Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'idiosyncratic'

Doris Lessing Mines Gold In 'Alfred & Emily'

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EDT

Published on the verge of the author's 89th birthday, Doris Lessing's Alfred & Emily is an idiosyncratic combination of personal history, public history and fiction — all about her father and mother.

Mass Solo Revolt

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:49:00 EDT

Athens, GA band Mass Solo Revolt hasn't lost sight of its predecessors — Pavement, Built to Spill — harnessing those raw sounds from the early '90s to create a less polished, yet still infectious, throwback indie rock sound. The opening chords to the band's debut CD, Easy Mark could have been pulled straight off Pavement's Slanted and Enchanted, offering the same lazy, off-kilter sound. Lead singer Martin Brummeler's idiosyncratic lyrics about "crooked teeth" and "rubber knives" add to the song's quirky feel; the track proves uniquely poppy with catchy hooks.

The Ponys: Effortlessly Enjoyable Garage-Rock

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:14:00 EDT

The Chicago band infuses guitar-heavy post-punk music with idiosyncratic pop hooks. On the new Turn the Lights Out, The Ponys' members craft their most disciplined and powerful release yet.

Not Quite Jazz, Not Quite Rock

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:54:00 EDT

It's hard to decide what to make of The Bad Plus, whose sound has no pretense of operating at either extreme of jazz and rock, but instead plays with the colors in between. The band made its name playing idiosyncratic, rock-influenced covers of Nirvana and Black Sabbath.

N.Y. Plays Channel Monologists Bogosian and Gray

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:27:00 EST

Eric Bogosian and Spalding Gray became well-known for their one-man shows in the 1980s and 1990s. Two shows opening in New York this week aim to prove that the work of these idiosyncratic authors can be taken on by other actors.

A Star Turn Spawns 'Samson'

Thu, 08 Jun 2006 17:33:00 EDT

As a fiercely independent and idiosyncratic singer/songwriter who plays the piano, Regina Spektor draws easy comparisons to Tori Amos. But her work feels less remote and more versatile, thanks to a singular songwriting voice that spans genres and personas with grace and apparent ease.

Keb Mo and Mason Jennings in Concert

Fri, 19 May 2006 14:31:00 EDT

This week's concert features two singer-songwriters whose idiosyncratic approach to music has won them increasingly large audiences. The pairing of Keb Mo and Mason Jennings showcases the guitar in two of its most basic states: free-flowing blues and pared-down folk.

Jens Lekman: Idiosyncratic Pop from Sweden

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

Swedish pop star Jens Lekman sounds more like Lawrence Welk and Burt Bacharach than his American counterparts Kanye West and Ashlee Simpson. His deep, silky voice and instrumentation lends his music a retro pop feel, but the lyrics are too odd to be throwbacks.

Moby: Brewing a Brand

Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Electronic musician Moby talks about juggling business with his intensely personal and idiosyncratic music. He is currently touring in support of his latest album Hotel.