Tom Moon http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5261785&ft=1&f=5261785 Since 1983, Tom Moon has been writing about pop, rock, jazz, blues, and the music of the world. For much of that time, he was a music critic at The Philadelphia Inquirer. Moon's work has also appeared in Rolling Stone, GQ, Blender, Spin and more. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 21 May 2013 16:40:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Tom Moon http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5261785&ft=1&f=5261785 Pat Metheny And John Zorn: A Vivid Sound World The two artists are known opposites in the world of instrumental music. On Metheny's latest, the jazz guitarist wrings an unexpectedly visual listening experience from Zorn's knotty compositions. Tue, 21 May 2013 16:40:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185824573/pat-metheny-and-john-zorn-a-vivid-sound-world?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185824573/pat-metheny-and-john-zorn-a-vivid-sound-world?ft=1&f=5261785 The two artists are known opposites in the world of instrumental music. On Metheny's latest, the jazz guitarist wrings an unexpectedly visual listening experience from Zorn's knotty compositions.

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]]> Dawes' Story Gets A Fine New Chapter The L.A. roots-rock quartet is often described as a band on the verge of greatness. Its new album, <em>Stories Don't End</em>, features disarmingly beautiful, refreshingly unflashy songwriting. It may not make the musicians superstars, but that's just fine. Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/22/178420759/dawes-story-gets-a-fine-new-chapter?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/22/178420759/dawes-story-gets-a-fine-new-chapter?ft=1&f=5261785 The L.A. roots-rock quartet is often described as a band on the verge of greatness. Its new album, Stories Don't End, features disarmingly beautiful, refreshingly unflashy songwriting. It may not make the musicians superstars, but that's just fine.

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]]> Phil Ramone, A Record Producer Who Made Simplicity Sound Sublime, Dies In making classic albums by Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, Phil Ramone's greatest talent as a producer and engineer may have been finding ways to make songs sound the way the musicians wanted. Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/03/01/173281990/phil-ramone-a-record-producer-who-made-simplicity-sound-sublime-has-died?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/03/01/173281990/phil-ramone-a-record-producer-who-made-simplicity-sound-sublime-has-died?ft=1&f=5261785 In making classic albums by Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, Phil Ramone's greatest talent as a producer and engineer may have been finding ways to make songs sound the way the musicians wanted.

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]]> Justin Timberlake's Musical Vision Isn't '20/20' The multifaceted star's first solo album since 2006, <em>The 20/20 Experience</em>, offers a muddy view of pop. Critic Tom Moon says Timberlake "is a celebrity feeling out his place in 2013, and you hear his worry." Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/18/174643299/justin-timberlakes-musical-vision-isnt-20-20?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/18/174643299/justin-timberlakes-musical-vision-isnt-20-20?ft=1&f=5261785 The multifaceted star's first solo album since 2006, The 20/20 Experience, offers a muddy view of pop. Critic Tom Moon says Timberlake "is a celebrity feeling out his place in 2013, and you hear his worry."

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]]> Atoms For Peace: Thom Yorke's Electronic Shadow-World Inside the famously fevered head of the Radiohead lead singer, the ghosts and phantoms are still working overtime. Hear a review of his new project. Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:21:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/28/172977428/atoms-for-peace-thom-yorkes-electronic-shadow-world?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/28/172977428/atoms-for-peace-thom-yorkes-electronic-shadow-world?ft=1&f=5261785 Inside the famously fevered head of the Radiohead lead singer, the ghosts and phantoms are still working overtime. Hear a review of his new project.

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]]> Jim James: On A Spiritual Quest In The Digital Age The My Morning Jacket singer seeks authenticity in a world of artifice on his first solo album, <em>Regions of Light and Sound of God</em>. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:19:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/13/171914800/jim-james-on-a-spiritual-quest-in-the-digital-age?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/13/171914800/jim-james-on-a-spiritual-quest-in-the-digital-age?ft=1&f=5261785 The My Morning Jacket singer seeks authenticity in a world of artifice on his first solo album, Regions of Light and Sound of God.

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]]> Is Fleetwood Mac's Expanded 'Rumours' A Bit Much? The reissued 1977 album includes several bonus tracks, but critic Tom Moon wonders if it's worth it. Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/04/171090459/is-fleetwood-macs-expanded-rumours-a-bit-much?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/04/171090459/is-fleetwood-macs-expanded-rumours-a-bit-much?ft=1&f=5261785 The reissued 1977 album includes several bonus tracks, but critic Tom Moon wonders if it's worth it.

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]]> A 1969 Bootleg Unearths Miles Davis' 'Lost' Quintet Columbia Records' latest release from the jazz maverick's vault is a three-CD, one-DVD live compilation. The previously unreleased material captures a little-known burst of creativity, recorded between two vastly different periods in Davis' career. Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:26:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/30/170662462/a-1969-bootleg-unearths-miles-davis-lost-quintet?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/30/170662462/a-1969-bootleg-unearths-miles-davis-lost-quintet?ft=1&f=5261785 Columbia Records' latest release from the jazz maverick's vault is a three-CD, one-DVD live compilation. The previously unreleased material captures a little-known burst of creativity, recorded between two vastly different periods in Davis' career.

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]]> Bruno Mars Goes Anyplace And Everyplace On 'Jukebox' On his second album, <em>Unorthodox Jukebox</em>, Mars traverses the pop landscape, pulling in far-flung influences and making them his own. Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:12:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/11/166964985/bruno-mars-goes-anyplace-and-everyplace-on-jukebox?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/11/166964985/bruno-mars-goes-anyplace-and-everyplace-on-jukebox?ft=1&f=5261785 On his second album, Unorthodox Jukebox, Mars traverses the pop landscape, pulling in far-flung influences and making them his own.

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]]> Neil Young Still Vital On 'Psychedelic Pill' Whenever things get too cozy on <em>Psychedelic Pill</em>, Crazy Horse is there to rearrange the furniture. When the singing stops and Young falls into one of the band's epic guitar journeys, the music positively erupts. Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/30/163946384/neil-young-still-vital-on-psychedelic-pill?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/30/163946384/neil-young-still-vital-on-psychedelic-pill?ft=1&f=5261785 Whenever things get too cozy on Psychedelic Pill, Crazy Horse is there to rearrange the furniture. When the singing stops and Young falls into one of the band's epic guitar journeys, the music positively erupts.

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]]> Elina Duni: Love, Lust And Albanian Folk Songs On <em>Matane Malit</em>, the singer and her group offers a transfixing balance of old and new, laying expansive instrumentation over traditional Albanian folk melodies. Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/19/163242023/elina-duni-love-lust-and-albanian-folk-songs?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/19/163242023/elina-duni-love-lust-and-albanian-folk-songs?ft=1&f=5261785 On Matane Malit, the singer and her group offers a transfixing balance of old and new, laying expansive instrumentation over traditional Albanian folk melodies.

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]]> Lianne La Havas: A Cool Antidote For Late Summer's Heat Critic Tom Moon says the chilly moodiness of La Havas' tracks sets the young British singer apart. Her debut has perhaps too many songs about heartbreak, but in the best ones, she sounds almost shattered. Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/08/08/158437837/lianne-la-havas-a-cool-antidote-for-late-summers-heat?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2012/08/08/158437837/lianne-la-havas-a-cool-antidote-for-late-summers-heat?ft=1&f=5261785 Critic Tom Moon says the chilly moodiness of La Havas' tracks sets the young British singer apart. Her debut has perhaps too many songs about heartbreak, but in the best ones, she sounds almost shattered.

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]]> A Posthumous Masterpiece Adds To E.S.T.'s Legacy The Swedish jazz trio sculpts epic soundscapes on its first posthumous album, released four years after pianist Esbjorn Svensson's death. Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155704810/a-posthumous-masterpiece-adds-to-e-s-t-s-legacy?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155704810/a-posthumous-masterpiece-adds-to-e-s-t-s-legacy?ft=1&f=5261785 The Swedish jazz trio sculpts epic soundscapes on its first posthumous album, released four years after pianist Esbjorn Svensson's death.

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]]> Melody Gardot Aims For The Space Between Notes Gardot captures the sensibility that guides, shapes and defines so much Brazilian music. Thu, 31 May 2012 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154086935/melody-gardot-aims-for-the-space-between-notes?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/31/154086935/melody-gardot-aims-for-the-space-between-notes?ft=1&f=5261785 Gardot captures the sensibility that guides, shapes and defines so much Brazilian music.

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]]> Dr. John: Swamp Grooves From The Bayou Underworld With help from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Dr. John returns to the spooky, percussive sounds of his first records on <em>Locked Down.</em> Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/03/149866890/dr-john-swamp-grooves-from-the-bayou-underworld?ft=1&f=5261785 http://www.npr.org/2012/04/03/149866890/dr-john-swamp-grooves-from-the-bayou-underworld?ft=1&f=5261785 With help from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Dr. John returns to the spooky, percussive sounds of his first records on Locked Down.

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