Music Reviews : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1104 Music reviews of new albums in pop, rock, folk, jazz, blues, classical, world, and hip-hop. en Copyright 2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 20 Apr 2021 13:32:04 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Music Reviews https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1104 Tribute Album 'Law Years' Captures Ornette Coleman's Happy Bounce Coleman, who died in 2015, had a knack for writing catchy melodies in a distinctive voice. Saxophonist Miguel Zenón loves Coleman's music and put together a quartet to play some. Tue, 20 Apr 2021 13:32:04 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/20/989081119/tribute-album-law-years-captures-ornette-colemans-happy-bounce https://www.npr.org/2021/04/20/989081119/tribute-album-law-years-captures-ornette-colemans-happy-bounce Coleman, who died in 2015, had a knack for writing catchy melodies in a distinctive voice. Saxophonist Miguel Zenón loves Coleman's music and put together a quartet to play some.

]]> Kevin Whitehead Newly Unearthed 1965 Album Represents Hasaan Ibn Ali's Posthumous Vindication The jazz pianist only recorded two albums, the second of which was long believed to be lost. Now, the rediscovery of <em>Metaphysics: The Lost Atlantic Session </em>is cause for renewed celebration. Tue, 06 Apr 2021 13:58:16 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/04/06/984703269/newly-unearthed-1965-album-represents-hasaan-ibn-alis-posthumous-vindication https://www.npr.org/2021/04/06/984703269/newly-unearthed-1965-album-represents-hasaan-ibn-alis-posthumous-vindication The jazz pianist only recorded two albums, the second of which was long believed to be lost. Now, the rediscovery of Metaphysics: The Lost Atlantic Session is cause for renewed celebration.

]]> Kevin Whitehead Erwin Helfer Helps 'Celebrate The Journey' With The Chicago Boogie Ensemble For Helfer, vintage piano dialects are living traditions, not museum exhibits. The 85-year-old Chicago musician helps keep those traditions alive — and passes that knowledge on — with a new album. Wed, 31 Mar 2021 13:43:42 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/983058726/erwin-helfer-helps-celebrate-the-journey-with-the-chicago-boogie-ensemble https://www.npr.org/2021/03/31/983058726/erwin-helfer-helps-celebrate-the-journey-with-the-chicago-boogie-ensemble For Helfer, vintage piano dialects are living traditions, not museum exhibits. The 85-year-old Chicago musician helps keep those traditions alive — and passes that knowledge on — with a new album.

]]> Kevin Whitehead Elizabeth King's Gospel Sound Transports Believers And Non-Believers Alike King made some recordings in the 1970s, but then quit the music business to raise her children. Now in her late 70s, she's released her first full-length solo album: <em>Living in the Last Days.</em> Mon, 29 Mar 2021 13:40:40 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/29/982228025/elizabeth-kings-gospel-sound-transports-believers-and-non-believers-alike https://www.npr.org/2021/03/29/982228025/elizabeth-kings-gospel-sound-transports-believers-and-non-believers-alike King made some recordings in the 1970s, but then quit the music business to raise her children. Now in her late 70s, she's released her first full-length solo album: Living in the Last Days.

]]> Ken Tucker 'Couch By Couchwest': Standouts Of SXSW's All-Digital Music Festival The 2021 SXSW Music Festival was an all-digital affair — which left <em>All Songs Considered</em> host Bob Boilen with lots of streaming concerts to watch. He picks standouts from the 130 shows he saw. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:20:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/25/981309875/standouts-of-sxsws-all-digital-music-festival https://www.npr.org/2021/03/25/981309875/standouts-of-sxsws-all-digital-music-festival The 2021 SXSW Music Festival was an all-digital affair — which left All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen with lots of streaming concerts to watch. He picks standouts from the 130 shows he saw.

]]> Bob Boilen From Norway With Horsepower: Soprano Lise Davidsen Is Conquering Opera The young, late-comer to opera is turning heads in the classical world with a powerful voice that can rocket over huge orchestras or pare down to a silvery thread. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 14:35:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2021/03/25/980863482/from-norway-with-horsepower-soprano-lise-davidsen-is-conquering-opera https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2021/03/25/980863482/from-norway-with-horsepower-soprano-lise-davidsen-is-conquering-opera

The young, late-comer to opera is turning heads in the classical world with a powerful voice that can rocket over huge orchestras or pare down to a silvery thread.

(Image credit: James Hole /Decca Records)

]]> Tom Huizenga Armand Hammer Raps From Another Dimension. It's On Us To Catch Up For nearly two decades, billy woods and ELUCID have established themselves as cult figures in hip-hop. The duo's new album, <em>Haram</em>, is their most approachable, even if the rhymes are still intricate. Thu, 25 Mar 2021 13:06:38 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/25/980818615/review-armand-hammer-alchemist-haram-billy-woods-elucid https://www.npr.org/2021/03/25/980818615/review-armand-hammer-alchemist-haram-billy-woods-elucid

For nearly two decades, billy woods and ELUCID have established themselves as cult figures in hip-hop. The duo's new album, Haram, is their most approachable, even if the rhymes are still intricate.

(Image credit: Alexander Richter/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Marcus J. Moore Converging Across Generations To Clear A Space For New Sounds The avant-garde jazz musician Pharoah Sanders and the electronic composer Sam Shepherd, who records as Floating Points, have created a gorgeous, gemlike new album with the London Symphony Orchestra. Wed, 24 Mar 2021 10:40:48 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/24/980433831/pharoah-sanders-floating-points-promises-review-new-sounds https://www.npr.org/2021/03/24/980433831/pharoah-sanders-floating-points-promises-review-new-sounds

The avant-garde jazz musician Pharoah Sanders and the electronic composer Sam Shepherd, who records as Floating Points, have created a gorgeous, gemlike new album with the London Symphony Orchestra.

(Image credit: Eric Welles-Nyström/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Nate Chinen A Cult-Classic Sondheim Flop Gets An Essential New Recording An updated recording of <em>Anyone Can Whistle, </em>a now-celebrated musical by composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, has some surprises, even for the completist. Mon, 22 Mar 2021 16:07:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/22/979959291/a-cult-classic-sondheim-flop-gets-an-essential-new-recording https://www.npr.org/2021/03/22/979959291/a-cult-classic-sondheim-flop-gets-an-essential-new-recording

An updated recording of Anyone Can Whistle, a now-celebrated musical by composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, has some surprises, even for the completist.

(Image credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

]]> Bob Mondello Benoit Delbecq's 'Weight Of Light' Shows How Mysterious Prepared Piano Can Sound The French pianist is known for inserting pieces of wood between strings to produce new sounds. Delbecq's technique — as showcased on his new album — can make him sound like he has an extra hand. Mon, 22 Mar 2021 13:50:28 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/22/979963195/benoit-delbecqs-weight-of-light-shows-how-mysterious-prepared-piano-can-sound https://www.npr.org/2021/03/22/979963195/benoit-delbecqs-weight-of-light-shows-how-mysterious-prepared-piano-can-sound The French pianist is known for inserting pieces of wood between strings to produce new sounds. Delbecq's technique — as showcased on his new album — can make him sound like he has an extra hand.

]]> Kevin Whitehead Julien Baker Chronicles Her Own Path To Redemption On 'Little Oblivions' Baker supplies nearly all of the guitars, drums, synthesizers, banjo, and mandolin on her new album. It's a confessional and frequently beautiful record about mental distress and addiction. Wed, 17 Mar 2021 13:32:19 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/17/978159411/julien-baker-chronicles-her-own-path-to-redemption-on-little-oblivions https://www.npr.org/2021/03/17/978159411/julien-baker-chronicles-her-own-path-to-redemption-on-little-oblivions Baker supplies nearly all of the guitars, drums, synthesizers, banjo, and mandolin on her new album. It's a confessional and frequently beautiful record about mental distress and addiction.

]]> Ken Tucker Sharing Secrets With Selena: The Understated Power Of 'Revelación' The Spanish-language EP presents a more intimate image of a pop singer who's still trying to find space for who she is and who she wants to be. Sat, 13 Mar 2021 09:01:24 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/13/975754539/sharing-secrets-with-selena-the-understated-power-of-revelacion https://www.npr.org/2021/03/13/975754539/sharing-secrets-with-selena-the-understated-power-of-revelacion

The Spanish-language EP presents a more intimate image of a pop singer who's still trying to find space for who she is and who she wants to be.

(Image credit: Camila Falquez/Courtesy of the artist)

]]> Anamaria Sayre Review: Valerie June's New LP 'The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers' Valerie June has just released a new LP called <em>The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers.</em> The album foregrounds her distinctive voice and mixes reassurance with a yearning for engagement. Fri, 12 Mar 2021 16:05:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/12/976589464/review-valerie-junes-new-lp-the-moon-and-stars-prescriptions-for-dreamers https://www.npr.org/2021/03/12/976589464/review-valerie-junes-new-lp-the-moon-and-stars-prescriptions-for-dreamers Valerie June has just released a new LP called The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers. The album foregrounds her distinctive voice and mixes reassurance with a yearning for engagement.

]]> Oliver Wang Considering Chick Corea's Grammys Success And The Kitchen Sink Of Genre Corea, who died in February, remains the most-awarded jazz musician in Grammys history. But Corea, who always identified as a jazz player, wasn't landlocked by any genre conventions. He wasn't alone. Thu, 11 Mar 2021 12:40:04 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/11/976059434/considering-chick-coreas-grammys-success-and-the-kitchen-sink-of-genre https://www.npr.org/2021/03/11/976059434/considering-chick-coreas-grammys-success-and-the-kitchen-sink-of-genre

Corea, who died in February, remains the most-awarded jazz musician in Grammys history. But Corea, who always identified as a jazz player, wasn't landlocked by any genre conventions. He wasn't alone.

(Image credit: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Nate Chinen With 'The Dream' Hailey Whitters Sings About The Ups And Downs Of Showbiz The country singer spent more than a decade in Nashville before her first record broke through in 2020. Now she's adding five new songs in an expanded version of that album called, <em>Living The Dream.</em> Mon, 08 Mar 2021 13:48:40 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2021/03/08/974830013/with-the-dream-hailey-whitters-sings-about-the-ups-and-downs-of-showbiz https://www.npr.org/2021/03/08/974830013/with-the-dream-hailey-whitters-sings-about-the-ups-and-downs-of-showbiz The country singer spent more than a decade in Nashville before her first record broke through in 2020. Now she's adding five new songs in an expanded version of that album called, Living The Dream.

]]> Ken Tucker