Music: Popular Music
Electric Guitars...How were they invented?
Ever wonder how the electric guitar came to be, or why there are so many different shapes and design possibilities? This outstanding online resource about the electric guitar's invention from the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center answers those questions and many more. In addition to offering a comprehensive history of the electric guitar's development, the site has images, audio commentaries, and sound clips, as well as a detailed description of how guitars work. Highly recommended.
Pop Music News
- Viking's Choice: The year in catharsis and calmThis link opens in a new windowDec 31, 2024
NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich turns us on to lesser known corners of music from 2024: blooming drone-folk, richly textured jazz, Somali garage-rock, medieval metal and a bittersweet farewell from a beloved Athens psych-pop band. You can find more adventurous music and mixtapes via Lars' newsletter, vikingschoice.org.
(Image credit: Courtney B Hall)
- King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard trusted their instincts on 'Flight b741'This link opens in a new windowDec 19, 2024
For their latest album, the Australian rock band took a looser and more collaborative approach to songwriting.
(Image credit: Maclay Heriot)
- Acadiana Music Spotlight: The DebtorsThis link opens in a new windowDec 18, 2024
Hear a live performance from this indie rock quintet hailing from Lafayette, La.
(Image credit: Kathryn Shea Duncan)
NPR: Hip-Hop news
- Southern women are shaping the sound of hip-hop's futureThis link opens in a new windowDec 31, 2024
In 2024, GloRilla, Latto and Doechii all delivered landmark rap albums. Not just because they had the best bars, but because each trusted themself enough to make an artistic and commercial leap.
(Image credit: Kevin Winter)
- Rodney Carmichael's favorite songs and albums of 2024This link opens in a new windowDec 16, 2024Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace begins with the song "End Of Innocence," one among many pieces of music that managed to be both haunting and comforting in 2024.'/>
In 2024, some of the most striking music we heard managed to be haunting and comforting at the same time.
(Image credit: atibaphoto)
- For Lupe Fiasco, rap has always been a scholastic endeavorThis link opens in a new windowDec 13, 2024
The Grammy-winning rapper talks about his latest album, Samurai, and why he believes rap is all about technique and form.
(Image credit: Karl Ray)