Tom Moon
Tom Moon has been writing about pop, rock, jazz, blues, hip-hop and the music of the world since 1983.
He is the author of the New York Times bestseller 1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die (Workman Publishing), and a contributor to other books including The Final Four of Everything.
A saxophonist whose professional credits include stints on cruise ships and several tours with the Maynard Ferguson orchestra, Moon served as music critic at the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1988 until 2004. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GQ, Blender, Spin, Vibe, Harp and other publications, and has won several awards, including two ASCAP-Deems Taylor Music Journalism awards. He has contributed to NPR's All Things Considered since 1996.
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Wilson is a student of rock and pop in all its forms, and Rare Birds is his finest album yet.
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For the past 18 years, the Bad Plus, has been playing catchy, high energy music and redefining what a jazz trio can be. This year pianist Ethan Iverson announced he is leaving the trio. But contrary to popular belief, Bad Plus found a new pianist and released a new album.
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The sparkly collection — songs about death, dismemberment and other unfortunate events dressed up for a Friday night joy ride — sees the long-running duo attempting genuinely new ideas.
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It was a good year for previously unheard songs from classic albums and discoveries of studio works and live performances that never saw the light of day.
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Drummer Brian Blade plays in legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter's current quartet. But for the past two decades, he has also led his own project, the Brian Blade Fellowship. Music reviewer Tom Moon says his latest album Body and Shadow lures the listener with a lyrical, singable melody.
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The Irish rock band has been plagued with many unsuccessful projects. Its latest offering is its attempt at a reboot — coming off as earnest, genuine, and even a little bit scrappy.
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Rage takes many forms in these new songs — laments, exhortations and diatribes about the rapidly changed world in the aftermath of the last U.S. presidential election.
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The Nobel Prize winner's latest bootleg set focuses on the parables and homilies he wrote for his "Christian trilogy," including a previously unreleased gospel track called "Making A Liar Out Of Me."
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On Beck's latest, thrift-store sounds, abrasive noise and his father's ear-stretching orchestrations all vie for attention at once.
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The Led Zeppelin frontman's 11th solo effort is a finely woven blend of folk, Celtic, blues and world music.