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Tom Moon 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.
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Tom Moon

Review: On 'The Slow Rush,' Tame Impala Masks Inner Turmoil With Sonic Euphoria

From vocal delivery to melodic hooks, from lyrics to production: Kevin Parker has elevated his craft on The Slow Rush. Matt Sav/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Matt Sav/Courtesy of the artist

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Music Reviews

Review: On 'The Slow Rush,' Tame Impala Masks Inner Turmoil With Sonic Euphoria

Kevin Parker's fourth album as the leader of Australian rock band Tame Impala comes after a five-year gap. It's music that comes wrapped in its own bubble, far from the cascading miseries on the news.

Review: On 'The Slow Rush,' Tame Impala Masks Inner Turmoil With Sonic Euphoria

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On 'Warna,' Joey Alexander Transforms From Child Prodigy To Jazz Fixture

Once a young prodigy, Joey Alexander emerges as a full-blown jazz star on his new album Warna, writes NPR's Tom Moon. Meredith Truax/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Meredith Truax/Courtesy of the artist

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On 'Warna,' Joey Alexander Transforms From Child Prodigy To Jazz Fixture

Piano prodigy Joey Alexander is a fixture of the jazz world at the age of 16 and his new album shows how his sound has matured and grown into graceful original compositions.

On 'Warna,' Joey Alexander Transforms From Child Prodigy To Jazz Fixture

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'Hittin' The Ramp' Traces Nat King Cole's Early Artistic Development

Nat King Cole playing piano in the Capitol Records recording studio on May 23, 1945. Capitol Records Photo Archive/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Capitol Records Photo Archive/Courtesy of the artist

Music News

'Hittin' The Ramp' Traces Nat King Cole's Early Artistic Development

Before Nat King Cole became known for his velvety singing voice, he was a pianist working nightly gigs to hone his craft.

'Hittin' The Ramp' Traces Nat King Cole's Early Artistic Development

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Josh Homme's Rotating Supergroup The Desert Sessions Returns For 'Vols. 11 & 12'

Josh Homme's The Desert Sessions brought together an all-star line-up of rock legends to collaborate. Andreas Neumann/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Andreas Neumann/Courtesy of the artist

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Josh Homme's Rotating Supergroup The Desert Sessions Returns For 'Vols. 11 & 12'

Musicians on the Queens of the Stone Age frontman-led album include ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Primus' Les Claypool.

Josh Homme's Rotating Supergroup The Desert Sessions Returns For 'Vols. 11 & 12'

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First Reviled, Now Revered: The Historic Albums Of 1969

The lineup of Santana as of May, 1969, photographed in San Francisco. From left: Michael Shrieve, Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, Jose 'Chepito' Areas, David Brown and Michael Carabello. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Music Features

First Reviled, Now Revered: The Historic Albums Of 1969

It's not easy to see that history is being made when it's happening right in front of you — just ask the critics tasked with assessing these classic, ahead-of-their-time recordings.

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Music Reviews

Music Review: Brittany Howard Releases Her Debut Solo Album, 'Jaime'

Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes has released her first solo album, Jaime, in honor of her sister who died from cancer as a teenager. The album that began as a way to heal is also a call to action.

Music Review: Brittany Howard Releases Her Debut Solo Album, 'Jaime'

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Joan Shelley Admires The Beauty In All The Fading

Joan Shelley's latest album, Like The River Loves the Sea, is out now. Amber Estes Thieneman/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Amber Estes Thieneman/Courtesy of the artist

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Joan Shelley Admires The Beauty In All The Fading

Joan Shelley's songs have the sturdy, classic construction of folk tunes. But even when the tone is serene, there's a distinctly modern restlessness lurking below the surface.

Joan Shelley Admires The Beauty In All The Fading

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Music Review: Tool's 'Fear Inoculum' Album

Tool, the enigmatic and influential, progressive hard rock band has its first album since 2006. The band's new album Fear Inoculum was worth the 13-year wait.

Music Review: Tool's 'Fear Inoculum' Album

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Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Green River' At 50: Our Essential Guide To Early CCR

The original lineup of Creedence Clearwater Revival, at London's Heathrow Airport. L-R: Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, Doug Clifford, John Fogerty. Michael Putland/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Putland/Getty Images

Music Features

Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Green River' At 50: Our Essential Guide To Early CCR

On the 50th anniversary of the band's landmark album Green River, we dig into how the band formulated its singular sound, its legacy and how Creedence's music still resonates today.

Thom Yorke Recalibrates And Digs Deeper Into His Dread Of Technology With 'ANIMA'

Thom Yorke's third solo album ANIMA represents a recalibration of his creative process. Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images hide caption

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Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

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Music Reviews

Thom Yorke Recalibrates And Digs Deeper Into His Dread Of Technology With 'ANIMA'

Thom Yorke has always had a dread of technology. But the Radiohead frontman's latest album, ANIMA, explores that dread with the help of technology.

Thom Yorke Recalibrates And Digs Deeper Into His Dread Of Technology With 'ANIMA'

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