Byrne invited an eclectic group of pop stars to sing on the album from Tori Amos to Natalie Merchant to Steve Earle to Cyndi Lauper.

NPR: David Byrne: Inspired By A Dictator's Wife, Minus The Shoes

Like Kris Kristofferson and Steve Earle before him, Todd Snider often writes songs with a slightly boozy country-rock swagger, paced by a steady intellectual metronome that's a tick or two ahead of most of his peers.

NPR: A Smart Blue-Collar Anthem

Son of musician Wayne Scott, Darrell Scott is an acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and country star who has worked with an extensive list of artists, including Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Martina McBride, and Guy Clark.

NPR: Darrell Scott On World Cafe