Accessibility links
Music Reviews Music reviews of new albums in pop, rock, folk, jazz, blues, classical, world, and hip-hop.

Music Reviews

Music Review: 'Dub Side of the Moon' from the Easy Star All Stars

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon remains an iconic album 30 some years after its release. It defined adolescence for at least one generation. It's been played to death and parodied. Now, it's been remade into the reggae album Dub Side of the Moon. Chris Nickson has a review.

Music Review: 'Dub Side of the Moon' from the Easy Star All Stars

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1190361/1190362" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Review: New CDs from Paul Weller, The Buzzcocks

Fresh Air

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews new albums from The Buzzcocks and Paul Weller, the frontman from the band The Jam. The album titles are Buzzcocks and Illumination.

Music Review: New CDs from Paul Weller, The Buzzcocks

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1189941/1189942" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Director's Cuts

Director's Cuts: CDs from Radio Zumbido and illy B Eats

Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton reviews discs by Radio Zumbido and illy B Eats, better known as Billy Martin, the drummer from Medeski Martin & Wood.

Director's Cuts: CDs from Radio Zumbido and illy B Eats

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/926352/926353" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music Review: 'Failer' from Kathleen Edwards

Kathleen Edwards is a Canadian singer-songwriter who pairs stark lyrics with instrumentals that are sometimes surprisingly upbeat. Meredith Ochs reviews her debut album Failer.

Music Review: 'Failer' from Kathleen Edwards

Listen · 4:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/920387/920388" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Yusa Blends Cuba's Musical Past and Present

Yusa is a 20-something singer-songwriter from Havana with a brand new CD. Her music blends Cuba's past, present and future, and while the music draws on traditions, it's also influenced by trends in America, Brazil and other Latin American countries. The CD is titled Yusa on TUMI records. Felix Contreras has our review.

Yusa Blends Cuba's Musical Past and Present

Listen · 4:51
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/909078/909079" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Joni Mitchell Releases 'Final' Recording

Singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell says Travelogue, just released, will be her last. It's a retrospective of Mitchell's long career, performed with a choir and orchestra. The Wall Street Journal's Jim Fusilli reviews Mitchell's ultimate release.

Joni Mitchell Releases 'Final' Recording

Listen · 4:01
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/891774/891775" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Klein Mixes Jazz, Argentine Music in 'Los Guachos III'

Argentine composer Guillermo Klein moves to the United States to study jazz and ends up combining new American influences with his native country's music. The new CD release is Los Guachos III.

Klein Mixes Jazz, Argentine Music in 'Los Guachos III'

Listen · 4:33
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/877503/567243669" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Jeff Buckley

Music reviewer Will Hermes tells us about two posthumous releases of music from singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley. They are The Grace EPs and Songs To No One 1991 - 1992. Buckley died in 1997, just as he was becoming known in the music world. He was the son of the late folk musician Tim Buckley. The Grace EPs, by Jeff Buckley, is a box set on the Columbia label from Sony Music Entertainment. Songs To No One 1991 - 1992 by Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas is from Knitting Factory Records.

Jeff Buckley

Listen · 4:53
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/874632/874633" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">