Man Man

The brother-sister duo Fiery Furnaces make wildly experimental music that's as playful as it is unpredictable. Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger, on tour for their latest CD Bitter Tea, visit Washington, D.C. for a night of music originally webcast live on NPR.org June 30.

Philadelphia's Man Man has earned a reputation for wearing face paint and dressing all in white during its explosive and energetic live shows. The band attempts to emulate that approach on the new Rabbit Habits.

Devotchka, the band behind the popular soundtrack to Little Miss Sunshine, is back with a brilliant new album. Hear a cut from A Mad and Faithful Telling. We've also got music from Colin Meloy, frontman for the Decemberists, and his new CD of live, solo performances; music from the wildly unpredictable Man Man; new work from The Raconteurs, featuring Jack White and Brendon Benson; and Peter Fedofsky, one of more than 2,000 artists who wrote and recorded an album in one month as part of the RPM Challenge.

Man Man's freewheeling waltzes reside somewhere between Broadway musicals and vintage 45s. Singer Honus Honus's gruff-but-lovable growl recalls Tom Waits or Nick Cave, while the rest of Man Man wields pots and pans, whistles and chimes, xylophones, flutes and trumpets.

Esquire music critic Andy Langer discusses the week's new album releases, including albums from The Breeders, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Hayes Carll, Ike Reilly, and Man Man.

Man Man's freewheeling waltzes reside somewhere between Broadway musicals and vintage 45s. Singer Honus Honus's gruff-but-lovable growl recalls Tom Waits or Nick Cave, while the rest of Man Man wields pots and pans, whistles and chimes, xylophones, flutes and trumpets.