When music provokes utter silence
Critic Ann Powers considers musical performances that have left audiences stunned in utter silence, and what you can hear when sound falls away.
Arts
Joe Pyne: America's first angry talk show host
A new series from Radio Diaries remembers controversial broadcasters in American history, including Joe Pyne, who paved the way for in-your-face radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh.
Remembering South African playwright Athol Fugard
Fugard, who died March 8, was a white South African whose plays explored the consequences of Apartheid. He was later awarded a Tony Award for lifetime achievement. Originally broadcast in 1986.
Marking the centennial of powerhouse jazz drummer Roy Haynes
Born March 13, 1925, Haynes was a drummer who liked to prod his fellow players. Over the course of his career, he played with Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Chick Corea and many others.
Remembering soul singer Jerry Butler, aka the 'Iceman'
Butler, who died Feb. 20, was born in rural Miss., and had his first hit in 1958, singing lead with The Impressions. He later moved to Chicago and entered local politics. Originally broadcast in 2000.
Natasha Rothwell says there's a spiritual power to improv
The White Lotus star says she is prepared for any outcome. In this week's Wild Card, Natasha Rothwell shares the advice she happily ignored and how she finds power in solitude.
Can a deluxe album ever improve on the original?
Streaming has turned the once-rare deluxe edition into a given for pop albums. Many feel clunky or inessential — but a few artists have found ways to take the format high-concept.
The four buzziest movies coming to theaters this weekend
A Steven Soderbergh spy thriller, a Looney Tunes movie and a grisly comedy about a guy who can't feel pain are all out this weekend.
Third Eye Blind: Tiny Desk Concert
Third Eye Blind mixes nostalgia, deep cuts and an entirely new song into a set that culminates in a full-on singalong.
Co-authors discuss their dystopian graphic novel 'You Must Take Part in Revolution'
NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with the co-authors of "You Must Take Part in Revolution," a new dystopian graphic novel set in the year 2035 with the U.S. and China at war.