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Calling to mind early Radiohead, the Irish band Bell X1 crafts melodic, radio-friendly pop. Flock topped the Irish album charts in 2005, but it's only just been reissued in the U.S., with an ambitious tour to follow. Hear an interview and performance.

Though still only 20, English singer-songwriter Kate Nash has already topped numerous European pop charts and attracted massive buzz in the U.S. Her debut album, Made of Bricks, is full of sweetly infectious pop music, propelled by Nash's thick accent and effervescent personality.

In his new film, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Reilly plays Dewey Cox, an over-the-top fictitious rock legend. It's a fake biopic that parodies Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, and others. Hear an interview and songs from the movie, performed on WXPN.

Drawing from influences such as The Beatles, David Bowie, Elvis Costello and Simon & Garfunkel, Willie Wisely creates a sound that he describes as "swing-alt-pop." An upright bass, arch-top guitars and trombone help drive his singular style.

The song "Promiscuousl" has been everywhere lately: the top of the Billboard charts; the No. 1 iTunes download; and all across the radio dial. The song is a dialogue between singer Nelly Furtado and the producer and musician Timbaland. Their flirting conversation in the song generated a conversation among several of the young men and women at Youth Radio.

Earle's "Look the Other Way" is a funky evocation of misery — blues for driving with the top down.

Based on a book of the same name by two Texas reporters who knew President Bush before he hit the national stage, the new film Bush's Brain looks at Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove -- the man some call the president's Svengali. Los Angeles Times movie critic Kenneth Turan has a review.

At the Latin Grammys in Los Angeles, Alejandro Sanz takes top honors for best male pop vocal album, best album, best song and best record. Brazilian singer Maria Rita, nominated for seven awards, wins two, for best new artist and most popular Brazilian album. NPR's Mandalit del Barco reports.

Before his own rise up the music charts, Kanye West spent his time producing hits for other top rappers, including Jay-Z. Convinced of the need to display his own unique skills, he released the hugely successful disc College Dropout in 2004.

Scottish singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch has risen to the top of the folk-pop genre by employing hushed, heartbreaking vocals in a style reminiscent of Nick Drake. In June, Murdoch independently released his first full-length album, Time Without Consequence.