NPR: All Songs Considered: Episode 92

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Episode 92

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Better dance music from Franz Ferdinand
Canada's indie pop quartet Wolf Parade
Ancient China and Appalachia with Wu Man
Home recordings from Charlie Sexton
Pop jazz crooner Jamie Cullum
New York art rock trio Nada Surf
Sonic adventures with The Fiery Furnaces
Brash, bold rock from The Constantines

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This is a follow-up to Franz Ferdinand's critically acclaimed, self-titled debut. Fortunately for fans, the Glasgow band hasn't suffered a sophomore slump. The new CD is a smart, artful and consistently rewarding collection of rock tunes, crafted with the same urgency and drive as their first album.

Franz Ferdinand

CD: You Could Have it So Much Better
Song: "You Could Have it So Much Better"
Label: Sony

Listen to "You Could Have it So Much Better"

Wolf Parade is a four-piece group from Canada. The band made its stage debut opening for Arcade Fire. Not long after, Wolf Parade released a self-produced EP that got them the attention of Modest Mouse singer/guitarist Issac Brock. Brock produced this CD, the band's first full-length album.

Wolf Parade

CD: Apologies to the Queen Mary
Song: "Modern World"
Label: Sub Pop

Listen to "Modern World"

Wu Man is a master of the pipa, a Chinese lute. She's collaborated with the Kronos Quartet, the New York Music Consort and Yo-Yo Ma. On this CD, she marries the ancient instrument's elegant sound with banjo, dulcimer and the bandura, a harp-like instrument from the Ukraine.

Wu Man

CD: Wu Man and Friends
Song: "Night Rider"
Label: Traditional Crossroads

Listen to "Night Rider"

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Charlie Sexton is an Austin, TX native who released his first album in 1985 when he was just 16 years old. He quickly earned a reputation as a gifted guitarist and has played with artists like Bob Dylan, Ron Wood and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Though Sexton appears on CDs by a number of other artists and has produced work for Lucinda Williams and others, this is only his fourth solo CD in 20 years. It's a collection of intimate songs written and recorded at his home. Sexton also played all the instruments on most of the tracks.

Charlie Sexton

CD: Cruel and Gentle Things
Song: "I'd Do the Same For You"
Label: Back Porch

Listen to "I'd Do the Same For You"

British crooner Jamie Cullum had a huge hit in 2003 with the CD Twentysomething -- a mix of contempoary jazz and pop. For his follow-up, Cullum offers a mix of original songs and re-worked jazz standards like "I Only Have Eyes For You."

Jamie Cullum

CD: Catching Tales
Song: "Get Your Way"
Label: Verve

Listen to "Get Your Way"

Nada Surf got its start in 1988 and was originally called "Because Because Because." A demo from the band wound up in the hands of Ric Ocasek of The Cars who liked it so much he agreed to produce the band's 1996 debut, High/Low. The album included the song "Popular," which was a hit on MTV. The band says its new CD "answers questions of lust and deception, greed and love, joy and regret and the rites of passage you weren't quite ready to pass through."

Nada Surf

CD: The Weight is a Gift
Song: "Always Love"
Label: Barsuk

Listen to "Always Love"

The Fiery Furnaces are a brother/sister duo originaly from Illinois. Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger's music is strange, unpredictable and entirely original. They were first featured on All Songs Considered episode 69.

The Fiery Furnaces

CD: Rehearsing My Choir
Song: "Though Let's Be Fair"
Label: Rough Trade

Listen to "Though Let's Be Fair"

Every now and then an album from a completely unknown band comes our way and makes our jaws drop. The opening track to this CD left us agape. The Constantines make passionate, audacious rock with soul. The band rom Canada includes Bryan Webb and Steve Lambke on vocals and guitar; bassist Dallas Wehrle; keyboardist Will Kidman; and drummer Doug McGregor.

The Constantines

CD: Tournament of Hearts
Song: "Draw Us Lines"
Label: Sub Pop

Listen to "Draw Us Lines"

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