Michael Kiwanuka, 'Beautiful Life'
After more than a year and a half of loss, uncertainty and change, Michael Kiwanuka's "Beautiful Life" strikes like an arrow.
Music
Gonzalo Rubalcaba's trio finds that swinging sweet spot on 'Skyline'
The Cuban piano whiz teams up with American jazz greats Jack DeJohnette and Ron Carter on a new album. Skyline is three masters enjoying each other's company, with us listeners as lucky eavesdroppers.
Neffy: Tiny Desk Concert
It felt good to be at the Tiny Desk, if only for one night. Tiny Desk Contest winner Neffy plays her winning song, "Wait Up," plus three more in the first Tiny Desk concert since March 2020.
On 'ALPHA,' CL finishes what she started
The member of K-pop girl group 2NE1 was poised to be a breakout star, until plans for her solo debut fell apart. Now, on the long-awaited album, her confidence and ambition feel more earned than ever.
'Sellout' explores how anti-establishment views in punk puts bands in a tough spot
In his new book Sellout, Dan Ozzi explores the punk phenomenon where anti-establishment clout is currency and while it's hard to pay your bills on principles, selling out often led to buyer's remorse.
Béla Fleck goes back to bluegrass, his first musical love
For the first time in over two decades, Fleck has returned to the genre with My Bluegrass Heart, an ambitious double album.
'Feel Flows' captures the Beach Boys at the peak of their artistry
A new 5-disc reissue of the 1970 and 1971 albums Sunflower and Surf's Up reveals the Beach Boys at a crossroads, having moved beyond surf-music pop hits, and shooting for more mainstream success.
Ed Sheeran: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert
Ed Sheeran performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert surrounded by bookshelves and a host of world-class musicians.
Lawmakers may honor Prince with a Congressional Gold Medal
Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Ilhan Omar introduced the bill calling for Prince to posthumously receive the award. The Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded to only 163 people since 1776.
In a new book, Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen envision a more unified America
In an NPR interview, the former president and the iconic musician speak about spreading hope amid widespread division and about the "critical patriotism" of Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A."