While listening to this album, I can't help but think how effectively it is going to translate into the live show. The huge sound is going to fill any room, the sense of urgency in the music will captivate the audience, and the constantly rotating cast of MCs will never leave time, need or want for a breather.

Ximena Sarinana released her critically acclaimed debut album "Mediocre" in 2008 and cemented her reputation in both Mexico and the United States with two Latin Grammy Awards nominations and an American Grammy Awards nomination under her belt. She's credited with helping to bring back the style of nueva cancion, a genre of Latin-folk popular in the 1960s-80s.

When you hear the word "design," you might think of iPods or I.M. Pei: artfully-conceived objects, be it architecture, gadgets, automobiles, or clothing. In this edition of Policy and a Pint from Monday night, our panel discussed the potential human impact that design and aesthetics can make.

Belgium's Black Box Revelation is a two-piece that sounds more like a ten-piece rock band. With layered guitars and booming drums, BBR's garage rock explodes with riffs and hooks.

After college at Northwestern University, Rachael Yamagata got her music start with Chicago band Bumpus. After six years of touring, she decided to go solo releasing her first self-titled EP in 2003, which she followed up with her first full-length "Happenstance" a year later.