Music & Culture

Kings of Leon, left to right: Jared, Caleb, Matthew and Nathan Followill.

Music & Culture

Kings Of Leon: Back With The 'Comeback Story Of A Lifetime'

11:48am September 24, 2013

by NPR Staff

Mechanical Bull is Kings of Leon's comeback record after a two-year hiatus brought about by a memorable onstage breakdown. The gritty Southern rock group is ready to pick up where its members left off.

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Elton John tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross that The Diving Board is "a very adult album."

Music & Culture

A More Reflective Leap On Elton John's 'Diving Board'

2:18pm September 23, 2013

The pop star has a flair for the extravagant, to say the least, but his new album is stripped down. He tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the "Elton John excess," his fear of sex as a young man, and how Liberace's example encouraged John to make the piano a star instrument.

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?uestlove and The Roots play backing band to Elvis Costello on the new collaborative album Wise Up Ghost.

Music & Culture

?uestlove And Elvis Costello On Writing Together

9:34am September 23, 2013

by NPR Staff

Costello has teamed with hip-hop legends The Roots for one of the more unusual, invigorating musical partnerships of the year. NPR's Arun Rath speaks with Costello and Roots bandleader Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson about the new album Wise Up Ghost.

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The Whisky a Go Go club on the storied Sunset Strip, once the hub L.A.'s music scene, acknowledged the May 2013 death of The Doors' keyboardist on its marquee: "Rest In Peace Ray Manzarek, Thanks for the Memories."

Music & Culture

Walking The Sunset Strip, A Fading Beacon Of Cool

5:45pm September 21, 2013

by NPR Staff

West Hollywood's Sunset Strip used to be the home of the city's hottest music venues — places that launched the careers of everyone from The Doors to Jane's Addiction — but has lost a lot of its influence over the years. NPR's Arun Rath visits the Strip with L.A. Times writer August Brown.

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Composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone leads the chamber-pop ensemble San Fermin.

Music & Culture

A Young Composer Steps Outside Of Himself (And Into Pop)

5:59pm September 20, 2013

by NPR Staff

San Fermin's self-titled debut is an orchestral wonder, born in the shadow of looming adulthood. NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with the group's leader, 24-year-old Ellis Ludwig-Leone.

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Robbie Fulks' new album is titled Gone Away Backward.

Music & Culture

Robbie Fulks: Exhilarating And Bitter On 'Gone Away Backward'

2:06pm September 19, 2013

by Ken Tucker

The singer's new album is a work of great, accomplished craft about the pointlessness of crafting anything you care about, because the world is just going to ruin it on you.

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The Sacred Steel tradition is an integral part of worship. From the House of God Keith Dominion Church, Aubrey Ghent (pictured) helped revive the style in 1990s.

Music & Culture

Sacred Strings Guide Gospel Through Thunder And Steel

8:01pm September 18, 2013

by Matt Sakakeeny

For the Church of the Living God in Toccopola, Miss., the lap steel guitar channels the voice of God through hymns and improvised solos that mix gospel, blues and country.

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Long Way Home is British singer Tom Odell's debut.

Music & Culture

Tom Odell: A Polarizing New Voice Shows Promise

5:34pm September 17, 2013

by Tom Moon

The British musician is a fast-rising newcomer who's drawn both high praise and vicious pans in his home country. His debut album, Long Way Down, will likely draw similar reactions in the U.S., but the 22-year-old has considerable potential.

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Tyler Ward says he was able to buy a car and a house with money he made posting videos of himself covering pop hits on YouTube.

Covering Pop Hits On YouTube Is Starting To Pay

2:32pm September 16, 2013

by Noah Nelson

Now that YouTube runs advertising on videos of cover songs, musicians like Tyler Ward are working with agencies to negotiate higher shares of that revenue.

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Art Hodes performs at the Ole South in New York City circa 1946.

Music & Culture

The Masters At His Fingertips, Art Hodes Pays Tribute To Bessie Smith

1:38pm September 16, 2013

by Kevin Whitehead

The jazz pianist's powerful 1976 album I Remember Bessie conveys a profound sense of loss.

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