Music

Music & Culture

Father John Misty Mixes Egotism And Humor On 'God's Favorite Customer'

1:39pm June 19, 2018

by Ken Tucker

Critic Ken Tucker says Father John Misty's new album offers a "roundabout, melancholy" acknowledgement of the artistic selfishness that often accompanies confessional songwriting.

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Saintseneca's new album, Pillar of Na, comes out August 19.

Music & Culture

With 'Frostbiter,' Saintseneca Swings Towards Bright, Beautiful New Places

11:53am June 19, 2018

by Stephen Thompson

For Saintseneca, fatalistic gloom blends seamlessly with a kind of playful sprightliness. Hear "Frostbiter," the first single from a forthcoming album called Pillar of Na.

From left, Jesse Lafser, Brittany Howard and Becca Mancari of Bermuda Triangle.

Music & Culture

World Cafe Nashville: Bermuda Triangle

11:41am June 19, 2018

by Ann Powers

Jesse Lafser, Brittany Howard and Becca Mancari all maintain their own brilliant careers. What brings them together as Bermuda Triangle is friendship, pure and simple.

Prodigy, left and Havoc from the Queens, New York rap group Mobb Deep. Prodigy died June 20, 2017.

Music & Culture

Lin-Manuel Miranda Unearths New Mobb Deep Song For 'Hamildrop' Series

11:35am June 19, 2018

by Sidney Madden

After the death of Prodigy — one-half of the the Queens duo — last year, they bring the posthumous noise on the new track "Boom Goes The Cannon..."

Clockwise from upper left: Superorganism, MILCK, serpentwithfeet, Haley Heynderickx, Jorja Smith

Music & Culture

Your Favorite New Artists Of 2018 (So Far)

11:22am June 19, 2018

Many of your favorite musicians of 2018 (so far) defy genres and expectations, from the idiosyncratic wonder of Superorganism to the stirring, swirling ballads of serpentwithfeet.

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Sasha Banks (shown here at a WWE Live Duesseldorf event in 2017 in Duesseldorf, Germany) is the subject of a new song by The Mountain Goats.

Music & Culture

Hear The Mountain Goats' Ode To WWE's 'Legit Boss,' Sasha Banks

10:10am June 19, 2018

by Lyndsey McKenna

Banks requested the song after The Mountain Goats released Beat The Champ, a wrestling-themed album, in 2015. Now, songwriter John Darnielle has delivered.

Music & Culture

Khôrada, Forged From Agalloch And Giant Squid's Ashes, Burnishes 'Glacial Gold'

9:00am June 19, 2018

by Lars Gotrich

Two forces of modern metal combine to reflect on the past while looking for the means to move forward.

Rapper XXXTentacion performing at Rolling Loud Festival in Miami, Fl. in May 2018. The South Florida rapper was shot and killed on June 18, 2018.

Music & Culture

XXXTentacion, Controversial 20-Year-Old Rapper, Shot And Killed

9:32pm June 18, 2018

The Floridian first gained attention in 2016, when his SoundCloud single "Look At Me" went viral. He released two popular albums after, but was awaiting trial on charges brought by an ex-girlfriend.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé shook up the music world with past weekend with a surprise release of their first collaborative album Everything Is Love.

Music & Culture

Jay-Z and Beyoncé's 'Everything Is Love' Shakes Up Summer Music

7:06pm June 18, 2018

A season full of high-profile hip-hop releases just got hotter. NPR Music's Ann Powers and Rodney Carmichael break down the surprise release of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's collaborative album.

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Cardi B's "I Like It" is a front-runner for Song Of The Summer this year.

Music & Culture

What's Your Summer Jam This Year?

6:21pm June 18, 2018

by Catherine Zhang

What new song are you turning to when the weather warms up and there's fun to be had?