Music

 
 

Play a continuous sequence of  the featured stories in the center column of this page. Hear all stories from this page

Johnny Hartman, 'The Romantic Balladeer'

He had one of the most gorgeous voices ever to sing a love song. But during his lifetime, Johnny Hartman was known only to hardcore jazz lovers. It was after his death when he finally made it to the top of the jazz charts.

 

Don DiLego: 'Ghosts'

Don DiLego uses instruments in "various states of disrepair" to flesh out alt-country tunes.

Neko Case: Reinventing Herself Again

Her work is offbeat but faithful to the classics, emotional while remaining intriguingly playful.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Pop Culture

Girl Power, Revisited

July 11, 2007 · The British girl-band the Spice Girls has announced that they will be reuniting for a world tour scheduled to begin this December. Robin Givhan, Washington Post's fashion editor, talks about how "girl power" is trying to make a comeback.

 

Open Mic

Telenovela: 'Paint It Beige'

July 10, 2007 · Telenovela are an indie-pop duo with a love of drum loops and The Carpenters. While Zachary Smola focuses on sampling and recording, Stephanie Clayton is a talented flautist with a soft-natured voice to match.

 

Summer Memories Inspired By a Song

July 11, 2007 · This week's staff song pick of the week comes from News and Notes Web producer Geoffrey Bennett. His selection, "Before I Let Go" by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, was inspired by the midsummer memories of his youth.

 
All Songs Considered

amiina Iceland's Ambient String Quartet Amiina
All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen spins NPR's latest music mix, featuring Bryan Ferry covering the music of Bob Dylan; a mix of The Kaiser Chiefs and Lily Allen via DJ Mark Ronson, electronic big band jazz with Mocean Worker, more.

Song of the Day By Michael Katzif

'You and Me,' Baring Jesse Harris' Soul

July 11, 2007 · On "You and Me," Jesse Harris' wistful croon sounds restrained and even pensive, yet the soul-baring mood fits with the straightforward atmosphere. Though it's built around little more than a stripped-down guitar, bass, drums and violin, the sound seems fully realized.

 

Songs about Feet, Math, Baseball: New Kids' Music

July 10, 2007 · Kids' music blogger Stefan Shepherd weighs in on some of the new music for children that has been catching his ear. Shepherd reviews kids and family music "worth sharing" at Zooglobble.com.

 

Would You Like Some New Music with Your Latte?

July 10, 2007 · Today, music distribution venues include the Internet, television ads, video games, and even Starbucks. Guests discuss how musicians are marketing their music, and where consumers are discovering new tunes. Web Extra: Read Articles on the 'New Music Moguls'

 

Classical Music

Cellist Was on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno'

July 11, 2007 · For the past five years, cellist Brian Sung has been with the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra, an involvement that landed him a gig on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' in 2004. He performs Victor Herbert's Cello Concerto No.2 in E minor, Op. 30.

 

Legal Affairs

No Trial Date for R. Kelly — Five Years After Charges

July 10, 2007 · It has been five years since singer R. Kelly was charged with child pornography for allegedly videotaping sex acts with an underage teen. The performer was just in court for another status hearing, but no trial date has been set.

 

Song of the Day By David Browne

Americana Finds Its Dire Side

July 10, 2007 · It's easy for a band to sound "rootsy" by simply unplugging the instruments and singing in a manner that's folksy and earnest. It's a little harder to tap into the dark, cryptic, desolate-cornfield aspect of American music, but Wooden Wand's "Delia" does just that.

 

CD Reviews By Christian Bordal

Smashing Pumpkins: Still Corgan's Band

July 10, 2007 · Smashing Pumpkins was one of the biggest alternative rock success stories of the 1990s. Now famously bald-headed lead singer Billy Corgan has reunited with one of his original bandmates, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, to release the first new Smashing Pumpkins album in seven years: Zeitgeist.

 

World Cafe from WXPN

Bright Eyes: New Ideas from a 'New Dylan'

July 10, 2007 · As the primary musical vehicle for Omaha wunderkind Conor Oberst, Bright Eyes has experienced a meteoric rise in the past few years, as fans and critics have embraced the literate, emotional songs of a singer often tagged "The New Bob Dylan."

 

Pop Music

Lavigne's 'Girlfriend' a Rip-Off? You Decide

July 10, 2007 · Pop music star Avril Lavigne is being sued by the writers of the 1979 song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend," who claim that Lavigne's song "Girlfriend" is a rip-off of their tune. We detail the requirements for a successful copyright infringement case and play clips of each song.

 
 
 

Today's Open Mic

Don DiLego: 'Ghosts'

Don DiLego: 'Ghosts'

Don DiLego uses instruments in "various states of disrepair" to flesh out alt-country tunes.

 
 
 

Available for PurchaseFeatured Music

Collection: 1947-1972

 

Purchase Featured Music

Close window
 
  • CD:
  • Collection: 1947-1972
  • Artist: Johnny Hartman
 
 

Photographs of 1971

 

Purchase Featured Music

Close window
 
  • CD:
  • Photographs of 1971
  • Artist: Don DiLego
 
 

Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

 

Purchase Featured Music

Close window
 
  • CD:
  • Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
  • Artist: Neko Case
 
 

Your purchase helps support NPR Programming. How?

 
 
 

SHADOW CLASSICS

"Shadow Classics" showcases an overlooked rock, pop, soul, jazz or classical recording that critic Tom Moon feels should be discussed in the same breath as music's essential recordings.

 
 
 

WORLD CAFE

From member station WXPN, host David Dye welcomes acts from the worlds of blues, rock, folk and alternative country.

 
 
 

Music Notes Newsletter

Music Notes is a monthly recap of music-related offerings on NPR.org delivered via email. View a sample.



  (Privacy Policy)

 
 
 
 

Related News Feeds

 

Browse Topics

Services

Programs

PBS logo