Music Reviews

Chance The Rapper performs in October 2015, in New York City.

Music & Culture

Chance The Rapper's 'Coloring Book' Reveals Shades Of Gospel

7:52pm May 15, 2016

by Kiana Fitzgerald

The Chicago rapper's new mixtape, Coloring Book, walks a line between the secular and the religious, bringing gospel sounds to listeners who may not have darkened the doors of a church in a while.

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Music & Culture

Music Review: 'Monistic Theory,' Joe Driscoll And Sekou Kouyate

4:27pm May 13, 2016

When Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate met at a music festival two years ago, they did not even speak a common language, but their musical connection was instant. Music reviewer Banning Eyre says their sophomore album, Monistic Theory is a refreshingly casual flow of rapping, singing, riffing and grooving.

Bob Dylan's new album, Fallen Angels, comes out May 20.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Bob Dylan, 'Fallen Angels'

9:46am May 12, 2016

by Tom Moon

This is the second volume in which Dylan sings the Great American Songbook, recorded at the same time (and with the same core band) as his 2015 album Shadows In The Night.

Music & Culture

Car Seat Headrest Is Gloriously Morose In 'Teens of Denial'

9:11am May 12, 2016

by Ken Tucker

Will Toledo, the singer-songwriter who performs under the name Car Seat Headrest, is ambitious and passionate on his new album. Critic Ken Tucker says the record will make you want to sing along.

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Thom Yorke, Phil Selway and Jonny Greenwood performing live in Sydney. Radiohead just released a new album, A Moon Shaped Pool.

Music & Culture

11 Very Different Opinions About The New Radiohead Album

9:05am May 10, 2016

by NPR Staff

NPR Music's staff really doesn't agree about the band's recently released ninth album, A Moon Shaped Pool. Not at all.

Music & Culture

Music Review: 'A Moon Shaped Pool,' Radiohead

6:13pm May 09, 2016

by Tom Moon

NPR's Tom Moon reviews the ninth album from Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool.

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Music & Culture

Power Trio Mixes Old And New, And The Result Is 'Perfection'

3:40pm May 06, 2016

by Kevin Whitehead

Jazz stars David Murray, Geri Allen and Terri Lyne Carrington first played together last year in New York. Now they come together with the new album, Perfection. Critic Kevin Whitehead has a review.

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Anohni's Helplessness, out May 6, is a vivid, arresting protest album.

Music & Culture

Review: Anohni, 'Hopelessness'

11:48am May 06, 2016

by Barry Walters

This vivid, unabashed protest album pairs Anohni's unmistakable voice with contemporary synthetic sounds by Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never, yet finds ways to be truly unnerving.

Music & Culture

Beyoncé Is 'At The Height Of Her Powers' In 'Lemonade'

1:44pm May 05, 2016

by Ken Tucker

The pop star's latest release extols the potency of black womanhood in the roles of mother, wife, lover and artist. Rock critic Ken Tucker calls Lemonade a feat of "invention and imagination."

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The New York-based orchestra Alarm Will Sound puts a fresh twist on The Beatles' most maligned song.

Music & Culture

A Symphonic 'Revolution' From Alarm Will Sound

10:00am May 02, 2016

by Tom Huizenga

The new music ensemble from New York puts a bold, orchestral spin on that Beatles song you always skip over on the White Album.