Music & Culture

Music & Culture

The All Songs Considered Holiday Cruise 2018

10:14am December 19, 2018

Steve Martin, John Legend, William Shatner, Lucius and more join hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton for this year's All Songs Considered holiday extravaganza, which unfolds like a bad high school play.

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Marcus King Band performing live for World Cafe

Music & Culture

The Marcus King Band On World Cafe

9:00am December 19, 2018

A live session from one of the best guitarists in America. King makes sounds like someone who's been working at it for decades.

The debut album by the Aizuri Quartet is called Blueprinting.

Music & Culture

NPR Music's Best Classical Albums Of 2018

4:52pm December 18, 2018

by Tom Huizenga

The music on our list takes you to Tsarist Russia, the New Mexico desert, 18th century Spain, the austere landscapes of Iceland and Vienna, at the dawn of the 20th century. Happy travelling.

Music & Culture

How And Why Toto's 1983 Hit 'Africa' Got New Life In 2018

4:25pm December 18, 2018

The 1983 hit Africa by Toto got some serious new life in 2018. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Rob Harvilla, a music reviewer for The Ringer, about how this happened and why.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers Perform At Snowboard Grand Prix

Jingle Sells, But Who's Buying?

4:04pm December 18, 2018

Holiday music is big business.

Cardi B; Ethan Hawke in First Reformed; Sandra Oh in Killing Eve.

'Fresh Air' Favorites: Our Critics Pick 2018's Best Books, Movies, Music And TV

2:53pm December 18, 2018

Find everything our critics loved this year, all in one place: Maureen Corrigan's book list, movie pairings from Justin Chang, music recommended by Ken Tucker and David Bianculli's must-see TV list.

NPR Music has compiled a list of great headphones at different price points — covering everything from casual listening to professional mixing and mastering.

Music & Culture

Tiny Tech Tips: Finding The Perfect Headphones

1:57pm December 18, 2018

by Josh Rogosin

Finding the right pair of headphones is a pain. Having engineered more than 400 of our Tiny Desk Concerts, NPR's Josh Rogosin knows audio — and he's here to help.

This winter, think pink (and red and green and white).

Music & Culture

Poolside Yuletide: 51 Songs To Paint Your Holidays Pink

10:00am December 18, 2018

Soundtrack your holiday spirit with a glass of rosé and our playlist featuring Bruce Springsteen's good cheer, Bright Eyes' Christmas blues, Big Freedia's twerkin' reindeer and more.

Dermot Kennedy was voted 2018's Best New Artist by listeners.

Music & Culture

Dermot Kennedy, NPR Slingshot's Best New Artist

5:27pm December 17, 2018

NPR Music fans have chosen Dermot Kennedy as Slingshot Best New Artist of 2018. In a conversation with NPR's Ailsa Chang, Kennedy talks about the pressures of newfound success and his dedication to the craft.

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Music & Culture

William Bell On World Cafe

1:27pm December 17, 2018

Bell tells stories of Stax Records' wildly productive years that's captured on a new box set called Stax '68: A Memphis Story.