Remembering Pere Ubu's David Thomas, a frontman who preserved chaos
Thomas' April 23 death at age 71 brings to a close one of the most significant avant-garde experiments ever conducted within the confines of pop music. Rock critic Ken Tucker reflects on his legacy.
Memoirist Retraces Her Journey From Survivalist Childhood To Cambridge Ph.D.
Growing up, Tara Westover had no birth certificate, never saw a doctor and didn't go to school. She writes about her transition into the mainstream in Educated. Originally broadcast Feb. 20, 2018.
How Ted Kennedy's '80 Challenge To President Carter 'Broke The Democratic Party'
Journalist Jon Ward talks about the chaos that led Kennedy to challenge Carter for the Democratic nomination — and the long-lasting damage it did to the party. Ward's new book is Camelot's End.
2 New Albums Confirm Thelonious Monk's Genius As A Composer
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews two new interpretations of Monk's complete works: Monk's Dreams, by pianist Frank Kimbrough, and Work, by guitarist Miles Okazaki.
How The 1965 Immigration Act Made America A Nation Of Immigrants
For many years, U.S. immigration favored immigrants from northern Europe. NPR correspondent Tom Gjelten explains how a 1965 law changed things — and led to the current debate about border security.
New Recording Of 'Doctor Atomic' May Be The Opera's Definitive Performance
John Adams' opera, which premiered in 2005, centers on the first atomic bomb test at Los Alamos, N.M. Now, a new album features a recording of Doctor Atomic conducted by the composer himself.
'Fresh Air' Marks The 20th Anniversary Of The Premiere Of 'The Sopranos'
Critic David Bianculli offers an appreciation of the influential HBO drama. Plus, we listen back to archival interviews with series creator David Chase and Edie Falco, who played Carmela Soprano.
'True Detective' Regains Its Footing In A Meditative 3rd Season
Mahershala Ali is a small-town cop grappling with the disappearance of two high-school students — while also dealing with his own isolation — in the new season of the HBO series.