Music & Culture

Pussy Riot Releases Its First Song In English

9:20am February 21, 2015

The Russian band Pussy Riot is well known for protesting the Russian government. Now the group has released its first song in English. NPR's Scott Simon talks to band member Nadya Tolokonnikova.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Ornette Coleman Returns With His Unmistakable Sound

4:58pm February 20, 2015

by Kevin Whitehead

Jazz saxophonist Coleman, who is almost 85, rarely makes records any more. In New Vocabulary, he joins up trumpet and drums — and peppers his solos with his signature catchy and earthy pet phrases.

Queue Listen Now

David Oyelowo (left) as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King in Selma.

Music & Culture

How One Of Gospel's Essential Songs Gave 'Selma' Its Soul

8:10am February 20, 2015

by Ann Powers

A hymn favored by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. helps the Oscar-nominated film make a well-known historical story powerfully intimate. But the song has a tragic story of its own.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

First Listen: Public Service Broadcasting's 'Race For Space'

8:10am February 20, 2015

by Bob Boilen and Rob Hilton

Public Service Broadcasting's new album, The Race For Space, combines news footage and music to tell the story of the first 15 years of the Space Age.

Queue Listen Now

Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori as hotel concierge M. Gustave and his lobby-boy confidante, Zero, in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Music & Culture

Composing The Folk Music Of A Made-Up Country

8:13pm February 19, 2015

by Elizabeth Blair

The Grand Budapest Hotel might take place in a fictional world, but Oscar-nominated composer Alexandre Desplat was there to make it feel authentic.

Queue Listen Now

Rapping The News In West Africa

4:02pm February 19, 2015

by Jake Warga

In Dakar, Senegal, two rappers going by the names Keyti and Xuman offer a summary of the week's news in hip-hop format.

Queue Listen Now

Blur, producer Stephen Street and BBC host Zane Lowe during the band's Facebook webcast.

Music & Culture

Blur Announces First Album In 12 Years

10:08am February 19, 2015

by Otis Hart

The classic Brit-pop band's eighth studio album will be called The Magic Whip. It will be out on April 28.

John Coltrane during the recording of A Love Supreme in December 1964.

Music & Culture

Christian McBride On 'A Love Supreme' And Its Descendants

9:04pm February 18, 2015

by NPR Staff

The Jazz Night in America host shares thoughts on the Coltrane classic, which turns 50 this month, as well as two remarkable contemporary pianists.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Robert Earl Keen Delves Into Bluegrass With A Texan Twang

3:00pm February 18, 2015

by Ken Tucker

The singer-songwriter usually follows in the story-song tradition of his forebears Townes Van Zant and Guy Clark. But in Happy Prisoner he brings enthusiastic curiosity to covers of bluegrass greats.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

'It's My Party,' ' You Don't Own Me' Singer Lesley Gore Dies At 68

7:58am February 17, 2015

by Sam Sanders

Lesley Gore was most known for her anthem of teen angst, but her career had multiple hits, as well as an Oscar nomination. She was only 16 when she released "It's My Party."

Queue Listen Now