Angel Olsen, Master Of Solitude
As she's grown upwards and inwards, the singer-songwriter's work has dramatically increased in scope and scale — a mirror reflecting the internal world she's working to conquer.
Music Reviews
Taylor Ho Bynum's 'Ambiguity Manifesto' Is A Playground For Jazz Improvisers
Bynum's album features nine musicians, including guitarist Mary Halvorson, a newly minted MacArthur fellow. Each improviser sings the tune — or sings around it — in their own way, in their own time.
'Two Hands' Captures Big Thief's Force And Intimacy
This week, Big Thief will release its second album of 2019. But Two Hands is a deeper accomplishment than the statistic: It's a record that finally captures the band's audible unconditional closeness.
Brittany Howard Draws Listeners In With 'Jaime', A Very Personal Solo Album
The new album by the Alabama Shakes lead singer mixes autobiography with an exploration of different musical styles. Listening to Jaime is like discovering Howard as an artist all over again.
Wilco, Forever In Competition With Its Own Best Work, Tries Shifting The Stakes
The new Ode to Joy couldn't sound less like the ambitious clatter of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot — but Jeff Tweedy and crew sound at home in its skeletal frame, driven by something cozier than ambition.
Music Review: Brittany Howard Releases Her Debut Solo Album, 'Jamie'
Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes has released her first solo album, Jamie, in honor of her sister who died from cancer as a teenager. The album that began as a way to heal is also a call to action.
Filmmaker Ken Burns Goes Wide, But Not Deep, In His Chronicle Of 'Country Music'
Burns is known for finding fresh takes on big topics, but his new eight-part PBS series about country music treads a well-worn path, leaning heavily on the biggest stars and the most obvious ideas.
The Highwomen: Reimagining An '80s Supergroup
Four female country stars — Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires and Natalie Hemby — are hitting the road as The Highwomen, a reinterpretation of the '80s supergroup The Highwaymen.
Singer/Composer Jazzmeia Horn Is A Double Threat On 'Love & Liberation'
Horn pulls together her sundry influences — including jazz, pop, gospel and vintage Broadway — on her second album. The resulting tunes are so good, other singers are sure to try them on.
Critiquing Lana Del Ray
NPR's Scott Simon talks with NPR Music's Ann Powers about Lana Del Ray's latest album, and about the dispute she and the artist had on Twitter over her review.