Forget 2016 — Here's Some Of 2017's Best Music
NPR Music editor and reviewer Stephen Thompson recommends new songs by Sinkane, Little Simz, Japandroids and more.
Music & Culture
For These Three Teachers, School And Rock Go Hand In Hand
By day, Nicola Berlinsky and sisters Lisa Pimentel and Joanie Pimentel are colleagues at an elementary school. By night, they're bandmates — in a group they ironically named No Small Children.
On The Men Who Rattled Pop's Gender Rules — And What It Means To Lose Them Now
New York Times cultural critic Wesley Morris joins Ari Shapiro to discuss how three departed stars — David Bowie, Prince and George Michael — helped change the meaning of manliness in pop culture.
Ben Johnston Hears The Notes Between The Notes
The composer's string quartets are known for their use of microtones — and their extreme technical difficulty. Just in time for his 90th birthday, The Kepler Quartet has finally recorded them all.
Across the Blue Ridge #53 - Breaking Up Christmas
Two decades after the first broadcast of Paul Brown's Breaking Up Christmas: A Blue Ridge Mountain Holiday on NPR member stations in late 1996, we return to the award-winning music documen
'Shakespeare In Music & Words' Marks 400 Years Since The Bard's Death
A new two-CD set features music inspired by Shakespeare as well as actors reading his work. Critic Lloyd Schwartz says any excuse to honor the master playwright is a good one.
Loston Harris On Piano Jazz
The singer and pianist performs "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me" with host Marian McPartland.
Toast Of The Nation 2017
Celebrate the New Year from Blue Note venues around the world. The lineup includes The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Joshua Redman and Brad Meldau, Fred Hersch, Ron Carter, Buika and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
The Top 10 Solo Guitar Records Of 2016
Across ambient, jazz, psychedelic and American Primitive styles, this year proved that the possibilities of the guitar continue to flourish.
Songs We Love: Silver Torches, 'Woman In Rust'
Erik Walters' song builds and builds, piling on pleasing ingredients (churning guitars here, a nice little piano melody there) en route to one grand chorus.