Before you look ahead to what's coming out in 2009, take a look at 2008's overlooked albums.

"Symphonica" by Joe Lovano; Blue Note

Saxophonist Joe Lovano is more a synthesizer of jazz styles than an innovator, but it's his versatility that has made him stand out and constantly surprise on his 20 Blue Note recordings since 1990.

His previous CD "Kids" offered intimate duets with pianist Hank Jones, but on the Grammy-nominated "Symphonica" (Best Large Ensemble Jazz Album), he uses the broad canvas of Germany's WDR Radio Big Band and Orchestra to re-imagine six of his favorite original small ensemble compositions from the past 20 years.

Lovano's tough but tender tenor sax floats easily over the orchestral backdrop on the ballads "Emperor Jones" and "I'm All For You," which is based on the chord changes to the standard "Body and Soul," evoking memories of tenor giant Ben Webster's "with strings" albums from the 1950s. He shows his more adventurous side on the edgy, angular "Eternal Joy," on which he switches to soprano sax, and "The Dawn of Time" which has a percussive calypso feel.

Michael Abene's sensitive arrangements avoid mawkish sentimentality and don't weigh down Lovano's ability to express himself. Abene deservedly garnered a Grammy nomination for his arrangement of the only non-Lovano tune, Charles Mingus' "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love," with the strings gently caressing Lovano's slowly unfolding tenor lines.

— Charles J. Gans, Associated Press

"Modern Hymns" by Darrell Scott; Appleseed "My Mind Gets to Ramblin' " by Steve Howell; Out of the Past

Darrell Scott and Steve Howell bring scholarly passion to their music, and these records of cover tunes are a delightful education. Each artist contributes liner notes with illuminating song-by-song essays, but there's nothing professorial about the performances.

Scott is better known — he's a successful Nashville-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with six solo CDs. "Modern Hymns" features tunes written by some of his heroes, from Hoyt Axton to Paul Simon. His taste in material is impeccable, and so are the arrangements, which often have a bluegrass flavor. Highlights include Gordon Lightfoot's "All The Lovely Ladies" and the closer, a gospel reading of Guy Clark's "That Old Time Feeling."

Howell's genre is country blues, and "My Mind Gets To Ramblin' " features 13 old tunes by composers obscure and well-known. Thanks to his broad vocabulary on acoustic guitar, the Texas-born Howell swings and rocks even in these sparse arrangements, and his interplay with bassist Joe Osborn is a treat. "My Mind Gets to Ramblin" offers a lesson on the blues worth hearing.

— Steven Wine, AP

"Hey Ma" by James; Mercury Records

Despite a seven-year hiatus, James hasn't missed a step, resurfacing with one of the strongest discs of their career in "Hey Ma."

Both soulfully uplifting and lyrically somber, "Hey Ma" is easily their best work since 1993's seminal classic "Laid" — the title track of which (sadly) almost everyone knows without knowing the title or artist. But I digress.

The Brit seven-piece offers nary a weak track among the 11 songs, with frontman Tim Booth soaring on the title track in protest: "Hey Ma/The boys in bodybags/Coming home in pieces." Somber — yes — but rich acoustic guitars and brilliant harmonies give it a bouncy poignancy.

The standouts come in waves. "Oh My Heart," "Boom Boom," "Whiteboy" and "I Wanna Go Home" dazzle with layered guitars and pulsating dynamics, while the dark "72" — as in virgins — attacks the insanity of religious zealotry.

Things slow down with the rich "Semaphore" and moody "Of Monsters And Heroes And Men."

This is a real treat for fans who thought this delightfully witty Britpop outfit was gone for good.

— John Kosik, AP

"Sex & Gasoline" by Rodney Crowell; Work Song/Yep Roc

On "Closer to Heaven," the final song of Rodney Crowell's latest album, he sums up the set. "I'm learning to feel my hands on the wheel," he sings.

The world's priorities may be out of whack, as the title cut on "Sex & Gasoline" complains. But the rest of the record suggests Crowell has discovered what really matters: faith, family, love and good tunes.

Although Crowell has been working on his memoirs, he's not saving all of his best writing for the book.

"S&G" is filled with lyric gems, which is no surprise from a veteran composer who has produced some of his best material this decade. The album is musically satisfying, too, with Crowell and ace producer Joe Henry choosing arrangements that give each instrument plenty of space. There's spirited gospel and blues, and the rocker "I Want You #35" is what you would expect from someone who once played in a group called the Hot Band.

Throughout, Crowell's thoughtful words are front and center. "The sun comes up tomorrow, but there are no guarantees," he sings. Music this good makes a new day easy to embrace.

— Steven Wine, AP