Music Reviews

John Powers, NPR Fresh Air's Pop Culture critic, shares his end of year list.

John Powers' List Of Books, CDs And DVDs He Wishes He Had Reviewed In 2015

2:30pm December 14, 2015

by John Powers

Every year, critic John Powers finds himself compiling a list of praiseworthy work he's read, watched or heard that he neglected to mention on the radio. This year, he's sharing his "Ghost List."

Queue Listen Now

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' new album, It's A Holiday Soul Party, is out now.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, 'It's A Holiday Soul Party'

9:06am December 13, 2015

by Piotr Orlov

The soul singer's new collection of holiday songs may be destined to become a revisited classic.

Nico Muhly's new holiday song is based on Longfellow's poem Snow-flakes.

Music & Culture

Snowflakes and Troubled Hearts: A New Holiday Song By Nico Muhly

9:11am December 11, 2015

by Tom Huizenga

Hear a deceptive take on the winter blues by way of a versatile choir, a young New York composer and a 150-year-old poem by Longfellow.

Music & Culture

Music Review: 'Perfectamundo,' Billy Gibbons

4:18pm December 09, 2015

Billy Gibbons, the front man for legendary group ZZ Top, has released his first solo record, and it goes back to some of his earliest influences. Meredith Ochs reviews Perfectamundo.

Music & Culture

Percussive Piano And Rollicking Swing Float Matthew Shipp's 'Conduct Of Jazz'

12:08pm December 07, 2015

by Kevin Whitehead

Shipp, a mainstay of New York's downtown free jazz scene, likes big blocky chords and loud piano sounds. Critic Kevin Whitehead says the new album by the Matthew Shipp trio is "heavy in a good way."

Michael Caine as aging composer Fred Ballinger and Harvey Keitel as Mick Boyle, a filmmaker, play septuagenarian best friends in Youth.

Arts

'Youth' In Themes And Variations

5:04pm December 03, 2015

by Mark Jenkins

Writer-director Paolo Sorrentino creates a world of incidents and asides in a Swiss spa hotel, where pals played by Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel like to get away from it all.

Music & Culture

Adele Returns, With A Restrained, Emotionally Controlled '25'

2:20pm December 02, 2015

by Ken Tucker

Rock critic Ken Tucker discusses the British singer's popularity and her new album, 25. "In a pop world overflowing with singers who want to blow you away, Adele wants to talk with you," he says.

Tom Jones' new album, Long Lost Suitcase, comes out Dec. 4.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Tom Jones, 'Long Lost Suitcase'

7:03am November 30, 2015

by Piotr Orlov

Long Lost Suitcase is not just Jones' story, but also the story of America's musical roots spreading to reach the whole planet, generation by generation.

Adele has described 25 as a "make-up album," and though the heartbreak that dominated previous albums lingers, the new album radiates absolute confidence.

Music & Culture

Review: Adele, '25'

11:50am November 23, 2015

by Barry Walters

25, Adele's follow-up to the best-selling album of this decade, isn't quite a decisive split with her past work. But it radiates confidence and commands attention.

Music & Culture

Music Review: 'Ten Years Solo Live,' Brad Mehldau

5:07pm November 16, 2015

by Tom Moon

Brad Mehldau's new album is a collection of recordings from his live performances, across a broad range of styles and genres. Reviewer Tom Moon says he never sounds out of his element, playing Nirvana like it's Brahms, and Brahms like it's Nirvana.