At 74, Outlaw Billy Joe Shaver Is Still An Outlier
In 1973, Waylon Jennings released an album called Honky Tonk Heroes that consisted almost entirely, with one exception, of songs written by Billie Joe Shaver, a then-unknown Texas songwriter.
View ArticleBenjamin Booker Is Raw, Yet Disciplined On Debut Album
There's something about a rapidly strummed guitar chord followed quickly by an urgent vocal that is one definition of an effective rock song, and Fresh Air critic Ken Tucker thinks he's found quite a...
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At 71, Elvin Bishop Is Still Vigorous, And Can Do Wrong Right
Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. If you've seen the new hit movie "Guardians Of The Galaxy," you've heard some old Elvin...
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The New Pornographers Return With A 'Celebration Record' That's Fun To Figure...
Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. The chief songwriter for the Canadian-based rock band The New Pornographers, AC Newman, calls...
View ArticlePere Ubu's 'Carnival Of Souls' Is A Dreamscape That's Never Dreamy
Pere Ubu's new album, Carnival of Souls, is a reference to the 1962 cult horror film. But as Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker hears it, the band, led since the late '70s by co-founder David Thomas, has...
View ArticleEx Hex's 'Rips' Does What It Says On The Cover
Punk rock lives on the debut album by a new trio, Ex Hex. The album is called Rips, and it's at once a throwback to bands like the Ramones and the sound of something new. Fresh Air rock critic Ken...
View ArticleTaylor Swift: The Peppiest Pop Star We Have Right Now
Taylor Swift's fifth album is called 1989, the year she was born. For the past few years, she's been the young queen of country music, by far its biggest-selling artist. But 1989 sidesteps country...
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Lee Ann Womack Scales Back And Goes Traditional And Moody
Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript DAVID BIANCULLI, BYLINE: This is FRESH AIR. Lee Ann Womack's biggest hit song, 2000's "I Hope You Dance," has been played at...
View ArticleBob Dylan's Atmosphere Captured In New Basement Tapes
A batch of lyrics that Bob Dylan wrote in the late 1960s were given by Dylan to producer T-Bone Burnett, who came up with the idea to have some contemporary musicians set the words to music. Burnett...
View ArticleFour Holiday Goodies, Including 'Christmas At Downton Abbey'
In the record industry, it's not too early to be releasing Christmas albums, and Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker has been listening to a lot of them. He's narrowed down his list of goodies to these...
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Country Hit Writer Chris Stapleton Breaks Out On His Own In 'Traveller'
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Our rock critic Ken Tucker has a review of the debut solo album by Chris Stapleton. He's...
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Joanna Gruesome's 'Peanut Butter' Rises Above The Band's Gimmicky Name
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR.
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Shamir Bailey Invites Everyone In, With Plenty Of Pop Star Potential
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Our rock critic Ken Tucker says the debut album by Shamir is one of the year's most striking...
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Leon Bridges Offers Retro R&B With A Twist In 'Coming Home'
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript DAVE DAVIES, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Growing up in Fort Worth, Tex., Leon Bridges started out listening to and making hip-hop music.
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Country's Kacey Musgraves Mixes Wit And Sincerity In 'Pageant Material'
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Since her last album two years ago, Kacey Musgraves has won a couple of Grammy awards and...
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Jason Isbell's 'Something More Than Free' Rings With The Promise of Joy
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This FRESH AIR.
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'Sonic Trickster' Miguel Blends Genres And Melodies On 'Wildheart'
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. The singer and songwriter Miguel has just released his third album, called "Wildheart." He...
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Ashley Monroe's 'Blade' Blends Country Sentiment And Delicate Phrasings
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Ashley Monroe, a country singer still in her '20s, has just released her third studio album...
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Daniel Romano's Eccentric 'Countrypolitan' Sound Blends Sincerity And Irony
Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.Transcript DAVE DAVIES, HOST: This is FRESH AIR. Daniel Romano is a Canadian musician and graphic artist who specializes in country music...
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Poetry Is Set To Melody In Iris DeMent's 'The Trackless Woods'
Copyright 2015 Fresh Air. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/.Transcript TERRY GROSS, HOST: This is FRESH AIR.
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