Music & Culture

Music & Culture

'King of Highlife Anthology' Finally Does Justice To African Bandleader Mensah

1:41pm August 24, 2016

by Milo Miles

E. T. Mensah, who died 20 years ago, played highlife, an offshoot of jazz that for years was the most popular style of music in southern Africa. Milo Miles reviews a new anthology of Mensah's music.

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George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic perform live for KCRW.

Music & Culture

Watch George Clinton With Parliament Funkadelic And Thundercat, Live In The Studio

1:11pm August 24, 2016

by Jason Bentley

The Godfather of Funk has announced new music on Flying Lotus' label, but he stuck to the hits in a session at KCRW. Watch him perform "Flash Light" with special guest Thundercat.

Donald Trump, Ivana Trump and Frank Sinatra in 1988.

Channeling Sinatra? Trump Says He Has Regrets, But Too Few To Mention

11:31am August 24, 2016

by Ron Elving

Do Donald Trump's comments about regret signal a new phase in the phenomenon? They might as easily be heard as a variation on what Trump has sounded from the beginning: Same song, different verse.

Music & Culture

First Watch: Ian Sweet, '#23'

11:29am August 24, 2016

by Sophie Kemp

In the scuzz-rock band's new video, Jilian Medford sings about shedding her insecurity.

A still from Odonis Odonis' "Needs" video.

Music & Culture

Do Androids Dream Of Industrial Beats? Watch Odonis Odonis' 'Needs' Video

11:00am August 24, 2016

by Lars Gotrich

The band's industrial music clangs and bangs, reflecting the nightmare of a cold world.

Shovels and Rope in a still from the video for "St. Anne's Parade."

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Shovels & Rope, 'St. Anne's Parade'

9:00am August 24, 2016

by Rachel Horn

Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent embrace a glorious muddle of joy and grief in a song named for an annual Mardi Gras ritual. In the video, the duo and a masked wedding party join the procession.

"Kanye" vocalists Skyler Stonestreet and Kat Ostenberg, a.k.a. sirenXX.

Music & Culture

Lady Sings The Bros

6:00am August 24, 2016

by Ann Powers

EDM stars The Chainsmokers own the No. 1 and No. 8 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 right now, thanks in large part to the women singing their songs.

BADBADNOTGOOD outside the World Cafe performance studio.

Music & Culture

BADBADNOTGOOD On World Cafe

6:04pm August 23, 2016

The Toronto improvisational band is known for collaborations with Ghostface Killah and Tyler, the Creator. Watch a video of "Speaking Gently."

Music & Culture

Lydia Loveless Mixes Desire With Distraction In 'Real'

3:47pm August 23, 2016

by Ken Tucker

The singer-songwriter began performing at age 14 in a band with her sisters and her father. Critic Ken Tucker says the songs on Loveless' latest solo album, Real, have a "tough edge."

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Music & Culture

Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

2:51pm August 23, 2016

Let a panel of 10 public-radio hosts recommend you some new music, including songs by Warpaint and Noname, plus a premiere from Tom Brosseau.