NPR Series: CD Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4465028&ft=1&f=4465028 NPR Music reviewers discuss new CD releases for rock, pop, folk, jazz, classical, world, and urban music. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:23:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif CD Reviews http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4465028&ft=1&f=4465028 Neil Young Sets New Anthology Gold Standard Being a Neil Young fan isn't always easy. There have been lean years, puzzling political stances and quite a few less-than-satisfying concept albums. But most fans are determined to stick it out. In many ways, the gargantuan <em>Neil Young Archives, Vol. 1: 1963-1972</em> is payback. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105014182&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105014182&ft=1&f=4465028 Being a Neil Young fan isn't always easy. There have been lean years, puzzling political stances and quite a few less-than-satisfying concept albums. But most fans are determined to stick it out. In many ways, the gargantuan Neil Young Archives, Vol. 1: 1963-1972 is payback.

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]]> Eminem: A 'Relapse' Of Horror? A full year out of rehab, the controversial rapper Eminem is back with <em>Relapse,</em> his first album since 2004. Curiously, he brings back an obscure rap subgenre called horror-core, and critic Robert Christgau thinks he should have stayed home a little longer. Wed, 20 May 2009 13:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104349227&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104349227&ft=1&f=4465028 A full year out of rehab, the controversial rapper Eminem is back with Relapse, his first album since 2004. Curiously, he brings back an obscure rap subgenre called horror-core, and critic Robert Christgau thinks he should have stayed home a little longer.

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]]> Ran Blake: Ghosts In The Piano The grainy, blurry portrait of Ran Blake on the cover of his album, <em>Driftwoods</em>, looks like spirit photography: the pianist as ghostly presence. His playing can be spooky, too. The CD radically transforms popular vocal standards from Billie Holiday, Hank Williams, Quincy Jones and more. Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:02:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103362259&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103362259&ft=1&f=4465028 The grainy, blurry portrait of Ran Blake on the cover of his album, Driftwoods, looks like spirit photography: the pianist as ghostly presence. His playing can be spooky, too. The CD radically transforms popular vocal standards from Billie Holiday, Hank Williams, Quincy Jones and more.

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]]> Eva Ayllon: Afro-Peruvian Queen Eva Ayllon is sometimes called Peru's Tina Turner. On <em>Kimba Fa,</em> the 30-year veteran takes all sorts of liberties with Afro-Peruvian music, adding in piano and sometimes a brass section, as well as jazz harmony and ideas from other Afro Latin styles. Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103169173&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103169173&ft=1&f=4465028 Eva Ayllon is sometimes called Peru's Tina Turner. On Kimba Fa, the 30-year veteran takes all sorts of liberties with Afro-Peruvian music, adding in piano and sometimes a brass section, as well as jazz harmony and ideas from other Afro Latin styles.

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]]> Amadou And Mariam: Well Beyond Mali The self-billed "blind couple of Mali" have been recording since the '80s, but they've never stuck to one style. On <em>Welcome to Mali</em>, Amadou and Mariam absorb ideas from everywhere and sound like they're having a ball. Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102383925&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102383925&ft=1&f=4465028 The self-billed "blind couple of Mali" have been recording since the '80s, but they've never stuck to one style. On Welcome to Mali, Amadou and Mariam absorb ideas from everywhere and sound like they're having a ball.

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]]> Marianne Faithfull Sings The New Golden Era Despite a constant flood of new music, people still like to insist it was all better in times past. But Marianne Faithfull, who has survived a bunch of musical decades, recognizes that right now is a golden era of its own. Her new record, <em>Easy Come, Easy Go,</em> is all covers, but alongside old standards are what might be some new staples. Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102296995&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102296995&ft=1&f=4465028 Despite a constant flood of new music, people still like to insist it was all better in times past. But Marianne Faithfull, who has survived a bunch of musical decades, recognizes that right now is a golden era of its own. Her new record, Easy Come, Easy Go, is all covers, but alongside old standards are what might be some new staples.

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]]> 'Downriver Revival': Documenting The Double U In the mid-1960s, an electrician converted his basement into a jerry-built, custom studio he dubbed Double U Sound. Between 1967 and 1981, Felton Williams recorded more than 300 reels of tape. <em>Downriver Revival</em> is the first in a series of compilations focusing on the recordings of these local studios. Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102059710&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102059710&ft=1&f=4465028 In the mid-1960s, an electrician converted his basement into a jerry-built, custom studio he dubbed Double U Sound. Between 1967 and 1981, Felton Williams recorded more than 300 reels of tape. Downriver Revival is the first in a series of compilations focusing on the recordings of these local studios.

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]]> Green Goes Blue With 'Grant's First Stand' Originally released in 1961, electric guitarist Grant Green's first album with Blue Note Records, <em>Grant's First Stand</em>, has been reissued. Green has a solid swinger's knack for skippy, airborne jazz rhythms, but some of his lines wouldn't sound out of place in a Chicago blues bar. Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101646825&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101646825&ft=1&f=4465028 Originally released in 1961, electric guitarist Grant Green's first album with Blue Note Records, Grant's First Stand, has been reissued. Green has a solid swinger's knack for skippy, airborne jazz rhythms, but some of his lines wouldn't sound out of place in a Chicago blues bar.

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]]> Not Such Heartless Bastards After All The heart of the blues-rock group Heartless Bastards is Erika Wennerstrom, who wears hers on her sleeve. Her band's new album, <em>The Mountain</em>, features a bold, hard-hitting sound. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:46:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101617716&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101617716&ft=1&f=4465028 The heart of the blues-rock group Heartless Bastards is Erika Wennerstrom, who wears hers on her sleeve. Her band's new album, The Mountain, features a bold, hard-hitting sound.

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]]> Animal Collective: The Electronic Turns Organic Animal Collective is an experimental pop band that's cultivated an air of mystery over the past few years, as well as a passionate following. Will Hermes reviews the band's new album, <em>Merriweather Post Pavilion</em>. Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:39:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99419750&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99419750&ft=1&f=4465028 Animal Collective is an experimental pop band that's cultivated an air of mystery over the past few years, as well as a passionate following. Will Hermes reviews the band's new album, Merriweather Post Pavilion.

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]]> Moody And Jones' Jazz Reunion Is A 'Delight' On their first recording together in more than 50 years, saxophonist James Moody and pianist Hank Jones show that the elder statesmen of jazz can still play beautifully. <em>Our Delight</em> displays the golden virtues of jazz with warmth and grace. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:37:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97850465&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97850465&ft=1&f=4465028 On their first recording together in more than 50 years, saxophonist James Moody and pianist Hank Jones show that the elder statesmen of jazz can still play beautifully. Our Delight displays the golden virtues of jazz with warmth and grace.

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]]> David Cook: 'Idol' Busy With New Album Every fall, the latest winner of the <em>American Idol</em> competition arrives with an album. This year it's David Cook, who won by the largest margin in the show's seven-year history. Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97170653&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97170653&ft=1&f=4465028 Every fall, the latest winner of the American Idol competition arrives with an album. This year it's David Cook, who won by the largest margin in the show's seven-year history.

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]]> Bebo Valdes Brings Havana To Village Vanguard Bebo Valdes left Havana 50 years ago, but at the piano, it's as if he's still there. He's not reviving anything; he just kept on doing it the old way, long after music in Cuba had moved on. On <em>Live at the Village Vanguard</em>, Valdes shares billing with his frequent duo partner, bassist Javier Colina. Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:47:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96952296&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96952296&ft=1&f=4465028 Bebo Valdes left Havana 50 years ago, but at the piano, it's as if he's still there. He's not reviving anything; he just kept on doing it the old way, long after music in Cuba had moved on. On Live at the Village Vanguard, Valdes shares billing with his frequent duo partner, bassist Javier Colina.

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]]> A Pretender's Aching, 'Concrete' Return Chrissie Hynde has gathered up a new batch of Pretenders &mdash; including the great drummer Jim Keltner &mdash; and wants you to know she's still up for some adventure, anger and lust. Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:46:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96865732&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96865732&ft=1&f=4465028 Chrissie Hynde has gathered up a new batch of Pretenders — including the great drummer Jim Keltner — and wants you to know she's still up for some adventure, anger and lust.

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]]> Sex, Gender Equality In New Girl Talk Album Gregg Gillis is a Pittsburgh DJ and musical mixologist who was known only by his stage name, Girl Talk, until his music took off and he could quit his day job as a biomedical engineer. Often, music by mixologists sounds esoteric, but that could hardly be claimed of Girl Talk's latest mashup album, <em>Feed the Animals</em>. Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96284161&ft=1&f=4465028 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96284161&ft=1&f=4465028 Gregg Gillis is a Pittsburgh DJ and musical mixologist who was known only by his stage name, Girl Talk, until his music took off and he could quit his day job as a biomedical engineer. Often, music by mixologists sounds esoteric, but that could hardly be claimed of Girl Talk's latest mashup album, Feed the Animals.

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