Brian Burns
Brian Burns graduated from UNC's School of Information and Library Science in 2015 and is currently working as WUNC's Music Librarian.
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With help from guitarist Jeff Parker and flutist De'Sean Jones, Chicago-based drummer and producer Makaya McCraven modernizes a song from Jack Wilson's album Easterly Winds.
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Equal parts torch song and funeral dirge, it's a raw and pining anthem whose heartbreak slowly seeps in as the organ crawls beneath Lady Blackbird's sorrowful vocals.
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A late-night song with an infectious groove, "Outside the Outside" transports listeners to a dance floor where the only light we see is bouncing off a disco ball.
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A driving drum beat and string section give the song a sinister feel, while its gospel chorus reminds us that we're not headed down this path alone.
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The duo formerly known as Mandolin Orange return with a new name and new, typically lovely song about setting a good example for the next generation.
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Blake Mills provides a hypnotic and experimental samba rhythm, while Amelia Meath's layers of vocals give the minimalist piece a somber, nocturnal vibe.
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It's the sound of a block party, a summer celebration with a groove you can't help but move to and lyrics that insist this party will be going on all night.
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Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band expertly crafts steel drum versions of hip-hop and funk classics from the '70s to the modern day.
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Don't just speak, say something" serves as a mantra in "Say Something."