June 2001

Over the Rainbow -- Scott Aiges has a review of the CD by jazz singer Jimmy Scott, called Over the Rainbow. Scott has experienced a comeback recently, after several years away from the spotlight. Now, Aiges says, this new CD of golden standards shows that Jimmy Scott is still one of America's greatest jazz singers. (4:45)

The CD is on the Milestone Records label, copyright 2001.

Oh, Inverted World -- Oh, Inverted World is the latest album from the Albuquerque pop-quartet The Shins. The band has been recording on independent labels for years before this, their first widespread release. Nick Mirov has a review. (4:00)

The Shins' Oh, Inverted World is on Sub-Pop Records 2001, SPCD 550.

No More Shall We Part -- Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds have played together for years in the underground scene. Their latest album, No More Shall We Part, has a more mainstream appeal. Jefferson Chase reviews the CD. (3:30)

The label is WEA/Warner Bros, U.S. release: April 2001.

Rufus Wainwright -- Rufus Wainwright -- the son of folksingers Loudon Wainwright the III and Kat McGarrigle -- is out with a second album of his own. It's called Poses. Music Reviewer Tom Moon tells us about it. (3:45)

Poses by Rufus Wainwright is on the Dreamworks label.

Nankuru Naisa -- Charles de Ledesma reviews a new CD collaboration by a celebrated Japanese folk singer and an expert Hawaiian slide guitarist. It's called Nankuru Naisa. Takashi Hirayasu and Bob Brozman collaborated on last year's CD Jin Jin, which was a surprise success. While they weren't on tour across the world, they recorded some more of their particular brand of guitar and folk music, which are now on their new CD. (4:00)

Nankuru Naisa is on the Real Music Network label.

Recent History -- Alan Cheuse reviews Recent History, the new novel by Anthony Giardina. (2:00)

The book is published by Random House.

Rev. Gary Davis -- Rev. Gary Davis was not only an ordained minister, he was also an incredible guitar player. As a blues musician, he played both popular Tin Pan Alley tunes and ragtime, incorporating his own unique style. Rev. Gary Davis influenced many folk musicians of the 1960s and '70s. Meredith Ochs reviews the work of Reverend Davis and the recent box set of his work called Demons and Angels. (4:45)

The CD is called Demons and Angels: The Ultimate Collection by Rev. Gary Davis, from Shanachie Entertainment.

Summer Reading -- Reviewer Alan Cheuse, who teaches writing at George Mason University in Virginia, offers his annual list of books for summer reading. His selections cover a range of genres, including a memoir, historical fiction, short stories and more. We hear his suggestions, and authors read excerpts from their own works. (12:30)

Radiohead -- Music critic Tom Moon reviews Amnesiac, the new CD by Radiohead. The band recently released Kid A, which was hailed as one of the greatest albums of last year by fans and critics alike, and also considered one of the most difficult and unconventional to listen to. While they were recording Kid A, they were also writing and recording other pieces that make up this new CD. Moon says Amnesiac is transfixing, with cinematic soundscapes, full of existential doubt, and pure joy.

The Honey -- Alan Cheuse reviews The Honey, a first novel by Lebanese writer Zeina Ghandour. It's set in a Palestinian village currently under Israeli occupation. (1:45)

The book is published by Quartet Books in London.

Rae and Christian - Sleepwalking -- Charles de Ledesma has a review of the CD by Rae and Christian, called Sleepwalking. Rae and Christian have invited several guest singers to add soul, R&B, rap, and jazz vocals over steady, slick electronic house music. Ledesma says electronica and house music was known for many years for booming beats mostly devoid of heart and soul, but this CD takes it in a new direction. (4:00)

The CD is on the Studio K7 Label.



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