Bruce Robison

The taller brother Robison’s latest may not bring anything new, per se, to the world of his musical vision, but his gift for creating something that feels both comfortably familiar yet somehow fresh is a talent not to be discounted. Like his hero Don Williams, Robison summons up dynamism from a generally laid-back approach, offering an album here that has the ambience of the back porch, albeit one with electrical outlets at the ready. With every outing he brings new facets to his oeuvre, and on The New World the new strains are the bluegrass flavors on “Only” and “She Don’t Care,” which, along with the brisk dancer, “Twistin,’” are the most immediately ear-catching cuts here. Like a favorite overstuffed armchair, Robison’s albums offer a comfortable place to settle into and enjoy his gift for making the most of understatement. — ROB PATTERSON