Vinyl: The New CD?

by Robin Hilton

I recently did something I haven't done in more than 20 years: I put on a record -- an actual vinyl LP -- and just listened to it. The album was Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago. I had mail-ordered the record, and when I found it waiting for me on my front porch one evening after work, I decided to make it the night's entertainment.

With no television and no other distractions, I just sat there and listened. But while I listened, I held the dust jacket and used the time to really consider and appreciate the artwork. I studied the lyrics and read all the liner notes. What a novelty.

A while back on the blog, I mentioned that I had gotten rid of all my CDs because I thought the compact disc was a dying format. It's so much easier to access everything from a hard drive. When I asked listeners what they thought would be the music format to replace CDs, a handful of people said "vinyl." I thought it was funny, but I've come to realize that they may be right.

I've read a number of reports that sales of vinyl LPs and turntables are way up. Retailers speculate the obvious: Vinyl turns music into a tangible work of art, allowing a deeper connection between listener and artist. And many vinyl LPs now come with a code to download a free MP3 version of the album, giving listeners both the convenience of digital audio and the beauty of art you can hold in your hand.

Vinyl could save not only music as high art, but also the music industry itself. Labels and music retailers, reeling from years of plummeting sales, have been trying to lure buyers into purchasing physical CDs instead of downloads. Some have included videos or bonus tracks with the discs. But vinyl is a perfect excuse for returning to an actual, physical record store, where you can lay down some money and walk out with something real. I'd love to see local record stores come back.

Some bands see the potential, too. This fall, Of Montreal released multiple versions of its latest album on vinyl (with the free download code). The different versions include extra treats like wall art, buttons, a T-shirt and a paper lantern. The artwork on both the cover and album folds is simply stunning. It would seem almost criminal to shrink it down to the size of a CD booklet or to turn it into a tiny icon for a computer.

Of Montreal's irresistible vinyl release finally convinced me to start collecting physical LPs. I dusted off my turntable and started hunting down some of my favorite recordings on vinyl. So far, I've acquired a total of... eight records.

I asked around the office. All of the NPR Music producers copped to owning hundreds of LPs, but only one of them (Lars Gotrich) still actively buys vinyl.

What does your vinyl collection look like? E-mail us a photo of it; we'll post some of them here on the site.

-- Robin Hilton

12:32 PM ET | 11-21-2008 | permalink

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Fan = Fanatic

by Bob Boilen

The other night, I went to hear Brian Wilson perform his new work, That Lucky Old Sun, at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. We hope to webcast a recording of part of that show soon.

I was in my seat for no more than five minutes when a Brian Wilson fan spotted my "all access" stage pass. A man named John held in his hands a book on surfing -- one he obviously treasured, wrapped in protective plastic. He showed it to me the way a proud parent would show baby pictures; the book was filled with autographs from famous surf-rock stars, including guitar king Dick Dale.

On a page filled with autographs, I saw a blank white area, and that's when John said something like, "I need to have Brian sign his autograph right here. I have a pen, and if you could just please go backstage and have him write 'To John' and then sign his name, it would mean so much to me."

I hesitated. I have a lot of respect for performers and their need for personal space, but I also remembered so many years ago, standing in the lobby of a Holiday Inn to get Ray Davies to sign my album.

After much gentle but passionate and persistent cajoling, I said sure. I took his book, walked backstage, saw Brian Wilson and asked him to sign it, "To John, from Brian Wilson."

Less than two minutes later, I walked back to John, gave him a big thumbs-up and handed him his book. It was such a sweet moment, because it clearly meant so much to him.

As I stood around during intermission, I heard snippets of random conversations that went something like, "They love Brian so much, they named their son after him." Earlier in the evening, I saw someone with a surfboard trying to get a picture with Wilson.

Brian Wilson is a man with a hard past: an abusive father, bouts of deep depression and voices in his head. He's the sole survivor of a family of brothers (Carl and Dennis) who made up the core of The Beach Boys.

But what Brian Wilson can hold on to are his songs: They are, in a way, his children. And those children are very much alive and well because of an incredible bunch of dedicated fans and a marvelous band of musicians. They all derive so much strength and joy from Wilson's songs -- music as simple and innocent as "Surfer Girl" and as complicated and emotionally wrought as "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times."

It's easy to laugh off fandom of any kind. But having seen it up close, it's a powerful glue that bonds people together. It's powerful enough to make a dream or two come true.

-- Bob Boilen

7:48 AM ET | 11-19-2008 | permalink

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The Year's Best CDs

Note: you have to login to the NPR Community in order to vote in the poll or post comments.

If you're already registered and logged in, you'll find the poll here.

We've compiled our annual list of 100 nominees; you just have to tell us which ones you like the most. If you don't see one of your favorite artists listed in the poll, you can write-in the album and artist here in the comments section of the blog.

-- Robin Hilton

11:52 AM ET | 11-18-2008 | permalink

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The Future Of Album Art

by Bob Boilen

When was the last time you sat down and listened to your favorite record, held the artwork in your hands and did nothing else? For me, it's been ages. I find it so easy to have my attention pulled away by the Web, by email or even a magazine. The music may hold my interest, but the artwork rarely does.

I've come to the conclusion that it's the fault of the art and not my short attention span. I've never liked the CD format when it comes to artwork and liner notes. Sure, there are box sets that are knockouts, but the average CD booklet is hard to read and just plain too tiny.

Now comes the future of album covers: digital art.

For years, we've seen CDs with bonus videos and even electronic books. But nothing has knocked me out until recently, when I saw Snow Patrol's new interactive Booklet (a clunky but descriptive name) for its latest release, A Hundred Million Suns.

I downloaded the art for free as an application from the iPhone app store. I haven't even heard the music yet, though I could imagine listening on my iPod Touch, while opening a series of digital origami, complete with lyrics and liner notes.

The first screen shows a universe of origami shapes, like stars. Touch one of the shapes and it comes forward.

Pinch the origami to open or close it.

When some of the paper shapes open, you'll find lyrics or other notes.

There are also videos and Web links, but the key to my loving this has less to do with the execution and more to do with the form. I love the idea of sitting with my iPod and playing with the artwork while listening to music. Any artist or designer, frustrated by the CD format, will just delight in making art that moves, morphs and informs.

If you think of artwork the way a designer thinks of a video game, all of a sudden the paradigm shifts from bands getting their music on Guitar Hero to fans taking unforgettable journeys into a band's artistic vision, which includes its music, its words and its musings.

You think MTV was a marriage of music and art? Just wait.

-- Bob Boilen

1:39 PM ET | 11-17-2008 | permalink

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Nominate The Best CDs For 2008

We're no longer accepting new nominations for the year's best CDs. Check back Tuesday the 18th to vote in the final poll.

It's hard to believe, but we're entering the final stretch of 2008, and it's time to pick your favorite CDs of the year.

In mid-November, we'll post a ballot, here on the blog, asking you to vote for the best albums of 2008. But for now, we'd like some nominations. There are some obvious ones: TV on the Radio's Dear Science, Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago and Vampire Weekend's self-titled disc are a few of them. But what are some that aren't as obvious?

Tell us your nominations for the year's best CDs. We'll use your picks to compile a master list, which we'll then post here for voting. (Note: You'll need to register with npr.org to comment here on the blog and to vote in the poll we'll post in mid-November.)

Can't remember what albums came out this year? Browse the All Songs Considered archives to see what we've reviewed this year.

-- Bob Boilen

12:33 PM ET | 10-29-2008 | permalink

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A Magical and Historic Night

by Robin Hilton

I'm thrilled to be able to share a very special concert with you: It's the Elephant 6 Orchestra, recorded live at Chicago's Bottom Lounge, on Oct. 21.

You've likely heard us talk about Elephant 6 before on All Songs Considered (I also mentioned the group a couple of weeks ago on this blog). This is a large, sprawling family of bands (Neutral Milk Hotel, Of Montreal, Elf Power, and The Apples in Stereo are some of them) that formed in the early '90s. After releasing a number of acclaimed and influential albums, E6 eventually dissolved, as members moved on to other projects or went on indefinite hiatus.

When E6 reunited for this special October tour, it marked the first time in more than a decade that many of the group's members had performed together. I was particularly giddy over the news because it meant I'd finally be able to see some of my favorite artists live. I was living out of the country during the collective's most prolific and exciting period back in the '90s and never got to see any of the E6 bands in concert (with the exception of Elf Power and Of Montreal, two of the group's bands that have continued releasing records).

I was totally geeking out at the Chicago show. I'll let you listen to the performance and read more at our concert page. But it was a very special and memorable night for everyone in E6 and everyone in the audience.

So what's a favorite band you've never gotten to see?

-- Robin Hilton

3:52 PM ET | 10-27-2008 | permalink

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I've Fallen In Love With An Application

by Bob Boilen

The name of my new love is Bloom, and it's the best iPhone/iPod application ever. Bloom is the creation of Brian Eno (my musical hero) and musician Peter Chilvers; it makes ambient music that's lovely, relaxing and not tacky with the touch of your fingertips.

The best way to experience Bloom is to find someone with an iPod or iPod Touch, give them $4 and download it from the iTunes Store. Then have fun together.

But, for the curious, I made a video. I've been making music with machines for nearly 30 years and this is the most elegant way I've ever seen. Do you know any other programs out there that do anything like this?

-- Bob Boilen

5:25 PM ET | 10-21-2008 | permalink

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Calexico Video: Part Three

by Robin Hilton

Calexico is marking the release of its new album, Carried to Dust, with a series of videos that include some nice, live performances of their new songs. We began last month with the first and second installments of the videos. We've just gotten the third part:

Part Two:

Part One:

I've been spending time with Carried to Dust, and think it may be the band's best album. It's an elegantly produced collection of songs, with some wonderfully haunting moments. Joey Burns and John Convertino, the duo behind Calexico's music, draw heavily on their favorite sounds: Portuguese fado, spaghetti westerns, Mexican mariachi, folk and rock. It all comes together on Carried to Dust as a richly seasoned and mature mix.

Burns and Convertino have long been taken by what they see as the majesty and mystery of the American Southwest, particularly their hometown of Tucson, Ariz. (They talk a lot about this in the videos). The sprawling city, where they've lived since the mid-'90s, has been the subject and inspiration for much of their music over the years, and Carried to Dust continues to drink from that well with ghostly narratives about the "strange people" they've encountered. Calexico colors the scorched landscapes with enough romance and strange curiosities to make you want to linger.

-- Robin Hilton

3:49 PM ET | 10-14-2008 | permalink

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Five Recordings To Hear Before You Die

by Robin Hilton

Let's say you've got 24 hours to live. Forget all your unfulfilled dreams, the countries you haven't visited, the people you haven't seen. We're going to use these precious few hours left to listen to some music. So close the bedroom door, put on your headphones and grab the five CDs you simply must hear. What will you choose?

Music reviewer and author Tom Moon took on this challenge (though he gave himself a lot more wiggle room) for his new book, 1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List. After four years of writing and researching and digging through countless albums, Tom produced an impressive tome -- nearly 900 pages of artists, LPs and songs, as well as a detailed explanation of how each of them wound up on the list.

The book showcases a lot of the albums you'd expect to see: Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde or Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run, for example. But unless you're a music scholar, you probably haven't listened to -- or even heard of -- the vast majority of them.

On our latest episode of All Songs Considered, we talk with Tom about his book and listen to some of the amazing music he selected. You can also tell us your must-hear albums. You're more than welcome to give us a thousand, but I thought we'd keep it simple and ask for five. Be sure to tell us a little bit about why you picked them and include a recommended track.

A few things to keep in mind while making your picks: These aren't necessarily your all-time favorite albums. And they don't have to represent a broad range of genres or eras. These are just five albums you love and think people need to hear.

Here's one take on it (alphabetically):

Vic Chesnutt: West of Rome
Yeah, yeah, I mention Vic all the time. But, really, this is a rare album, and if you don't have it, you should get it. West of Rome is everything music should be: surprising, artful, beautiful, ugly, joyful, sad and entirely original. Listen to the title track.

Five Eight: The Good Nurse
This band struggled for many years to have a hit record. When its members finally gave up trying and decided to just do what they wanted, they came up with this little masterpiece. The Good Nurse is a concept album. Its songs take on many unpredictable forms; they're inspired and, at times, heartwrenching. If you're not teary-eyed by the end of the last song, singer Mike Mantione's elegy to a dying grandmother, check to make sure you have a pulse. "Off Season" or "Florence" are both good starting points.

Tim Hecker: Haunt Me, Haunt Me, Do It Again
I can imagine spending my last hour on earth listening to this one. Tim Hecker makes instrumental music that's incredibly three-dimensional, with the strangest, richest textures you can imagine. Put on your headphones and get lost in the opening track, "Music For Tundra Pt. 1."

Billie Holiday: The Complete Decca Recordings
I've told friends that I think this compilation represents the pinnacle of Western civilization. It's an exaggeration, of course. But then again... Holiday recorded for Decca from the mid-'40s until about 1950, which was when she was at the height of both her popularity and her gifts as a singer; this collection contains her finest recordings. Holiday often recorded her songs in a single take, and this collection includes a few incredible and rare moments in which she stops the performance, chats with the band about what went wrong, and starts again. My favorite track is "Sweet Hunk of Trash," with Louis Armstrong.

Jay-Z and DJ Danger Mouse: The Grey Album
I was going through my iTunes library, and it seemed criminal not to include a Beatles record, and there were a number of amazing hip-hop albums that popped up as candidates. So I decided to kill two birds with one stone. Besides, this really is a mind-blowing, brilliant mashup of two incredible albums. I still can't believe how well they work together. Listen to "99 Problems" mixed with "Helter Skelter." (You'll have to search for a copy online somewhere, since it was never released because of obvious legal conflicts.)

Yours?

-- Robin Hilton

4:36 PM ET | 10- 8-2008 | permalink

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Important Blog Changes

by Bob Boilen

Starting today you will have to register to post to the blog. Don't worry. This will ultimately let you do a lot more with the site:

- Comments will now be posted instantly, instead of waiting for us to approve them.
- Commenting will now be possible on both NPR blogs and stories.
- We can feature your comments on the NPR home page and in the inset column of story pages.
- You can "recommend" stories.
- You can connect directly with NPR.org staff and other users through your public profile and the community home page.
- You can also help moderate the site with "report abuse" links.

Here's a bit more about it.

Your voice has made this music blog fun for us and everyone else who reads it. We've also learned a lot! So please take a minute to sign up.

If you care to complain or have constructive criticism, post it below. If you don't want to register (and I hope that won't be the case), then write to us at allsongs@npr.org.

One downside is that you won't be able to comment on older posts or any post made before October 1st. However, past comments made to those posts will still be visible.

-- Bob Boilen

10:30 AM ET | 10- 7-2008 | permalink

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