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Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Harps and Angels, Randy Newman's first album in nine years.

Singer-songwriter Jeff Hanson has one of the most incredible and unique voices you will ever hear. That is, from a guy. Upon hearing Hanson's third full-length record, Madam Owl, the first thing anyone will notice is the singer's impossibly high voice that sounds more like that of a highly skilled female vocalist (or maybe a eunuch) than a 30 year old man. But if you listen closer, there is far more to Hanson's music than his beautiful singing. The warm strings and acoustic guitars that back his sparkling falsetto are equally as dramatic, and the sound he has created is huge and anthemic in spite of his modest solo artist ouevre.

Sheffield is home to Arctic Monkeys and, as such, any other band that emerges from the city in central England is likely to draw comparisons. That's certainly true for the pop group Harrisons. The Sheffield quartet formed four years ago and hasn't been able to shake the Arctic Monkeys connection since. But to be fair, Harrisons have a sound that unquestionably channels some of the most popular Brit-pop and punk bands that came before them.

The fast-paced, playful pop songs from the Arizona-based band What Laura Says are utterly infectious, full of quirky vocals and banged out piano chords. Lyrically, the record walks a line between comedic sarcasm and poignancy. But What Laura Says takes the pop formula one step further, injecting thick, full band instrumentation and a slew of retro sounds, from psychedelia to folk and bluegrass. The result is a very catchy record that keeps things light without losing any sort of musical integrity.

Catherine Russell embodies a voice so versatile, she transcends genres with each song. Showcasing a repertoire of blues, jazz, swing and R&B, Russell's new album Sentimental Streak is both powerful and vulnerable.

In his new album, The Hard Way, Hunter delves even deeper into soul, fusing his smoky voice with the sounds of surf music. With nods to American soul legends such as Sam Cooke and Ray Charles, Hunter maintains a sense of nostalgia, while infusing his sound with modern style and distinctive technique. Hear him when he stops by World Cafe with host David Dye.

As medal-winners step up to the podium in this year's Summer Olympics, commentator Miles Hoffman says, we're bound to hear quite a few national anthems, some of which come equipped with bad poetry and stilted music.

The Wrights are husband and wife team Adam and Shannon Wright of Nashville. The duo plays a brand of classic country that sticks to the genre's bluesy Americana roots, with minimal production, traditional instrumentation, and soulful vocals. The couple's latest release, In the Summertime, is a collection of folky country covers of songs by roots artists both classic (Lead Belly) and contemporary (Tim Carroll).

Like a less frenetic Animal Collective, The Dodos' members combine country-blues finger picking and tribal drumming in a way that's propelled them to the forefront of experimental folk music. Last year's Visiter aims to capture the bouts of passionate singing and explosive drum rhythms that characterize the band's live sets.

After a stint in the Peace Corps, the singer-songwriter made a bold move in his music career by sending his unsolicited demo to Sub Pop Records. After signing on, Moore recorded a gentle folk record called Stray Age.