The Beat Authority
The Beat
Authority Best of 2008 List
Ever since I got a Fisher Price record player for Chanukkah when I was four, I've been a musical sponge. My favorite stuff is music that ventures across genres, and music that makes you dance.
Globalization has been a mixed bag, but it's sure invigorated the world
of music. Salsa from Israel, flamenco from east L.A., Algerian rai from Paris,
hip-hop from Senegal, reggae from Morocco--artists are borrowing at will, threading
the sounds they hear on TV and radio into their own traditions. The Beat Authority is a Friday show. It's a kick into the weekend, a bounce for your afternoon, a swing for your end-of-the-week step. A fresh, eclectic choice of dance music from all over the world. You may hear cumbia or bluegrass or afrobeat or jazz, but it'll keep your head a-noddin' and your spirits up. Join in the groove and enjoy. And if you have suggestions, e-mail 'em in! David Sommerstein Finding MusicYou can
find or special order any of the music heard on this program from local music
stores, including:
Northern
Music & Video, Potsdam
Strawberry Fields, Potsdam: 315-265-7700
SLU
Brewer Bookstore, Canton
Ampersound,
Saranac Lake:
518-891-3114 Peacock
Music, Plattsburgh:
518-561-0555
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Program Playlists
Urban & World MusicJanuary 6, 2009 | NPR· News from Somalia usually involves violent warlords or pirates hijacking ships off the coast. Other than that, average Somalis don't have much of a voice. The rapper K'Naan is trying to change that, and in the world of hip-hop, he's become an artist to watch.  January 5, 2009 | NPR· We start the new year with a new mix, featuring an exclusive preview of Andrew Bird's latest album, Noble Beast. The classically trained violinist and singer performs a quirky mix of whistled melodies, Gypsy ballads, folk and art-rock. We've got the song "Oh No" here, but you can also hear the entire album as part of our "first listen" series. Also on the show: classic folk-rock singer Benjy Ferree, the Afro-funk rhythms of Chopteeth, an eclectic mixtape from Malawi-born singer Esau Mwamwaya, the haunting guitars of Begushkin, and the jazz trio Bad Plus covers the music of Pink Floyd. January 4, 2009 | NPR· Two dozen boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 11 are halfway through a yearlong tour, in which they'll perform more than 200 shows across the U.S. When they're done, they'll head back to some of the poorest countries in Africa — and a new life. The African Children's Choir aims to rescue poverty-stricken kids by harnessing the power of song. January 2, 2009 | NPR· Australian indie rock band Rudely Interrupted recently played at the United Nations as part of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Rudely Interrupted, comprised of musicians with disabilities, is believed to be the first rock band to play the U.N.  January 2, 2009 | NPR· After releasing a popular mix tape last year, D.C. rapper Wale signed a major-label deal. Known for rapping over beats from unlikely sources (including French electronic duo Justice and English singer Lily Allen), Wale is a blogger favorite, and the song responsible for much of the buzz is "Nike Boots." |
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Get
a leg up on the weekend with host David Sommerstein each Friday afternoon from
3:00 to 4:45 pm for the best funk, latin and other global grooves.
