A year ago, Jason Kutchma was touring alone, retracing the path his band, Red Collar, had followed across America not long before. He had only a self-released live recording of five songs, built on percussive strumming and his weathered croon. There was promise, and of course there was conviction, but it still felt unfinished. What a difference a year makes: With his crack backing band, The 5 Fifths, in tow, Kutchma has realized the promise of those early solo outings and his "gospel punk" aesthetic. Smears of steel guitar and brushed drum hits cast a glow on Kutchma's Springsteen-informed country. With three other solo acts: The Library (Matt Long of Mayflies USA), Jphono1 (North Elementary's John Harrison) and Clinton Johnson (Reid Johnson of Schooner). —Bryan C. Reed