October 2001

The Strokes--Reviewer John Sopkia tells us about the debut CD of a New York City band called The Strokes. It's called Is This It. (4:00)

The CD is on RCA records.

He Sleeps--Alan Cheuse reviews a new novel by Reginald McKnight titled He Sleeps. It's subject is an African-American ethnologist trying to piece his life together while doing field work in Senegal. (2:00)

He Sleeps, by Reginald McKnight is published by Henry Holt.

Bjork Review-- Critic Will Hermes listens to the new Bjork cd titled Vespertine . The music composed on her laptop computer is full of unusual rhythms and textures. (4:45) The cd Vespertine, by Bjork, is on Elektra records.

Beulah-- Music Critic Sarah Bardeen reviews a new CD by the band Beulah, called The Coast is Never Clear. Bardeen says even if the coast is not, the band's sound is. (3:30)

Bardeen is an editor for www.listen.com. The Beulah CD is on the Velocette Records label.

Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Newspaper-- Alan Cheuse reviews a novel by Harriet Scott Chessman. It's about Lydia Cassatt, and her relationship with her sister, nineteenth century American impressionist Painter Mary Cassatt. (1:45)

Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Newspaper, by Harriett Scott Chessman is published by Seven Stories/Permanent Press.

Sound-Dust-- Stereolab's varied musical style takes another turn in the group's latest album, Sound-Dust. But it's still that loungy free jazz the group is known for. Jefferson Chase has the review. (4:00)

The CD was recently released by Elektra.

Two New Jazz CDs-- Charles de Ledesma reviews two new modern jazz releases. The first is Hyperion with Higgins, by Charles Lloyd, who plays the tenor saxophone. He has dedicated his album to the late Billy Higgins, who played drums with Lloyd. The second album is Not for Nothin, by the Dave Holland Quintet. Ledesma says both albums reinforce that modern jazz is still a potent creative musical force. Both CDs are from the record label ECM. (5:00)

Here Come the Derailers-- Meredith Ochs reviews the new CD by the Derailers. This Austin, Texas band comes to us via Portland, Oregon. They mix the sounds of Texas country music with the California Bakersfield sound, made famous by Buck Owens. The CD is titled Here Come the Derailers. (3:30)

The disc is on Sony Music Nashville.

Washington Saxophone Quartet-- Music Critic Tom Manoff reviews Daydream by the Washington Saxophone Quartet. The CD features famous classical pieces arranged for saxophone. Manoff says it works best when the group allows the soul of the sax to come through. (5:00)

The disc is on Americus Records.

The Same Sea-- Alan Cheuse reviews a new novel by Israeli writer Amos Oz. It's called The Same Sea. (2:15)

The Same Sea, by Amos Oz is published by Harcourt.

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