The dark R&B sound of Banks has made her an online favorite, and last month her debut album "Goddess" was a top twenty hit. Today she serves up bewitching soundtrack full of distinctive voices, and hypnotic beats.
Ben Schott Expands His Vocabulary
Writer and "gentleman miscellanist" Ben Schott turned to the linguistic flexibility of German to create his own glossary of new words for very specific modern states.
Celia Rivenbark is Southern, Sassy – and Slightly Profane
As a professional purveyor of Southern sass, nationally-syndicated humor columnist and best-selling author Celia Rivenbark has no compunction about telling the world what she thinks. Armed with her new etiquette manual, she tells our listeners how to behave (bless their hearts).
Terry Eagleton Analyzes America
UK scholar Terry Eagleton is one of the most influential literary critics in the world, and the author of over two dozen books. His latest is called "Across the Pond: an Englishman's View of America." Just in time for Fourth of July weekend, he tells us exactly what Brits think of us.
Playlist: Episode 206
All the songs featured in Episode 206
Alabama Shakes – ‘I Found You’
Last summer, when we caught on to the Alabama Shakes and frontwoman Brittany Howard’s unbelievable pipes, our One For the Road pick “You Ain't Alone” unleashed a torrent of listener love. Now that the band’s debut LP Boys and Girls is finally here, it’s about time for another. Here’s “I Found You” - perfect track for when all’s sweet in the world.
Roots drummer Questlove shares a meatier kind of drumstick
As the drummer and co-leader of hip-hop group The Roots (also the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) ?uestlove is music royalty. Now he’s getting into the food game, too, and it turns out his buttermilk chicken is as good as his music. Bon Appetit named it one of their top things to eat in 2012. We grilled the musician about his ironically healthy new diet, and why food is the new hip-hop. For more tales of ?uestlove’s life - musical and otherwise - his just-released memoir is sure to be a treat.
Kid-pop stars Imagination Movers on how to impress the tikes
To help us win our next kid-friendly dinner party, we turn to certifiable kid experts The Imagination Movers. The New Orleans-based band has been performing kid-centric pop-rock for almost a decade in sold-out tours and for their Disney Jr. show. Mover Rich and Mover Scott (both fathers, too) enlighten Rico about the wonders of interactivity, make-believe and arena-rock cliches. (The Imagination Movers head out this week on a tour for their just-released Rock-O-Matic album).
The adventures of the ‘forgotten’ Astaire
We all know about Fred Astaire. Less well-known is Adele Astaire, and Australian theater scholar Kathleen Riley is trying to change that. Her new non-fiction book is called “The Astaires: Fred and Adele.” Today we overhear her recounting a dinner-party worthy anecdote about the duo’s adventures.
Comic Queen of Misbehaving Kathy Griffin talks manners
Kathy Griffin knows a thing or two about misbehavin’. (Just ask Andersen Cooper.) The comedian, actress, and talk show host has won over legions of fans with her provocative, irreverent comedy and her double Emmy-winning show “My Life on the D-List.” This summer, you can catch her on a nationwide stand-up tour and her 16th television special just debuted on Bravo. She advises our listeners on how to handle bad influences, lingering guests, and see [sic] food.