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Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Magic Hollow, a new four-CD retrospective of the band The Beau Brummels, a '60s British Invasion-era pop group from California. Their biggest -- and only top 10 -- hit was "Laugh, Laugh."

Romania's Shukar Collective brings together young musicians from Bucharest's dance and electronic scene and a group of older Gypsy performers from the rural usari or "bear tamer" tradition. Together they make modern music with a traditional Romanian soul. Chris Nickson has a review of their CD Urban Gypsy.

Tony Sirico, who played the impeccably groomed mobster Paulie Walnuts in The Sopranos and brought his tough-guy swagger to films including Goodfellas, died Friday.

Prefuse 73 is one alter ego of the musician and producer Scott Herren. Herren hails from Atlanta but now lives in Spain, where he makes hip-hop music that is far removed from the slickly produced hits of mainstream artists like 50 Cent and Eminem. Will Hermes has a review.

For vocalist/writer/producer Ayanna Gregory, evoking emotions and raising the consciousness of her audiences comes naturally. She's the daughter of Dick Gregory, the famed comedian, activist and trailblazing nutritionist. Her evocative debut CD, Beautiful Flower, is a musical journey from slavery to liberation — hear samples from the CD.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new collection, Nat King Cole: The Classic Singles

Music critic Michelle Mercer reflects on the music from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. For Mercer, the jazz tunes are sound of the holidays, and they reflect some of the season's less-cheerful sentiments.

Award-winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard talks to NPR's Tavis Smiley about her new CD, The Heavens Are Telling, which includes both traditional and hip-hop gospel music selections. Other popular gospel artists featured on the CD include Mary Mary, hip-hop producer and performer Missy Elliot and Sheard's 16-year-old daughter, Kierra.

Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter's new CD, Hello Starling, has drawn comparisons to Bob Dylan. The CD, Ritter's second, offers songs that use basic, acoustic, instrumentation to back up Ritter's introspective lyrics. Meredith Ochs has a review.

Robert Wyatt releases his first CD in six years, Cuckooland. Wyatt is joined on the new CD by Brian Eno, David Gilmour and Wyatt's wife, Alfreda Benge, who co-wrote many of the songs. David Greenberger has a review.