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Marva Whitney, who sang with the James Brown Revue in the late '60s and early '70s, took three decades to release a new album. Her new cover of Brenda Holloway's "Every Little Bit Hurts" hints at a rebuke of a music industry that turned its back on her when she and Brown parted ways.

Elvis Perkins can't be accused of bowing down to folk-music cliches: His masterful songs are graceful and tender but never whiny or obvious, while Dylan, Cohen and both Buckleys linger as only slight influences. In "While You Were Sleeping," Perkins takes a poetic, meandering stroll through the tangled gardens of nostalgia.

Latin alternative can mix salsa and rock, or flamenco and hip-hop. It's wildly popular in the Spanish-speaking world, but it has yet to find that widespread popularity in the United States.

In the latest edition of the series "What Are You Listening To?" political science professor Waleed Hazbun of Baltimore dips into a collection of music that his wife calls "Soulful World Mix" — sounds that cross genres and borders. NPR's Jennifer Ludden listens along.

While Modest Mouse's "Dashboard" lacks the snaky charm of "Float On," it's a pure pop confection: danceable, uncomplicated and ripe for airplay. Fans too young to remember XTC can draw comparisons to Franz Ferdinand, what with the song's stiff, guitar-driven neo-disco rhythms.

Iron and Wine's "Lovesong of the Buzzard" gets a wonderfully warm-blooded arrangement, as organs and steel guitars contribute to a sound that's downright springy. The arrangement may be a cool glass of lemonade, but singer Sam Beam spikes it with something potent and satisfying.

"Lie To Me" isn't the best song on Waits' overstuffed Orphans, but it's one of the most disarming ones, with a roar that can knock listeners sideways. That makes it a perfect tone-setter for the immense, thematically arranged outpouring that follows.

The jazz scene is abuzz about singer/pianist/composer John Proulx. His piano playing is hot and swinging, and his voice recalls the smooth mellow sounds of Chet Baker. He shows off his compositional skills, performing his own tune, "Stuck in a Dream with Me." Hear the performance.

In the 1940s, saxophonist Don Byas (1912-1972) was a pivotal player, but he's no longer well known. James Carter brings back Byas's glorious sound, in a tribute with the Jazzorchestra of the Concertgebouw recorded live at the 2006 North Sea Jazz Festival.

On her latest self-titled CD, versatile Canadian jazz vocalist Holly Cole explores the theme of self-deception. Her song choices reflect lyrics that deal with implication instead of literal statements. In an interview and performance on KPLU, Cole shares songs that say a lot between the lines.