crippled and Crazy (New West) they team up for their first album together in 4 decades. As for the cover art (from a concept by Christian Berry, using a shot from McDonald Wildlife Photography): Which one’s Delbert? Which one’s Glen? Either way, in the words of the opening track’s title, these two Texas animals have “Been Around a Long Time.”

More often than not, the covers of Primal Scream’s albums have been abstract affairs. However, for More Light (First International/Ignition), designer Jim Lambie juxtaposes an irreverent Bobby Gillespie (the band’s frontman) with a floral display. Not sure why. But this is certain: Gillespie and crew have rounded up some intriguing guests, including Robert Plant and Jason Falkner.

Says the bio: My Mother’s Brisket & Other Love Songs (WNS/Warner Music Nashville) is “an eclectic blend of klezmer, rumba, folk, and jazz, covering themes of family, food, religious traditions, more food, love, and dessert.” Says Rick Moranis himself: “When I first began writing jokes and sketches with various Jewish partners, one of us would inevitably stop at some point and announce, ‘Too Jewish!’ Too Jewish for the star, the show, the network, or the audience. The songs on this album are all in that category. I grew up hearing the Allan Sherman albums and the You Don’t Have to Be Jewish albums in the ’60s. Now I’m in my 60s.”