April 2001

Three Apples Fell from Heaven -- Writer Micheline Aharonian Marcom examines the persecution of Christians in Turkey during the early 20th century in her first novel: Three Apples Fell From Heaven. Alan Cheuse has a review. (1:45)

The book is published by Riverside.

Pages for You -- Alan Cheuse reviews a new novel by Sylvia Brownrigg called, Pages for You. (1:30)

The book is published by Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Spirit of the Century -- Scott Aiges reviews the new CD from The Blind Boys of Alabama, called Spirit of the Century. All of the band members are in their 70s, and got their name when they started singing together at the Talledega Institute for the Blind in 1939. They have always sung in the traditional jubilee style -- hymns, spirituals and other Christian music -- with tight harmonies and little if any accompaniment. The new CD puts a fresh new spin on old-time religious music. (5:00)

Spirit of the Century by the Blind Boys of Alabama is on Realworld records, catalog # 70876-15319-2-3.

Old 97s -- Meredith Ochs reviews Satellite Rides, the new release by the promising alternative country band, Old 97s. Ochs says the band and its leader Rhett Miller have been writing wonderful pop music with clever lyrics. (4:30) Satellite Rides by Old 97s is on the Elektra Records label. Their Web site is www.old97s.com.

Stephen Malkmus -- The band Pavement -- from Stockton California -- epitomized the slacker ethos of the 1990s. But they broke up last year. And now, the band's leader, Stephen Malkmus, has a new CD. Critic James Sullivan says Malkmus's music has a new, less cynical attitude. (4:00)

Stephen Malkmus' self-titled CD is on the Matador label, release number ole-444, www.matador.recs.com.

Paradise Park -- Reviewer Alan Cheuse tells us about a new novel by Allegra Goodman: Paradise Park. (2:00)

Paradise Park, by Allegra Goodman, is published by Dial Press.

Global Underground #19 -- Charles de Ledesma reviews the latest CD in the Global Underground series. The Global Underground is the name of a series of compilation CDs, featuring the world's best dance music DJs playing their favorite songs. It's become quite a phenomenon among dance music enthusiasts, who often find it difficult to locate a lot of the music they hear in dance clubs. This latest CD is #19, and features John Digweed. (3:00)

Los Super Seven -- David Greenberger reviews the new album by the band Los Super Seven. It's called Canto. (4:00)

Canto, by Los Super Seven, is on the Sony Music Entertainment label.

Daft Punk -- Daft Punk is a French music duo known for their electronic dance beats. They released a big smash dance floor CD in 1997. Their new release is the first thing since. The CD is called Discovery. Writer Will Hermes has a review. (3:30)

The CD Discovery by Daft Punk is on the Virgin label.

Inspired Sleep -- Book Reviewer Alan Cheuse just finished reading Inspired Sleep, by novelist Robert Cohen. (1:30)

Inspired Sleep is published by Scribner.

Five Finger Discount -- Robert Siegel talks to Helene Stapinksi, the author of Five Finger Discount: A Crooked Family History, a book about growing up in Jersey City, N.J., where the whole town seemed to be on the take. (7:30)

Five Finger Discount: A Crooked Family History, by Helene Stapinski, is published by Random House, 2001, ISBN # 0679463062.

Dreamcatcher -- Alan Cheuse reviews Dreamcatcher, Stephen King's first novel to be published since his near-fatal accident. (1:45)

Dreamcatcher, is published by Scribner.

What's Next to the Moon-- Music critic James Sullivan reviews What's Next to the Moon, a CD by Mark Kozelek. (4:00)

The CD is distributed by the Badman Recording Company, San Francisco, Calif.; www.badmanrecordingco.com

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