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The singer-songwriter proves himself to be an astute student of country music's trends and conventions.

In an economy that's tanking, the office has become an increasingly barren wasteland. But you can still make the best of your work environment by turning off the fluorescent overheads, plugging in some headphones and checking out these segues into a world of jazz adventure.

Jazz has no shortage of celebrated masters. Every year brings an abundance of new milestones for record labels to celebrate. With that in mind, we present songs by six American jazz musicians who would have become centenarians in 2009, including Lester Young.

Summer is, unfortunately, more about what we want it to be than what it actually is. Idealism may make a potent brew, but we know the season inevitably ends. That's why some of the best summer songs are tinged with fragility and marked by melancholy. This is music that admits the painful truth about summer: that even the best times won't last, as long days fade with autumn's encroaching dusk.

Many of Broadway's greatest orchestrators remain little-known. Ever hear of Sid Ramin, Jonathan Tunick, Don Walker, Russell Bennett or Ralph Burns? Exactly. But those are the men who orchestrated West Side Story, Gypsy, A Chorus Line, Sweeney Todd, Hello Dolly and South Pacific.

Lady Gaga's rebellious personality, outrageous fashion sense and outsize way with a chorus have earned her a huge and diverse fan base. Last week, she played three sold-out hometown shows at New York's Madison Square Garden. Critic Will Hermes recently took his niece to one of the concerts.

This week saw two big music releases: a new album from pop baritone Josh Groban and the new download from mash-up genius Girl Talk. Music critic Tom Moon offers his thoughts on two very different albums.

The frontman for The 1975 says today's political climate has him thinking more seriously about writing songs that mean something.

While versatile guitarist and composer Chris Forsyth can be a brutally free-form and frenetic player, his music is just as often warm, inviting and inspiring.

It has been 50 years since Cash recorded his legendary live album. At Folsom Prison boosted his then-flagging career and highlighted his efforts to reform the nation's penal system.