The former Smoking Popes frontman follows up his masterful Hideout Sessions album with another live-to-tape set that just might be better. The stripped-down power trio sound suits his quirky tenor, and once again, his choice of material is impeccable.

Josh Caterer The SPACE Sessions (Pravda Records)

I wasn't entirely sure about "Somethin' Stupid" when I saw it on the list, but he does it as a duet with his daughter Phoebe. It takes her a few beats to really work her way into the song, but that initial reticence is totally charming, and her increasing confidence as the song rolls on gives that much more weight to a piece that is something of a piffle (and a strange father-daughter duet, despite its history).

Both of these albums are completely spectacular. The musicianship is top notch (John San Juan and John Perrin are experienced hands who know precisely where to punch up a line) and the song lists first rate. But why should two 10-song sets of covers be so affecting? Perhaps its because standards are standards for a reason. But I think the real reasons are the arrangements and settings. Guitar, bass, drums and vocals (with horns on "At Last", because, why not?). Anything extraneous goes right out the window. Not unlike Me First and the Gimme Gimme's Are a Drag (that band's take on standards and showtunes), the stripped-down, punchy renditions simply sound right.

Most of the time, this sort of project is competent and forgettable. Not so with Caterer. He has crafted two spectacular sets that should find a prominent place in the lore of Covid music. The pandemic may have been the inspiration (and facilitator, in many ways), but these albums will long outlive Covid fear. Caterer has fashioned a spectacular new avenue. I can't wait to hear where he goes next.

Jon Worley