Music

Music & Culture

'James Brown: Live At The Apollo Vol. 4' Is A Marvelous And Mysterious Time Capsule

6:28pm April 26, 2016

by Oliver Wang

The 1972 concerts at The Apollo were recorded but, inexplicably, never released — until now. They show a side of Brown content to turn the show over to his collaborators.

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Music & Culture

Your Song Changed My Life: Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page On Lonnie Donegan

4:30pm April 26, 2016

NPR Music's Bob Boilen talks with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin about a song that changed his life, "Rock Island Line," by Lonnie Donegan.

Beyoncé released her sixth album, Lemonade, on Saturday night via HBO and Tidal.

Music & Culture

Close To Home: A Conversation About Beyoncé's 'Lemonade'

3:43pm April 26, 2016

What Beyoncé has us talking about with Lemonade is what women are always talking about, late night on the phone, after the kids are down, over coffee, irrespective of anybody's album drop: our worth.

Paul Burch in the World Cafe performance studio.

Music & Culture

Paul Burch On World Cafe

3:33pm April 26, 2016

The country singer's new album, Meridian Rising, tells Jimmie Rodgers' story as he might have sung it.

Clockwise from upper left: RY X, PUP, Summer Cannibals, Moon Hooch

Music & Culture

New Moon Hooch, Summer Cannibals, PUP, More

2:39pm April 26, 2016

On this week's All Songs: A premiere from Summer Cannibals, the sax trio Moon Hooch and more.

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What if we talked about politics the way we talk about Prince and Beyonce?

What Harriet Tubman, Prince And Beyonce Can Teach Us About Politics

2:29pm April 26, 2016

by Sam Sanders

What if we took some tips from think-piece culture in the way we talk about our politics?

Music & Culture

Sturgill Simpson Moves Into Uncharted Waters In 'A Sailor's Guide to Earth'

1:30pm April 26, 2016

by Ken Tucker

Rock critic Ken Tucker says Simpson deepens his range and reconnects country to R&B on his new record, a concept album about becoming a father.

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A still from Xeno & Oaklander's "Marble" video.

Music & Culture

In Xeno & Oaklander's 'Marble' Video, All That Glitters Is Not Glamour

1:00pm April 26, 2016

by Lars Gotrich

The synth-pop duo stars in a video that envisions a '70s variety show through several lenses.

Music & Culture

Amy Helm On Mountain Stage

12:28pm April 26, 2016

The singer-songwriter is best known for collaborations with her late father, The Band's Levon Helm. Here, Amy Helm performs songs from her first solo album.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Kwesi Foraes, 'Heroin'

10:50am April 26, 2016

by Lars Gotrich

Foraes hems and howls like a blues singer caught between epiphany and defeat. In a string-laden folk-rock song, love and addiction are draped in darkness.