Music

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Preemptive Strike," by DJ Shadow.

REV. : Rock Music Historian Ed Ward finishes a three-part series celebrating Atlantic Records 50th Anniversary. Today, when Atlantic turned to rock.

Rock historian Ed Ward continues with part 2 of 3 in his series on Atlantic Records. This year the recording company is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Today, we look at how Atlantic became a powerhouse for soul music.

Jazz singer and pianist Blossom Dearie. She has been called "One of the last of the great supper-club singers". Her following is mainly centered in New York and London. For years, she has performed in London and New York. This year, she is appearing at Danny's Skylight Room in Manhattan.

Rock critic KenTucker reviews Madonna's new CD "Ray of Light" (Maverick Warner Bros)

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews Pearl Jams' newest CD "Yield".

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Fred Hersch Plays Monk: Thelonious" (Nonesuch) and "Monk's World" by Italian pianist Umberto Petrin (on the Splasc label).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the Rahsaan Roland Kirk reissue "Dog Years in the Fourth Ring" (32/Jazz)

Shock-rock star Marilyn Manson has developed a following as a cross-dressing, anti-Christ. He's been likened to Alice Cooper for his ghoulish theatricality. He's also been the subject of Senate subcommittee hearings, and his concerts have been banned. His 1996 album "Antichrist Superstar" was a hit. He's written his autobiography "The Long Hard Road out of Hell" (Regan Books) about his childhood as Brian Wagner in a dysfunctional home in Canton, Ohio.

Rock historian Ed Ward considers the music of Mardi Gras.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews conductor Pierre Boulez's recording of Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique by the Cleveland Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon). It received a Grammy nomination for Best Classical Recording of the Year.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews "Hwy X" (Omnium Records) by the Reptile Palace Orchestra from Wisconsin, and "Karnak" (Tinder Records) by the band named Karnak from Brazil.

In the movie "Titanic," the band's last song is "Nearer My God To Thee." But Ian Whitcomb says it's not true. Whitcomb is an expert on early 20th century pop music. His new CD "Titanic" features some of the songs performed by the band on the Titanic, with the same arrangements they used.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews two recent releases: Jim Lauderdale's "Whisper," and Buddy Miller's "Poison Love". Both albums have been categorized as "alternative country" and Tucker says in a time of "overblown big stars" that label may be a marketing enhancement.

Writer Susan J. Miller talks about her new book "Never Let Me Down: A Memoir" published by Henry Holt. Her story recounts how at the age of 21 years-old her whole sense of self was changed when her father revealed he had been a heroin addict for 15 years. Miller lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Excerpts from her memoir have appeared in Harper's and Granata. This is her first book.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews two new collections of singer Ted Hawkins who died three years ago at the age of 59. "The Ted Hawkins Story: Suffer No More" Rhino Records and "Ted Hawkins: The Final Tour" Evidence Records.

Critic Milo Miles reviews the reissue of "Sex & Soul" (Polymedia/Collectibles) a album first released in 1974 on Mercury by Roy C, otherwise known as Roy Charles Hammond. Roy C said it was his concept album about infidelity.

Former lead singer for the '60s British pop group "The Zombies" Colin Blunstone. The group's hits include "She's Not There," "You've Really Got a Hold On Me" and "Time of the Season." There's a new anthology of the group's recordings "The Zombies: Zombie Heaven" (Big Beat label).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Musings of a Creek Dipper" (Atlantic) the new release of singer Victoria Williams, who was part of this summer's Lilith Tour.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the double CD "New Forms" by British artist Roni (Ronny) Size. Size and his group just won England's most prestigious pop-music award, the Mercury Music Prize.