Can You Build The Perfect Cover Song?
The best cover songs, the ones that endure, bring out something that wasn't already there in the original.
We'll be honest with you: We love music! Here's where we geek-out about artists, albums and songs, share trivia, puzzles and musical memories, talk about trends and more.
The best cover songs, the ones that endure, bring out something that wasn't already there in the original.
by Bob Boilen
A record label used to actually be a label: a small, circular piece of paper that could represent a sound, an aesthetic and a standard. But if you only listen to MP3s, do labels matter to you?
To the vinyl lover who dumped her collection years ago: First off, we feel terrible for you, but we're here to offer some tips on how to rebuild.
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by Robin Hilton
Have you jammed with The Beatles, sung with Prince or taken coffee with Elliott Smith? NPR Music's Robin Hilton has (in his ever-random, inexplicable dreams).
Familiarity can breed contempt. So how do you rekindle passion for the albums you once loved?
by Robin Hilton
Just about everyone's tastes in music evolve as we get older. Some find themselves turning the volume knob down and listening to quieter songs, while others go full throttle with exponentially harder music. Tell us what's happened to your own listening habits as you've gotten older.
Parents pass down countless behavioral and cultural inheritances. Is it possible to pass down musical taste?
by Robin Hilton
The death of Storm Thorgerson, who created classic album covers, including Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, gets us thinking about our favorite album covers of all time.
by Bob Boilen
On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of their classic album, Odessey and Oracle, members of The Zombies talk with NPR's Bob Boilen about their unusual harmonies, touring the U.S. as British teenagers in the 1960s and why they broke up before Odessey even came out.
For those with stacks of CDs and little desire to go digital, how do you thin out your collection?
How important are common cultural interests? Is what you like more important than what you are like?
by Robin Hilton
NPR Music and the rest of the network is moving from its longtime home of 635 Mass. Ave. to new digs at 1111 North Capitol in D.C. It's got us a bit reflect-y on all the time gone by. What do you think is the best song about moving on?
Stephen Thompson offers a few tips and ideas for broadening your horizons, so you don't miss great music in genres you usually dismiss.
by Robin Hilton
There probably isn't a single pair of headphones out there that will solve every problem and meet every listening need. But we asked you to tell us which ones you love the most. Here are five of the most-mentioned headphones.
by Bob Boilen
A handful of smartphone apps make planning your concert calendar easier. Is there one that's perfect?