Stay in the know with our newslettersJohn Malkin
John Malkin is a musician, journalist, activist, and father who lives in Santa Cruz, California. His writing has been published in many magazines, including The Sun, ascent, Shambhala Sun, Sojourners, Namarupa, adbusters, Punk Planet and Ode. He’s published two books: Sounds of Freedom: Musicians on Social Change & Spirituality (Parallax Press, 2005) and The Only Alternative: Christian Nonviolent Peacemakers in America (Wipf & Stock, 2007). He’s currently completing a book about punk rock, spirituality, and anarchism.
Music Review: Touch My Soul
Can you imagine contentment that goes on and on? That’s just what Ivan Neville d…
Music Review: The Omnichord Real Book
Music is a transformative force for Grammy Award-winning singer, bass player, an…
Music Review: Anarchist Gospel
Sunny War’s third album Anarchist Gospel brings together Americana roots, Delta …
Music Review: The Record
When a musical trio like boygenius comes together, it’s like the final pieces of…
Music Review: Pasado en claro
Poetry and improvisation are the passionate threads that weave through the new i…
Music Review: Mercy
Mercy, the new album from avant-rock icon John Cale, is chock-full of rumination…
Music Review: The New Faith
The New Faith is a beautifully crafted Afrofuturist album by Jake Blount that te…
Music Review: Synesthesia
Sherry Finzer’s new album is a journey of radiant solo flute music that releases…
Music Review: Spiral Rendezvous
The seasoned trio of R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton, and Will Clipman have relea…
Music Review: Primordial Swamp Beat Live
Primordial Swamp Beat Live is an uplifting 20-minute-long live performance/invoc…
Music Review: Tiyo's Songs of Life
Tiyo Attallah Salah-El was born in 1932 in Pennsylvania. After serving as a tank…
Music Review: Home, Before and After
Regina Spektor's songs have always been quirky, insightful tales that mix the mu…
Music Review: Les Racines
Vieux Farka Toure's new album, Les Racines, was recorded in Bamako, Mali, in his…
Music Review: Breaking the Thermometer
Breaking the Thermometer by Leyla McCalla is an ambitious and rewarding project …
Music Review: Stories Up High
Laney Jones has been to the bottom and back up again. Lucky for us, she has the …
Music Review: Satchel of Songs
Diane Patterson’s sixth studio album, Satchel of Songs, was released on Internat…
Music Review: Life on Earth
Life on Earth is the eighth studio album from Alynda Segarra and their band Hurr…
Music Review: Age of Apathy
AGE OF APATHY is the first studio album in six years from Irish-American singer …
Music Review: Radio Waves
Joan Osborne’s new album, Radio Waves, is a great idea that wouldn’t have happen…
Music Review: SUBA
OMAR SOSA AND SECKOU KEITA’S new album, SUBA, is a peaceful blend of rhythms and…
Music Review: Gone Beyond
DONNA DE LORY’S new album, Gone Beyond, offers the fruits of the singer’s daily …
Book Review: The Shamanic Bones of Zen
THE SHAMANIC BONES OF ZEN by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel is a deep exploration of the …
Music Review: The Jungle Sessions
THE JUNGLE SESSIONS is the third album in a trilogy from sacred singer/guitarist…
Music Review: Music for Film & Theatre
HANIA RANI IS A bright emerging artist whose piano-based compositions are emotio…
Music Review: They’re Calling Me Home
If there’s an upside to the pandemic, it’s that it inspired creative endeavors …
Music Review: We Are
We Are is the powerful new album from pianist/singer Jon Batiste, his first fu…
Music Review: Nocturne: Music for the Native American Flute
Nocturne: Music for the Native American FluteR. Carlos NakaiCANYON RECORDS …
re/VIEW: Indigo Girls
On Look Long, Indigo Girls' May 22 album release, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers cont…
Music Review: Sacrament
Sacrament is an album of ritual music with a Native American flavor by mult…
Music Review: Thanks for the Dance
Thanks for the Dance is a quintessential mix of Leonard Cohen’s melancholy humor…
Music Review: Bloom
Areni Agabian fuses unusual influences to create an album that is sparse, spacio…
Music Review: Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin's latest album contains 13 songs of self-reflection, spiritual att…
Rosa Parks: Pure Love: An Oratorio of Seven Songs
"'She was an activist long before the incident of the bus and the boycott,' Smit…
Music Review: The Prophet Speaks
Could it be that the answers we seek are right in front of us, but our ears have…
Music Review: The Cut of the Warrior
The Cut of the Warrior is an album about slicing through the ego and opening to …
5 Questions with Philip Glass
Composer Philip Glass culminated almost two decades of exploring sacred indigeno…
Music Review: Holler
Amy Ray’s sixth solo album, Holler, explores a range of topics like addiction, i…
Music Review: The Spirit of the Earth
The new two-CD album from Philip Glass—The Spirit of the Earth—is a …
Music Review: Magic Ship
One secret ingredient of the new album Magic Ship by Mountain Man are the amazin…
Music Review: Deva
Deva Premal and Miten have been making music together for almost 30 years. Their…
Music Review: Down Come the Walls
DOWN COME THE WALLS is a heart-opening album about personal transformation and r…
Music Review: Here in Heaven
DONNA DE LORY’S new album, Here in Heaven, begins with percussive vocals that br…
Music Review: Tree of Forgiveness
SEVENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD John Prine has successfully beat cancer—twice. One th…
Music Review: The Prodigal Son
THE PRODIGAL SON is Ry Cooder’s first solo album in six years—and it’s abo…
Music Review: Landfall
LANDFALL is an exquisite musical story of loss that’s been sumptuously crafted i…
Music Review: No Mercy in This Land
BEN HARPER AND Charlie Musselwhite are definitely on a roll. Their latest album&…
Music Review: My Name Is Bear
“We all must find our own way home.” This phrase rests on the booklet cover insi…
Music Review: Wilder Shores
Belinda Carlisle’s new album, Wilder Shores, has the former Go-Go’s singer blend…
Music Review: Solo
“Most people would never realize that I am closer to Thelonious Monk than to any…
Music Review: Komitas
Komitas (1869–1935) was a poet, priest, singer, and composer whose music us…
Music Review: Wonderville
Adam Bauer began his musical career as a bass player in a reggae band in Massach…
Music Review: Clean
Paul Jones is an accomplished jazz saxophonist, and for his second album—C…
Music Review: Power of Peace
Power of Peace is a joyful album that fulfills a wish of Carlos Santana to colla…
Music Review: Songversation: Medicine
Eric Garner’s dying words—“I can’t breathe”—were caught on video in …
Music Review: Truth Is a Beautiful Thing
London Grammar’s Hannah Reid has a stunning vocal range, and her two bandmates h…
Music Review: Binary
Ani DiFranco is now in her fourth decade of producing high-energy music with lyr…
Music Review: Pure Comedy
Pure Comedy by Father John Misty is a striking blues album that’s funny and…
Music Review: Requiem
Tigran Mansurian’s Requiem, dedicated to the memory of the victims of the A…
Music Review: Radiance Mixes: Tibetan Bowls with the Mantras of Deva Premal
Paul Temple, the artist who goes by the name RadianceMatrix, is a practitioner o…
Music Review: Future Politics
Future PoliticsAustraDomino Recording CompanyElectronic pop band Austra was foun…
Music Review: Freedom Highway
Freedom HighwayRhiannon GiddensNonesuch RecordsFreedom Highway is the new album …
Music Review: You Want It Darker
You Want It DarkerLeonard CohenColumbiaJust before the winter settled in, Leonar…
Music Review: America’s National Parks
America’s National ParksWadada Leo SmithCuneiformYosemite, the Grand Canyon, Yel…
Music Review: Keep Me Singing
Keep Me SingingVan MorrisonCaroline InternationalKeep Me Singing is Van Morrison…
Music Review: On Behalf of Nature
On Behalf of NatureMeredith MonkECMOn Behalf of Nature is the latest album from …
Music Review: The Beautiful Not Yet
The Beautiful Not YetCarrie NewcomerAvailable Light RecordsCarrie Newcomer’s soo…
Music Review: Temple at Midnight
Temple at MidnightMitenPrabhu MusicTemple at Midnight is the new solo album from…
Music Review: Shakti Sutra
Shakti Sutra Sheela Bringi New Earth Records With Shakti Sutra Indian-America…
Music Review: The Earth Wants You
The Earth Wants YouRev. Billy & The Stop Shopping ChoirCreative CommonsRev. …
Music Review: Continuum
ContinuumNik BärtschECMLooking for a deep sensory experience? Hang out inside Co…
Music Review: Né So
Né SoRokia TraoréNonesuch From the opening moments of this new album, the Afric…
Music Review: Into the Silence
Into the SilenceAvishai CohenECMMusic can be motivated by new beginnings and ins…
Music Review: Om Land
Om LandDavid Vito GregoliDharmapalaOm Land is the latest offering from award-win…
Music Review: Sanctuary
SanctuaryPhil HaynesCorner Store JazzCymbals, chimes, and drums. Sticks, fingers…
Music Review: The Spirit of Healing
The Spirit of HealingShamanic Journey Musicby Sandra Ingerman & Byron Metcal…
Music Review: Hommage à Eberhard Weber
Hommage à Eberhard Weberwith Pat Metheny, Jan Garbarek, Gary Burton, and the SWR…
Music Review: Kala
KalaTrevor HallVanguard RecordsTrevor Hall’s new album, Kala, was written in Haw…
Music Review: Nomad Songs
Nomad SongsStephan MicusECM RecordsStephan Micus describes himself as a musical …
Music Review: Buy This Fracking Album
Buy This Fracking AlbumFeaturing Meshell Ndegeocello, Natalie Merchant and the F…
Music Review: Crosswinds
Crosswinds: World Flute ConversationsRajendra TeredesaiReal MusicCrosswinds is a…
Music Review: Deuter
DeuterReiki Hands of LoveNEW EARTH RECORDSReiki Hands of Love is a sensitive, me…
Music Review: Rising Appalachia
Rising AppalachiaWider CirclesRISING APPALACHIA A few years ago a friend emaile…
Book Review: Become Ocean
Become OceanJohn Luther AdamsCANTALOUPE MUSICGlobal warming and climate change a…
Music Review: Aquilonis
Aquilonis Trio Mediaeval ECM RECORDSAquilonis is the sixth ECM New Se…
Music Review: Mbalimaou
MbalimaouBoubacar LUSAFRICA Boubacar TraorÉ was born in the city of …
Music Review: Winds of Samsara
Winds of SamsaraRicky Kej & Wouter Kellerman Revolution Studios/Kellerm…
Music Review: Singing Lights
Singing LightsTony Duncan & Darrin Yazzie Canyon Records“Music has alwa…
Music Review: Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs from Aleppo
Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs from AleppoNawaElectric Cowb…
Music Review: Cello & Piano Meditations, Music for Relaxation and Healing
Cello & Piano Meditations: Music for Relaxation and HealingDavid Darling an…
Music Review, At the Temple Door
At the Temple Door Ajeet KaurSpirit VoyageAjeet Kaur encountered a spiritua…
Music Review: Incantations
IncantationsSheela Bringi Black SwanSoulful music has probably always bloss…
Music Review: Heartbeats: Music Infused Nights
Heartbeats: Music Infused InsightsMonique RhodesSounds TrueAwakening to the pres…
Music Review: The Master
The MasterWarren Cuccurullo and Ustad Sultan KhanSix Degrees RecordsTalk about&n…
Music Review: Spiraling, Ascending with Prayer
Spiraling, Ascending with PrayerLouie GonnieCanyon RecordsSpiraling, Ascending w…
Music Review: Beautiful Love
Beautiful LovePaulinho GarciaJazzmin Records and Shrinktunes MediaBeautiful Love…
Music Review: The Tree of Life
The Tree of LifeLoren Nerell and Mark SeeligProjektThe Tree of Life is a new alb…
Music Review: Ritual
RitualPeter Kater and R. Carlos NakaiMysterium Music Rituals are about presence…
Music Review: River of Light
River of LightAshanaSpirit VoyageAshana’s new River of Light begins with the gen…
Music Review: Tremors
TremorsSohn4ADThe debut album from music producer Sohn is creative, emotionally …
Music Review: Return to Shiva Station
Return to Shiva Station: Kailash ConnectionJai UttalSounds TrueShiva Station is …
Music Review: The Gospel According to the Other Mary
The Gospel According to the Other Mary: A Passion Oratorio in Two ActsJohn Adams…
Music Review: Goodnight Tender
Goodnight TenderAmy RayDaemon RecordsAmy Ray is half of the Indigo Girls with Em…
Music Review: Music for Love and Connection
Yoga Is Love: Music for Love and ConnectionTom CollettiSounds TrueThe multi-inst…
Music Review: Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles
Tales from the Realm of theQueen of PentaclesSuzanne VegaAmanuensis ProductionsF…
Music Review: Senses
SensesOmar SosaOtá RecordsCuban-born pianist Omar Sosa began studying music when…
Jahta Beat: Chanting with Tigers
Jahta Beat: Chanting with TigersDJ DrezBlack Swan SoundsChanting with Tigers is …
Lam La Che (On the Road)
Lam La Che (On the RoadTechungARC Music ProductionsThe latest album from the Tib…
Music Review: Igniting the Beauty
Igniting the BeautyBrenda McMorrowWhite Swan RecordsBrenda McMorrow played folk …
Music Review: Cantus
CantusKunikoLinn RecordsKuniko Kato, a native of Japan, studied piano as a child…
Music Review: The Spiritual Side of Wynton Marsalis
The Spiritual Side of Wynton MarsalisWynton MarsalisColumbia/Sony Classical/Lega…
Music Review: Future Flows
Future FlowsSteve RoachProjekt RecordsTime seems to slow down when you’re listen…
Music Review: The Unchanging
The UnchangingDonna De LoryDe Lory MusicDonna De Lory’s new album, The Unchangin…
Book Review: The Practice of Nada Yoga
The Practice of Nada YogaMeditation on the Inner Sacred SoundBy Baird HerseyInne…
Musician Profile: Donna De Lory
Donna De Lory’s new album The Unchanging brings attention to the sacred and eter…
Music Review: Build a Bridge
Diane PattersonFour Winds MusicDiane Patterson sees herself as a pilgrim and a g…
Music Review: Deep Africa
Deep ForestBig 3 Records“Amber Opening” is a smooth, flowing song that begins th…
Music Review: Charity - Songs of the Native American Church
Kevin YazzieCanyon RecordsFor thousands of years, peyote has been sanctified as …
Music Review: For Now I Am Winter
Ólafur ArnaldsMercury ClassicsAt 28, Ólafur Arnalds is part of a budding musical…
Awakening the Fire
R. Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman Canyon Records Not counting birdsong, cicada …
Bobby McFerrin's SpiritYouAll Honors His Father
(Sony Masterworks)After 30 years of uplifting vocals, a cappella magic, 10 Gramm…
Soul March
Chandrika Krishnamurthy TandonSoul Chants MusicTwo hundred forty miles. That’s t…
The Best of 25 Years
The Tibetan Healing Music of Nawang KhechogArtist: Nawang Khechog; Produced…
Everything Is Broken
Songs about Things as They AreAlan SenaukeSonic Zen RecordsTake a close look at …
Mala
Devendra BanhartNonesuch RecordsI first heard about singer-songwriter Devendra B…
Tooth & Nail
Billy Bragg Cooking Vinyl Tooth & Nail is Billy Bragg’s first studio album in …
Love Never Comes Too Late
VinxDreamsiclePrimal Pop. That’s the way Vinx De’Jon Parrette describes hi…
Liquid Mind X: Meditation
Chuck WildReal MusicChuck Wild’s music career has been a wild ride. Back in the …
Healing Mantras
Mantras for Precarious Times; Tibetan Mantras for Turbulent Times (2-disc set)De…
Troubadours on the Rhine
Loreena McKennittQuinlan Road Limited Gently opening my eyes while listenin…
Philip Glass Gets Schooled
It’s a great time to be a Philip Glass fan—last year was the composer’s 75th bir…
Koralations
Foday Musa Suso and Gretchen RoweSUSO MUSICKORALATIONS IS A MEETING of two music…
The Dunrobin Session
Pauline Oliveros and Jesse StewartNUUN RECORDSOliveros has explained deep listen…
Amrita
Prajna Vieira and Ben LeinbachMANTRALOGY RECORDSPrajna Viera has honed …
The Passion of Ramakrishna
Philip GlassORANGE MOUNTAIN MUSIC“It would be hard to overestimate the impact th…
Ancient Future
Ryuichi Sakamoto and Christopher WillitsGhostly InternationalRyuichi Sakamoto is…
Fatou
Fatoumata DiawaraWorld Circuit/NonesuchAfrica is the birthplace of some of the s…
Earth Warrior
Tony DuncanCanyon RecordsEarth Warrior is a celebration of life. This sensitive …
Peace Becomes You
Holly NearCalico Tracks MusicHolly Near is a lovely example of a musical artist …
Emerging Artist: Alisha Zalkin
The music business in Los Angeles is not known for being easy. Alisha Zalkin, a…
Pilgrimage to India with MC Yogi
Bhakti-hop innovator MC Yogi travels to India for an unwitting spiritual chiropractic adjustment—and artistic inspiration for his newest musical offering.
Sound, Silence, and John Cage: Four Musical and Spiritual Ideals to Live By
I’m sitting cross-legged on a downtown sidewalk. My five year-old son is in my l…
Matisyahu: "Spark Seeker"
A young girl with frizzy dreadlock-style hair looks into the camera with a half-…
"Election Special" by Ry Cooder
And now a special message from Ry Cooder: welcome to the reality of money, corru…
"Remixed" by Girish
Opening the CD case for Girish’s Remixed, one discovers a poem by the great Sufi…
"Different Colours" by Marconi Union
"The world's most relaxing song”—that’s how Time magazine (November 28, 201…
"Anastasis" by Dead Can Dance
Rebirth. That’s how fans worldwide of Dead Can Dance must be describing the…
Guitars Without Borders: A Night at a House Concert
I’m reclining on a couch with large, cushy black pillows. Just relaxing. And lis…
Eckhart Tolle's "Music for Inner Stillness"
Music has always been a way to get in touch with emotion, nature, and inner stil…
Music for Social Change
Margaret Mead once said, “A small group of thoughtful people could change the wo…
"Stifters Dinge" by Heiner Goebbels
Soundscape, audio collage, musique concrète, found sound. Those are some of…
"Apollo" by Icebreaker
Imagine life without gravity: weightlessly floating with ease. Images of the ear…
"Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions" by Billy Bragg and Wilco
Fifteen years ago Nora Guthrie, the daughter of political folk legend Woody Guth…
"All Fall Down" by Shawn Colvin
Back in 1987 Shawn Colvin was a backup singer for Suzanne Vega. Look at her now!…
