Natalie Merchant launches her first UK tour in eight years with a sold-out show in London on Saturday. She is featured on NPR's World Cafe, discussing and performing songs from her new album, Leave Your Sleep, which host David Dye calls "extraordinary." Billboard says it "soars with gorgeous folk arrangements and Merchant's daring creativity." In the Times of London, Alain de Botton says: "It’s poignant and tuneful and the voice is, as always, sheer genius."

Pat Metheny brings Orchestrion home to NYC ... The Kennedy Center's Perspectives: John Adams comes to a close ... Carolina Chocolate Drops play festivals in Indiana, Utah ... Bill Frisell, Kronos Quartet, Youssou N'Dour have shows in Germany ... Philip Glass Ensemble celebrates its 40th in Rome ... k.d. lang sings for San Francisco Symphony ... Natalie Merchant launches UK tour ... Punch Brothers open for Josh Ritter, play with Dierks Bentley ... Allen Toussaint Gulf Aid concert airs on Fuse ... Sara Watkins plays her hometown ... Wilco tours Scandinavia ... and more ...

Timothy Andres's debut album, Shy and Mighty, released earlier this week on Nonesuch, has been described by New York Times music critic Allan Kozinn as "a richly imaginative 10-movement work for two pianos." The album has now received a perfect five stars from Audiophile Audition, which cites its "fresh new and creative take" and suggests Shy and Mighty "should appeal to a wide variety of listening tastes."

The Black Keys rocked out at New York's Housing Works Bookstore Café for the lucky few fans in attendance; a few thousand more get to see the band open for Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden tonight. Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney talk about their new album, Brothers, and perform on the latest New York Times Music Popcast and NPR's World Cafe. Carney spoke with Akron's BuzzBin about the album, about which PopMatters says: "That the Black Keys are still exploring new territories with enthusiasm is cause for celebration, and Brothers is the reason why."

Caetano Veloso's new Nonesuch release, zii e zie, is the latest Staff Pick from the PRI show Studio 360. "Veloso continues to make music with the grace of a poet and the ebullience of a kid," says Studio 360, which praises the "sharp edges" added to his new work while insisting that "the jagged rock and funk flair never buries Veloso’s deep roots in samba and bossa nova." The Washington Post has published an interview with Veloso on subjects from Animal Collective to David Byrne to Michael Jackson.

The Black Keys' Brothers is in stores now, including the Black Keys pop-up store at NYC's Housing Works Bookstore Café, featured in today's Wall Street Journal. Pitchfork says "Brothers is the loosest they've sounded since 2004's Rubber Factory" and praises Dan Auerbach's vocals. Washington Post Express does too, saying he's "never sounded more loose, comfortable or soulful." Seattle Weekly exclaims: "Brothers is sure to go down as one of the best albums of 2010."

Pat Metheny's US Orchestrion tour comes to a close this week with concerts along the Northeast. The Philadelphia Daily News says "the now meditative, now bluesy, now bopping or dramatically soaring music sounds very fine and 'in the pocket.'" Philadelphia Weekly calls it "dizzyingly advanced, but warm and full of heart." The Boston Phoenix says the album "reveals new depths at every turn"; the Boston Globe calls it "a soaring five-movement suite featuring some of the most intricate music he's ever created."

"The Black Keys take the next step in their evolution on Brothers," says the AP of the band's latest Nonesuch release, out now. "Just about every song has something that makes you want to hit the back button and hear again. That's a rare feat." The duo's hometown paper, the Akron Beacon Journal, calls it "the Keys' funkiest, grooviest record yet and a continuation of their desire to continually stretch their own musical boundaries." Interview says they "they skillfully incorporate elements of soul, psychedelia, and even hip-hop into their earthy sound." Rolling Stone and the Times of London each give Brothers four stars.

Brothers, The Black Keys' latest Nonesuch release, is out now. Entertainment Weekly cites the "real songwriting, and real hooks, beneath all that mondo riffage" of their blues-rock sound. Time Out Chicago gives the album a perfect five stars: "It’s a sonic wonderland." Consequences of Sound says "Brothers is what we want out of rock music: brilliance and individuality." MusicOMH calls it "the best album yet in their already impressive catalogue." A preview of the official "Tighten Up" video, which premieres release day, is now on YouTube.

The Carolina Chocolate Drops have been nominated for the Americana Music Award for Duo or Group of the Year, the Americana Music Association announced today. The award show will be held in Nashville's Ryman Auditorium September 9. The band's Nonesuch debut, Genuine Negro Jig, is due out on vinyl June 29 and is now up for pre-order in the Nonesuch Store.

Timothy Andres makes his Nonesuch debut with the release of Shy and Mighty on Tuesday, May 18, one day after he performs the piece at New York's (Le) Poisson Rouge. The New Haven Advocate says Andres's "indulgence of pianistic virtuosity ... and his undogmatic embrace of varied musical styles are lively and fully committed" on Shy and Mighty. "Andres’ most interesting achievement" may be its "incredible listenability."

Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman's duo tour of Europe continues with music from their respective solo work and from Mehldau's recent release, Highway Rider, on which Redman performs. All About Jazz calls the album a "showcase of Mehldau's growth as both a composer and musician ... one of those rare and potent reminders that jazz not only thrives but continues to evolve in the hands of truly creative artists."