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

Music Reviews

Cowboy Junkies

May 31, 2001 • The Cowboy Junkies are survivors. They've just released their 11th CD — this time on their very own label. Writer Will Hermes thinks it's one of their best recordings. (4:30) The CD is Open by the Cowboy Junkies. It's on Latent Records.

Cowboy Junkies

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Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead

Fresh Air

May 31, 2001 • Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead has a review of pianist Dave Brubeck's new CD, Impressions of Japan.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead

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David Byrne

May 21, 2001 • Will Hermes reviews the new solo album by David Byrne of Talking Heads fame. It's titled Look Into The Eyeball. (4:30) The album is available on Virgin Records.

David Byrne

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'Acoustic Soul'

May 2, 2001 • Number 21 on the Billboard top 100 this week: India Arie, with her first CD, Acoustic Soul. She has drawn impressive comparisons to Roberta Flack, Tracy Chapman and Bill Withers. Reviewer Sarah Bardeen says that Arie deserves the success. India Arie's Acoustic Soul is on Motown Records.

'Acoustic Soul'

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Director's Cuts

Director's Cuts : Fresh Picks

April 29, 2001 • Liane speaks with Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton about the latest crop of new releases on CD.

Director's Cuts : Fresh Picks

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Isolation Drills

Fresh Air

April 20, 2001 • Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Isolation Drills the new release by the band Guided by Voices.

Isolation Drills

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Stephen Malkmus

April 18, 2001 • The band Pavement, from Stockton California, epitomized the slacker ethos of the 1990s. But they broke up last year. And now, the band's leader, Stephen Malkmus, has a new CD.

Stephen Malkmus

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Daft Punk

April 10, 2001 • Daft Punk is a French music duo known for their electronic dance beats. They released a big smash dance floor CD in 1997. Their new release is the first thing since. The CD is called Discovery. Writer Will Hermes has a review. (3:30) The CD Discovery by Daft Punk is on the Virgin label.

Daft Punk

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'What's Next to the Moon'

April 2, 2001 • Music critic James Sullivan reviews What's Next to the Moon, a CD by Mark Kozelek. (4:00) The CD is distributed by the Badman Recording Company, San Francisco, Calif.; www.badmanrecordingco.com.

'What's Next to the Moon'

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Lou Harrison Review

Fresh Air

April 2, 2001 • Lloyd Schwartz reviews Rhymes with Silver by Lou Harrison.

Lou Harrison Review

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Orishas, 'A Lo Cubano'

March 1, 2001 • Banning Eyre reviews A Lo Cubano by the Cuban hip-hop quartet called Orishas. While spin-off releases related to the Buena Vista Social Club are captivating music fans outside Cuba, on the island of Cuba, the Orishas are big. This band is now based in France, though they insist they are not in political exile.

Orishas, 'A Lo Cubano'

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Blind Faith

February 21, 2001 • Music Critic Tom Moon says a new release by the old band Blind Faith is an example of the revival of free-form rock and roll. It's called the Deluxe Edition, and it contains some previously unreleased 1969 jam session recordings. (5:30) The Deluxe Edition 2-CD set by Blind Faith is on the Uni/Polydor labels.

Blind Faith

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Demons and Angels

Fresh Air

February 21, 2001 • Critic Milo Miles reviews a new 3-CD set Demons and Angels (Shanachie) collecting the recordings of blues guitarist Rev. Gary Davis.

Demons and Angels

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Director's Cuts

Director's Cuts

February 11, 2001 • Liane speaks with Weekend Edition Sunday music director Ned Wharton about the latest crop of new releases on CD.

Director's Cuts

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'Restless' Music from Rapper Xzibit

Fresh Air

February 7, 2001 • Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the recordings Live at the Fillmore by the group Cypress Hill, and Restless by the rapper Xzibit.

'Restless' Music from Rapper Xzibit

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