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Just when it seemed to be permanently defunct, the British space-rock group Spiritualized returned with its first album since 2003, Songs in A&E. The band is touring in support of the disc, and lands at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club on July 25 for a live concert, webcast on NPR.org.

At first listen, it's hard to tell if Great Plains, the third album from Chicago-based band Head of Femur, is wildly ambitious in its eccentric, incredibly catchy sound, or is simply a good, old-fashioned pop and rock record. The songs sound new and energetic while taking enough cues from the past to sound like a tribute album. The result is a record that is recognizable, but fresh and surprisingly accessible, despite offering plenty of surprises.

Fresh Air's jazz critic has a listen to a re-issue of The Hawk Flies High, the 1957 album from tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins — who's often credited with legitimizing that instrument in the jazz world.

Famous in its native Ireland, the pop-rock band saw its U.S. fan base multiply when its music was used on The O.C. and Grey's Anatomy. Bell X1 recently crossed the Atlantic for a tour stop at West Virginia's Mountain Stage.

Los Campesinos! is a seven-piece Welsh indie-pop band with an exciting, multilayered debut called Hold on Now, Youngster. Already soaking up international buzz, Los Campesinos! visits World Cafe with host David Dye.

For its 10th album, Superhero Brother, G. Love & Special Sauce pulls back from the numerous guest appearances heard on recent albums and instead focuses on the core group. Hear G. Love perform solo versions of songs from the new album at WXPN.

A veteran folk and children's artist whose discography often reflects her parenthood, the Austin, Tex., singer-songwriter graced a special Mother's Day performance with new music and songs from her latest album.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new Silver Jews album, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. The band is fronted by singer, songwriter, poet and occasional cartoonist David Berman.

From their beginnings giving singing telegrams, The Bobs' founders (Gunnar Madsen and Matthew Stull) recruited bass singer Richard Greene and Janie Scott in the higher register to complete the a cappella quartet. Hear The Bobs perform a display of vocal acrobatics and irreverent lyrics on World Cafe.

When he stood up in a South African courtroom during his treason trial in 1964, Nelson Mandela declared that he was "prepared to die" for his cause. As Mandela turns 90, a documentary studies the pivotal moment when he became a worldwide symbol of the struggle for freedom and democracy.