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Another excerpt from "This American Life".... Sarah Vowell tells us about a fan of the Seattle pop-punk band Fastbacks. He''s no ordinary groupie, though, and dedicates as much energy to fandom as many performers devote to their music. "This American Life" airs weekly on public radio stations and is produced by Ira Glass at Chicago''s WBEZ.

In 1964 he and Art Garfunkel, as the duo Simon & Garfunkel, hit number one on the pop charts with the song Sound of Silence. They continued with 5 albums that all sold gold. After a split in 1970, Simon continued writing songs and took up a solo singing career. His albums include Still Crazy After All These Years, Graceland, and Rhythm of the Saints. His new album is You're the One.

Two of Africa's most respected singers, Salif Keita and Youssou N'Dour, have new albums and new sounds. Music critic Banning Eyre says they're both embracing a more subtle acoustic approach to Afro-pop. The CD by Youssou N'Dour is Nothing's in Vain from Nonesuch records, catalog #79654-2. The CD by Salif Keita is Moffou on the Universal label, catalog #LC 00699-8527.

Last summer jazz vocalist Cassandra Wilson decided to return to her native Mississippi to record an album. She and her musicians set up in an old train station and the result of the sessions is her new CD, Belly of the Sun (Blue Note), which contains a mixture of blues, pop and bossa nova. Host Lynn Neary talks with Wilson about the recording, the criticism she has received from critics, and what she learned from the experience.

If there's any conflict at all throughout these 13 tracks, it's purely an internal one for Pallett, a legit composer who also possesses the instincts to craft brilliant pop songs.

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward cover pop standards with the timeless impeccability for which they're known. Once again, Ward hovers mostly in the background, leaving Deschanel to steal the playful show.

Always provocative, the band jettisons post-punk thrash in favor of a sturdier Top 40 pop sound that recalls the early to mid-'80s.

Millennial social anxiety pairs with breezy, effortlessly cool surf-rock on Alvvays, and the combination is irresistible. The Toronto band's beach-pop seems to come straight from the California shore.

The anonymous song from 17th-century Iceland sports a catchy, bittersweet melody that pop outfits like Peter, Bjorn and John might be happy to whistle. Arve Henriksen joins the vocal trio on trumpet.

With the release of her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan became a queer pop icon. Her hit songs include "Hot To Go!" but what does she know about to-go food?