Music Articles http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100920965&ft=1&f=100920965 NPR Music interviews, news, profiles and lists. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/thumbnail/npr_generic_image_75.jpg Music Articles http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100920965&ft=1&f=100920965 yes Kanye's 'Yeezus' Packs A Bite After months of speculation, West's latest album reveals itself as a trim, 10-song, 40-minute effort that's heavy on electronic and industrial influences. It's also another piece of the puzzle to one of pop music's most compelling — and frustrating — figures. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/18/192776275/kanyes-yeezus-packs-a-bite?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/18/192776275/kanyes-yeezus-packs-a-bite?ft=1&f=100920965 After months of speculation, West's latest album reveals itself as a trim, 10-song, 40-minute effort that's heavy on electronic and industrial influences. It's also another piece of the puzzle to one of pop music's most compelling — and frustrating — figures. 247 no After months of speculation, West's latest album reveals itself as a trim, 10-song, 40-minute effort that's heavy on electronic and industrial influences. It's also another piece of the puzzle to one of pop music's most compelling — and frustrating — figures.

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]]> Samberg, Taccone And Schaffer: Three's Not A Lonely Island As the brains behind the hip-hop parody group responsible for digital shorts like "D--- in a Box," Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer have produced some of the funniest <em>Saturday Night Live</em> material in recent memory. Here, they talk <em></em> about comedy, <em>Yo! MTV Raps</em> and adolescence. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/18/191347182/samberg-taccone-and-schaffer-threes-not-a-lonley-island?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/18/191347182/samberg-taccone-and-schaffer-threes-not-a-lonley-island?ft=1&f=100920965 As the brains behind the hip-hop parody group responsible for digital shorts like "D--- in a Box," Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer have produced some of the funniest <em>Saturday Night Live</em> material in recent memory. Here, they talk <em></em> about comedy, <em>Yo! MTV Raps</em> and adolescence. 2257 no As the brains behind the hip-hop parody group responsible for digital shorts like "D--- in a Box," Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer have produced some of the funniest Saturday Night Live material in recent memory. Here, they talk about comedy, Yo! MTV Raps and adolescence.

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]]> Distinctive Voices: Three Must-Hear Violin Albums From the sweet melodies by Bach to the quiet sound world of Morton Feldman, sample three fascinating new albums by today's top fiddlers. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/18/190420332/distinctive-voices-three-must-hear-violin-albums?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/18/190420332/distinctive-voices-three-must-hear-violin-albums?ft=1&f=100920965 From the sweet melodies by Bach to the quiet sound world of Morton Feldman, sample three fascinating new albums by today's top fiddlers. no From the sweet melodies by Bach to the quiet sound world of Morton Feldman, sample three fascinating new albums by today's top fiddlers.

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]]> Don't Kill Your Idols: J. Cole Looks For His Place In Hip-Hop On <em>Born Sinner</em> Cole appealingly frames the unwieldy subject of inheritance as a musical reckoning with the '90s, the era of his childhood and hip-hop's current favorite source of nostalgia. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/17/192685053/don-t-kill-your-idols-j-cole-looks-for-his-place-in-hip-hop?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/17/192685053/don-t-kill-your-idols-j-cole-looks-for-his-place-in-hip-hop?ft=1&f=100920965 On <em>Born Sinner</em> Cole appealingly frames the unwieldy subject of inheritance as a musical reckoning with the '90s, the era of his childhood and hip-hop's current favorite source of nostalgia. no On Born Sinner Cole appealingly frames the unwieldy subject of inheritance as a musical reckoning with the '90s, the era of his childhood and hip-hop's current favorite source of nostalgia.

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]]> The Beatles' Defining Moment (Hint: It's Not 'Sgt. Pepper') In 1963, the Fab Four recorded a series of sessions at the BBC, which author Colin Fleming argues are emblematic of the band they would become. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 05:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191705940/bbc-beatles-on-wesunt?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191705940/bbc-beatles-on-wesunt?ft=1&f=100920965 In 1963, the Fab Four recorded a series of sessions at the BBC, which author Colin Fleming argues are emblematic of the band they would become. 480 no In 1963, the Fab Four recorded a series of sessions at the BBC, which author Colin Fleming argues are emblematic of the band they would become.

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]]> Terence Blanchard Turns A Tragic Champion Into An Opera Hero The jazz composer's latest project is an opera based on the life of Emile Griffith, a gay boxer who became a world champion in the 1960s — at a price. Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:43:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/15/191709047/terence-blanchard-turns-a-tragic-champion-into-an-opera-hero?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/15/191709047/terence-blanchard-turns-a-tragic-champion-into-an-opera-hero?ft=1&f=100920965 The jazz composer's latest project is an opera based on the life of Emile Griffith, a gay boxer who became a world champion in the 1960s — at a price. 526 no The jazz composer's latest project is an opera based on the life of Emile Griffith, a gay boxer who became a world champion in the 1960s — at a price.

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]]> Pandora Buys A Radio Station, Songwriters' Group Calls It A 'Stunt' This week, the Internet radio broadcaster bought a radio station in Rapid City, S.D., in an effort to get the more favorable royalty rates given to terrestrial broadcasters. But the move has songwriters and composers up in arms. Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/15/191703769/songwriters-group-calls-pandoras-radio-station-buy-a-stunt?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/15/191703769/songwriters-group-calls-pandoras-radio-station-buy-a-stunt?ft=1&f=100920965 This week, the Internet radio broadcaster bought a radio station in Rapid City, S.D., in an effort to get the more favorable royalty rates given to terrestrial broadcasters. But the move has songwriters and composers up in arms. 266 no This week, the Internet radio broadcaster bought a radio station in Rapid City, S.D., in an effort to get the more favorable royalty rates given to terrestrial broadcasters. But the move has songwriters and composers up in arms.

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]]> Playing Mozart — On Mozart's Violin Hearing — and holding — Mozart's own instruments is a thrill like no other. The great composer's violin and viola, which are only pulled out of storage in Salzburg about once a year, are in the United States for the very first time. And the magic they wield is undeniable. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/14/190975113/playing-mozart-on-mozarts-violin?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/06/14/190975113/playing-mozart-on-mozarts-violin?ft=1&f=100920965 Hearing — and holding — Mozart's own instruments is a thrill like no other. The great composer's violin and viola, which are only pulled out of storage in Salzburg about once a year, are in the United States for the very first time. And the magic they wield is undeniable. 227 no Hearing — and holding — Mozart's own instruments is a thrill like no other. The great composer's violin and viola, which are only pulled out of storage in Salzburg about once a year, are in the United States for the very first time. And the magic they wield is undeniable.

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]]> Heartbreak Takes John Vanderslice To 'Dagger Beach' The avant-indie rock veteran confronted his biggest fear — being alone in the middle of nowhere — and ended up with his first album outside the label system. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/14/191602109/heartbreak-takes-john-vanderslice-to-dagger-beach?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/14/191602109/heartbreak-takes-john-vanderslice-to-dagger-beach?ft=1&f=100920965 The avant-indie rock veteran confronted his biggest fear — being alone in the middle of nowhere — and ended up with his first album outside the label system. no The avant-indie rock veteran confronted his biggest fear — being alone in the middle of nowhere — and ended up with his first album outside the label system.

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]]> Reflections On A Dozen Years With Abbey Lincoln When he was 21, pianist Marc Cary moved to New York City to find his father. He wound up finding himself in the upper echelons of the city's jazz scene. Cary's new album pays tribute to the legendary singer and songwriter with whom he spent more than a decade performing. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/06/14/191378516/reflections-on-a-dozen-years-with-abbey-lincoln?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2013/06/14/191378516/reflections-on-a-dozen-years-with-abbey-lincoln?ft=1&f=100920965 When he was 21, pianist Marc Cary moved to New York City to find his father. He wound up finding himself in the upper echelons of the city's jazz scene. Cary's new album pays tribute to the legendary singer and songwriter with whom he spent more than a decade performing. no When he was 21, pianist Marc Cary moved to New York City to find his father. He wound up finding himself in the upper echelons of the city's jazz scene. Cary's new album pays tribute to the legendary singer and songwriter with whom he spent more than a decade performing.

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]]> Flamenco Sensation Buika Embraces Her 'Animal' Voice When Buika was growing up on the Spanish island of Majorca, she was used to people saying her voice was ugly. But that didn't stop her. Today, Buika blends flamenco with jazz, blues and soul. Here, she explains how she found her voice and offers a look at her new album. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191306990/flamenco-sensation-buika-embraces-her-animal-voice?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191306990/flamenco-sensation-buika-embraces-her-animal-voice?ft=1&f=100920965 When Buika was growing up on the Spanish island of Majorca, she was used to people saying her voice was ugly. But that didn't stop her. Today, Buika blends flamenco with jazz, blues and soul. Here, she explains how she found her voice and offers a look at her new album. 889 no When Buika was growing up on the Spanish island of Majorca, she was used to people saying her voice was ugly. But that didn't stop her. Today, Buika blends flamenco with jazz, blues and soul. Here, she explains how she found her voice and offers a look at her new album.

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]]> Bob Dylan's Tribute To Medgar Evers Took On The Big Picture Fifty years ago, Dylan's career was just taking off when he heard the news that the civil rights activist had been killed. "Only a Pawn in Their Game," his response to Evers' assassination, highlights the victimization of poor whites and blacks alike. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/12/190743651/bob-dylans-tribute-to-medgar-evers-took-on-the-big-picture?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/12/190743651/bob-dylans-tribute-to-medgar-evers-took-on-the-big-picture?ft=1&f=100920965 Fifty years ago, Dylan's career was just taking off when he heard the news that the civil rights activist had been killed. "Only a Pawn in Their Game," his response to Evers' assassination, highlights the victimization of poor whites and blacks alike. 277 no Fifty years ago, Dylan's career was just taking off when he heard the news that the civil rights activist had been killed. "Only a Pawn in Their Game," his response to Evers' assassination, highlights the victimization of poor whites and blacks alike.

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]]> The National: 'We've Earned Our Stripes' Singer Matt Berninger and NPR's Audie Cornish discuss the band's new album <em>(Trouble Will Find Me),</em> being in a band of brothers, how his own brother inspired "I Should Live in Salt," and his own sheepish attitude toward the band's recent success. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/12/190978705/the-national-weve-earned-our-stripes?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/12/190978705/the-national-weve-earned-our-stripes?ft=1&f=100920965 Singer Matt Berninger and NPR's Audie Cornish discuss the band's new album <em>(Trouble Will Find Me),</em> being in a band of brothers, how his own brother inspired "I Should Live in Salt," and his own sheepish attitude toward the band's recent success. 383 no Singer Matt Berninger and NPR's Audie Cornish discuss the band's new album (Trouble Will Find Me), being in a band of brothers, how his own brother inspired "I Should Live in Salt," and his own sheepish attitude toward the band's recent success.

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]]> Boards Of Canada Tap A Devout Following To Push New Album By leaking details of its new release through codes and numbers, the Scottish electronic duo worked the press game backwards. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/13/190753152/boards-of-canada-tap-a-devout-following-to-push-new-album?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/06/13/190753152/boards-of-canada-tap-a-devout-following-to-push-new-album?ft=1&f=100920965 By leaking details of its new release through codes and numbers, the Scottish electronic duo worked the press game backwards. 295 no By leaking details of its new release through codes and numbers, the Scottish electronic duo worked the press game backwards.

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]]> NPR Music's 50 Favorite Songs Of 2013 (So Far) We made you a doozy of a mix — 50 of NPR Music's favorite songs from the first half of 2013, including hip-hop anthems, dudes with beards, avant-garde lullabies, dance-music stompers, tear-jerking ballads, funk odysseys and synth-pop singalongs. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/189331497/npr-musics-50-favorite-songs-of-2013-so-far?ft=1&f=100920965 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/189331497/npr-musics-50-favorite-songs-of-2013-so-far?ft=1&f=100920965 We made you a doozy of a mix — 50 of NPR Music's favorite songs from the first half of 2013, including hip-hop anthems, dudes with beards, avant-garde lullabies, dance-music stompers, tear-jerking ballads, funk odysseys and synth-pop singalongs. no We made you a doozy of a mix — 50 of NPR Music's favorite songs from the first half of 2013, including hip-hop anthems, dudes with beards, avant-garde lullabies, dance-music stompers, tear-jerking ballads, funk odysseys and synth-pop singalongs.

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