Accessibility links
Christian Bordal Christian Bordal is a regular music critic for Day to Day who can recite the gibberish poem Jabberwocky from memory. He is also a producer for member station KCRW in Santa Monica, Calif.
Stories By

Christian Bordal

Independent music critic Christian Bordal is a producer for member station KCRW in Santa Monica.

Story Archive

Music Interviews

Black Joe Lewis: Party Music Isn't High Art

Though he shouts and wails like a soul man, Joe Lewis drools and gums his words so unintelligibly you'll be lucky to catch one in five. The band rocks with James Brown-inspired grooves, but Lewis sings with enough conviction that you want to know what he's saying.

Black Joe Lewis: Party Music Isn't High Art

Listen · 5:10
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/102014470/102050672" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

The Boxer Rebellion Scores Big With iTunes

The Boxer Rebellion, a British rock band, is enjoying Top Five success on iTunes' U.S. and U.K. album charts. Without the help of iTunes, the group's second album, Union, might never have been released at all.

The Boxer Rebellion Scores Big With iTunes

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101183997/101194245" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Robyn Hitchcock: An Oddball In 'Oslo'

He's best known for his bizarrely comic songcraft and most recently for his role as the white-haired troubadour of Rachel Getting Married. Still a prolific recording artist, Hitchcock plays from and discusses his new album, Goodnight Oslo.

Robyn Hitchcock: An Oddball In 'Oslo'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/100866102/100869952" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Antony And The Johnsons: Nature Songs

Much of Antony and the Johnsons' music has revolved around singer Antony Hegarty's efforts to come to terms with and explore his sexual identity. But his latest album, The Crying Light, shifts away from issues of gender.

Antony And The Johnsons: Nature Songs

Listen · 7:19
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/100278242/100284043" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

New Music

George Clinton Keeps The Funk Alive

After 67 years, the dreadlocked king of funk can still bring the house down. Clinton's new album ditches his signature Funkadelic style for Motown-influenced covers of old love songs. Here, he discusses his life on the road with some special guests, including Sly Stone.

George Clinton Keeps The Funk Alive

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99316170/99351493" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Review

Music Reviews

School Of Seven Bells: Blurring Life And Art

Last year, Benjamin Curtis and twin sisters Ally and Claudia Deheza left the bands they were in, set up a home recording studio and launched an all-consuming music project. Ally Deheza says the arrangement mixes life and art in new ways.

School Of Seven Bells: Blurring Life And Art

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/98152267/98337435" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Vashti Bunyan: 40 Years Later, A Musical Rebirth

In 1964, with the help of The Rolling Stones, a shy 19-year-old Londoner named Vashti Bunyan decided to try her hand at becoming a folk-pop singer. Three years later, she quit. But after four decades, Bunyan has returned for another chance at stardom.

Vashti Bunyan: 40 Years Later, A Musical Rebirth

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/96077033/96088831" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Cold War Kids: Pondering Personal Politics

Cold War Kids' second album, Loyalty to Loyalty, is based on the work of a little-known philosopher named Josiah Royce, who challenged Nietzsche's positions in the early 1900s. The art-pop band straddles the line between both philosophies in atypical rock fashion.

Cold War Kids: Pondering Personal Politics

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94925127/94931117" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Pink Floyd's David Gilmour Resurfaces

Two years ago, Pink Floyd guitarist and songwriter David Gilmour performed a solo concert in Poland. Here, he surveys the history of Pink Floyd and his own career, both of which get equal play on his new album, Live in Gdansk.

Pink Floyd's David Gilmour Resurfaces

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94664256/94668674" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Grupo Fantasma: 'Gold' Sounds of Latin Funk

The 10-piece funky Latin ensemble from Austin, Texas got a big boost last year when Prince chose them to headline the weekly Latin night at his Las Vegas club. Their new album Sonidos Gold features saxophonist Maceo Parker and Fania All-Star Larry Harlow.

Grupo Fantasma: 'Gold' Sounds of Latin Funk

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91841253/91841219" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

For T-Bone Burnett, the Play's the Thing

He's best known as a hit-making producer of American roots and rock music, but T-Bone Burnett has spent plenty of time on the other side of the studio glass. And, thanks to the restaging of a play by Sam Shepard, he has a new album out, too.

For T-Bone Burnett, the Play's the Thing

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/91367128/91383843" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Studio Sessions

Teitur: Pride of the Faroe Islands

While Teitur's music hasn't reached many fans in the U.S., he's the Faroe Islands' most famous singer-songwriter. Music journalist Christian Bordal spoke with the singer about his music, his storytelling, and life growing up in the remote Scandinavian islands.

Teitur: Pride of the Faroe Islands

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90944181/91106470" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Interviews

A Rapper Out of Sudan's Civil War

Emmanuel Jal was a child soldier in Sudan's brutal civil war. Now he is a rapper with a new album out called Warchild. Music journalist Christian Bordal has a review and profile of the artist.

A Rapper Out of Sudan's Civil War

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90517634/90519078" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

In Lionel Loueke, African Pop Meets Jazz

He's one of New York's top jazz guitarists, but Lionel Loueke grew up in the West African nation of Benin. Since he left, he has forged a unique sound which draws from the traditional music of his youth.

In Lionel Loueke, African Pop Meets Jazz

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/88982394/89046328" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

A Musical Residency at Hollywood's Hotel Cafe

At a venue in downtown Hollywood a regular coterie of singer-songwriters rules the roost, and their community is bringing business to the small club. Now, the club is taking its musicians on an international tour and onto its own, newborn record label.

A Musical Residency at Hollywood's Hotel Cafe

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/88100305/88104760" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org