Music

Soloman Howard performs as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Philip Glass and Christopher Hampton's Appomattox.

Music & Culture

With More Story To Tell, Opera 'Appomattox' Gets An Update

12:17pm November 16, 2015

by Nathalie Boyd

Creators Philip Glass and Christopher Harmon say the racial unrest in the U.S. since the work first premiered in 2007 forced them to address "changes in the way this country understands itself."

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Music & Culture

Songs We Love: J-Live, 'Ya Momma So Black'

11:21am November 16, 2015

by Timmhotep Aku

The rhetorically gifted New York MC/producer subverts a common "snap" into a celebration of African-American womanhood.

Shovel & Rope's cover album, Busted Jukebox Volume 1, comes out Nov. 20.

Music & Culture

Shovels & Rope Explains Its New Covers Album, Track By Track

10:31am November 16, 2015

by Robin Hilton

Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent invited an assortment of their best musician friends to play on their new album of covers, Busted Jukebox Vol. I.

Bruce Springsteen in the DVD of his 1980 performance in Tempe, Ariz. included in his new box set, The Ties That Bind: The River Collection.

Music & Culture

A New Box Set Holds A Springsteen Holy Grail

9:16am November 16, 2015

by Bob Boilen

For 35 years, a Bruce Springsteen concert in Arizona has been legendary. We have a video from that show — and more on The River box set.

NO BS! Brass Band's latest album is called Brass Knuckles.

Music & Culture

NO BS! Brass Band Transcends The New Orleans Sound

10:40pm November 15, 2015

by NPR Staff

It's tough getting 12 musicians to agree on anything. But the members of the Richmond, Va. ensemble are firm in the desire to represent their own city in their music.

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The cover image of Adele's third album, 25.

Music & Culture

Adele's '25' Is Coming. Where You'll Hear It Is A Mystery For Now

5:49pm November 15, 2015

by NPR Staff

A word you may hear a lot this week: "streamable." Adele is about to release one of the most anticipated albums of the year, but she hasn't confirmed whether Spotify will be part of the picture.

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NEW ORLEANS - MAY 6: Allen Toussaint performs at the New Orleans Jazz and heritage Festival on May 6, 2007 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Music & Culture

Hear An Unreleased Song By Allen Toussaint

11:42am November 14, 2015

by Gwen Thompkins

NPR contributor Gwen Thompkins met the musician at a time when he'd thrown himself into performing around the world. Before his death this week in Madrid, he gave her a song he never got to release.

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Walter Trout's latest album is called Battle Scars.

Music & Culture

Walter Trout Returns From The Edge Of Oblivion With 'Battle Scars'

8:26am November 14, 2015

by NPR Staff

The guitarist has been playing the blues for five decades, but drugs and alcohol almost did him in. He joins NPR's Scott Simon to discuss a raw new album.

A Tribe Called Quest's debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

Music & Culture

'We Didn't Wanna Be Anybody Else': A Tribe Called Quest Reflects On Its Debut

6:27pm November 13, 2015

by NPR Staff

People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm is 25 this year. Ahead of their Fallon performance, Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad discuss the group's game-changing first album.

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Music & Culture

FFS On World Cafe

5:32pm November 13, 2015

Franz Ferdinand and Sparks perform together as FFS, recorded live at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.