Top Picks: Alabama Shakes' album 'Sound & Color,' the film '1971,' and more
Concert to remember
returns May 24 from the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna will host the event, which includes tributes to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, disabled veterans, and children who have lost a parent in a war. Gloria Estefan and Tessanne Chin, a 鈥淰oice鈥� winner, will perform. It airs live on PBS at 8 p.m.聽
Before Watergate
On March 8, 1971, a band of ordinary citizens broke into an FBI office in Media, Pa., and stole hundreds of files. The documents, which unveiled a vast and illegal regime of spying on and intimidating Americans, were mailed to the news media and members of Congress. The burglars were never caught. Now, members of the Citizens鈥� Commission to Investigate the FBI share their story in , an 鈥淚ndependent Lens鈥� film that premi猫res May 18 at 10 p.m. on PBS. Check local listings.
Van Morrison shines again
There has never been much clamor for loner and curmudgeon Van Morrison to make a duets album, but he did and 鈥� surprise 鈥� it鈥檚 his best album in decades. On , Van the Man sounds inspired by the material and invigorated by the company he keeps. The variety of voices is a timbre-filled treat. Among the guests are Michael Bubl茅, Mavis Staples, Stevie Winwood, and Mark Knopfler.聽
Riot of sounds
Imagine a late-night jam session with the Sun Ra Arkestra and Al Green鈥檚 Hi Records band, awash in echo. 鈥淚t鈥� band Alabama Shakes鈥檚 new album, , could have been conceived in such a petri dish. It is challenging, sonically thrilling, and chock-full of twists on the soul genre, but it leans toward being a bit too 鈥渙ut there鈥� for its own good.聽
Inside Abbey Road
The London landmark made famous by the Beatles is still a busy and functioning studio as the recording home of the London Symphony Orchestra and pop stars Adele, Coldplay, and Kanye West, among others. Google has created a VIP pass at insideabbeyroad.withgoogle.com; you can take a guided tour with host Giles Martin, a house producer and son of the so-called Fifth Beatle, producer George Martin. Listen to interviews and live clips, and try your hand at production.
