"There is a paucity of quality female vocalists in the music charts today," writes the New Zealand Herald in a review of k.d. lang's performance last night at Auckland's Aotea Centre. While there is certainly no lack of pop starlets, says the review, for quality, "one woman stands alone." That would be k.d., who "enraptured the audience with her remarkable vocal range." Her live performance of tunes from Watershed was "pitch-perfect and soulful."

Just a reminder for fans of The Black Keys within getting-to distance of Cleveland: the band will play a MySpace Secret Show tonight at Cleveland's Beachland Tavern, the site of the first-ever Black Keys gig. For the rest of us, Pat and Dan gave an interview to MTVu's Backstage Pass and answer a few all-important questions from some college fans.

Bill Frisell introduced his new quintet to European audiences at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Sunday, and, writes The Times, it was "the highlight" of the four-star event. The Telegraph says Frisell offered his trademark "beautifully shaped lick," bringing the set into focus with his "favourite territory of musical Americana, with blues and bluegrass and Miles Davis alongside Frisell's own compositions." All About Jazz says Bill "comes up trumps again" with his new album. "It's a delight of the first order."

Kronos Quartet was joined by Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq at Disney Hall in Los Angeles Saturday for a night of premieres. The Los Angeles Times writes: "The playing all evening was passionate and superb. If ever an ensemble has found a fountain of youth, it is this one." Variety says that "even after three decades of continuous activity, the Kronos Quartet continues to come up with fresh ideas from out of the blue." As examples, he points both to Saturday's program and the group's recording of The Cusp of Magic.

After spending a number of weeks traveling across Australia with her Watershed tour, k.d. lang and her band have made their way across the Tasman Sea for a performance in Wellington, New Zealand, tonight at the Michael Fowler Centre, and a stop in Auckland tomorrow night. NPR's World Cafe has broadcast an interview with and performance from k.d. "Offered up with confidence and honesty," says NPR, "k.d. lang's deeply personal narratives invite listeners into an intimate world. Her glorious voice fuses country, jazz, and even Brazilian rhythms, and on her latest CD, Watershed, she finds a certain earthy elegance."