Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'darlings'

Once Favored, GM's Saturn, Pontiac Struggle

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:39:00 EST

The future of several GM brands is in doubt as the automaker considers dramatic changes in order to survive. Saturn was once a darling of the company with its reliable vehicles and no-haggle pricing. Pontiac's muscle cars used to have a strong identity and a loyal following. Both brands are now in serious trouble.

Drug Companies Thriving Amid Crisis

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Biotech and pharmaceuticals are the latest stock market darlings. Third quarter earnings are out today and big U.S. drug companies did better than expected. As investors shy away from tech stocks, it looks like they're turning to drug makers.

Basia Bulat: Making The Autoharp Cool

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:17:00 EDT

For many, the autoharp is remembered as the slightly geeky, easy-to-play instrument from grade-school music class, or as simple accompaniment for folk and country singers. But Basia Bulat, who sings and plays the autoharp on Oh, My Darling, hopes the time has come for people to discover the beauty and potential in the instrument.

Bon Iver: Sparse And Ghostly

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:40:00 EDT

Using the Bon Iver moniker, Justin Vernon became an instant critics' darling upon the release of For Emma, Forever Ago early this year. Vernon's primal falsetto accentuates his stark and simple arrangements in a session on WXPN.

Nominees Who Don't Deserve An Emmy

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Why on earth are Monk and The Amazing Race sets to make Emmy history? Forget who we think should win Sunday. TV critic Andrew Wallenstein lists the nominees whose victories would be "criminal." Even darling 30 Rock comes under Wallenstein's fire.

Has Biden Gone From Snarling To Darling...

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:01:00 EDT

Joe Biden can come across as long-winded and sharp-elbowed. But he also has a reputation as a family man. And he shed tears in front of his state's delegation at the Democratic convention.

The Hold Steady Stays Positive

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:17:00 EDT

Formed in 2000 from the ashes of the Minneapolis band Lifter Puller, The Hold Steady craft detailed musical universes, making them a critical darling and fan favorite. Hear the band perform from the forthcoming album Stay Positive on World Cafe with host David Dye.

Media Darlings McCain, Obama Duel

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:59:00 EDT

John McCain and Barack Obama have both consistently garnered favorable press in their years in the Senate and in grueling months on the campaign trail. But they are likely to face increasingly stringent scrutiny as the general election opens up.

The Best CDs of 2008 (So Far)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:53:00 EDT

Music reviewers generally wait until November and December to assess the year in music. But 2008's halfway point seems like a good place to stop and look back at six busy months full of critics' darlings, Internet sensations and even, in a grim commercial climate, commercial hits.

White Light Riot: 'Charlatan'

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:06:00 EDT

Anyone who thought Britpop died ten years ago was sorely mistaken. It is alive and kicking in Minneapolis, Minn. Following in the footsteps of UK darlings Blur and others, the rock group White Light Riot has a vibrant, energetic sound that thrives on chainsaw guitars and larger-than-life melodies.

Kim Richey: Sweetly Alluring, Folk-Friendly Country

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:36:00 EDT

Richey has found more success as a songwriter than as a singer: She wrote huge country hits for Trisha Yearwood and Radney Foster, but her own output has made her more of a critics' darling than a star. Hear Richey give an interview and in-studio performance.

The Way You Look at Feist, So She Appears to You

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 14:58:00 EDT

On The Reminder, Feist appears to be on her way to becoming a full-fledged star. 2005's Let It Die helped solidify her as a darling of the indie-rock scene, but her major label debut is an album that both the critics and the broader public seem to love.

Lily Allen: Sly Lyrics in a Cockney Accent

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:55:00 EDT

Lily Allen's ska-infused pop music has officially achieved ubiquity: She's gone from a buzzed-about underground sensation to a mainstream darling in the span of only a few months. Her sly lyrics and joyful energy have helped make her a star.

Clap Your Hands Makes Some 'Thunder'

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 17:00:00 EST

The rock band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah released its first record last year on its own label. Major labels came knocking when the band quickly became an Internet darling. The band decided to remain independent and, this week, will release its second record on its own label, Some Loud Thunder.

The Hold Steady: America's Bar Band

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 13:58:00 EST

The Hold Steady might just be the best bar band in America. With its riff-heavy mixture of classic rock and Craig Finn's lyrically dense storytelling, the group crafts intricately detailed musical universes that have already made it a critical darling and fan favorite.

Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton: Quietly Beautiful

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 14:16:00 EST

Haines recruited darlings of the Canadian indie-rock world to help with her first proper solo album. The Metric leader's Knives Don't Have Your Back recalls the warmth and intimacy of a '70s singer/songwriter's record blended with jazzy, experimental pop.

The Hold Steady: Big Riffs, Dense Lyrics

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:04:00 EDT

Birdie Busch, Live in Concert

Thu, 11 May 2006 17:28:00 EDT

From hostessing at a restaurant four years ago to becoming a darling of the Philly music scene, Birdie Busch has come a long way. Realizing that her job wasn't satisfying a "desire for instant connection," she began to write songs and play music.

The Mysterious Musical Confession of Neko Case

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 15:58:24 EST

Music critic Sarah Bardeen reviews the new CD by "alt-country" darling Neko Case, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.

Chip and Carrie: Rock Roots, Americana Sounds

Sat, 23 Jul 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Chip Taylor is a music business vet who penned "Wild Thing" before Carrie Rodriguez was born. But the unlikely duo are critical darlings and staples of adult album alternative radio.

The Joshua Redman Trio

Mon, 02 May 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Saxophonist Joshua Redman has been the darling of jazz critics for more than a decade. With bassist Reuben Rogers and percussionist Ali Jackson Jr., he performs an improvisational set of bebop, blues and Broadway at Zankel Hall.

'Sideways'

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EDT

'Sideways' April 14, 2005 · The Alexander Payne film was the darling of critics leading up to the Oscars, and Paul Giamatti's performance was duly lauded. The DVD takes fans one step further with a commentary track by Giamatti and co-star Thomas Haden-Church that's smart, ribald, sophisticated and adds a lot to a second viewing.

The Shins: Keeping It Small, Simple

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EDT

The band the Shins have a quirky but compelling sound of ringing guitars and piercing vocals. Their smart and intense lyrics have made them darlings of the alternative rock scene. But after two albums and songs on TV's The O.C. and the film Garden State, the band is spending the spring doing a low-key tour of mid-sized venues.

Classical Composers and Their Clunkers

Thu, 25 Nov 2004 00:00:00 EST

NPR's Renee Montagne talks to music commentator Miles Hoffman about classical music "turkeys." Even the best composers had their failures. Brahms was known to burn the pieces he didn't like, and the critics weren't always kind to the darlings of their day.

A 'Darling' Novel from Russell Banks

Mon, 25 Oct 2004 00:00:00 EDT

Novelist Russell banks is the author of many works of fiction, Continental Drift, Rule of the Bone, Cloudsplitter, and Affliction and The Sweet Hereafter, both of which have been made into films. He speaks with Terry Gross about his latest novel, Darling.