Music & Culture

Bobby Gillespie onstage with Primal Scream, circa 2000.

Music & Culture

Pills, Police And Endless War: 20 Years Ago, Primal Scream Saw Our Future

1:46pm January 31, 2020

by Matthew Perpetua

The Scottish band's 2000 album XTRMNTR isn't as well remembered as its thematic twin, Radiohead's Kid A. But its dark premonition of a world in socioeconomic crisis looks startlingly accurate today.

The Lone Bellow's album, Half Moon Light, is out next Friday. Hear live performances of a few new songs in this session.

Music & Culture

The Lone Bellow Brings Light Into A World That Can Seem Pretty Dark Sometimes

12:30pm January 31, 2020

The band's new record, Half Moon Light, features sing-along choruses, hand-clapping rhythms and melodies that somehow sound familiar even on a first listen.

Megan Thee Stallion gives a verse to Phony Ppl's raunchy "Fkn Around."

Music & Culture

Phony Ppl Enlists Megan Thee Stallion For Raunchy And Hilarious 'Fkn Around'

6:42am January 31, 2020

by Sidney Madden

After first premiering the song exclusively at NPR Music's Tiny Desk, Phony Ppl has finally decided to bless fans with "Fkn Around," a grooving, sorry-not-sorry romp.

Rising Appalachia performs during tiny desk on November, 19, 2019. (Photo by Mhari Shaw/NPR)

Music & Culture

Rising Appalachia: Tiny Desk Concert

5:00am January 31, 2020

by Bob Boilen

The Atlanta-based band came to NPR in a van packed with a bodhrán (Irish drum), an ngoni (West African harp) a huge gourd, a cello, a baritone guitar and more.

Cuban singer Cimafunk performs with Tank and the Bangas (winners of NPR's 2017 Tiny Desk Contest), The Soul Rebels and the Queen of the Guardians of the Flame during a concert at La Tropical in Havana.

Music & Culture

Photographing A Musical Exchange Between New Orleans And Havana

6:07pm January 30, 2020

An indomitable musical culture survived the tragedy of the international slave trade. Alt.Latino captured a weeklong celebration featuring artists Trombone Shorty, Tank and the Bangas and Cimafunk.

This week, Bad Bunny released a tribute to his hero, the late Kobe Bryant.

Music & Culture

Alt.Latino Playlist: A Tribute, A Hip-Hop Remake Of A Cuban Classic And More

11:29am January 30, 2020

Bad Bunny's tribute to Kobe Bryant, the Cuban hip-hop pioneers Orishas' uncleared remix and proud Latina joy from Angelica Garcia highlight the playlist this week.

The Milk Carton Kids has already become a standard bearer for a new generation of folk artists and harmony duos.

Music & Culture

The Milk Carton Kids Answers Its Own Question: 'What Even Is Americana?'

9:30am January 30, 2020

The duo poked fun at the genre when hosting the 2018 Americana Music Awards, but they hold a deep respect for its musical traditions. Their latest album, The Only Ones, continues to build on them.

Music & Culture

Peter Case On Mountain Stage

9:00am January 30, 2020

by Dave Lavender

American songwriting luminary and Mountain Stage veteran Peter Case returns to the show with more of his original stories and songs packed with wry humor and searing details.

Music & Culture

Andy Shauf Takes Risks On A Refreshing New Concept Album, 'Neon Skyline'

2:11pm January 29, 2020

by Ken Tucker

The Canadian singer-songwriter wrote, produced and performed all 11 songs on his new album, presenting himself as a lonely first-person narrator pining over an ex-girlfriend.

Queue Listen Now

This week's episode features music by Scottish singer and songwriter Eddi Reader.

Music & Culture

The Thistle & Shamrock: Songs Of The Bard

2:00pm January 29, 2020

Hear the decades-old songs of Scotland's National Bard, enlivened by the fresh voices of today's singers.