Music Articles Apollo Run: Of War And Circuses January 30, 2009 • Apollo Run's John McGrew is a multi-instrumentalist who hops genres and styles easily, with a talent for quickly jelling melodies. An Ohio native now based in Brooklyn, he sings and plays trumpet and piano in "Land Land Land," which manages to fashion compelling entertainment out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 'Land Land Land' by Apollo Run Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/100056551/100056357" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Land Land Land' by Apollo Run Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/100056551/100056357" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Sarah Jaffe: On Salvation And Selfishness January 29, 2009 • Great songwriters bring together two things listeners want most from music: the ability to relate to people's daily lives and the wisdom to express emotions in new and powerful ways. Young, virtually unknown Texas singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe passes both tests in the title track from her new Even Born Again EP. Even Born Again Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93830001/93828367" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Even Born Again Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/93830001/93828367" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Crystal Stilts: The Pursuit Of Ambiguity January 28, 2009 • Buried under layers of distortion and swaths of reverb, the song benefits from its lack of sonic clarity: The guitars and droning Farfisa organs feel distant, the echoing drums disconnected. Dazzled Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99950764/99949666" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Dazzled Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99950764/99949666" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Scarface's 'The Diary': A Southern Classic January 27, 2009 • Breaking away from the formula of his early work, 1994's The Diary showcases Scarface at a high point in his solo career. The Houston-bred rapper set his gritty angst against a backdrop of live instrumentation and laid-back tempos that made for a Third Coast classic.
Music Articles Rokia Traore: Gershwin, By Way Of Mali January 27, 2009 • Traore isn't the first African singer to take on an American jazz standard, but her version of George and Ira Gershwin's "The Man I Love" sets a new standard. Channeling Billie Holiday without losing herself, Traore delivers a deeply satisfying read, subtly infused with African-ness as a lute converses with her electric guitar throughout. The Man I Love Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99904237/99903638" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Man I Love Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99904237/99903638" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Senor Coconut Takes Us 'Around the World' January 26, 2009 • Senor Coconut aka Uwe Schmidt is known for his lushly orchestrated Latin big band versions of pop hits like The Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams, Prince's Kiss and works by German techno pioneer Kraftwerk. His new album, Around The World, sounds like a vision you'd have after eating bad wienerschnitzel at a Miami rave. Senor Coconut Takes Us 'Around the World' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99871341/99878168" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Senor Coconut Takes Us 'Around the World' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99871341/99878168" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
World Cafe Oren Lavie: Elegance From Stage To Stereo XPN January 26, 2009 • Lavie's debut album, The Opposite Side of the Sea, flows with soothing vocals and evocative lyrics. A playwright and theater director by nature, the Israeli-born singer has seamlessly transposed his compositional talent from stage to record. Opposite Side of the Sea Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99867213/99864015" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opposite Side of the Sea Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99867213/99864015" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
All Songs Considered Brooklyn Brass, A Malian Masterpiece, Cabaret Pop, More January 26, 2009 • From All Songs Considered: David Byrne, AC Newman, Beirut, Rokia Traore, and more. Brooklyn Brass, A Malian Masterpiece, Cabaret Pop, More Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99866524/99866575" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Brooklyn Brass, A Malian Masterpiece, Cabaret Pop, More Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99866524/99866575" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Fiction Family Debut Is Delicate And Industrious Fresh Air January 26, 2009 • The band Fiction Family may be new, but its members are old hands at the music business. Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek collaborated on the new album. Ken Tucker has a review. Fiction Family Debut Is Delicate And Industrious Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99864867/99864919" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Fiction Family Debut Is Delicate And Industrious Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99864867/99864919" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Music Articles Alice Russell: Under Smoky Club Lights January 26, 2009 • Every few decades, the British invade. This time out, the onslaught features a bevy of beautiful women with deep voices and serious soul. Alice Russell hitched a ride on that boat, and with Pot of Gold and the song "Lights Went Out," she plants her flag and claims some fresh territory for herself. Lights Went Out Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99864775/99864511" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Lights Went Out Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99864775/99864511" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Bajofondo Crafts A Tango Rap Ballad January 23, 2009 • Trip-hop, rock en espanol and even hip-hop turn up in Mar Dulce, and if you're having trouble imagining a tango rap ballad, check out freestyler La Mala Rodriguez as she spits jotas in "El Anden" (The Platform). Her words hone in on a sense of loss as violins and miniature accordions scratch furiously in the background. Andén Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99798364/99796855" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Andén Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99798364/99796855" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Run On Sentence: A Lumbering Stroll January 22, 2009 • Run On Sentence is a vehicle for multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Dustin Hamman, who performs with a rotating band of talented musicians. In "Stonewall," he takes his sharp-edged croon on a tour of cold city sidewalks. Stonewall Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99731008/99676216" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Stonewall Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99731008/99676216" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Animal Collective: The Electronic Turns Organic January 21, 2009 • 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. Animal Collective: The Electronic Turns Organic Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99419750/99681698" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Animal Collective: The Electronic Turns Organic Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99419750/99681698" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Music Articles Cat Power: The 'Dark End' Of Depressive Soul January 21, 2009 • A dark tale of cheating lovers that's a chronicle of trouble foretold ("They're gonna find us someday"), "Dark End of the Street" is a hard song to mess up. The best versions have an air of enervated misery which Cat Power, the human embodiment of enervated misery, nails completely. Dark End of the Street Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99639895/99639856" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Dark End of the Street Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99639895/99639856" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Music Articles Robert Glasper: Jazz For Obama WBGO January 20, 2009 • Pianist Robert Glasper wrote the hypnotic "Enoch's Meditation" years ago, for his 2005 album Canvas. He conceived it as a tribute to his colleague, drummer Enoch Jamal Strickland, but reconditioned it in time for Inauguration Day 2009. Hear Glasper perform the repurposed song at the studios of WBGO. 'Enoch's (Inaugural) Meditation' by Robert Glasper Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99565794/99508989" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Enoch's (Inaugural) Meditation' by Robert Glasper Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/99565794/99508989" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
