# Oliver Wang

## A Queen Among Kings

The first time I ever saw Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings perform was circa 2002 at the Elbo Room, a tiny venue in San Francisco's Mission District. If you've ever been there, you know the Elbo Room doesn't need many bodies to pack the floor, and with the Dap-Kings crowding the diminutive stage, the full intensity of their act filled the space from practically the first note. I was already familiar with the group through its early records, but hadn't fully appreciated how much power Jones could pack into her stout, 5-foot frame as she sang, sweated, stamped, strutted, slayed. 

## 'James Brown: Live At The Apollo Vol. 4' Is A Marvelous And Mysterious Time Capsule

The names James Brown and Apollo Theater have practically become synonymous; it's hard to think of one without the other. Beginning in 1963, Brown released three albums recorded there. But there was a fourth — recordings from Sept. 13 and 14, 1972 — that has been buried ever since. Now, _Get Down with James Brown: Live At The Apollo Vol. 4_ is finally out on vinyl, with a CD to follow this summer. 

## Kanye West Plays Puppet Master With 'Life Of Pablo' Premiere

I'm not sure there's ever been a record release as confounding as the one for Kanye West's _The Life Of Pablo_. He's changed its title and track listing several times in as many weeks, and even up until the very moment I'm writing this, it's not 100 percent certain what will be on that final album, whenever and wherever it comes out. 

## 'To Pimp A Butterfly' Aspires To Be Music's Great American Novel

When Kendrick Lamar released his major label debut in 2012, he vaulted onto pop's leaderboard as one of the best rappers of his generation. He wasn't just a skilled lyricist, but a vivid storyteller able to create scenes with vivid detail and intrigue. 

## Music Review: 'You're Dead!' By Flying Lotus

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AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: 

## Dionne Warwick, Reduced To An Essence

In title and concept, the new tribute album _Dionne Dionne_ is a great gimmick. But if you've followed the career of Dionne Farris, having her record an entire album of Dionne Warwick covers isn't an obvious move, names aside. It's an idea that took root some 20 years ago: Farris met guitarist Charlie Hunter while the two were on tour as members of hip-hop groups, she with Arrested Development and he with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. 

## Gimme The Beat (Box): The Journey Of The Drum Machine

About 10 years ago, a disgruntled pianist in Los Angeles named John Wood began a popular bumper sticker campaign with the slogan, "Drum Machines Have No Soul." Not everyone was convinced, including producer Eric Sadler. 

"Drum machines don't run themselves," Sadler says. "It's the people who put into the drum machines that give the drum machines soul, to me. I've definitely given some drum machines some soul." 

## 20 Years Ago, De La Soul Refused To Go Pop

## Kanye's 'Yeezus' Packs A Bite

## Shuggie Otis: 40 Years Later, Still An 'Inspiration'

This isn't the first time Shuggie Otis' masterpiece, _Inspiration Information_ has been reissued — but that's OK. It's an album that absolutely deserves to be rediscovered every decade or so. 

## 20 Years Ago Biz Markie Got The Last Laugh

## Lady: Two Soul Stalwarts Find A New Groove Together

R&B singers Nicole Wray and Terri Walker both had promising starts to their careers more than ten years ago. Wray came up on the Virginia coast under the wing of mentor Missy Elliott. Walker, a Londoner, was classically trained yet released her debut on a Def Jam subsidiary. Both enjoyed early critical success but by decade's end struggled to find a wide audience. Instead, they found each other. 

## The Kids Of PS22 Take On Tame Impala

## Saviors Of Local Soul: The Archival Science Of The Numero Group

## Bill Withers: The Everyman Singer With A Poet's Soul

Bill Withers _' very first single became a breakout hit in 1971. He would go on to record nine albums over the next 14 years, and all of them are now available on a new box set,_ The Complete Sussex and Columbia Masters. 

## The Purple Tape: Only Built 4 Collectors

The Beatles had "The White Album." Prince's long-time work-in-progress became dubbed "The Black Album." Rapper Raekwon had "The Purple Tape," one the most storied cassettes in hip-hop history. 

## Two Attempts To Turn Summer Platinum Into Fall Gold