Music & Culture

Richard Swift's final album, made in the months before his death, is called The Hex.

Music & Culture

Richard Swift's Final Album, 'The Hex,' Will Be Released Friday

9:53am September 20, 2018

by Lars Gotrich

The announcement comes with a new track called "Sept20." According to a statement on Swift's Facebook page, it's his final song from an album he completed shortly before his death.

Restorations' LP5000 comes out Sept. 28.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Restorations, 'LP5000'

5:00am September 20, 2018

by Lyndsey McKenna

The Philly band distills heft and heart, cathartic choruses and gratuitous guitars into tender, explosive rock.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Tim Hecker, 'Konoyo'

5:00am September 20, 2018

by Mina Tavakoli

The beauty in Tim Hecker's music is the way the sounds disintegrate, slip through one's fingers and die.

Loretta Lynn's Wouldn't It Be Great comes out Sept. 28.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Loretta Lynn, 'Wouldn't It Be Great'

5:00am September 20, 2018

by Jewly Hight

Loretta Lynn draws on her back story with a mixture of saltiness, sentimentality and wit that gives it heart and resonance.

Music & Culture

How Kathy Mattea Got Her Voice Back With 'Pretty Bird'

6:32pm September 19, 2018

The country singer-songwriter's voice changed in her 50s and, for a time, she thought her career in music was over. With advice from Tony Bennett and a voice coach, Mattea has returned.

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Sen. Orrin Hatch, photographed during a Senate hearing on music licensing reform on July 12, 2005. Hatch — a songwriter with both a platinum and gold record for his efforts — had his name added to the title of the Music Modernization Act, which passed

Music & Culture

A Music Industry Peace Treaty Passes Unanimously Through Congress

6:11pm September 19, 2018

by Andrew Flanagan

The Music Modernization Act, which brings laws governing music up-to-date and streamlines life for everyone involved, is just about the only thing you could expect a divided Congress to agree on.

Julie Byrne performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Sept. 5, 2018 (Morgan Noelle Smith/NPR).

Music & Culture

Julie Byrne: Tiny Desk Concert

5:33pm September 19, 2018

by Bob Boilen

Julie Byrne's transporting music can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

This week's episode of The Thistle & Shamrock features music by Cathie Ryan.

Music & Culture

The Thistle & Shamrock: From The Archives Part 1

5:12pm September 19, 2018

Join Fiona Ritchie for a chance to explore highlights from the past decade of radio shows. This week, we feature music and interviews with John Doyle and Cathie Ryan.

Music & Culture

Leon Bridges On World Cafe

1:28pm September 19, 2018

by Talia Schlanger

Although Leon Bridges didn't perform live songs with a band for this session, he required no special prodding to croon a capella during our chat.

Music & Culture

Aaron Lee Tasjan Mixes Yearning Vocals And Strong Guitar On 'Karma For Cheap'

1:21pm September 19, 2018

by Ken Tucker

Tasjan has played in bluegrass festivals and also opened for punk bands. Critic Ken Tucker says regardless of the musical genre, the singer-songwriter's third album "proves its worth."

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