Song Of The Day Setting a Mission Statement to Music July 31, 2006 • Maybe it's an indication that the initial weirdness of listening to it has worn off, but pianist Jason Moran's scrupulous practice of using pre-recorded dialogue as a guide for etching melodic statements has never sounded as moving as it does on "Artists Ought to Be Writing."
Song Of The Day Breaking Free of Nostalgia's Tyrannical Grip July 31, 2006 • "Skip to the End," in which a protagonist wishes he could fast-forward from the beginning of a relationship to the end before getting involved, is an ode to both longing and laziness, bolstered by an addictive "na na na na" chorus and The Futureheads' trademark harmonies.
Song Of The Day A Funky Trendsetter, Frozen in Time July 28, 2006 • A venerated art-funk band that helped spawn hip-hop and No Wave, ESG should always stay in the way-back machine: It has such a singular sound that, were it to deviate even for a second, it would come across as calculated and fake. Thankfully, it's still 1978 in ESG's world.
Song Of The Day The Slow Build to a Crashing Finish July 27, 2006 • Snow Patrol appears content to issue a series of great, gooey ballads familiar to anyone who's heard Coldplay's "Fix You." "Chasing Cars" is formulaic and utterly irresistible, built to play in trailers for romantic movies involving Zach Braff.
Music Armenian Chamber Choir: 'Ars Poetica' July 27, 2006 • A new classical CD called Ars Poetica features the Armenian Chamber Choir singing compositions by composer Tigran Mansurian. Musician and Day to Day contributor David Was offers a review. Armenian Chamber Choir: 'Ars Poetica' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5586708/5586709" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Armenian Chamber Choir: 'Ars Poetica' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5586708/5586709" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Arts & Life America's Beatles? Meet the Aerovons Fresh Air July 27, 2006 • Ever since Chuck Berry, St. Louis has been producing rock music that defies the prevailing norm. But is it possible that in 1969 it also produced America's Beatles, a band no one ever heard? Rock historian Ed Ward investigates the curious case of the Aerovons. America's Beatles? Meet the Aerovons Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5586678/5586679" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Song Of The Day Finding the Seduction in Madness July 26, 2006 • Lenine immortalizes a local legend in a song that deftly connects bits of old and new Brazil. The beat has funk in it, but also elements of maracatu, the northeastern Brazilian rhythm Lenine has helped to modernize with percussion loops.
The DVD Room Toscanini's Telecasts, Now on DVD Fresh Air July 26, 2006 • Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new DVD collection of conductor Arturo Toscanini's live NBC symphony telecasts between 1948 and 1952. Toscanini's Telecasts, Now on DVD Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5583696/5583697" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Toscanini's Telecasts, Now on DVD Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5583696/5583697" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Song Of The Day A Country Music Outlaw, Resurrected July 24, 2006 • On his new album, Ray Wylie Hubbard serves up a mostly greasy plateful of growling, country-fried rhythm and blues, heavy on themes of sin and the South. But most notable is an exception to this mix, a soulful neo-gospel re-working of a late-'90s original called "Resurrection."
Director's Cuts Director's Cuts: Third Album's A Charm July 23, 2006 • Kaki King and Vienna Teng first performed on Weekend Edition Sunday in 2004. Since then, their musical styles have evolved. Teng's forthcoming album intimately showcases her talent as a pianist and vocalist. King has moved past the acoustic instrumentals of her earlier discs with her latest album, coming in August. Director's Cuts: Third Album's A Charm Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5571184/5574742" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Director's Cuts: Third Album's A Charm Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5571184/5574742" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Song Of The Day A Jazzy Look at Prince's Dirty Side July 21, 2006 • Many jazz artists have mined Prince's songbook, but few explore the seedier side of his repertoire. Leave it to slide trumpeter and bandleader Steven Bernstein to offer a jazz take on the infamous "Darling Nikki."
Song Of The Day New Love's Dizzying Days July 20, 2006 • Thomas Dybdahl's voice has the emotional resonance of Jeff Buckley's and the vulnerability of Chet Baker's. His delicate but lush music recalls that of Tim Buckley, Nick Drake and other forward-thinking folk-rock songwriters who surrounded their basic guitar chords with layered arrangements.
Music Hip-Hop from The Coup Fresh Air July 20, 2006 • Our rock critic reviews Pick A Bigger Weapon a new hip hop album from The Coup. Hip-Hop from The Coup Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5570579/5570580" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Song Of The Day Wielding Cuteness as a Weapon July 19, 2006 • In the unlikely event that Dido were to mate with Bjork, Psapp is the likely result. "Hi" is a shimmery mix of the things the duo does best: gently insistent, vaguely Brazilian melodies layered over offbeat percussion.
For Tom Brosseau, a Sweet Voice Gets Louder July 18, 2006 • Record producer Gregory Page was sitting in the back office of an Ocean Beach coffee shop called Java Joe's on an open-mic night when he heard what he thought was a female singer with a beautiful voice. He went into the shop and discovered that the voice belonged to a man: a folk singer and songwriter named Tom Brosseau. For Tom Brosseau, a Sweet Voice Gets Louder Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5566213/5566214" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
For Tom Brosseau, a Sweet Voice Gets Louder Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5566213/5566214" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript