Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'cathartic'

Ra Ra Riot: The Key To Melancholy

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:42:00 EST

Ra Ra Riot features swooning strings, pop hooks and sinuous rock rhythms in a session from WXPN. After the tragic death of drummer and songwriter John Pike in 2007, the recording process for The Rhumb Line proved to be cathartic. The album takes a positive outlook on the darker side of life.

Ra Ra Riot Crosses 'The Rhumb Line'

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Ra Ra Riot features swooning violin and cello lines, pop hooks and sinuous rock rhythms like Spoon with strings. After the tragic loss of their drummer, The Rhumb Line was a cathartic recording process that takes on a positive outlook on the darker side of life.

Cherryholmes: Sweet Family Harmony

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:04:00 EDT

For the Cherryholmes family, bluegrass is more than just a pastime that morphed into a career. It was cathartic for dealing with the death of their oldest child, Shelley. On the band's third CD, Don't Believe, the Cherryholmes still deal with the profound emotions triggered by that loss.

It's Groundhog Day For Sec. Paulson

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

The venerable investment bank, Lehman Brothers, has declared bankruptcy. Chris Arnold discusses what he sees as encouraging and even cathartic about the government's reaction to the latest Wall Street collapse.

Frightened Rabbit: Clouds On A Cloudy Day

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:38:00 EDT

Frightened Rabbit's lyrical themes of heartbreak, disease, death and suicide might seem overbearing, but as evident in this session from KEXP, there's a cathartic quality to the band's songs. Frontman Scott Hutchinson also talks about the band's reflective side.

Alina Simone: 'Half My Kingdom'

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:53:00 EDT

Everyone Is Crying Out to Me, Beware, the second album from Ukrainian-born singer-songwriter Alina Simone, is utterly haunting. With bare-bones arrangements and Simone's powerful, poignant vocals at the forefront, the record burns through a collection of songs by Siberian punk-folk singer, Yanka Dyagileva, with cathartic fervor. Though the lyrics are in Russian, the emotions are raw and easily felt.

Malkmus Gets Comfortable on 'Cold Son'

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:52:00 EDT

Propelled by in-unison rock riffs and thundering drums, the upbeat and surprisingly poppy song "Cold Son" toys with dynamics to a surprising degree. Amid Malkmus' characteristically thoughtful words, angular, aggressive melodies build tension before the cathartic release of a singable refrain.

In Cadeo: 'The Archer'

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:12:00 EDT

Jared Scott and Pete Sustarsic recorded In Cadeo's five-song self-titled EP as a studio project with help from friends before the band ever had a proper lineup. Given the grunge-pop sound of "The Archer," the anthemic piano-driven rock of "This Side The Grave" and the slow build-up and cathartic climax of "Communist Lecture," the band proves commanding despite its fledgling nature.

Hoots and Hellmouth: 'New Music for Old Souls'

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:25:00 EDT

Not quite folk or alt-country, but more than just a rock group, Philadelphia's Hoots and Hellmouth crafts fiery, cathartic roots-rock. Blending soul, folk, country, gospel and rock with the sounds of classic Americana, the band gives an interview and in-studio performance.

The Polyphonic Spree: Euphoric and Cathartic

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 16:33:00 EDT

Few bands can rival The Polyphonic Spree's stage presence -- not to mention its size: The group boasts a whopping two dozen members, who combine to make a sound that can be sprawling, inspiring and haunting, sometimes all at once.

Amy LaVere: Luminous, Accessible Songcraft

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:56:00 EDT

Amy LaVere's cathartic twang draws from influences as varied as Billie Holliday, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Dolly Parton. Anchors & Anvils expands on the sounds and themes of her debut, while continuing to demonstrate her talent for luminous, accessible songcraft.

Amy LaVere: Luminous, Accessible Songcraft

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 09:56:00 EDT

Hoots and Hellmouth in Concert

Fri, 25 May 2007 16:02:00 EDT

Not quite folk or alt-country, but more than just a rock group, Philadelphia's Hoots & Hellmouth crafts fiery, cathartic roots-rock that the band describes as "new music for old souls." Hear Hoots & Hellmouth perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.

Amy LaVere: Country with a Cathartic Twang

Mon, 14 May 2007 16:15:00 EDT

LaVere has taken many roads on her journey to fame: She's not only a singer, songwriter and bassist, but she's also acted in Walk the Line. Her music blends classic country, jazz and gypsy blues.

Sara Tavares Balances Musical Influences

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:30:00 EDT

Sara Tavares is a truly international talent. But the 26-year-old Portuguese-born singer, whose parents are from Cape Verde, seems most at home behind her guitar. Creating music is "medicine and a cathartic process," she says.

Rocco DeLuca: Cathartic, Rocking Blues

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 12:46:00 EDT

Armed with a steel dobro resonator guitar and an unwavering passion for music, Rocco DeLuca and his band The Burden offer an intensely cathartic, emotionally charged take on blues -- and especially the classic blues-rock tradition.

Rebecca Peterson: Making Pain Public

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 00:00:00 EST

This piece reveals many of the difficult moments that we faced as a family and as a couple during Stewart's illness. When I first spoke of these things to a radio producer, Mary Beth Kirchner, it was wonderfully cathartic to have someone else witness the very hard things we had to bear.