Music Reviews

Music & Culture

In 'Body And Shadow,' The Brian Blade Fellowship Spotlights A Lyrical, Singable Melody

5:21pm December 18, 2017

by Tom Moon

Drummer Brian Blade plays in legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter's current quartet. But for the past two decades, he has also led his own project, the Brian Blade Fellowship. Music reviewer Tom Moon says his latest album Body and Shadow lures the listener with a lyrical, singable melody.

Queue Listen Now

Kendrick Lamar performs in New York City on Sept. 14, 2017. Critic Ken Tucker says Lamar's album DAMN captured the collective mood of the year.

Music & Culture

Ken Tucker Looks Back On 2017 In Music

4:24pm December 18, 2017

by Ken Tucker

Fresh Air's music critic presents his annual list of favorite music — along with some thoughts about the rock, pop and country stars who died in 2017.

Queue Listen Now

Commissioned by Tune-Yards' radio show, Xenia Rubinos (left) teamed up with Olga Bell and Sammus to create a new song.

Music & Culture

Xenia Rubinos, Olga Bell And Sammus Want To Know If You're Really Down

1:16pm December 18, 2017

by Catalina Maria Johnson

Rubinos continues to challenge genre and style expectations in a new collaboration with two fellow multi-talented women artists.

Music & Culture

What's Good? Hip-Hop Drops A Motherlode Of New Music

4:56pm December 15, 2017

Friday got flooded with new music. Here's the quick take on LPs from Eminem, Brockhampton, N.E.R.D., Boosie, G-Eazy, Scarface and Jeezy — to name a few.

Music & Culture

Charli XCX And Carly Rae Jepsen's Orbits Align On 'Backseat'

2:30pm December 15, 2017

by Lars Gotrich

The dripping synths that open Charli XCX's new mixtape sets a subdued mood for the absolutely guest-packed POP 2.

Turnstile's Time & Space comes out Feb. 23.

Music & Culture

Turnstile's 'Generator' Is A Psychedelic-Hardcore Head Rush

12:38pm December 15, 2017

by Lars Gotrich

The band's new album Time & Space comes out Feb. 23. You are moshing.

The British TV series National Treasure (available on Hulu) features Robbie Coltrane as a beloved comedian who has been accused of sexual assault, and Julie Walters (right) and Andrea Riseborough as his wife and daughter.

Critic's 'Ghost List' Has Books, Music And A TV Show That Deserve A Second Look

2:23pm December 13, 2017

by John Powers

Every year, critic John Powers is haunted by the things he wishes he'd reviewed. The themes his 2017 "Ghost List" range in spirit from cosmic surrealism to ripped-from-the-headlines immediacy.

Queue Listen Now

Lucy Dacus's Historian is out March 2 via Matador Records.

Music & Culture

Lucy Dacus 'Night Shift' Will Be One Of 2018's Great Songs

10:36am December 12, 2017

by Bob Boilen

The singer says the new track from her upcoming album, Historian, is a breakup song. But like the rest of the record, it's ultimately about hope and how far it can go.

Lemuria's Recreational Hate comes out Dec. 15.

Music & Culture

Lemuria's 'Sliver Of Change' Is Sweet Comfort For The Restless

10:31am December 12, 2017

by Lars Gotrich

The indie-rock band's new album out this Friday, Recreational Hate, was originally offered as a "secret" vinyl for fans.

G Perico's latest album, 2 Tha Left, is out now.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: G Perico, 'Everybody'

2:31pm December 11, 2017

by Sidney Madden

2 Tha Left completes the bumpin' trifecta of the South Central LA rapper's year.