Record Rack

*** Ron Sexsmith, “Whereabouts,” Interscope. The Canadian is usually a no-frills kind of guy. But on his third album (being released Tuesday), the singer-songwriter sets his words of longing and spirituality across a hypnotic pop soundscape of strings, horns and soft beats. On “Right About Now,” Sexsmith even finds a soulful romantic vibe that lands right where Al Green meets the Plastic Ono Band. A strangely soothing brew.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.