The Low Anthem is the subject of an extensive article in BlackBook magazine that examines the group's recent Nonesuch debut, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, and its ties to its titular English scientist's theory of natural selection. “Darwin and this idea of survival of the fittest is an illuminating way of thinking about almost any question," says the band's Ben Knox-Miller. "[T]he guy is in love with every little detail of the world ... It’s a beautiful, inspiring story." BlackBook calls the band's own efforts "a winning formula." Q magazine names "To Ohio" its Track of the Day. Aquarium Drunkard says the band "offers glimpses into the past, present and future like a great American novel."

Wilco (the album) is out now, and Rolling Stone gives it four stars, calling the record "a triumph of determined simplicity by a band that has been running from the obvious for most of this decade ... But what is most striking about the restraint here is the elegance and defiance packed inside." The Associated Press says that, on the new album, "[Jeff] Tweedy exuberantly expresses his love of both rock music and its fans."

Wilco (the album) is out today, and to mark the occasion, Paste magazine has devoted its entire web site to the new record, dubbing it Wilco (The Takeover), explaining: "It's no secret that Paste kind of has a thing for the band Wilco." The magazine says the album "is full of thoughtful, artfully crafted lyrics wrapped in memorable hooks that should stand the test of time." In an interview with Jeff Tweedy, Time calls Wilco "one of America's most innovative and acclaimed rock bands." Bloomberg gives the record three-and-a-half stars, saying, "The new album has much to recommend." The Washington Post calls it "spectacular ... a skywritten love letter to the gentler, dreamier corners of the Wilco canon." The Philadelphia Daily News gives it an A-, praising its "several kinds of wonderful."

Wilco (the album) is out now, and, while the band is on tour, the celebration is on in the group's hometown of Chicago. Reviews continue to come in from the UK: The Observer says it's "undeniably lovely." The Sunday Express gives it a perfect five stars calling it "an album of delicate, compact pop so perfect that the moment it ends you’ll want to play it again." The Times gives it four stars, calling it "a definitive work" for the band, with "several of the most emotionally generous songs of [Tweedy's] life." The Contra Costa Times calls Saturday's show at Berkeley's Greek Theatre a "magic night," the band "at its musical peak," and its performance "flawless."

Wilco (the album), is due out on Nonesuch this Tuesday, June 30, but NPR is giving fans a preview by streaming the album in its entirety now for an Exclusive First Listen, stating: "[T]he new Wilco record is all about a great band playing great original music on an album filled with great songs." The Independent gives a perfect five stars to the "magnificent" album, which finds Wilco "at the peak of its powers." BBC says the band's latest features "some of their most charming pop rock ensemble playing" and asks, "Best live band? How about plain old best band in the world right now?" The Evening Standard gives the album four stars, with its "carefully crafted, deceptively gentle songs, whose beauty reveals itself by stealth."

The Low Anthem's recent Nonesuch release, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, has made Paste magazine's list of the Best Music of 2009 (so far), assembled by Associate Editor Kate Kiefer. She dubs it her "favorite discovery this year." Drowned in Sound rates it an 8 of 10. "Part of what makes this album so compelling is purity, and purity, when done well, is hard to knock," reads the review, which hears an apt comparison to Tom Waits. "Just as Waits has the power to infuse you with familiarity with the return of a chord, so do the songs of Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, like an embroidered pillow on an old porch that says 'home sweet home.'"

Oumou Sangare's Seya is out now, and, says NPR's Fresh Air, "it's a landmark. It shows she's not just the finest female singer in Mali, but the African Queen of soul ... [E]very moment of Seya reflects the joyful seriousness—and serious joy—of Oumou Sangare's personality ... Seya presents masterful music and a superb summation of her achievements." NPR also names the album track "Iyo Djeli" the Song of the Day, calling the album "a collection of intricately layered music, buoyant grooves and sage wisdom from one of the most alluring and agile voices in African music today." Time Out New York gives the album four stars, saying, "[W]hat really shines is the sheer vitality that runs through Sangare’s music."

Wilco is in Los Angeles this week for a three-night stint of sold-out shows at the Wiltern Theatre. Before tomorrow's final set at the venue, the band is taking tonight to perform on a different stage, on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. Tune in on NBC starting at 11:35 ET tonight to see the band perform "You Never Know" off the forthcoming Wilco (the album). Glide magazine gives the record four stars, saying, "with every new Wilco album, there is fortunately always something new to discover. And once again, the chances that Tweedy and Co. take ... don’t let us down," making it "another solid offering from one of America’s best bands."

Today is release day for Christina Courtin's self-titled Nonesuch debut. To mark the occasion, Christina will appear on WNYC's Soundcheck to talk about the new record and perform a few songs from it. The Washington Post's Express Night Out says: "Courtin's voice is effortless adaptable, weaving in and out of the instrumentation, constantly playing with texture and volume, never particularly anxious about how it sounds, but never perfectly content, either ... It may only be her debut album, but considering her confirmed songwriting and singing abilities, Courtin already sounds like a veteran."

Björk's Voltaic release, documenting in music and video her two-year Volta tour, is due out on Nonesuch next week. Now, and all week leading up to the event, NPR.org is offering an Exclusive First Listen to the entire Voltaic album of songs recorded live in studio at the tour's start. "Björk's music is complex, mysterious and full of unpredictable sonic textures," says NPR's Bob Boilen. "The brilliant performances on Voltaic make it clear that Björk isn't just a visionary, but also an artist who inspires those around her to create equal parts music and magic, in an effort to bring her vision to life."

Wilco played the first show in its sold-out, three-night residency at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles last night. The Hollywood Reporter sums it up as "transcending Americana for searches of the heart and soul," full of "musical riches" in a set that "truly was as far-ranging as rock can get." Saturday's set in nearby Pomona was a "superb show," says the Orange County Register, that "ranks among its best," with the band at its most content yet its music now elevated "to a whole new level of complexity and emotional richness." The Los Angeles Times would agree, insisting that "a more comfortable Wilco isn't a less daring one."

Christina Courtin's self-titled Nonesuch debut is out now. The Huffington Post calls its mix of a multitude of sounds and styles "a wonderful concoction, with intoxicating moody numbers" and "gorgeous lines" of lyrics. The review notes "Courtin's toasty-warm, reassuring vocal," her "lilting, breathy voice" as what "steers her adventures through layers of hypnotic music and production." Time Out New York calls the record "superb" and "beautifully textured," crediting "Courtin’s commanding voice." She talks to New York magazine about discovering that voice as the subject of the magazine's "Breaking" feature.