New York City-based folk/Americana outfit The Scooches releases their third long player, Lift You Up, an album merging elements of world folk, global Americana, New Orleans verve, and the panache of the 1920s. Led by vocalist Betina Hershey and multi-instrumentalist Nick Russo, with Lift You Up, The Scooches, formerly known as Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches, call upon society and the human race to believe that we, collectively, can make a difference, a change for the better. Encompassing a dozen tracks, Lift You Up begins with the title track, riding a reggae-dub groove topped by upbeat instrumentation and the velvety, optimistic vocals of Hershey. Highlights on the album include “Stop This Climate Change,” a song urging a positive, communal response to the climate crisis. Travelling...