"Pop culture has always been with us, in one form or another," says Grammy-winning musical comedian "Weird Al" Yankovic, "and it always has its ridiculous elements. Especially in the music world."

Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno presents a grand, glorious history of this land in Song of America, a (literally) red, white, and blue three-CD set that opens with a "Lakota Dream Song" from 1492 and travels all the way to the Civil Rights movement and beyond. Rather than drag out scratchy 78s, Reno enlisted a train car of today's finest to join the nation in songs that defined us. Highlights include John Wesley Harding's "God Save the King," Marah standing over "John Brown's Body," Jake Shimabukuro's ukulele transformation of "Stars & Stripes Forever," Suzy Bogguss putting on the gloves of "Rosie the Riveter," and Devendra Banhart's suburban tour of "Little Boxes." Modern classics are represented as well, from Ben Taylor's cover of Neil Young's "Ohio" to The Dynamites' funk of James Brown's "Say It Loud (I'm Black & I'm Proud)."

Airing 58 episodes from 1969 through 1971, The Johnny Cash TV Show is brought back alive in a new two-DVD set next week from the Columbia Legacy imprint. Sixty-six performances are collected, showcasing a magnificent lineup highlighted by Bob Dylan. Joni Mitchell, Merle Haggard, the Everly Brothers, Tammy Wynette, Ray Charles, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

With a voice that sounds a bit like Michael Stipe gone folk, Richard Shindell's songs feel instantly familiar even if you've never heard him before. Those vocals are magnetic and dramatic, and the singer/songwriter pays as much attention to melody and musical settings as he does his words. But it's his first-person narratives that have garnered him critical praise and a loyal following.