Music Reviews

Music & Culture

Singer-Songwriter Curtis Harding Drops His Guard On 'Face Your Fear'

10:58am December 26, 2017

by Ken Tucker

The Atlanta-based musician blends contrasting pop genres on his second album. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Face Your Fear reveals Harding's deep knowledge of R&B.

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Ron Miles' I Am a Man is one of the best albums of 2017.

Music & Culture

Morning Edition Looks Back On Some Of The Best Albums Of 2017

9:59am December 26, 2017

From Lee Ann Womack to Ron Miles, a look back at some of the most well-regarded albums of 2017.

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Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Tshegue, 'Muanapoto'

8:06am December 26, 2017

by Sidney Madden

"Muanapoto" is exhilarating as it is unexpected — you're not sure where the beat will take you next, but you already know you want to be along for the ride.

Music & Culture

Trombonist Roswell Rudd Packs A Lot Of Wisdom Into Every Note Of 'Embrace'

1:48pm December 22, 2017

by Kevin Whitehead

Rudd started out playing dixieland before graduating to free jazz. Now he's collaborating with singer Fay Victor on his latest album. Critic Kevin Whitehead says Embrace has a "valedictory air."

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Lil Wayne is ready to re-up his long-running mixtape series with a sixth installment dropping on Dec. 25.

Music & Culture

Lil Wayne Takes On Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar And 21 Savage Beats For 'Dedication 6'

11:44am December 22, 2017

by Rodney Carmichael

The Young Money CEO teases new music from the next installment in his long-running mixtape series.

NPR Music's favorite dance albums from 2017.

Music & Culture

Our Favorite Dance And Electronic Albums Of 2017

8:45am December 22, 2017

by Piotr Orlov

In a year of where even the dance floor could feel at times fraught by the reality just outside it, the music that fuels it was more exploratory and incisive than ever.

Music & Culture

Alt.Latino's Favorites: The Songs Of 2017

2:59pm December 21, 2017

We call on some of the top Latinx music writers to help us look back at some of their top cuts of 2017.

Sarah Aroeste's new album is Together/Endjuntos.

Music & Culture

Alt.Latino Celebrates The Last Day Of Hanukkah With Music Of Sarah Aroeste

1:00pm December 20, 2017

by Catalina Maria Johnson

A Jewish-Latin connection that goes back centuries is celebrated in the work of a New York-based singer and composer.

Jeff Coffin, Matt Wigton and Jordan Perlson made Sleigh What?! in just a few days, just a week and change before Christmas.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Jeff Coffin, 'I'll Be Home For Christmas'

9:00am December 20, 2017

by Nate Chinen

Recorded just a week and half before Christmas, Jeff Coffin says his new trio album is "kind of a cross between Santa's Workshop and the Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop."

Víkingur Ólafsson's album was a fitting tribute to the 80th birthday of composer Philip Glass.

Music & Culture

NPR Music's Top 10 Classical Albums Of 2017

10:20am December 19, 2017

by Tom Huizenga

From tributes to Philip Glass and French opera to the roaring silences of Morton Feldman and virtuosic choral singing, 2017 proved to be another vibrant year in classical music.