Required listening from the week in music.

"Strict Joy"
is the latest from The Swell Season, the singer/songwriter duo from the hit movie "Once." With their on-and-off, will-they-or-won't-they thing, they've basically become the White Stripes of the NPR set. Pretty music, though.

Also in stores:

-- Michael Jackson's "This Is It" has finally arrived, and it's basically a best-of with one not-very-good new song and some demos. While a clear cash-in, we'll admit getting to listen to the "Beat It" demo is very awesome.
-- Devendra Banhart's "What Will We Be" is more pastoral folk from the indie favorite/former Natalie Portman paramour.
-- Honestly, we're bigger fans of Wolf Parade than Wolfmother, but the latter's hard-rocking "Cosmic Egg" is scoring some strong reviews. Still, the top wolf will always be Wolfman Jack.

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