Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'songs'

Chris Knight On Mountain Stage

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:26:00 EST

Based out of his tiny, rustic hometown of Slaughters, Ky., songwriter and guitarist Chris Knight writes backwoods poetry with introspection he's clearly gained by living the words he writes. On this Mountain Stage appearance, Knight performs songs from his latest album, Heart of Stone, as well as the title cut from his previous record, Enough Rope.

Tell Off Your Boss: Songs For Quitting Time

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:19:00 EST

At a time when jobs are anything but disposable, it's hard to imagine what it would take to drive workers out the door voluntarily. But when you're eventually pushed to the brink, you're going to need consolation and encouragement in the form of five great rock tunes.

Solas On Mountain Stage

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:01:00 EST

In their fourth appearance on Mountain Stage, the modern-day Irish traditionalists in Solas perform songs from their latest release, Love and Laughter. The set opens with a series of jigs and a traditional Irish love song, and later ends with a rendition of Bob Dylan's "Seven Curses."

Satire In Your Stocking With 'A Colbert Christmas'

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:25:00 EST

Self-proclaimed "broadcasting legend" Stephen Colbert talks about his upcoming Christmas special on Comedy Central. According to Colbert, it will include goats dressed as reindeer and his own original Christmas songs.

Country Music Finds New Star In Darius Rucker

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:14:00 EST

Darius Rucker is country music's shining new star. The former frontman for the 1990s pop group Hootie & the Blowfish has become the first black artist to have a top 10 country music hit since Charley Pride. He talks with Farai Chideya and performs three of his new songs.

Elizabeth Willis: 'Overture' & 'In Your Eyes'

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:42:00 EST

As a child, musician Elizabeth Willis was formally trained in piano and violin, and often imagined she'd grow up to be a classical musician. But at some point along the way she decided to walk away from classical music and start writing grand and beautiful pop. The 11 songs on her self-titled debut bridge the gap between her two passions by pairing her distinctive vocals and pop stylings with cinematic string and piano arrangements. The result is refreshing and often gorgeous.

The Dan Tyminski Band On Mountain Stage

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:18:00 EST

One of the most distinctive voices in modern bluegrass, Dan Tyminski visits Mountain Stage for the first time with his own band to perform songs from his second solo release, Wheels. The set closes with "Man of Constant Sorrow," the bluegrass standard prominently featured in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Car Ditty One Reason Sherman Bros. Honored

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

The movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is about a magical car. Songwriting brothers, Richard and Robert Sherman, were honored at the White House Monday for that theme song, and all the other songs they've written for family movies.

Patty Loveless On Mountain Stage

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:49:00 EST

Loveless has built a 20-year career by choosing great songs to complement her charming twang. On her fourth visit to Mountain Stage, she performs music from her latest release, for which she dipped into the classic country songbook and recorded some of the genre's most enduring and endearing songs.

Juanes Wins 5 Latin Grammys

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:04:30 EST

Colombian rocker and social activist Juanes took home five Latin Grammys last night, sweeping in all five categories in which he was nominated. His hit song, Me Enamora, won song of the year, record of the year and best short form music video.

Happy Tunes May Make For Healthier Hearts

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST

Researchers report that listening to joyful music can cause blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow — which is good for cardiovascular health. Michael Miller, principal investigator of the study, explains the brain-body link and which songs may make for healthy hearts.

The Postmarks: 'One Note Samba'

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:40:00 EST

By-the Numbers, the latest from Miami trio The Postmarks, is a collection of 12 cover songs originally by artists as diverse as David Bowie, Bob Marley and The Ventures. Despite the eclectic mix of genres in the originals, The Postmarks have transformed them all into innocent and lovely pop gems.

Dr. Dog Gets Down And Dirty In The Studio

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:45:00 EST

Dr. Dog's songs combine sophisticated falsettos and well-placed harmonies that build to crescendos reminiscent of The Beach Boys. In a session from KUT's Studio 1A, the band performs selections from Fate and talks about what it means to get the right sound.

Beatles' Eleanor Rigby May Be Revealed

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

The mystery around Eleanor Rigby, the main character in one of the Beatles' biggest hit songs, may be solved. The previously believed-to-be fictional character may have actually lived in the Beatles' hometown of Liverpool. A 97-year-old document for auction in London later this month may contain clues to Rigby's identity. Alex Cohen talks with the current owner of the document, Annie Mawson.

Judith Owen On Mountain Stage

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:23:00 EST

Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen has a knack for entertaining her audience with self-deprecating humor just before enchanting it with her elegant and emotional songs. In her third Mountain Stage appearance, Owen plays songs from her latest album, Mopping Up Karma.

The Great Depression: 'Forever Altered'

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:56:00 EST

A quartet originally formed in Madison, Wis. in 1996, The Great Depression is now based in Denmark. The moniker is an especially fitting one, as the ten songs on the Great Depression's third and latest full-length album, Forever Altered, all drift through gray and somber landscapes. But its melancholia is sophisticated rather than melodramatic.

Alternate Routes, Katie Herzig On Mountain Stage

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:36:00 EST

The Alternate Routes have a knack for harmonies, hooks and creating stylistically diverse, feel-good rock 'n' roll. Katie Herzig, part of an emerging scene of alternative pop music out of Nashville, performs three songs from her latest album, Apple Tree.

Janis Ian: Behind Her Songs And Life

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:03:00 EST

By the time she was 16, Janis Ian already had a Grammy and a permanent place in the American consciousness. Her new autobiography shares the sometimes shocking stories behind her life and music. In a session from Folk Alley, she performs a cross section of her songs.

Hanggai: Chinese Punk Looks To The Past

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:47:00 EST

Modern Chinese music is most famous for sappy Canto-pop love songs. But on the mainland, young Chinese musicians are innovating and taking risks with ancient music forms such as throat singing. Former punk singer Ilchi is now a force in the Mongolian folk-music revival with his band Hanggai.

These United States: Pop's Particle Accelerator

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:55:00 EST

The Washington, D.C., band These United States writes novelistic songs packed with dense narratives and loose, ragged-edged folk, rock and Americana. While Jesse Elliott is the main creative foundation, the group is known to rotate in any number of musicians it picks up. The band discusses and performs songs from its new album, Crimes.

Live Monday: Conor Oberst In Concert

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:53:00 EST

Best known as the prolific and gifted frontman for the country-rock band Bright Eyes, Oberst ventured out on his own this summer. He released his first solo album in more than a decade: an eponymous sketchbook of introspective folk and rock, steeped in Americana. The new collection of songs will be the centerpiece of a full concert by Oberst and his backing group, The Mystic Valley Band, webcast live on NPR.org Monday, Nov. 10. The performance will begin online at approximately 10 p.m. ET.

Jackson Browne's Personal And Political 'Time'

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:59:00 EST

Browne's latest album, Time the Conqueror, is an exploration of past and present world events that have defined generations. Most of the songs offer personal reactions to political events, but others are introspective confessionals about his own life. In a session with David Dye, Browne performs songs from the new album.

Steve Lillywhite On Big Country's 'The Crossing'

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:24:00 EST

In 1983, Big Country wrote anthemic rock songs, but featured an unlikely lead instrument — the bagpipes. The unexpected sound of "In a Big Country" became a Top 20 single, but their debut album, The Crossing, offered so much more beyond its novelty.

Julie Fowlis On Mountain Stage

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:41:00 EST

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Julie Fowlis has made a huge name for herself overseas singing in Gaelic, a language understood by only 1 percent of the population in her native Scotland. She recently performed her unique music on Mountain Stage, accompanied by Dobro master Jerry Douglas in the final song of her set.

Brooke Waggoner On Mountain Stage

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:33:00 EST

Louisiana native Brooke Waggoner studied composition and orchestration at LSU before moving to Nashville to advance her career as a performing songwriter. Her quirky sense of song structure and her experimental nature bring to mind the wide range of influences that Mountain Stage host Larry Groce mentions in his introduction: from Chopin to Simon & Garfunkel to Rogers & Hammerstein.