Guests rate the songs at the <em>All Songs Considered </em>Listening Party in Washington, D.C.Jeff Martinhide captioni toggle captionJeff MartinOur ShowYou Cannot Be Serious: The All Songs Considered Listening Party By Robin HiltonThe conversation got pretty heated when hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton hosted a listening party and invited everyone to rate the music.
Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra perform at the Tiny Desk.Claire Eggers/NPRhide captioni toggle captionClaire Eggers/NPRSun Ra Arkestra: Tiny Desk Concert
Jim Sauter (left) and Kid Millions, blowin' your ears out. Lisa Corson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Lisa Corson/Courtesy of the artist Just In Viking's Choice: Kid Millions & Jim Sauter, 'Game Jump' by Lars Gotrich November 6, 2014 Borbetomagus' Jim Sauter stabs at his feedback-ridden sax while Oneida's Kid Millions enters a manic headspace with hydra-armed drum work. It's improvised mayhem, but it seems to grin from ear to ear. Listen Loading… 5:17 Playlist
Guests rate the songs at the All Songs Considered Listening Party in Washington, D.C. Jeff Martin hide caption itoggle caption Jeff Martin Our Show You Cannot Be Serious: The All Songs Considered Listening Party by Robin Hilton, Bob Boilen November 6, 2014 The conversation got pretty heated when hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton hosted a listening party and invited everyone to rate the music. Listen Loading… 1:08:19 Download Playlist
Adolphe Sax's invention has found its way into many styles of music. Here, Clarence Clemons plays the tenor sax with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Lexington, Ky., in 1984. Lexington Herald-Leader/Getty Images hide caption itoggle caption Lexington Herald-Leader/Getty Images Sax Ed: The NPR Music Saxophone Quiz by Tom Huizenga November 6, 2014 From classical and rock to jazz and world music, the saxophone has invaded many cultures and styles. Try this quiz celebrating the bicentennial of the instrument's inventor, Adolphe Sax.
José González returns with his first new solo album in seven years. Vestiges And Claws is due out Feb. 17. Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Courtesy of the artist Just In José González, 'Every Age' by Robin Hilton November 5, 2014 Hear a beautifully spare, existential meditation from González's first new solo album in seven years. Listen Loading… 3:11 Playlist
Courtesy of the artist Our Show Hear Four New Bryan Ferry Songs November 4, 2014 On this week's All Songs Considered, Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry joins hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton to share songs and discuss his upcoming album, Avonmore. Listen Loading… 38:50 Download Playlist
Paula Temple's "Deathvox" is one of our favorite tracks this month. Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Courtesy of the artist Nerds! The Best Dance Tracks Of October by Sami Yenigun, Otis Hart November 3, 2014 Maybe it was Halloween, or maybe it was the tidal wave of pumpkin spice advertisements. Either way, this month's Recommended Dose electronic music mix turned out darker and more aggressive than usual. Listen Loading… 32:52 Playlist
How do you share music with your kids without going overboard? iStockphoto.com hide caption itoggle caption iStockphoto.com The Good Listener How Do I Share Music With My Kids? Should I? by Stephen Thompson November 1, 2014 A dad can't wait to share songs with his newborn son. But are there right and wrong ways to do it?
Ozzy Osbourne Joseph Cultice/Corbis hide caption itoggle caption Joseph Cultice/Corbis Nerds! Your PIcks For The Most Terrifying Songs Of All Time by Robin Hilton October 31, 2014 'Tis the season! Tell us your picks for the most terrifying — and we mean truly unsettling — songs of all time.
Drummer and composer Otis Brown III performing live earlier this year in New York City. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images hide caption itoggle caption Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images Nerds! Puzzler: Name That Drum Fill, With Otis Brown III by Robin Hilton October 31, 2014 Our recurring puzzler for careful listeners, this week featuring a selection of handpicked fills and intros from jazz drummer Otis Brown III. Hear the fill (or intro) and match it to the song.
A Pregnant Light. Ashley Sheridan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Ashley Sheridan/Courtesy of the artist Just In Viking's Choice: A Pregnant Light, 'Born To Ruin' by Lars Gotrich October 30, 2014 As a solo artist, Damian Master is unbound by the metal in his catalog. "Born To Ruin" contains his most anthemic statement of purpose yet, curled under a swaggering riff and his fire-spitting bark. Listen Loading… 4:18 Playlist
Kelly Giarrocco/Courtesy of the artist Just In Angel Olsen, 'May As Well' by Bob Boilen October 29, 2014 "May As Well" is a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Burn Your Fire For No Witness, an album that started as one of Bob Boilen's favorites of the year and has only gotten better with time. Listen Loading… 2:40 Playlist
Ghosts, both friendly and fiendish, make appearances in a wide range of songs. iStockphoto.com hide caption itoggle caption iStockphoto.com Nerds! Ghosts In The Music: A Spooky Songs Quiz by Tom Huizenga October 29, 2014 Think you know your musical ghouls and ghosts? From country and classical to rock and jazz, try this hair-raising Halloween puzzler.
Clockwise from top: Belle And Sebastian, Grouper, Bo Ningen, The Velvet Underground Courtesy of the artists hide caption itoggle caption Courtesy of the artists Our Show New Mix: The Velvet Underground, Belle & Sebastian, Grouper, More October 28, 2014 On this week's All Songs Considered, we share dance music from Belle & Sebastian and unreleased Velvet Underground, plus Bob Boilen discusses new discoveries from this year's CMJ Music Marathon. Listen Loading… Download Playlist
Aphex Swift. Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Courtesy of the artist Just In The Taylor Swift/Aphex Twin Mashup You Didn't Know You Wanted Is Here by Lars Gotrich October 27, 2014 Aphex Swift is a charming table flip that teeters between the sweet and the sinister: a little Nashville twang with a small dose of digital terror.
Bob Boilen/NPR Music Bob Boilen's Top 10 Discoveries From The 2014 CMJ Music Marathon by Bob Boilen October 27, 2014 Every fall, hundreds of bands migrate to New York City for the annual CMJ Music Marathon. Bob Boilen wants to share a few standouts from this year's lineup.
Dead Man's Bones' 2009 debut belongs in any discussion of Halloween music. Hama Sanders/Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Hama Sanders/Courtesy of the artist The Good Listener Why Doesn't Halloween Get More Music? by Stephen Thompson October 25, 2014 Christmas yields dozens of holiday albums each year. But, "Monster Mash" aside, what of Halloween?
Sleater-Kinney (and Quasi and Wild Flag) drummer Janet Weiss at the kit. Tim Bugbee/Tinnitus Photography hide caption itoggle caption Tim Bugbee/Tinnitus Photography Nerds! Name That Drum Fill, With Sleater-Kinney's Janet Weiss by Robin Hilton October 24, 2014 Our recurring puzzler for careful listeners, this week featuring a selection of handpicked fills from Sleater-Kinney drummer Janet Weiss. Hear the drum fill (or intro) and match it to the song.
Robin Bacior's new album, Water Dreams, comes out Jan. 13. Kim Smith Miller/Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Kim Smith Miller/Courtesy of the artist Just In Song Premiere, Robin Bacior, 'If It Does' by Stephen Thompson October 23, 2014 Robin Bacior's honeyed but vibrant voice hits gently, bestowing the listener with comfort and calm.
Chumped. Rebecca Reed/Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Rebecca Reed/Courtesy of the artist Just In Viking's Choice: Chumped, 'Name That Thing' by Lars Gotrich October 22, 2014 This catchy pop-punk song has a wistful quality befitting a desire to cling desperately to youth. Listen Loading… 2:13 Playlist
Clockwise from upper left: Sleater-Kinney, Elle Varner, GRMLN, The Flaming Lips Courtesy of the artists hide caption itoggle caption Courtesy of the artists Our Show New Mix: Sleater-Kinney, The Flaming Lips, Elle Varner, More October 21, 2014 This week on All Songs Considered: the reunion of a band very dear to our hearts, The Flaming Lips cover Sgt. Pepper's and selections from NPR Music's showcase during the CMJ music festival. Listen Loading… Download Playlist
Black Clouds. Chris Bavaria/Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Chris Bavaria/Courtesy of the artist Just In Viking's Choice: Black Clouds, 'And Then I Dove' by Lars Gotrich October 21, 2014 The D.C. instrumental rock band's hefty track sends vibrations through the chest. Black Clouds' melodies are tastefully driven through what's surely a spaceship-console-worthy rack of effects pedals.
Wildhoney. Pat McQuade/Courtesy of the artist hide caption itoggle caption Pat McQuade/Courtesy of the artist Just In Viking's Choice: Wildhoney, 'Fall In' by Lars Gotrich October 21, 2014 The Baltimore shoegaze band bends space with a seismic guitar, washes it in a mess of crashing cymbals and coos sweetly in a dreamy pop song. Listen Loading… 2:21 Playlist