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Along with Fleet Foxes and the Moondoggies, The Maldives' members belong to a thriving Seattle roots-music scene. With nine people in its lineup, it's one of the area's biggest bands in more ways than one. The Maldives recently crammed into KEXP's studios to preview new material.

Recorded at his home in Lyon, France with little more than an acoustic guitar and hand claps to accompany his vocals, Francois Virot's full-length debut, Yes or No, is indeed spare. But don't expect a typical singer-songwriter CD. Yes or No is lyrically rich, brimming with personality and charm, and produced with surprising layers of vocals and guitars that create a warm and vibrant sonic landscape.

Hear exclusive previews of Young's long-lost live album, a Loney Dear disc out next year, and more.

Earl Scruggs' name is almost synonymous with the banjo. And for a good reason, too — he helped pioneer Bluegrass music with his three-finger banjo picking technique, now known as "Scruggs Style."

Jack White's main project outside The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, performs an all-acoustic set of material from Consolers of the Lonely. Members Brendon Benson and Patrick Keeler also explain why their Australian Web site calls the band The Saboteurs in a session from WXPN.

When The Fireman released its 1993 debut (the instrumental dance and electronica mix Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest), the band's identity was a mystery. U.K. music magazine Melody Maker eventually exposed it as a duo featuring the bassist and producer known as Youth and, to everyone's surprise, Paul McCartney. Now, a decade after releasing its last album, The Fireman is back with a new studio album. Hear Electric Arguments in an exclusive sneak preview of the entire album.

Inspired by the post-punk sounds of Echo & The Bunnymen, The Stills' members often find themselves obscured by the deluge of likeminded acts. It's the kind of thing that sticks to a band, but The Stills continues to hone its sound, while taking on a darker and more passionate approach.

Tod Machover's goal is to put music into the hands of people who want to play it — or at least imagine it. He and his team at MIT helped to create Guitar Hero, and one of his latest projects helps people with disabilities write and perform music.

Pianist Tardo Hammer is a marvelous bebop player and a sought-after sideman. When he's not playing festivals and club dates around the world, he remains active as a jazz educator. An expert interpreter of the music of Tad Dameron, Hammer plays his tunes and joins host Marian McPartland on "Good Bait."

Guthrie has had a profound influence on American music, and he was such a prolific writer that some of his lyrics have yet to be set to music. Having been given access to the Guthrie archives, singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke recently released The Works, which adapts previously unreleased Guthrie lyrics.