One thing you can unequivocally say about Stevie Van Zandt is the cat has ears. Everything he puts out on his Wicked Cool Records label is certainly worth hearing. The same can be said for his Sirius Satellite radio show Underground Garage. So when news came out about “Secrets” by Kurt Baker, my ears widened in anticipation.

Factory Records, in Dover of Morris County, is reinventing what record store patrons have been missing for years: a place to browse through hundreds of titles in a non-stressful environment, strong on vinyl in every imaginable genre. What’s most newsworthy here, though, is its special events with artists like Joe Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult, Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge, Richard Lloyd of Television, Carmine Appice of Rod Stewart’s band and Kasim Sulton of Utopia.

Paul Simon, born in Newark 81 years ago, goes ever on. His new album, Seven Psalms (Sony Music), due May 19, is one 33-minute piece in seven movements meant to be digested whole.

The pride of Paterson, vocalist-guitarist John Pizzarelli, will release Stage & Screen, April 21 on Palmetto Records. “In thinking about some of the songs that I really love to play,” he says, “it struck me how many of them come from either a Broadway show or from a movie.”

Americana singer-songwriter-guitarist Dan Montgomery, from Pennsauken in Camden County, who already has six acclaimed albums to his credit, has decided to return to the sounds of his youth in crafting album #8, recorded in Memphis with producer Robert Mache.

When Bruce Springsteen’s sixth album, ‘Nebraska,’ came out in 1982, it was a shocking reminder just how profound the singer-songwriter could be. Now comes ‘Aoife O’Donovan Plays Nebraska’ (Yep Rock Music Group) in which the Brooklyn songstress digs deep inside these lyrics to ferret out even more meaning…this time from a feminine perspective.

Born and raised in Paterson, singer-songwriter Jalisa Rey’s seven-track So Personal debut EP is an affair of the heart. Her versatility is now squarely in the forefront after three singles starting with “U Ain’t Shit,” followed up by “It Ain’t Fair” and “True Colors.” The gal’s got balls.

She came out of Detroit with both barrels smoking in the 1960s but she’s been a Jersey Girl for decades. With one of the most iconic voices in music history, as produced by drummer/label head Steve Jordan on songs all written by Randall Bramblett, ‘LeVette!’ won’t be released until June 16 but you can hear one song, “Plan B,” here.

Seven-string Guitar Hero Steve Bello—from Ramsey in Bergen County—hits home hard on Mood Swings. Dedicated to Neil Peart of Rush, the CD rocks like a bitch, is just the right amount of heavy, and features Bello’s searing, slashing electric leads and chugging rhythms juxtaposed against drummer/producer Mike Sabatini’s all-out bombast (he of metal band Attacker).

Darryl McDaniels of legendary rap group Run DMC and metal guitar hero Dan Lorenzo from Paramus of Hades, Non-Fiction and Patriarchs In Black are guests as thrash drummer Tom Hunting of Exodus steps out front for his ‘Hunting Party’ solo debut of some of his favorite songs.

They’re calling it post-rock. It sounds like the soundtrack to a horror film where you just know the heroine is going to get her head chopped off but you don’t know when. The Royal Arctic Institute—with members from Hoboken and Weehawken—have no singer and that’s why they’re special. The follow-up to their 2021 From Catnip To Coma is a languid chill affair accentuated by the production of Yo La Tengo’s James McNew.

Label Head/Producer/Keyboardist/Composer Marco Benevento—from Livingston in Essex County—is at it again. Last year, he formulated an incredible afternoon in the Hudson Valley of New York called “Follow The Arrow.” This year, on June 17, at Arrowood Farms in Accord NY, he’ll do it again with the Benevento Family Band, Rubblebucket, The Barr Brothers and Scott Metzger (so far).

Those metal punks from Lodi in Bergen County known as Misfits have announced a mini-tour of three cities with singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig, bassist Jerry Only, lead guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, guitarist Acey Slade and legendary drummer Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Testament, Suicidal Tendencies, Mr. Bungle and Fantomas).

President Joe Biden bestowed the National Medal of Arts on March 21 in the East Room of the White House to honorees that included Bruce Springsteen as well as singer Gladys Knight, actor Julia Louis Dreyfus, authors Colson Whitehead and Amy Tan, comedian Mindy Kaling and designer Vera Wang.

The Delmore Recording Society will re-release and re-master Tricycle, the long out-of-print 1994 Wild Carnation debut with bassist/vocalist Brenda Sauter of The Feelies, guitarist Rich Barnes and drummer/vocalist Chris O’Donovan of Grey District. The limited 500-copy pressing on white vinyl will be ready by Record Store Day April 22.

Longtime Jersey Rocker John Eddie has teamed up with Priscilla Presley to create Agent Elvis. Netflix’s new 10-episode animated series is funny, outrageous, action-packed and already has pissed people off. Movie Star Matthew McConaughey voices the Elvis character while dropping as many F-Bombs as possible.

We have to hand it to Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac for instituting the best annual tradition ever in Middlesex County. How about five-nights-a-week of free concerts starting June 3 and continuing all the way to September 20. Unheard of!

On May 11, the Count Basie Center for the Arts will present “Shore To Rock Hunger,” a benefit for the Fulfill Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

Kenny Vance of Jay & The Americans will be honored with the “Spirit Of New Jersey” Award at the Garden State Film Festival on March 25 in Asbury Park.

“Live Jazz Every Night” proclaims its website. Open 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., Brvsh Cul7ur3 (pronounced Brush Culture), 482 Cedar Lane in Teaneck, will offer dinner, drinks and more affordable prices than Manhattan clubs.