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

Music Reviews

Kepa Junkera

Banning Eyre reviews the new CD Bilbao Zero Hour by Basque accordionist Kepa Junkera. Junkera has invited musicians from all around the world to join him on a recording that went gold in Spain. It's now become available in this country. (3:30)
The CD is Bilbao Zero Hour by Kepa Junkera. It is on Alula Records. For more information call 1-800-932-5852 .

Kepa Junkera

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Surf Music

David Greenberger reviews the latest CD from the surf guitar band "Los Straitjackets". The band is from Nashville, and when they perform they like to wear Mexican wrestling masks, medallions, and matching black turtlenecks. But their music is distinctively surf music — with many original tunes, and some eclectic covers, like Louis Prima and the love theme from the film Titanic. The music is all about surprise, invention, and good taste. (3:30) Los Straitjackets latest disc is on the YepRoc Records label.

Surf Music

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Mozart and Brahms

Music critic Tom Manoff listens to a new CD of Clarinet Quintets. The works are by Mozart and by Brahms performed by David Shifrin and the Emerson String Quartet. Manoff says he's heard these works many times, and was very pleased by the intimacy and passion in the performances. (5:15) The CD is called Mozart/Brahms Clarinet Quintets. Performed by David Shifrin and the Emerson String Quartet, on Deutsche Grammophon Records.

Mozart and Brahms

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Chemical Brothers

Charles de Ledesma reviews the latest CD from the Chemical Brothers, called "Surrender". It's in the same vein as their previous two albums -- rich, multi-layered, electronic dance music, with many high-profile guest vocalists including Bernard Sumner from New Order and Noel Gallagher from Oasis. The Chemical Brothers are credited as the pioneers of "electronica," and Ledesma says this CD once again proves their talent for pushing electronic dance music in bold new directions.

Chemical Brothers

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Tom Ze, 'Fabrication Defect'

Banning Eyre reviews Fabrication Defect, a new CD from Brazilian singer/composer Tom Ze. Ze was part of a cultural and musical movement in the 60s in Brazil called "Tropicalia," but while others involved — like Caetano Veloso — went on to stardom, Ze drifted into obscurity. In the late 80s, David Byrne went out in search of Ze, and got him back into music. This is Ze's 2nd recording since Byrne "rediscovered" him. Eyre says Ze continues to shine as a fresh and inventive pop composer.

Tom Ze, 'Fabrication Defect'

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Los Angeles Guitar Quartet

NPR's Tom Vitale presents a profile of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, a group known for its traditional and non-traditional guitar playing. After years of recording on small labels, the recently signed to Sony Classical and have a new CD called "L.A.G.Q." ("L.A.G.Q", Sony Classical, SK 60274.) 12:00 NOTE: Due to Internet rights issues, this segment has been modified from its original broadcast form.

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet

Only Available in Archive Formats.

Music

Lennon-Springsteen

Music critic Tom Moon has an overview of two boxed sets of compact discs: the much-anticipated "The Lennon Anthology," which compiles the work of John Lennon, and Bruce Springsteen's "Tracks," a collection of songs that did not make it onto Springsteen's albums. Moon says that both provide insight into how these singers engaged in the songwriting process. "The Lennon Anthology" is available from Capitol Records: "Tracks" by Bruce Springsteen is available from Columbia Records.

Lennon-Springsteen

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