Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts: Talkin’ to the Trees (Warner Records, CD, 37:57). For his 48th studio album, Neil Young is backed by an ensemble he calls the Chrome Hearts, namely Micah Nelson on guitar, Corey McCormick on bass and Anthony LoGerfo on drums. All three toured and recorded with Young as part of his previous band, The Promise of the Real. The addition is legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section member Spooner Oldham on organ. Oldham has played with Young off and on since 1978’s “Comes a Time.”

The 10 new songs are co-produced by Lou Adler (The Grass Roots, The Mamas & the Papas, Carole King). However, Young has chosen to recycle some riffs and borrow tunes, among them his own. There is no grab-you track, like a “Down by the River,” “Cowgirl in the Sand,” “Heart of Gold” or “Rockin’ in the Free World,” resulting in a somewhat disappointing album.

The opening “Family Life” and the superior “Dark Mirage” that follows both deal with strained family relations. The former is folkish, while the latter is grungier blues, as he sings “I lost my little girl to the darkness inside.” There are echoes of his “Helpless” in “First Fire of Winter,” one of the album’s better efforts.

“Silver Eagle” appropriates the melody of “This Land Is Your Land,” and the same melody appears again on “Let’s Roll Again,” a song that asks car manufacturers to build safer vehicles.

Another solid effort is “Big Change,” which is loud and angry, with a noisy guitar break. It is followed by the title track, which is quieter as Young sings of dreamy days and seeks out a breeze, before singing about Bob Dylan and the songs he was singing.

“Movin’ Ahead,” about looking ahead, is a bit noisy, but leaves me flat. “Bottle of Love” is jazzy, before “Thankful” ends the album gently with one of the better songs. Here, Young sings: “I’ve been pilin’ on the years/ Full of laughter, sometimes tears/ I feel thankful for them now/ Want to keep them here with me somehow.” Grade: B-

Rascal Flatts: Life Is a Highway: Refueled Duets (Big Machine Records, CD, 38:17). For their 11th studio album, the country rock trio Rascal Flatts has recorded nine of their past hits, each with a guest artist, plus a new song with the Jonas Brothers. This is their first studio album in eight years and first overall since their breakup in 2021. It is released in honor of their 25th anniversary.

The album is a bold, celebratory reimagining of the band’s storied back catalogue, featuring collaborations with a dynamic roster of country contemporaries and pop-rock icons. The result is a fascinating blend of nostalgia and innovation.

The album opens with the new song, “I Dare You,” sung with the Jonas Brothers and co-written by Nick Jonas. It was released as the lead single on Jan. 31. The super track has a pop feel as they sing about love, heartbreak and “I dare you to love somebody like me.” Another strong standout is “Stand,” with Christian artist Brandon Lake, that is transformed into a 1980s rock-inspired powerhouse, complete with thunderous drums and soaring guitars that complement Lake’s raw vocals. It also has a very nice soft ending. It is the album’s biggest sonic departure from the original.

There are many other fine tracks, as only the softer “My Wish,” featuring Carly Pearce, whose voice opens the track, fails to leave a big impression. Jason Aldean adds some grit to the guitar-heavy anthem “Fast Cars and Freedom,” which originally was fiddle-laced. The theme is youth and escape.

Blake Shelton’s rich baritone is a perfect addition to “Mayberry” and its small-town nostalgia. Ashley Cooke is heard on the playful “Summer Nights,” which mixes acoustic guitars and high-energy fiddles. Another dive into pop is “What Hurts the Most,” with the Backstreet Boys, as the original’s country heartbreak becomes lush pop theatrics. The vocals are nicely layered. “Yours If You Want It” is a forceful number featuring Jordan Davis.

The album closes with two highlights. “Life is a Highway,” featuring Lzzy Hale, is guitar-driven rock that even reaches screaming stage. Finally, Kelly Clarkson is emotionally perfect on “I’m Movin' On.” Grade: A

Secret Monkey Weekend: Lemon Dropp Hammer (Secret Monkey Records, CD, 37 min.). A family band like no other, Secret Monkey Weekend returns with its uplifting sophomore album. The band includes seasoned guitarist/vocalist Jefferson Hart and his stepdaughters Ella (bass/vocals) and Lila Brown-Hart (drums/vocals). The North Carolina trio’s harmony-heavy Beatles/Squeeze songwriting, charming lyricism and familial chemistry is channeled into 10 tracks, produced by Don Dixon (REM, Smithereens). There is even a trace of The Mamas & the Papas in the chorus of “Things You Threw Away.”

The group’s roots go back to 2012 with the tragic death of Hart’s friend and occasional bandmate Matt Brown, a drummer whose credits included backing Husker Du’s Grant Hart. Jefferson Hart, who is no relation to Grant Hart, begins teaching Brown’s youngest daughter, Ella, the guitar. In time, Hart falls for her mother, Laura, and they marry. Soon, family time consisted of Hart jamming in the living room with Ella on bass and her older sister, Lila, on drums

Secret Monkey Weekend (the name derived from a vintage Tiger Beat magazine headline) began as purely organic family therapy, with no plans for anything more. Yet by 2016, they were playing casual shows and soon graduated to a busy calendar of club and festival dates. Their debut album, “All the Time in the World,” also produced by Dixon, followed in 2022. Their story was so remarkable that the trio is the subject of Emmy-winning 2023 PBS documentary, “Secret Monkey Weekend.”

“Lemon Drop Hammer” (a title inspired by Hart witnessing Laura’s assault of a bag of congealed candy with said tool) combines deft songcraft, wide-eyed youthful wonder and music as comfort and connection. Harnessing timeless melodic instincts to power-pop guitar jangle, authentic first-person lyrics and three contrasting voices that harmonize as only family can, it has contemporary feel thanks to the two young ladies.

The buoyant opener “So Much Joy” evokes heyday Yardbirds, with its “woo-ooh” backups of co-ed vocals. Ella’s vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics, voiced by her sister on “Things You Threw Away,” recount sorting through their late father’s previously untouched possessions. Now they revisit and process his loss as young adults. The bouncy “We Can Be Friends” is an ode to childhood bonds, forged over the smallest things. It has a very nice shift midway, followed by the guitar break. There also is a nice guitar break on the softer “Na Nanana.”

The title track is spritely and even has a scream, and there is additional fine wah-wah guitar at the end of “Way Way Out.” Grade: B+