CD of the Week: The Suburbs

Suburbia is a world of picket fences, apple pie, desperation, and paranoia. Arcade Fire explores this uniquely American landscape on their third album, The Suburbs. Largely inspired by brothers Win and William Butler's Texas childhood, the album is an art-rock record with arena rock sensibility.

Win Butler sings of spending time driving around with nothing to do, staring out the window dreaming of the world beyond. Although these sentiments are framed as distant memories, Butler cannily notes that not much has changed: "You watch the life you are living disappear / and now I see, we're still kids in buses trying to be free."

The dark tone of the lyrics is balanced by music that pushes the band's anthemic tendencies. It's a new dimension to the band that expands Arcade Fire's compelling live show. Even if you missed the sold-out rock spectacle at Merriweather Post Pavilion earlier this month, there's still a chance to dive into one of the best albums of the year.

Sister Act CD of the Week: Court Yard Hounds

As The Dixie Chicks enter the third year of an indefinite hiatus, sisters Emily Robinson and Martie Maguire set out on their own as Court Yard Hounds.

Robison and Maguire grew up playing music together and their voices mesh beautifully on the self-titled debut, featuring standout tracks like "See You in the Spring" and "The Coast."

The duo takes the material on the road this summer with a series of dates on the revived Lilith Fair, including a TBA August 3rd stop in or around Washington, D.C. Or is that just national booking code for a date at Merriweather?

Animal Collective: Pet Sounds on Acid

The Baltimore boys with the strange monikers (Avey Tare, Panda Bear and Geologist) make music worthy of being played.....loud.....at the venue that makes up the title of their eighth album (Merriweather Post Pavilion).

Avant-garde harmonies, psychedelic keyboards, hand-claps- it's a total mind-bend, but with a heart and a point.

I must say: haven't heard anything like these guys in a long time, but they certainly would fit nicely with same Merriweather subscription series (remember them?) that would have included, say, the Moody Blues and Yes.

Animal Collective has THAT kind of spirit, but make no mistake, it's not just some throwback, this is innovative music for 2009.

Merriweather Post Pavilion - A...