Thao Nguyen's Musical Life Is Far From 'Common'
A trip to a California women's prison inspired many of the songs on the folk-rocker's latest album, We the Common.
Music & Culture
Dave Matthews Takes John Denver's Music 'To Tomorrow'
Matthews joins a diverse cast — including Emmylou Harris, My Morning Jacket and Old Crow Medicine Show — to honor the late singer-songwriter on a new tribute album.
Extreme Drama: The Life And Music Of Richard Wagner
Marking the 200th anniversary of the controversial composer's birth, conductor Marin Alsop and friends rethink Wagner in a series of multimedia concerts.
The Music Of The Venezuelan Presidential Campaigns
In Caracas, emotions run high and there's noise to match. Supporters of both major candidates for Venezuela's president have created soundtracks that are a constant presence on the city's streets.
The Thatcher Era's Effect On British Music
Journalist Stuart Maconie says Margaret Thatcher and her reforms inspired a wealth of music in the U.K. — the tone of which could be glowing or grim, depending on what part of the country the musicians were from.
Johnny Cash's Columbia Catalog Out Now — As A 63-Disc Box Set
Cash spent half a century in the limelight as a country singer turned American icon. Between 1958, when he first recorded for Columbia, until 1986, when it didn't renew his contract, he recorded more than 50 singles and 60 albums for the label.
Whose MP3s Are They, Anyway?
If you have a CD or book you don't want anymore, you can sell it. The law says that's perfectly legal. But what about an MP3 or an e-book? Can you legally resell your digital goods?
Earl Hines: Big Bands And Beyond On A New Box Set
Mosaic Records has released Classic Earl Hines Sessions 1928-1945, a seven-disc showcase for the jazz pianist and bandleader. Hines' right hand played lines in bright, clear octaves — and his left hand had a mind of its own.
Brad Paisley's 'Accidental Racist' Sparks At Least One Dialogue
The song was an instant hit all over the Internet, though not (perhaps) the way its creators intended.
Brad Paisley Ventures Out Of Country's 'Wheelhouse'
With tracks like "Southern Comfort Zone" and "Accidental Racist," the superstar's new album performs a balancing act of cultural examinations. But there are still enough twangy guitar solos and all-purpose love songs to engage country-music tradition.