As a cranky, sleep-deprived new parent in the throes of box sets by hipsters, I declared (on Twitter, no less) that there was absolutely no need for me to hear Kanye's latest magnum opus. Until I heard a track on YouTube.

This week, we feature music by Ian Hunter, Phoenix, Brendan Benson and more.

Margaret Cho gave me some of her time recently to discuss the August 24th release of her new album Cho Dependent. News Flash: Girlfriend can sing, and really really well.

If you amassed a decent music collection during the '90s and '00s, then there's a good chance you own at least one record on which Jason Falkner has played, written or produced.

I just read here that Rep. Michele Bachmann is hosting a very special tea party at the Capitol today. I'm sure it will be a lovely affair, so I wanted to send along this playlist for Congress' hostess with the mostest.

The ten records that made my decade may not be the most cutting-edge or most obscure or significant of groundbreaking. But they're mine, and I love 'em all passionately. Here's my soundtrack to the decade of "Mission Accomplished."

Most of the "new" music I've gotten into this year is actually old music that's never been heard before, dredged up from the vaults just in time to make a buck before recorded music ceases to have any monetary value whatsoever.

R.E.M. will be releasing Live At The Olympia, a 39-song, two CD set containing "working rehearsals" from 2007. I was lent a track that captures the band's energy and insightful views.