The Alison Pipitone Band: Tigerbabies (Slice Records)

The first song on Alison Pipitone's sixth record, Tigerbabies, begins with the line "Just a little bad luck is all you need," delivered over a cheery and fuzzy guitar. Which just about communicates Pipitone's songwriting voice: Life is broken and beautiful, grin in the face of despair. (Cheer up, that is. But, really, sometimes despair.) Pipitone has been recording great, no-gimmick rock songs like "i think you get me baby," "Love,Love,Love" and the opening track, "sUnShinestAr," for 10 years, gilding humor and love with a dark cloud of alienation. She also, of course, has been honing their edges before live audiences, both on the road and in Buffalo clubs—you can catch her from time to time at the Sportsmen's Tavern, which is right next to Sessions, where she and the band recorded Tigerbabies with Dwane Hall, the proprietor of both establishments, and she'll be at Artpark and Lafayette Square in August. This record is easily as good as anything she's done before, maybe better. Pipitone is equipped with one of the best and scratchiest rock-and-roll voices you'll ever hear, as well as a straightforward relationship with her guitar that invariably works to the benefit of her songs. She also has a new band, which she says is the one she's been waiting for all these years: Rebecca Mercurio plays upright and electric bass, Patrick Shaughnessy plays drums and Graham Howes adds his guitar. In the studio she also was joined by a host of legendary local talent, including Jim Whitford on guitar and lap steel and Rob Lynch on backing vocals. On your next visit to the record store, buy local.