Ken Tucker, 1953-

July 17, 2023

19:50

Two new books take an unusual approach to music history and blues appreciation

Ken Tucker reviews Robert McCormick's Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey, and Robert Mugge's Notes from the Road: A Filmmaker's Journey Through American Music.

Review

Queue

July 4, 2023

52:30

Janelle Monáe explores masculine and feminine energies on 'The Age of Pleasure'

Monáe has been releasing albums that mix R&B, pop and rap since 2007 — this is her first since 2018. Ken Tucker reviews the new album, then we listen back to our 2020 interview with the artist.

Review

Janelle Monáe

Queue

June 19, 2023

08:19

Janelle Monáe's 'The Age of Pleasure' album is exactly that

Monáe has been releasing albums that mix R&B, pop and rap since 2007 — this is the artist's first since 2018. In recent years, Monáe has appeared in the films Moonlight, Hidden Figures and Glass Onion.

Review

Search the Fresh Air Archive

Ken Tucker

As a Guest

Two new books take an unusual approach to music history and blues appreciation

Janelle Monáe explores masculine and feminine energies on 'The Age of Pleasure'

Janelle Monáe's 'The Age of Pleasure' album is exactly that

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.