What a great title the cowboys have given their group. Imagine the possibility of a television series with their stories. This piece introduces them, and does it well.

Not only is Blues Harmonica alive, it is thriving. Mr. Meister creates a wonderful composite of the artists on the album explaining why each are different from one another, and backing it with musical examples from the album. The piece is tight and very upbeat. Must for any music stations.

For those of you who still can't picture Michael York, he is Basil from the Austin Powers movies. It sounds like Mr. York loves to hear his own voice. And why not? He can read the ingredients from the back of a cereal box and make you stand up straight and love the language of English. This lecture stands out because Mr. York expertly mixes humor, performance techniques, and appropriate references on a subject literary critics have read way too much into. It helps to understand Shakespeare's plays from an acting point of view. After all, plays are meant to be performed. This piece should be a necessary study guide for acting students. One will find, perhaps not too surprisingly, that it will make reading Shakespeare a whole lot more enjoyable too. If I may suggest: Listeners may want to check out the wonderful book/TV series by John Barton on acting Shakespeare as well. Mr. Barton begins with, "The first rule for studying Shakespeare is...don't". Mr. York would agree.

One of the most unusual and heartbreaking stories you'll ever hear. I will say no more.

I wish I could describe it as the ebony and ivory of guitars, but that wouldn't make much sense, would it? The contrast in the two guitar player's styles, growing up in two very different world of music, actually makes a lot of sense when brought together. The fusion of influences makes for a very dynamic album. Technically, both players are brilliant, whether D'Agostino 'shredding'on his acoustic guitar, or Burns playing sustained leads on an Ennio Morricone'ish tune. Favored Nations Acoustic is a label founded by the renowned electric guitar maestro Steve Vai. Pavarotti and Friends, watch out!

A good example of how a film score can be a minor character rather than just a mood setter. Isham explains his approach to compositions quite well. Electronic scores are usually looked down upon by many composers for being the poor man's orchestra. This particular score stands out because it has a life without the accompanying picture. I could almost 'visualize' the music. Well produced piece with the right balance in narration and music clips.

A haunting reflection of the nation's past with a song that protests and mourns. Clips of different versions are played, and one can notice the interpretations bearing personalized pain. Great for Jazz stations, but must not be missed by educational programs. This song is a portion of American history in verses.

A great piece about not only the making of the film 'Empire Falls' itself, but the process writers, directors, producers, and actors go through to put together a story on film. Through interviews and sound clips from other films, we learn how novels are adapted to screenplays and how and why certain decisions are made in all departments to create a final cut. It is a great audio seminar with some very creative people.

An extremely moving piece. Luce's reminiscence of his mother is light-hearted, yet the underlying sadness is apparent. Not your usual story about a son bidding his mother goodbye. Excellent use of silence. This is simplicity at its best. PD's...a must listen.

The piece presents a unique example of how adjustments are made by people who convert to another religion. Alice's converting to Islam brought forth a few challenges in her profession, but, in her own words, she tells us how she was able to meet the demands of both.

Sweet story about Slim Andrews's as he pays tribute tribute to his family. He reflects on the life he has learned to live through them, and the music he loves to listen and play with a new CD decades in the making. Great for any country music station.

Referred to as 'the kid' by Irving Berlin, Loesser is an amalgam of the great composers/lyricists who came before him. Not only was he a great student of music, but he picked up business lessons from them as well. Listeners may learn a few unknown facts about Loesser whose collaboration with other musicians tallied up will give you a head spin. If you're a Loesser fan, you shouldn't miss this piece. If you don't know who Loesser is, then your listen to your research paper right here on PRX. It won't make you a better person, but it might make you a Loesser fan.

Allen is one of the most underrated actors in America. When you remember her in movies, you don't remember Joan Allen, you remember the character she played. This piece is a short overview of three very different projects she's appearing this year, and not her profile. She deserves one, though, but what the piece essentially tells us is 'Watch out for Joan Allen this year.'

Professor Theremin's invention has a fascinating journey. Ms. Edwards summarizes the history of the intrument to us quite well. The interviews and sound clips from movies were a wonderful addition. The invention was bigger than the inventor and the piece treated the intstrument as if a person, maybe rightly so, since it has a human-like quality in its sound. A good vibration indeed.

This piece does a masterful job of breaking down the relationship between nature and music to us. It has saved us from going out there, finding the subjects and listen for connections. It demonstrates clearly that nature influences music and vice versa. With engaging interviews and collection of sounds, the piece is presented as a sonic theater of nature.