Music

Rock critic Ken Tucker agrees with the other reviews of Under the Red Sky he's read: Bob Dylan's smugness and surface-level lyrics come across as little more than a joke.

World music commentator Milo Miles turns to one of the newest countries in the world, Mozambique and discovers a local band called Eyuphuro. Their new CD, Mama Mosambiki is polished, with a skillful blend of acoustic and electric instruments, and a strong feminist message.

Cropper is a white musician who fell in love with black music. As a guitar player, he preferred working in the studio rather than on the road, and later became part of the house rhythm section for Stax Records. He's best known for his playing with Booker T & the MGs and Otis Redding.

Kevin Whitehead reviews the pianist's new trio album. Pullen uses his unconventional technique in traditional jazz setting, which may appeal to listeners turned off by the avant-garde. But he can still play in a more conventional, classical style.

Jim Morrison's out-of-control, self-destructive behavior nearly drove Densmore out of the band. Morrison died at 27; it took Densmore ten years to come to terms with his death. His new memoir is called Riders on the Storm.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back on the career of the New Orleans-based musician. Bartholomew -- who's still playing today -- arranged songs for several other artists, and made many excellent novelty records of his own.

Cherry played with Ornette Coleman's free jazz ensemble. After striking out on his own, he immersed himself in world music. Those influences have informed Cherry's new album, Multikulti.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a compact disc re-release of Pablo Casals' performance of Schubert's "String Quintet in C," which was recorded while the cellist was living in self-exile in Prades.

Overlooked albums by Chick Corea and Pat Metheny are now on CD. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says both reveal the musicians' more experimental sides.

Rock historian Ed Ward is one of the privileged few who can vote for this year's inductees. He thinks the artists who really shaped rock and roll are underrepresented. Miles runs through the ballot, weighing each musician's merits, before choosing his top five.

Film critic Stephen Schiff has no taste for the high school movies that proliferated in the 1980s. But he likes films that celebrate youthful energy and rebellion against authority, like Pump Up the Volume. The movie, about a teenage radio DJ, features an excellent performance by star Christian Slater.

Greg Ford and Hal Willner produced of a new album of live, orchestral performances of the composer's music, which helped defined the the classic Warner Bros. cartoons.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews new albums by Was (Not Was) and Too Much Joy, both of which incorporate humor and rap influences into their rock sound.

The Sony Classical label has begun issuing 50 CDs of the works of composer and conductor Pierre Boulez. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews three offerings, with Boulez conducting works by Varese, Ravel, and Schonberg.

Music journalist Charles Shaar Murray is the author of Crosstown Traffic, about how fans and critics have defined the groundbreaking African American guitarist in relation to white culture. The tension between black musicians and white audiences continues today, particularly with the rise of rap music.

Rather than shop around their works to established big bands, the New York Composers Orchestra founded their own ensemble. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead is impressed by their self-titled debut.

Tucker wrote Brown's memoir, The Godfather of Soul, which was recently reprinted. He joins Fresh Air to talk about Brown's rise as a soul singer, the evolution of his stage persona, and his recent conviction and imprisonment, a punishment which Tucker believes is too severe based on the charges.

In the 1950s, Elvis Presley encouraged Jackson to sing rockabilly. She was notable for writing and performing her own independent and forceful songs, says rock historian Ed Ward. Her sexual persona matched Presley's, but proved to be a detriment to her career -- so she returned to country music.

Near gained national attention when she joined Jane Fonda in antiwar protests. She joins Fresh Air to talk about developing her skills as a performer, her early acting career, and how she defines her sexuality. Her new memoir is called Fire in the Rain--Singer in the Storm.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new country albums by women singers. Carlene Carter's I Fell in Love features her first hit song; Kelly Willis's Well Traveled Love showcases her rich voice. Both records are uneven but satisfying.