Episode 98

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Long-awaited new music from The Strokes
A first-ever solo studio CD by Ray Davies
United: Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy
Richard Thompson's son Teddy Thompson
Irish fiddle music from Liz Carroll
A cappella Ladysmith Black Mambazo
A saxophone improvisation by Assif Tsahar
Whimsical, trippy rock from The Earlies
Hardcore and soft, but Tender Forever

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Fans who've been eagerly awaiting a new CD from the New York rock group The Strokes should be pleased with the band's third release. It's a bold and brash collection of fiery rock tunes with some amazing guitar work. It follows their unbelievably popular 2001 debut Is This It and 2003's equally hyped Room on Fire.

The Strokes

CD: First Impression of Earth
Song: "Vision of Division"
Label: RCA

Listen to "Vision of Division"

This is the first solo studio album ever for the former Kinks frontman. It's largely inspired by Davies' visit to New Orleans last year, before hurricane Katrina. Davies was mugged and shot in the leg while walking in the French Quarter. With no ill will, Davies says, "I owe as much to music of the Southern states as I do to the British music that inspired me."

Ray Davies

CD: Other People's Lives
Song: "Is There Life After Breakfast"
Label: V2

Listen to "Is There Life After Breakfast"

Tortoise, one of Chicago's most popular art-rock bands, and Bonnie Prince Billy, a lo-fi, folksy singer/songwriter, team up for a collection of curious cover tunes. The ten-song CD includes eclectic interpretations of songs by artists like Hank Williams, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen. The track featured here is by Richard Thompson.

Tortoise, Bonnie Prince Billy

CD: The Brave and the Bold
Song: "The Calvary Cross"
Label: Overcoat Recordings

Listen to "The Calvary Cross"

Teddy Thompson is the son of musicians Richard and Linda Thompson. His parents join him on this new CD of folk-rock songs.

Teddy Thompson

CD: Separate Ways
Song: "I Should Get Up"
Label: Verve Forecast

Listen to "I Should Get Up"

Though she's originally from Chicago, Liz Carroll is a master of music from Ireland. A master of the Irish fiddle, she's accompanied here by guitarist John Doyle for a collection of original, new-Irish folk music.

Liz Carroll and John Doyle

CD: In Play
Song: "The Island of Woods"
Label: Compass Records

Listen to "The Island of Woods"

Ladysmith Black Mambazo first gained an international audience as the vocal group for Paul Simon on the album Graceland. For this album, they celebrate 40 years of freedom songs by collaborating with artists like Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal and Natalie Merchant.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

CD: Long Walk to Freedom
Song: "Homeless"
Label: Heads Up

Listen to "Homeless"

Assif Tsahar is an Iraeli-born saxophonist who studied music in New York. A gifted improviser, he's joined on this CD by Cooper-Moore on some homemade instruments and Hamid Drake on percussion.

Assif Tsahar

CD: Lost Brother
Song: "Departure"
Label: Hopscotch Records

Listen to "Departure"

This is a collection of EPs by The Earlies. They're an electronic, art rock quartet with half of its members living in Texas and the other half in northern England. They wrote and produced most of these songs by recording each other's parts on digital tape and sharing the recordings with one another.

The Earlies

CD: These Were the Earlies
Song: "One of Us Is Dead"
Label: Secretly Canadian

Listen to "One of Us Is Dead"

Tender Forever is mostly a one-woman project started by singer Melanie Valera. Originally from France, Valera moved to Portland, Oregon in 2005 where she started Tender Forever and recorded this gorgeous debut with help from Calivn Johnson and Khaela Maricich.

Tender Forever

CD: The Soft and the Hardcore
Song: "Then If I'm Weird I Want to Share"
Label: K Records

Listen to "Then If I'm Weird I Want to Share"

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