Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, the most interesting man in music?
He's a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist who took up a side hobby as a ballistic missile defense specialist — and added counterterrorism expert for good measure.
Music & Culture
Paramore, 'This Is Why'
On "This Is Why," Paramore's sound is somehow aqueous and taut, showing its three members barreling ahead at the most thrilling heights of their musicianship.
Unreleased for decades, Joyce Moreno's 'Natureza' is a snapshot of newfound freedom
Recorded with Claus Ogerman, Natureza could have made the Brazilian singer-songwriter an international star. Now released, the long lost album captures a turning point in her approach to music.
The Syrian Cassette Archive, preserving a disappearing history
When Yamen Mekdad and Mark Gergis met in 2018, the pair combined their love of Syrian cassettes into a project aiming to save them — and share them more widely.
Mexico's Son Rompe Pera bang the marimba at the crossroads of cumbia and punk
Tradition and modernity coexist peacefully within Son Rompe Pera, where punk collides with the cumbia the band grew up playing.
Without these Latino composers, Hollywood wouldn't sound the same
The Hollywood playlist of Latino film composers includes Maria Grever, Agustín Lara, Lalo Schifrin, Gustavo Santaolalla, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Germaine Franco.
Let's take a musical moment with singer Luciana Souza about 'Cantar'
Souza discusses her collaboration with Dafnis Prieto on their new album.
With '$oul $old $eparately,' Freddie Gibbs cashes in on his cachet
Forget what F. Scott Fitzgerald said about American lives and second acts, Gibbs is on his third or fourth. $$$ is a rewarding listen that sometimes labors under the weight of a forced progression.
Fungi served as Bjork's latest muse in her new album, 'Fossora'
Bjork's Fossora peers down into the soil, in a love letter to fungi. "Bubbly and fun" is how she describes her new album.
What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing
Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Lizzo playing James Madison's flute, Usher's thirst traps, and more.