John Hiatt, now in his mid-thirties, has switched record labels several times, never finding the superstardom of Michael Jackson and Phil Collins. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Hiatt's new album deserves more recognition.
Village Voice style editor Mary Peacock considers the role women's magazines play in shaping women's fashion. She talks to Fresh Air's Terry Gross about the latest trends.
The singer-songwriter, known also for his acting and humor, recently turned 40. His new album, More Love Songs, features lyrics about getting older. He performs several of them on air.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Arnold Schoenberg's piano and violin concertos, both conducted by Pierre Boulez. Schwartz says listening to this music at home may be the best way for audiences to get accustomed to atonality.
Joe "King" Carrasco is a singer and guitar player who plays contemporary Tex-Mex music. Carrasco is of German descent, but celebrates the rise and innovations of Latino culture.
Adams is often associated with other minimalist composers like Philip Glass and Steve Reich. His new album, The Chairman Dances, features parts of his new opera-in-progress called Nixon in China.
Book critic John Leonard says the science fiction author's newest book effectively creates an atmosphere of paranoia and suspense, but falters with its "back of the cereal box" characters and implausible plots.
Several bands were formed by art school students, like The Talking Heads and The Who. So were The Creation, a mostly-forgotten group who rock historian Ed Ward says deserves more recognition.
Alto saxophonist Frank Morgan is better known for kicking his heroin habit than for his music. Jazz critic Francis Davis says his new album of standards is worth a listen.
Composer John Morris is film director Mel Brooks' longtime collaborator. In addition to writing the music for comedies, Morris also scored David Lynch's The Elephant Man.
Critic-at-large Laurie Stone finds the new play by Eric Bogosian, about a bigoted and acerbic Cleveland shock jock, both funny and pretentious. She says its attempt to broadly critique modern culture falls flat.
Playwrights William M. Hoffman and Larry Kramer are gay men whose recent work has grappled with the effect of AIDS on their communities. They share their frustrations with the inaction both amongst government agencies and gay people themselves to meaningfully address the epidemic.
After working as prostitute in England, Cynthia Payne started her own brothel which featured parties and other social gatherings in addition to sex. The new film Personal Services tells her story.
Film critic Stephen Schiff thinks Brian de Palma's gangster movie showcases both the director's technical prowess and weak character development. Despite its flaws, the film is still enjoyable.
John Nichols' new novel dwells on the horrors of the Vietnam War. Earlier in life, he moved to New Mexico to work as a political activist. Those experiences were the basis of his popular New Mexico Trilogy.
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album by Pianosaurus, whose new album captures the spirit of rock and roll without the the traditional instrumentation.
