Music

Bill Harley writes music for children. His songs are inspired both by different folk traditions and his experiences as a father. He performs some of his music for Fresh Air guest host Liane Hansen.

Temple spent more time making his first feature -- The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle, featuring the Sex Pistols -- than he did in film school. He's since made his name making music videos for rock bands. He joins Fresh Air guest host about the controversy surrounding Neil Young's video for "This Note's for You," which MTV has decided not to air.

Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson returns with his first solo album. Ken Tucker says Wilson has held onto the innocence associated with his old bands' early album. That said, it's impossible to separate the music from the bizarre media narrative of Wilson's personal life.

"Berlin" and "American Theater Songs" are now available on a single CD, featuring Weill's wife and collaborator Lotte Lenya. But some of the songs have been cut or edited for brevity. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz calls that decision "immoral," and says the original LPs are now more essential than ever.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the band Mott the Hoople, whose weird and "wildly inconsistent" albums typified the sound of the 70s.

Most people know Steve Turre as the pony-tailed trombonist in the Saturday Night Live band. His new album, Fire and Ice, pairs a jazz combo with a string section. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says the CD version -- with more tracks than the LP -- is the one to buy.

Music critic Nelson George considers the changing nature of black music. In the past, Nelson says, African American artists, record store owners, and concert promoters were more community oriented. He thinks the focus now is on corporate-backed, commercial success.

Pat DiNizio fronts the rock band The Smithereens, whose new album is called Green Thoughts. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his musical inspirations and straightforward approach to lyric writing.

Singer Bonnie Koloc sings a new song she said was inspired by a magical night in the countryside. She is accompanied by pianist Howard Levy.

Patti Smith returns with Dream of Life, her first album in nearly a decade. Rock critic Ken Tucker says her mix of avant-garde lyrics and working-class populism may make her America's John Lennon, but she uses up her best ideas too quickly.

Part II of the Fresh Air interview with Penelope Spheeris. Terry Gross asks the filmmaker about growing up in a carnival, the prophetic power of rock music, and making movies about youth culture. Spheeris's new documentary is The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years.

Part I of Terry Gross's interview with filmmaker Penelope Spheeris. Spheeris talks about her new movie, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: the Metal Years, a documentary about the heavy metal scene. She thinks stereotypes of the inarticulate and unskilled metal musicians are unfair -- though it's often true that they embrace a drug-fueled, self-destructive lifestyle.

Classical music Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new collection of Renata Tebaldi's performances. The recordings are so good that he's willing to overlook the soprano's sometimes forced, theatrical effects.

The band's frontman Mick Jagger turns 45 this year. Ed Ward celebrates by looking at some of the music that shaped the Stones' sound.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says the group Five Elements isn't his favorite setting for saxophonist Steve Coleman, but Sine Die is their strongest work yet. Cassandra Wilson contributions are a real highlight; she contributes vocals to four songs.

Singer-songwriter Bonnie Koloc performs two summer-themed songs. She is accompanied by pianist Howard Levy.

Rock critic Ken Tucker has seen most of the heavy metal acts on the package tour's bill. He admires Metallica and the Scorpions; Van Halen has its merits, but he says Dokken and Kingdom Come are bland. Collectively, the bands' popularity shows that metal is a genre that should't be ignored -- though Tucker prefers to enjoy it from the comfort of his own home.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: the Metal Years. He says the compelling movie is a revealing look at how fans and musicians participate in the decadent culture of heavy metal music.

The New Orleans-based, twenty-year-old pianist and singer started performing when he was five, and later studied with Ellis Marsalis. Connick says, as a younger musician, he has more to prove -- which fuels his drive to learn more.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz talks to Fresh Air's Terry Gross about an updated version of Mozart's Figaro. The opera, directed by Peter Sellars, is set in New York City -- but is still sung in Italian.