Grateful Dead Plays Final Shows With Record-Breaking Audiences
Music critic Will Hermes went to one of the Grateful Dead's last shows that broke all kinds of records.
Music & Culture
Country's Kacey Musgraves Mixes Wit And Sincerity In 'Pageant Material'
The 26-year-old singer focuses on cleverly constructed lyrics — instead of rebellion — in her new record. Critic Ken Tucker says the singer falls short of creating a "sustained great album."
The Grateful Dead's Laid-Back, Yet Surprisingly Shrewd, Business Plan
Famous for its live jams, the band also benefited from spontaneity in its business dealings — especially once it realized fan loyalty could be used to create new fans.
From Jazz To Latin To R&B, NPR Music's Favorite Albums Of 2015 So Far
NPR's favorite albums of the year so far range from hip-hop to Latin music.
'If You Just Do What You Know, That's Boring': DJ Koze's Never-Ending Remix
As a producer of original songs, DJ Koze owns minimal techno's wildest imagination, but his remixes and curveball-laden DJ mixes, like the recent DJ-Kicks mix, reveal just as much about his style.
On World Cafe, A Look At The Grateful Dead's Legacy
As the Dead's Fare Thee Well Tour comes to a close, World Cafe talks with David Browne, the author of a new book on the legendary band.
Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing
Hear a summery selection of tracks that some of our favorite public-radio hosts loved this month, including music from BØRNS, Django Django and Somi.
Jerry Douglas' Tribute To Bluegrass Legends Lester Flatt And Earl Scruggs
Jerry Douglas, considered by many to be the best dobro player in the world, brings his instrument to the studio and talks about his new album, The Earls of Leceister, a tribute to Flatt and Scruggs.
Apple Bets Big That You'll Start Paying To Stream Music
Millions listen to services like Spotify and Pandora, but relatively few of them subscribe. Why should they when there are so many free options? The new Apple Music will be free for only 3 months.
'BrotherLee Love' Offers A Fearless, Fresh Tribute To Trumpeter Lee Morgan
Terell Stafford and his quintet bring a warm and hefty tone to a tribute album honoring the late Philadelphia horn player Lee Morgan. Kevin Whitehead says the new album is risky — but successful.