NPR Music is reporting that its critic, Ann Powers, has written about her personal attachment to The Roches, the harmonizing trio of sisters Maggie, Terre and Suzzy Roche, whose folk-derived songs she said have been essential to her since her teenage years.
It said the group's signature song, "Hammond Song," has drawn new attention in recent years, with covers by artists including the London quartet Wolf Alice, Fleet Foxes, Whitney and the Indigo Girls, along with numerous lesser-known ensembles and choirs. NPR said the song recounts family turmoil that followed Maggie and Terre Roche's decision, in their early 20s, to leave their East Coast home for a Louisiana martial-arts commune in 1975.
NPR said Cherry Red Records has assembled five of the trio's 11 studio albums as a new boxed set titled "Runs in the Family," including its best-known Warner Bros. recordings and an expanded edition of the late-period album "Can We Go Home Now." It said the package includes a booklet with previously unseen photographs and commentary from fans including Linda Ronstadt, Christopher Guest and visual artist Nina Katchadourian, and is currently available only on CD.
NPR said Powers also published a 20-song playlist of Roches recordings, and that she recently took part in a public conversation and performance with the Chicago-based group Roses for the Roches, joined by guest Lucy Wainwright Roche, at the Evanston Folk Festival.
In other music coverage, NPR said Brian Burns of WUNC spoke with the duo Sylvan Esso about their new album, "Ow," their decision last year to remove their music from Spotify and their choice last week to return to the platform. It said Tom Huizenga profiled Elim Chan, who will lead the San Francisco Symphony, and Daniel Harding, who will take over the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
NPR said Sheldon Pearce wrote in his column that African pop's momentum toward global crossover success has grown static in recent years. It said the singer YEИDRY was featured in a Tiny Desk concert and an interview on Alt.Latino as part of the outlet's annual Latin Music Month series, and that Rhiannon Giddens discussed folk music, spirits and hope with Terry Gross on Fresh Air.
NPR said Ella Langley's country hit "Choosin' Texas" this week took the record for most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a mark previously held by Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You." It said Powers also named artists Andrew Sa, Jesse Welles and Lily Seabird among her standouts from the Americana Fest weekend, and that Ken Pomeroy won the festival's Emerging Act of the Year Award.