May 2001

Cowboy Junkies-- The Cowboy Junkies are survivors. They've just released their 11th CD -- this time on their very own label. Writer Will Hermes thinks it's one of their best recordings. (4:30)

The CD is Open by the Cowboy Junkies. It's on Latent Records.

The Song of the Earth -- Reviewer Alan Cheuse tells us about a novel called The Song of the Earth, by Hugh Nissenson. (1:15)

The book is published by Algonquin.

The Dying Animal -- Philip Roth -- the recent recipient of the 2001 PEN/Faulkner Prize for Fiction -- has released a new novel called The Dying Animal. Alan Cheuse has a review. (1:45)

The book is published by Houghton Mifflin.

David Byrne -- Will Hermes reviews the new solo album by David Byrne of Talking Heads fame. It's titled Look Into The Eyeball. (4:30)

The album is available on Virgin Records.

Caetano Veloso -- Brazilian singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso is known only to world music fans here, but at home he's part Dylan, part Sondheim, part Borges, part Bowie, and all superstar. His new album, Noites do Norte, is his first since the Grammy-winning Livro. The new record examines the cultural legacy of slavery in Brazil. NPR's Rick Karr has a profile. (7:45)

Veloso's recent recordings are available in the U.S. on the Nonesuch label.

Acoustic Soul -- Number 21 on the Billboard top 100 this week: India Arie, with her first CD, Acoustic Soul. She has drawn impressive comparisons to Roberta Flack, Tracy Chapman and Bill Withers. Reviewer Sarah Bardeen says that Arie deserves the success. (3:30)

India Arie's Acoustic Soul is on Motown Records.

Ani DiFranco -- There is a new two CD set by Ani DiFranco. It is full of music with a wide range of emotions and influences. Music critic Will Hermes thinks that it is a powerful record by an artist that has done the kind of music she wants, the way she wants to do it. Over the years she has established herself as an independent and it pays off. She has her own label and her own studio. (4:30)

It's on Righteous Babe Records.

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