Music

Biographer Sought To Write The Kind Of Book Lou Reed 'Deserved'

1:29pm October 26, 2018

by Terry Gross

"It wasn't like I had to go looking for the drugs and the sex," Anthony DeCurtis, author of Lou Reed: A Life, told Fresh Air in 2017. "Lou wrote about it ... so I felt it was fair game."

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Music & Culture

Graham Coxon On World Cafe

1:25pm October 26, 2018

by Stephen Kallao

The Blur guitarist and prolific solo artist shares beautiful, fun-sized songs he wrote for the Netflix series The End of the F***ing World.

The Irish singer now known as Shuhada' Davitt — formerly Sinéad O'Connor.

Music & Culture

Sinéad O'Connor Announces Conversion To Islam, Assuming New Name

1:14pm October 26, 2018

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The iconic Irish singer, now known as Shuhada' Davitt, proclaimed herself a Muslim on Thursday.

Nao's sophomore full-length Saturn is on our shortlist for the best albums out on Oct. 26.

Music & Culture

New Music Friday For Oct. 26: The 8 Albums You Should Hear Now

11:43am October 26, 2018

This week's batch of essential new albums includes Robyn's melancholy return to the dance floor, rock-and-roll madness from Ty Segall, the otherworldly voice of R&B singer NAO and more.

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Jim James performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Oct. 5, 2018 (Madeleine Cook/NPR).

Music & Culture

Jim James: Tiny Desk Concert

8:19am October 26, 2018

by Bob Boilen

A single voice can send a powerful message - and that's just what Jim James did at the Tiny Desk, with just his voice and an acoustic guitar.

Slick Rick released his debut album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick in 1988.

Music & Culture

How Slick Rick And Queen Latifah 'Breathed Life Into Hip-Hop' In 1988

5:42pm October 25, 2018

Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Garcia of NPR's podcast What's Good explain why they think 1988 was a banner year for hip-hop.

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Countertenor David Daniels, speaking at the Opera News Awards in New York City in 2013.

Music & Culture

Second Man Accuses Opera Star David Daniels Of Sexual Assault

4:29pm October 25, 2018

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

For the second time in just over two months, famed opera star David Daniels has been accused of drugging and then sexually assaulting a young singer.

Future (right) and Juice WRLD blur the lines between celebration and social critique in three videos.

Music & Culture

Could Future & Juice WRLD Be Trap's Trojan-Horse Advocates For Drug Policy Reform?

4:23pm October 25, 2018

by Rodney Carmichael

In three new videos from the addictive WRLD ON DRUGS, the trap stars collaborate to muddy the line between celebration and social commentary.

Chris Cornell's cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U," recorded live at SiriusXM in 2015, appears on an upcoming, career-spanning compilation of the late singer's work.

Music & Culture

Hear Chris Cornell's Wrenching Cover Of 'Nothing Compares 2 U'

3:40pm October 25, 2018

by Stephen Thompson

Cornell's performance of Prince's classic ballad, recorded live at SiriusXM in 2015, appears on an upcoming, career-spanning compilation of the late singer's work.

Music & Culture

Leo Kottke On Mountain Stage

1:59pm October 25, 2018

by Adam Harris

In his 10th appearance on Mountain Stage, Kottke proves he has lost none of his dexterity and musicianship.