Familial, the first solo record from Radiohead drummer Philip Selway, is due out on Nonesuch Records in the US and Canada on August 31. It is now up for pre-order on vinyl and CD in the Nonesuch Store, with an MP3 of the opening track, "By Some Miracle," available instantly with each pre-order. As with almost every album in the Nonesuch Store, orders also include 320 kbps MP3s of the complete album, available on release day.

The year has hit the halfway mark, giving music lovers the perfect opportunity to look back and reflect on their favorite albums of the year (so far). NPR listeners have done just that, placing The Black Keys' latest album, Brothers, at No. 3; rounding out the list at No. 50 is David Byrne's Here Lies Love. The Irish Times has picked its own 30 Best of 2010, including Carolina Chocolate Drops' Genuine Negro Jig.

MusicOMH spoke with Laurie Anderson about her new album, Homeland, and describes her point of view as "a refreshing one. She's playful, inquisitive, and sees far enough below the surface to know that glib solutions don't get us anywhere." Anderson also spoke with Filter, which concludes: "It’s almost impossible to fathom how many dull artistic clichés have been exploded in her path." Time Out says that "the riches of Homeland are manifold and durable, each phrase, texture and breathy pause a fresh example of the humane perspective facilitated by Anderson’s keen eye and sharp wit."

"Quicksand," the new single written and performed by Ry Cooder in response to Arizona law SB 1070 and the current immigration battle in the US, is now available, exclusively at iTunes. Cooder has chosen MALDEF, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, to receive all proceeds from sales of the single.

Laurie Anderson's new album, Homeland, is the subject of an online feature from Newsweek, which suggests that the album represents a change of tone for Anderson. "The good news is that Anderson’s newfound sense of polemic hasn’t poisoned her minimalist sensibility for arranging her music ... Homeland has an appealing amount of restraint to it." The Philadelphia Daily News says "Anderson is up to her dry, droll and creative best on Homeland."

Punch Brothers' Antifogmatic earns four stars from American Songwriter, which says the album's "celebratory, joyful feeling permeates the interplay between each of the band’s virtuoso members ... Antifogmatic also delivers quality songs [with] hummable melodies that stick with you." The A.V. Club says "Antifogmatic is as warm and welcoming as the bracing 19th-century drink that gave it its name."

John Adams's music serves as soundtrack for the new film I Am Love. The BBC calls the album "one of those rare soundtracks that merits—and rewards—repeated listening." The Philadelphia Daily News gives the album an A-, citing "John Adams's brilliant score." The San Jose Mercury News, says the "music considerably adds to the grandness and sweep" of the film; the Chicago Tribune includes it among the elements making I Am Love "a film whose texture and atmosphere and fragrances stay with you."

Laurie Anderson's new album, Homeland, was the subject of a feature profile in the Sunday New York Times, which states, "Homeland may be the most frankly emotional record Ms. Anderson has ever made," and on NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday, which calls her performances "the stuff of legend." Homeland receives four stars from the Financial Times, Metro, Irish Independent, and Irish Times.

Audra McDonald begins performances of 110 in the Shade at the Hale Center Theater in Orem, Utah, tonight. She reprises her Tony-nominated role in the play for a special limited engagement, through July 10, to benefit the nonprofit Hale Center Foundation for the Arts and Education. McDonald recently appeared on the PBS special America's Orchestra: Celebrating 125 Years of the Boston Pops and makes her Tanglewood debut in July.

Punch Brothers spent the weekend at Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee, for Garden & Gun magazine's Soul of the South Weekend, and perform next weekend at the Caramoor Festival in Katonah, New York. The band's new album, Antifogmatic, is on the latest Sunday New York Times Playlist. "Punch Brothers tuck their instrumental prowess into songs, behind or between the arching melodies carried by [Chris] Thile’s high, aching voice," says the Times. "Emotion still outweighs technique."

Carolina Chocolate Drops continue California tour ... Alarm Will Sound joins Dirty Projectors in London ... The Black Keys hit French, Dutch festivals ... Omara Portuondo, Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club come to the States ... Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman play Canadian jazz fests ... Philip Glass closes Cork festival ... Emmylou Harris sells out Atlanta Botanical Gardens ... Punch Brothers headline Garden & Gun's Soul of the South Weekend ... Allen Toussaint plays Bayou Boogaloo ... Sara Watkins kicks off tour with Dar Williams ... and more ...

Punch Brothers close out a banner week with Rhapsody naming their new album, Antifogmatic, Album of the Day, calling its songs "so strong and the emotional impact of the material so direct" that they supersede their complex mix of genres. Relix says: "In the world of acoustic music, mandolinist Chris Thile is arguably the most elastic and wildly imaginative player/singer/composer of his generation. He has met his matches in his fellow Punch Brothers," and their new album "is better than the best of all their worlds."