The tradition of Jewish songwriters writing Christmas tunes dates back at least to Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas.'
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Music & Book Reviews: ‘Talking Heads:77’ Box Set, plus the Flatlanders, a History of Street Singing, and More
Reviews: an expanded edition of Talking Heads:77, plus the Flatlanders, and more.
Read More »Music Review: The Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens – ‘American Railroad’
American Railroad from The Silkroad Ensemble gives us a new perspective on history and is an incredible collection of songs and music.
Read More »Music Reviews: Elvis Costello’s ‘King of America & Other Realms,’ Plus More New Releases
Less than two years after the release of the excellent four-CD The Songs of Bacharach & Costello, Elvis Costello has unveiled another major box set. Called King of America & Other Realms, it features 97 tracks on six CDs. (Casual fans and those with tight budgets can opt for a …
Read More »Music Reviews: The Allman Brothers Band, plus Renaissance, Frank Sinatra, a David Olney Tribute, and More New Releases
Some rock groups carry on for too long—until after they’ve lost their spark, after they’ve already done a farewell tour, or after all the original members have jumped ship. Not the Allman Brothers Band, whose players walked off the stage for the last time 10 years ago with their performing …
Read More »Music Reviews: An Anthology of Bob Dylan-influenced Music and More New Releases
Reviews of an anthology of Dylan-influenced music, plus Tom Petty, Mick Fleetwood and Jake Shimabukuro, and more.
Read More »Exclusive Interview: Eve Blackwater on ‘Brokeneck Girls: The Murder Ballad Musical,’ NYC Fringe ‘Best Musical’ Winner
An updated version of the goth-folk songspiel is on stage now for Days of the Dead in NYC.
Read More »Music Review: Grayson Capps -‘Heartbreak, Misery, and Death’
Standards Grayson Capp’s new release, Heartbreak, Misery and Death, is the singer/songwriter’s foray into producing an album of standards. Standards is a rather vague term North Americans use for referring to anything from Gershwin to traditional folk songs from the United Kingdom. Basically, it means a song you’re likely to …
Read More »A Dozen Top 10 Songs Inspired by Real-life Loves
From 'Layla' to 'Go Your Own Way' to 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,' real-life romances have sparked many Top 10 hits.
Read More »Music Reviews: Joni Mitchell’s ‘Archives, Vol. 4’ and Jelly Roll Morton’s ‘Career Anthology’
'Vol. 4: The Asylum Years (1976–1980)' is at least as good as any of its terrific Joni Mitchell predecessor collections.
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