CD of the Week: A Compact and Content Wye Oak

WTMD's CD of the Week, Civilian, features Wye Oak's apparent new fondness for shorter songs.

The Baltimore duo of singer/guitarist Jenn Wasner and drummer/keyboardist Andy Stack still build suspense through hushed and sparse beginnings to explosive crescendos- check out Wasner's guitar shredding in the title song.

But Stack's overall tighter arrangements maintain a mood, helping to balance his counterpart's conflicted lyrics about a relationship's end and her quest to find happiness in solitude.

Enjoy this video for "Fish," from Baltimore painter Katherine Fahey, who made the paper dolls, and photographer Michael O'Leary.

Not Your Average Joe

There may be only one Tom Waits- nobody sounds like him, no can construct characters the way he can, compose German operas....yet still craft straight-ahead rock-n-roll.

But, somebody who is approaching his territory is singer/songwriter/producer Joe Henry. When he started out in the early 90's, it sounded like he'd be stuck with the label of alt-country, with albums like Short Man's Room and Kindness of the World. But, even on those twangy gems, the beautifully opaque vignettes Joe imagined left listeners with delightful fragments into a world you just don't want to leave. Listening to Joe Henry is like being suspended in a dream state or the middle of a good novel.

He'll be out with a new one September 11th. It's called CIVILIANS. He gets some help from Van Dyke Parks, Bill Frisell and his buddy Loudon Wainwright III. Until then, let's go back to 1994 for King's Highway.