NPR People: Tom Moon

In a way, she's similar to iconic figures such as Janis Joplin or Billie Holiday — singers whose recordings define not just a style, but a way of being. Today, young performers talk about being intimidated when they attempt songs Regina made famous. Her work mulls the big questions of life and romance, one magnificent half-step at a time.

The British singer-songwriter made a splash in 2006 with her chart-topping single "Put Your Records On." Now, two years after the death of her husband, Rae returns with The Sea, and it's light-years ahead of what she'd done before. The album marks the arrival of a newly observant songwriter and an absolutely fearless singer.

A guitarist and composer, Rosenwinkel has been hailed as one of a handful of rebels helping to revitalize jazz. The 39-year-old, who grew up in the U.S. but now lives in Berlin, has earned respect for his inventive original tunes. But on Reflections, he concentrates on standards.

On She Wolf, Shakira teams up again with songwriter-producer Wyclef Jean, but it sounds as if they're trying to recapture the magic of her global smash "Hips Don't Lie." The duo replaces the Latin and Middle Eastern beats with generic dance-pop diva moves.

The four members of the South African rock band BLK JKS (pronounced "Black Jacks") grew up in different parts of the country, speaking different tribal languages. And they listened to a great range of music — everything from local rhythms to Sonic Youth to Duke Ellington. Those influences converge in a totally original sound on the group's full-length debut, After Robots.

When a successful band returns after a long break, it's bound to worry about expectations. That's what's striking about new albums by Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains: Pearl Jam is the only one that sounds desperate to give fans exactly what they've come to expect. Alice in Chains sounds considerably more liberated.

At a time when soul music is heavily tricked-out, singer Maxwell likes to pare things down, inviting listeners in with his smooth, fluttery singing and raw emotion. In 2001, Maxwell scored a top-selling album, then disappeared. He's back with a new album, BLACKsummers' Night.

Critic Tom Moon assembles a playlist for summertime driving that makes the miles whiz by, with some intense songs for staying alert during the day and chill-out tunes to renew the spirit in the evening, when you still have hours more to go.

Diana Krall's latest album is dominating the market for sultry Brazilian tunes. But reviewer Tom Moon recommends an alternative: the U.S. debut album of Magos Herrera, a Mexican-born jazz vocalist with a gift for understatement.

St. Vincent's Annie Clark started work on her new album, Actor, with a simple goal: to break out of the songwriting patterns she'd developed over years of writing on the guitar and piano. The result conjures '60s girl-group harmonies and the whimsical sounds of Disney animated films.

Last November, for the first time in his career, Morrison revisited his second album, Astral Weeks, in concert. The result, Astral Weeks: Live at the Hollywood Bowl, arrives this week, offering a fresh take on one of the key recordings in late '60s rock.

Ever since the dawn of digital delivery, we've been hearing about how the single-song download is killing the album. But at the Grammy Awards, which take place Sunday night in Los Angeles, there's still a category for Album of the Year. Tom Moon profiles the nominees.

Actor and screenwriter Christopher Guest is probably best known for his role as Nigel Tufnel in the 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap, but he's always been a serious musician. For the first time in his career, Guest is sharing that side of his personality. He and several longtime friends calling themselves The Beyman Bros have just released their first CD, Memories of Summer as a Child.

Winter, more than any other season, has its own soundtrack: There's a nonstop loop of holiday tunes in every store you visit, and carolers in the town square. By the time late December rolls around, many people have had it. Author Tom Moon offers an alternative list of winter music.

Every fall, the latest winner of the American Idol competition arrives with an album. This year it's David Cook, who won by the largest margin in the show's seven-year history.