Song Of The Day The Power of the Remix June 30, 2006 • In the right hands, remixes have tremendous power: Producers can transform mediocrities into masterpieces, and they can recontextualize music outside its original genre. Djinji Brown approaches Kahil El'Zabar's "Running in the Streets" with an appropriately light touch.
Song Of The Day Reveling in the Joy of Repetition June 29, 2006 • Hot Chip is clearly made up of geeky music obsessives, each far-reaching in his musical ideas. A quirky, intelligent collection of songs, the band's new album The Warning owes as much to Prince and Aphex Twin as it does to The Beach Boys, New Order and Beck.
Song Of The Day Downsizing Drama with Delicacy and Grace June 27, 2006 • Grant-Lee Phillips' nineteeneighties would seem to be an odd creative detour — the set finds him covering '80s alt-rock classics by the likes of R.E.M., the Cure and the Pixies — but it's surprising how smoothly its tributes fit into his homespun, heartfelt catalog.
Song Of The Day The Sound of Pure Britpop, Texas-Style June 27, 2006 • The Texas band Dynah draws on influences ranging from Mick Ronson and Johnny Marr to Radiohead. Wake, its sophomore album, represents a potent distillation of those influences — awash in atmospheric soul, with zero filler.
Song Of The Day Classical Music Finds Its Funky Side June 26, 2006 • On his transfixing debut, Nik Bartsch creates a five-part song cycle that highlights his immaculate piano playing and keen accord with his band Ronin. The Swiss-born pianist and composer calls Ronin's music "Zen-funk," an apt description for the magnetic "Modul 35."
'Springtime Can Kill You' Fresh Air June 26, 2006 • Our rock critic reviews Springtime Can Kill You the new CD from singer-songwriter Jolie Holland. 'Springtime Can Kill You' Only Available in Archive Formats. Real Media Windows
Song Of The Day Love and Politics Collide, Danceably June 23, 2006 • Radio 4 returns with an excellent mix of politically charged post-punk dance-rock, inspired by Gang of Four, The Clash and '80s new wave. The group comes by its sound without ripping off its forebears or contemporaries, so the result sounds at once classic and modern.
Music Best of Both Worlds from Roy Hargrove June 23, 2006 • Trumpet player Roy Hargrove has two bands — one a straight-ahead jazz combo, the other a soul-tinged R&B band. Instead of choosing one or the other, he recently decided to release two very different CDs simultaneously. Best of Both Worlds from Roy Hargrove Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5506323/5506336" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Best of Both Worlds from Roy Hargrove Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5506323/5506336" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Song Of The Day A Classic Breakup Song Gets Its Answer June 22, 2006 • "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken," from the Glasgow chamber-pop sextet Camera Obscura's recent album Let's Get Out of This Country, serves as a gloriously bubbly answer to Lloyd Cole's "Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken," one of the all-time great breakup songs.
Song Of The Day A Song of Portent and Devotion June 21, 2006 • Keane's new Under the Iron Sea opens with a song called "Atlantic," a promising burst that all but announces, "We are now wriggling out of the imposing shadow of Coldplay."
Song Of The Day Raw Rock Finds Peace and Quiet June 20, 2006 • The Walkmen's members create an airy, room-filling, guitar-driven racket when needed. But they also craft ballads with loving attention to detail, sprinkling in delicate bells and wintry piano, producing a tone of introspection not often found in the work of their peers.
Song Of The Day A Love Song Without Words June 19, 2006 • Roy Hargrove delivers an evocative narrative that, without words, conjures the spirit of Donny Hathaway or Stevie Wonder. Because the song doesn't contain any verses, it's easy to imagine its exquisite lyricism as a discreet love letter to jazz itself.
Song Of The Day A Slick Remix Brings Lidell 'Back Around' June 16, 2006 • If the souls of Sly Stone and Prince were united in the form of a white British singer, his name would probably be Jamie Lidell. Though Lidell is likely to perform his funk jams backed by a laptop, he still has the full-throated, improvisational vocal talent and showmanship of his predecessors.
Song Of The Day Epic Drama Meets Easygoing Rock June 15, 2006 • Driven by Doug Martsch's distinctive vocals, sprawling guitar heroics and intricate, catchy songwriting, Built To Spill melds epic jams with oddly jaunty pop-rock melodies in a way that scarcely disappoints. "Liar" sounds liberating and breezy, but still bracingly unpredictable and subtly intense.
Arts & Life The Rakes: 'Capture/Release' June 15, 2006 • Capture/Release is the latest album from the British band The Rakes. The Rakes: 'Capture/Release' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5488080/5488081" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
The Rakes: 'Capture/Release' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5488080/5488081" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript