In the last few months, I have received solo CDs by artists long associated with bands. The desire and compulsion to step out on one’s own is easy to understand and the work that is created in that setting is often rewarding for both the performer and the listener.

The domestic release of Songs From The Front Porch: An Acoustic Collection (Boo Boo Wax/iMusic) by Spearhead front-man Michael Franti introduces the listener to another, more barebones side of the man best known for his work with the hip-hop outfits Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and Spearhead. Reminiscent of both Gil Scott-Heron and Ben Harper, through Franti’s combination of politics and spirituality (listen to “Love’ll Set Me Free” and “Oh My God” to hear what I mean), this front porch music is as powerful and refreshing as a tall glass of lemonade on a hot, sticky summer day.

Lucia Cifarelli of Drill and KMFD fame drops her surname and steps out on her own on From The Land Of Volcanos (The Control Group). Slicker and prettier than one might expect, Lucia sounds like Madonna – another mono-monikered diva who has also collaborated with Patrick Leonard – on most of these tracks. While that is sure to disappoint hardcore industrial music maniacs, it does present Lucia with the potential to reach an entirely different audience via tunes such as “Northern Star”, “Fear” and “We Are Angels”. Traces of the Lucia of old can be found on “Ordinary Girl” and “Monkey Puzzle Tree”.

On their new respective albums Not So Much To Be Loved As To Love (Sanctuary/Vapor) and Gettin’ In Over My Head (Brimel/Rhino) eternal kids Jonathan Richman and Brian Wilson take differing approaches to maturity. Richman exhibits both artistic and personal growth throughout his wonderful CD. From the sentiments of the title track to the musical voyages in Italian (“Cosi Veloce”, “In Che Mondo Viviamo”) and French (“Le Toiles”, “On A Du Soleil”) and the political statement of “Abu Jamal”, Richman’s perspective remains uniquely his own. After taking on Pablo Picasso 30 years ago, Richman offers up a new art history lesson on “Vincent Van Gogh” and reflects on the impact that “Salvador Dali” had on his life, making the songs as informative as they are entertaining. Wilson may be looking at the world through “Rainbow Eyes” on his new disc, but he remains a straight man (“The Waltz”, “Don’t Let Her Know She’s An Angel”) stuck in his unresolved childhood. As always, the sonic quality of Wilson’s work is unparalleled, and the presence of legendary guest musicians such as Elton John, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton is worth noting. Unfortunately, the simplicity of the lyrics makes this a case of style over substance, and therefore a disappointment.

Two members of The New Pornographers, whose 2003 album Electric Version was one of the best releases of the year, have stepped out on their own. Fancey (March/What Are Records?) by New Pornographers’ guitarist and keyboard player Todd Fancey and The Slow Wonder (Matador) by New Pornographers’ front man A.C. Newman, give both guys a chance to work some different muscles. Fancey’s disc is as sweet, sunny and refreshing as a tall glass of orange juice. Newman’s album is a bit edgier and every bit as enjoyable.

In addition to releasing new solo discs, Tanya Donelly, Dan Zanes and Dave Derby all have connections to influential Boston bands. Donelly started as a member of Throwing Muses and later formed The Breeders and Belly. Zanes was a founding member of the roots-rocking Del Fuegos and Derby led alternative rock band The Dambuilders. Donelly’s gorgeous Whiskey Tango Ghosts (4AD) is distinguished by her at turns stunning and subtle vocals on songs such as “Divine Sweet Divide”, “Every Devil”, “Just In Case You Quit Me”, “My Life As A Ghost”, “Story High” and “Fallout”.

An unexpected beauty also permeates Derby’s Even Further Behind (Badman), and it can be found on the title track (which echoes Kiss’ “Beth”), “Still Bored”, “Sad Northern Town” and “Undertow”, to name a few.

Since 2000, Zanes and some of his musical friends have been recording albums for kids and their families. Parades And Panoramas (Festival Five) shifts Zanes’ focus to the work of the late American poet Carl Sandburg and his 1927 book The American Songbag, in which the writer assembled a multitude of folks songs, spirituals and others.

Angela McCluskey’s singular vocals helped to establish the band The Wild Colonials during the 1990s. The Things We Do (Manhattan/EMI), McCluskey’s solo debut, was produced by Nathan Larson (ex-Shudder To Think), who also wrote or co-wrote most of the songs on the disc. McCluskey’s scruffy diva vocals are most effective on “Wrong Side”, “Sleep On It”, “It’s Been Done”, “Know It All” and “A Thousand Drunken Dreams”. She is also a magnetic live performer; a fact that I can attest to having seen her open for the Finn Brothers over the summer.

Rachel Goswell (ex-Slowdive) has left her shoe-gazing days behind in favor of a richer, more organic style on her solo disc, Waves Are Universal (4AD).

With their respective bands, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions (during the 1980s) and Grant Lee Buffalo (during the 1990s), Lloyd Cole and Grant-Lee Phillips made their own impressions on listeners. Cole has been recording as a solo artist since 1990, and his latest, Music in a Foreign Language (One Little Indian), is a striking effort; every bit the equal of his best solo album, 1991’s Don’t Get Weird On Me Babe. There was no question about Cole’s ability to write catchy pop songs (i.e. “Perfect Skin”, “My Bag”) as the front man of The Commotions. What his solo discs have allowed him to do is explore his abilities with beautiful ballads, and the songs on Music in a Foreign Language find him at the peak of his skills.

Grant Lee Buffalo never achieved the same level of success that Cole & The Commotions did, but they succeeded in establishing a hard-core following. Front man Grant-Lee Phillips continues his acoustic explorations on Virginia Creeper (Zoe).

Don’t forget about solo discs by Josh (ex-Buckcherry) Todd (You Made Me on Todd Entertainment), Kevin (ex-Barenaked Ladies) Hearn (Night Light on Mapletonwide), Jay (ex-Wilco) Bennett (Bigger Than Blue on Undertow), Jesse (ex-D Generation) Malin (The Heat on Artemis), and Ken (ex-Posies) Stringfellow (Soft Commands on Yep Roc).