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."

Voltaic, the multimedia celebration of Björk's Volta tour, is now available in the US from Nonesuch Records. Yesterday's release day was marked by a guest DJ appearance from the Icelandic songstress on NPR's All Songs Considered. Björk speaks with the show's host, Bob Boilen, about some of her favorite artists, chooses a song from each, featuring music from Syria, Russia, the UK, and Icleand, and explains what she finds appealing in each. You can still listen to the complete Voltaic album as well for NPR's Exclusive First Listen series.

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."

Allen Toussaint performs at Joe's Pub in NYC ... David Byrne closes out US tour at Berkeley's Greek Theatre with Devotchka ... Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe take the tour to Italy and Switzerland ... Christina Courtin plays first of two shows in Philly ... Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin celebrate Kate Wolf at memorial music fest ... Gidon Kremer, Kremerata Baltica open Latvia's Sigulda Festival ... The Low Anthem plays Glastonbury and Hyde Park ... Brad Mehldau performs in Portugal ... Pat Metheny, Gary Burton Quartet are up for a flurry of festivals ... Punch Brothers play Largo in LA ... Wilco, Okkervil River head to Northern California and Tahoe ... and more ...

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."

Bill Frisell is the subject of an extensive interview with All About Jazz titled "The Quiet Genius." "If there is a given within the music of guitarist Bill Frisell," says the site, "it's the honest approach in every note he composes and plays. There are no compromises." The article examines the "magical world of creativity" Frisell creates, calling him "one of today's most original and innovative composers" and recognizing "his compositional genius as a painter of sound."

Tune in to NPR's World Cafe today to hear a rebroadcast of Sara Watkins's May 26 appearance on the show. She talks discusses her self-titled Nonesuch debut, produced by Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones, and performs three songs from the new album: "All This Time," "Long Hot Summer Days," and "Any Old Time." "Watkins's self-titled solo debut is a charming mix of new songs and covers," says NPR. "It puts her great instrumental breadth on display as she plays the guitar, ukulele and fiddle in addition to her sweet-voiced singing."

Earlier this month, Amadou & Mariam enjoyed a smashing headlining tour of the Eastern US and Canada behind their new release, Welcome to Mali, and are getting ready to hit the American roads again, opening for Coldplay in July. Amadou spoke with The Onion's A.V. Club about the new album and its collaborations with Damon Albarn and K'naan. "No longer content with being classified as world music," says the A.V. Club, Amadou & Mariam "are going global ... [and] have taken advantage of their newfound celebrity to promote African unity, as well as a vision of their home continent free from outdated stereotypes and centuries-old conflicts."