Also on the show: Remarkable new electronic music from Baths; the atmospheric English pop trio Daughter; beautiful, ramshackle pop from singer Sam Phillips; power punk and a healthy dose of humor from The Front Bottoms and the melodic and transfixing rock of Lemuria.

Songs Featured On This Episode

SQÜRL

Album: SQÜRL

Song: Pink Dust

Baths

Album: Obsidian

Song: Worsening

Daughter

Album: If You Leave

Song: Youth

Sam Phillips

Album: Push Any Button

Song: No Time Like Now

The Front Bottoms

Album: Talon Of The Hawk

Song: Au Revoir

Lemuria

Album: The Distance Is So Big

Song: Oahu, Hawaii

Artist: The Polyphonic Spree

Album: Yes, It's True

Song: You Don't Know Me

Artist: Goat

Album: World Music

Song: Run To Your Mama

Artist: Akron/Family

Album: Sub Verses

Song: Sand Talk

Artist: Eleanor Friedberger

Album: Personal Record

Song: Stare At the Sun

Artist: Jon Hopkins

Album: Immunity

Song: Open Eye Signal

Artist: Until The Ribbon Breaks

Album: Pressure

Song: Pressure

Also on the show: Singer Walker Lukens dispenses some arresting ear candy — you'll want your headphones for it. And when the cats are away, the metal-head mouse comes out to play: Lars Gotrich of Viking's Choice hijacks the show when Bob and Robin aren't looking to bring you a crushing new cut from his favorite band of the moment, Noisem.

Iggy & the Stooges

Album: Ready To Die

Song: Job

See Iggy & The Stooges Perform Ready To Die live in concert.

The Black Angels

Album: Indigo Meadow

Song: Evil Things

The National

Album: Trouble Will Find Me

Song: Demons

Jim Guthrie

Album: Takes Time

Song: Taking My Time

Tricky

Album: False Idols

Song: Nothing's Changed

Walker Lukens

Album: Devoted

Song: Lover

Noisem

Album: Agony Defined

Song: Agony Defined

Things kick off with a strange tale from the playful pop group Sonny and the Sunsets about a man who falls in love with a cyborg. Then the fabulously quirky singer and guitarist artist Kimya Dawson of the Moldy Peaches and hip-hop producer and rapper Aesop Rock collaborate on a surprising new project they call The Uncluded.

Also on the show: A richly layered cut from the remarkable guitarist William Tyler; the smoky voice of newcomer Cassandra Jenkins; a long-overdue new album from the strangely alluring rock group Snowden; and British singer-songwriter Laura Marling has a heartbreaking new song called "Where Can I Go."

Keep listening: At the end of the show Bob and Robin play an audio clue that adds to a growing mystery on the web pointing to a new album from ... an unnamed band. Very mysterious.

Sonny And The Sunsets

Album: Antenna To The Afterworld

Song: Green Blood

The Uncluded

Album: Hokey Fright

Song: Delicate Cycle

William Tyler

Album: Impossible Truth

Song: Cadillac Desert

Laura Marling

Album: Once I Was An Eagle

Song: Where Can I Go?

Cassandra Jenkins

Album: EP

Song: The Bird

Snowden

Album: No One In Control

Song: So Red

Bob and Robin also welcomed some fellow NPR friends to share some of their favorite moving-on songs. All Songs Considered intern Lorie Liebig shared a heartbreaking cut from The Head and the Heart, Stephen Thompson brought us a sweet and soothing track from David Mead, and Daoud Tyler-Ameen kicked things up with "Following Through" from D.C.'s own The Dismemberment Plan.

- Flaming Lips' Frontman Wayne Coyne

On this edition of All Songs Considered, Wayne Coyne, singer and creative force for The Flaming Lips, joins hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton to share songs and events that shaped his childhood, including the eery effect of a classic from The Beatles. We also hear an "amazing piece of dramatic, freaky music" from Tom Jones, and a contemporary cut from Beach House that's one of Coyne's current favorites.

The Flaming Lips consistently push the creative boundaries of music without making any apologies, and the band has been doing it for 30 years, with thirteen studio albums and countless other projects, including a completely re-imagined version of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. The Flaming Lips' latest, and highly anticipated upcoming album, is called The Terror, which you can now hear in its entirety on NPR's First Listen series, before it's released on April 16th.

On this edition of the program Coyne also gives us a look into The Flaming Lips' creative process and finding beauty in imperfection. "Anybody can make it perfect," Coyne says, "and perfect is the enemy of almost anything good in the world."

The Beatles

Song: Strawberry Fields Forever

The Flaming Lips

Album: The Terror

Song: Look...The Sun Is Rising

Tom Jones

Album: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tom Jones

Song: Thunderball [From Thunderball]

The Flaming Lips/Stardeath and White Dwarfs

Album: Dark Side of the Moon

Song: Money

The Flaming Lips

Album: The Terror

Song: You Lust

Beach House

Album: Bloom

Song: Myth

The Flaming Lips

Album: The Terror

Song: Try To Explain

Also on the show: German musician, composer and Kraftwerk alumnus Karl Bartos supplies us with an epic electronic track, before we finish things off with a hauntingly beautiful cut from London-based poet, singer, illustrator and one-to-watch Keaton Henson.

The 1975

Album: Sex EP

Song: Sex

Charles Bradley

Album: Victim Of Love

Song: You Put The Flame On It

Ólöf Arnalds

Album: Sudden Elevation

Song: Treat Her Kindly

Junip

Album: Junip

Song: Your Life, Your Call

Karl Bartos

Album: Off The Record

Song: Rhythmus

Keaton Henson

Album: Birthdays

Song: Teach Me

Also on the show: A stellar new record from Vampire Weekend; a long-awaited return for the Annie Hardy-led rock group Giant Drag; the sweet sounds of Icelandic singer Olafur Arnalds and a new double-album of transporting ambient music from Eluvium.

Savages

Album: Silence Yourself

Song: She Will

BOY

Album: Mutual Friends

Song: Little Numbers

Ólafur Arnalds

Album: For Now I Am Winter

Song: Old Skin

Giant Drag

Album: Waking Up Is Hard To Do

Song: Garbage Heart

Vampire Weekend

Album: Modern Vampires of the City

Song: Diane Young

Eluvium

Album: Nightmare Ending

Song: Envenom Mettle

Sami kicks things off with the first track from techno producer DJ Koze's new album Amygdala, which you can stream in full on our site right now. British singer, songwriter and producer James Blake brings us a new and wonderful collaboration with Brian Eno. Julio Bashmore makes Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie" almost unrecognizable with his remix.

Bonobo's epic new track "Cirrus" has Sami constantly hitting "repeat" and British producer Joker introduces us to the "big room sound" with "Hands Up." We also hear a brand new collaboration between Dirtybird Records labelmates Justin Martin and Ardalan.

MssngNo brings us a new spin on a '90s favorite with a "refix" of Brandy's "Right Here." We bring things to a close with the premiere of "Measure To Measure" from Detroit-based prodigy Kyle Hall.

DJ Koze

Album: Amygdala

Song: Track ID Anyone?

James Blake

Album: Overgrown

Song: Digital Lion

Julio Bashmore remixes Justin Timberlake

Album: Suit & Tie (Julio Bashmore Remix)

Song: Suit & Tie (Julio Bashmore Remix)

Bonobo

Album: The North Borders

Song: Cirrus

Joker

Album: The Face Off EP

Song: Handz Up

The Face Off EP is out April 15 on Kapsize Recordings.

Justin Martin And Ardalan

Album: Dirtybird Players (Part 1)

Song: Wheelgunner (Dub)

Learn more about this release at Beatport.

Kyle Hall

Album: The Boat Party

Song: Measure To Measure

Learn more about this release at Wild Oats Music.

MssingNo

Album: MssingNo

Song: Brandy

Musically we talk about loud screamy metal bands, dancey band like Rhye and Ducktails and some hip hop and country.

The Soil & The Sun

Album: What Wonder Is This Universe!

Song: I Know It (I Feel It, Too)

Shakey Graves

Album: Roll The Bones

Song: Roll The Bones (Unlucky Skin)

Bill Baird

Album: Spring Break Of The Soul

Song: Spring Break Of The Soul

Mikal Cronin

Album: Mikal Cronin

Song: Is It Alright

Jonathan Boulet

Album: We Keep The Beat Found The Sound See The Need Start The Heart

Song: You're A Animal

Alex Andwandter

Album: Rebeldes

Song: Cómo Puedes Vivir Contigo Mismo

K-X-P

Album: II

Song: Melody

New Politics

Album: Harlem

Song: Harlem

Hannah Georgas

Album: Hannah Georgas

Song: Ode To Mom

Skewby

Album: Humble Pie EP

Song: Go Figure

Bill Baird

Album: So I Ate Myself, Bite by Bite, and the Tears Washed Me, Wave After Cowardly Wave

Song: Your Apparition Stays With Me Still

PAWS

Album: Cokefloat!

Song: Sore Tummy

Air Review

Album: Low Wishes

Song: America's Son

Hiatus Kaiyote

Album: Tawk Tomahawk

Song: Nakamarra

Fetsum

Album: The Colors Of Hope

Song: Letters From Damascus

Carousel

Album: Let's Go Home

Song: Let's Go Home

ON AN ON

Album: Give In

Song: Ghosts

PHOX

Album: Confetti

Song: Noble Heart

KaiL Baxley

Album: Heatstroke EP

Song: Boy Got It Bad

Bronze Radio Return

Album: Shake Shake Shake

Song: Shake Shake Shake

1. Surfer Blood: "Demon Dance" from 'Pythons'
2. Miyazaki: "Torrents" from 'Color Of Glass'
3. Leven Signs: "Prague Spring" from 'Hemp Is Here'
4. Sufjan Stevens: "Give A Little Love" (unreleased single)
5. The Flaming Lips: "Look... The Sun Is Rising" from 'Terror'
6. Maria Schneider: "Perfectly Still This Solstice Morning" from 'Winter Morning Walks' 

We've also got a brand new song from David Bowie, from his first album of new songs in a decade. The French pop group Phoenix also returns with the band's first new song since 2009, called "Entertainment!" Plus Mwahaha, one of Bob's favorite discoveries from last year's South By Southwest music festival; the D.C. rock group Deathfix, featuring Brendan Canty of Fugazi; and Lone Bellow, a new-folk trio with amazing harmonies.

We close the show with a special premiere from Wavves. The gritty rock group, known for its ramshackle songs about getting stoned, partying and boredom, finds its more reflective side on a new album called Afraid Of Heights.

Phoenix

Album: Bankrupt

Song: Entertainment

David Bowie

Album: The Next Day

Song: The Stars (Are Out Tonight)

Mwahaha

Album: Mwahaha

Song: Swimmer

Deathfix

Album: Deathfix

Song: Better Than Bad

My Morning Jacket

Album: The Music Is You: A Tribute To John Denver

Song: Leaving On A Jet Plane

The Lone Bellow

Album: The Lone Bellow

Song: Green Eyes And A Heart Of Gold

Wavves

Album: Afraid Of Heights

Song: Afraid Of Heights

Bob Boilen introduces a track that he can't help but shout about by the Nigerian artist Bombino. The Tuareg guitarist supplies an edgy new cut from his new record Nomad, produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

We also hear a track off of the new record from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds called Push The Sky Away; and Waxahatchee draws us in with the heartfelt and intimate "Hollow Bedroom." Brainstorm speeds things back up with the group's infectious and blissful "She Moves."

We close with a visit from NPR Music's resident Viking Lars Gotrich, who introduces us to KEN Mode's blistering (and appropriately titled) cut "Your Heartwarming Story Makes Me Sick."

1. Brass Bed - Cold Chickory
2. Bombino - Amidine
3. Benoit Pioulard - Margin
4. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Water's Edge
5. Waxahatchee - Hollow Bedroom
6. Brainstorm - She Moves
7. KEN Mode - Your Heartwarming Story Makes Me Sick 

Though Ferry has long had a well-earned reputation for being a romantic crooner, he tells Bob "it's always easier for me to write the sad songs and sing the sad songs. The moments I feel more creative are when I'm feeling introspective and maybe a bit sad. It's rather a lonely occupation, writing songs."

Ferry recently released his innovative and completely surprising new album, The Jazz Age, which re-imagines classic Roxy Music tracks, as well as songs from Ferry's solo career, as 1920s-era instrumental jazz songs. On this edition of All Songs Considered, we'll hear a few of those songs, along with some of Ferry's personal (and sometimes heartbreaking) favorites, from artists such as Otis Redding, Aaron Neville, The Shirelles and Al Green.

1. Otis Redding: That's How Strong My Love Is
2. Roxy Music: Love Is The Drug
3. The Bryan Ferry Orchestra: Love Is The Drug
4. The Bryan Ferry Orchestra: I Thought
5. Al Green: Let's Stay Together
6. Bryan Ferry: Make You Feel My Love
7. Aaron Neville: Tell It Like It Is
8. The Shirelles: Will You Love Me Tomorrow
9. The Bryan Ferry Orchestra: Reason Or Rhyme 

Also on this week's episode: Bob and Robin contemplate their own mortality while sharing some of the great music they've been listening to, including Youth Lagoon's upcoming release, Wondrous Bughouse; a jubilant premiere from Cloud Cult; a dreamy sample from storyteller Grouper; the gorgeous instrumentals of Malian musician Ballaké Sissoko; and a track from another much-anticipated album, courtesy of Swedish electronica giants, The Knife. Plus NPR Music's Sami Yenigun stops by to share a brand new track from "KH," otherwise known as electronica heavyweight Four Tet.

Artists Featured On The Show

My Bloody Valentine

Album: m b v

Song: She Found Now

Youth Lagoon

Album: Wondrous Bughouse

Song: Dropla

Grouper

Album: The Man Who Died In His Boat

Song: Vital

Cloud Cult

Album: Love

Song: Complicated Creation

Ballaké Sissoko

Album: At Peace

Song: Maimouna

Four Tet

Album: TEXT022

Song: TEXT022

The Knife

Album: Shaking The Habitual

Song: Full Of Fire

On this week's episode, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are back with their latest mix, including a hard-to-find track from Thom Yorke's latest project, Atoms For Peace. The song "What The Eyeballs Did," doesn't appear on the band's upcoming album, Amok. But if you do some digging on the group's website, you'll find a hidden link to download it.

Also on the show: Bob and Robin travel back in time to hear Bryan Ferry's Roxy Music re-imagined as '20s jazz instrumentals. Seriously. No singing. Just swingin' jazz instrumentals. Plus: A hazy, country-tinged track from Night Beds; the shape-shifting sounds of Unknown Mortal Orchestra; soaring pop from the band Caveman and the crazy-catchy debut album from Ex Cops.

Atoms For Peace

Album: What The Eyeballs Did (Single)

Song: What The Eyeballs Did

Night Beds

Album: Country Sleep

Song: Even If We Try

The Bryan Ferry Orchestra

Album: Jazz Age

Song: Do The Strand

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Album: II

Song: One At A Time

Caveman

Album: Caveman

Song: In The City

Ex Cops

Album: True Hallucinations

Song: James

Thom Yorke pulled the group together to support his 2006 solo album The Eraser. It includes Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco (he's played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers as well) and then drummer Joey Waronker, who has played with R.E.M., Elliott Smith and Beck.

Now Atoms For Peace has its own record, called Amok, coming out at the end of February. This past summer, Thom, Nigel and Joey were in New York City. While they were there, we spoke to them from our studios in Washington, D.C., and now you can listen to that rather casual conversation about many matters, from how the group makes its music to why shy people are attracted to DJing.

For this week's edition of All Songs Considered, NPR Music's Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR contributor and Afropop.org senior editor Banning Eyre, and Rob Weisberg of WNYC (who also hosts WFMU'sTranspacific Sound Paradise) join Bob Boilen to revisit some of the highlights and favorite discoveries from this year's globalFEST.

Oliver Mtukudzi and The Black Spirits

GlobalFEST is generally a place to discover young new talent, but occasionally the producers welcome familiar friends to their party. This year, it was Zimbabwe's Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi, who has been an African musical icon since the late 1970s, who brought that sense of homecoming to GlobalFEST with his band, the Black Spirits.

Kayhan Kalhor And Erdal Erzincan

The soulful Persian classical virtuoso and composer Kayhan Kalhor has long been interested in creating artistic bridges to other musicians and styles. At this year's edition of globalFEST, he revived a partnership that initially began about a decade ago with a Turkish master artist, the baglama player Erdal Erzincan.

La Santa Cecilia

Based in Los Angeles and fronted by the smoky-voiced Marisol Hernandez, this fast-rising band splices and dices an array of Mexican and South American sounds in their songs, from Mexican norteño and ranchera to Colombian cumbia.

Christine Salem

As the globalFEST evening wound down, much of the buzz about who was the biggest find of the year centered around a seemingly unlikely figure: the vocalist Christine Salem, who made her New York City debut in this performance.

Fatoumata Diawara

Undoubtedly one of the breakout stars of this year's edition of globalFEST, the Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara had the crowd wrapped around her finger. Gifted with enormous stage presence and great looks, Diawara put on a tightly choreographed set that screamed with energy and edged towards rock and funk.

Mucca Pazza

The circus came to globalFEST in the form of Chicago's Mucca Pazza, a group of 30 clowns who could barely be contained in the cavernous ballroom at Webster Hall. They wore mismatched, thrift-shop marching band getups and sported a full range of brass, drums, violin, accordion and electric guitar — plus a gaggle of nerdy cheerleaders.

A Tribe Called Red

The night ended with bumping beats down at Webster Hall's Studio space with the Ottowa-based Native collective called A Tribe Called Red. They call their style "pow wow step": an imaginative and dance floor-ready blend of beats, aboriginal singing and dancing, and visuals and audio samples that turn "Indian" stereotypes on their heads.

Also on the program: A curious and captivating new song from Ra Ra Riot; the ghostly and gorgeous voice of Lisa Germano; a stunning sophomore release from the Irish band Villagers; the trippy Canadian rock group Elephant Stone; Dutch pop singer-songwriter Blaudzun; the infectious, '60s-inspired psych-pop duo Foxygen and the electronic dance band STRFKR returns with a moodier new record called Miracle Mile.

Songs Featured On This Episode

Cover for Son Of Rogues Gallery

Tom Waits & Keith Richards

Tom Waits & Keith Richards

Album: Son Of Rogues Gallery

Song: Shenandoah 

Villagers

Album: Awayland

Song: Waves

Elephant Stone

Album: Elephant Stone

Song: Heavy Moon

Lisa Germano

Album: No Elephants

Song: Ruminants

Blaudzun

Album: Heavy Flowers

Song: Elephants

Ra Ra Riot

Album: Beta Love

Song: Is It Too Much

Foxygen

Album: We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic

Song: San Francisco

STRFKR

Album: Miracle Mile

Song: Beach Monster

Low

Album: Invisible Way

Song: Plastic Cup

Phosphorescent

Album: Muchacho

Song: Song For Zula

Red Baraat

Album: Shruggy Ji

Song: Dama Dam Mast Qalandar

The Black Twig Pickers

Album: Rough Carpenters

Song: Rough Carpenters

FaltyDL

Album: Hardcourage

Song: She Sleeps (Ed MacFarlane)

Earl Sweatshirt

Album: Chum (Single)

Song: Chum

Jose James

Album: No Beginning No End

Song: It's All Over Your Body

Ileana Mercedes Cabra

Album: La Pared/The Wall

Song: La Pared/The Wall

Josh Ritter

Album: The Beast In Its Tracks

Song: New Lover

Songs Featured On This Episode

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Artist: The Polyphonic Spree

Album: Holidaydream: Sounds of the Holidays, Vol. 1

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

Artist: Julian Koster

Album: I've Got My love To Keep Me Warm

We Need A Little Christmas

Artist: Sufjan Stevens

Album: Silver & Gold

Electronica Hanukkah

Artist: Dan Deacon

Album: Electronica Hanukkah

It Doesn't Feel Like Christmas

Artist: Sam Phillips

Album: Cold Dark Night

It's Christmas, But It's Not White Here In Our Town

Artist: Kishi Bashi

Album: Holiday Flexi Single

Baby, It's Cold Outside (Performed by Sharon Van Etten and Rufus Wainwright)

Artist: Various Artists

Album: Holidays Rule

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Performed By The Civil Wars)

Artist: Various Artists

Album: Holidays Rule

Father Christmas

Artist: Telekinesis

Album: Peace On Earth: Vol II

A Christmas Waltz

Artist: Nellie McKay

Album: A Christmas Waltz

Back Door Santa (Performed By Clarence Carter)

Artist: Various Artists

Album: Christmas Soul [Rhino]

Babel, by Mumford & Sons, is the listener pick for the 2012 album of the year. It didn't come out until this fall, but managed to climb quickly as the favorite, at least among those who voted in our year-end poll. It's followed closely by Of Monsters And Men, Alabama Shakes, Jack White and Grizzly Bear in the top five.

As you work your way through the rest of the most popular records you'll probably see a lot that you love, and you'll also likely find some that leave you scratching your head. That's the beauty of what happens when you have a large and wonderfully diverse group of voters with a broad range of tastes.

On this week's All Songs Considered we countdown through the top 25 most popular records from our listener poll.

1. Babel

Artist: Mumford & Sons

Album: Babel

2. My Head Is An Animal

Artist: Of Monsters and Men

Album: My Head Is An Animal

3. Boys & Girls

Artist: Alabama Shakes

Album: Boys & Girls

4. Blunderbuss

Artist: Jack White

Album: Blunderbuss

5. Shields

Artist: Grizzly Bear

Album: Shields

6. Lumineers

Artist: The Lumineers

Album: Lumineers

7. Channel Orange

Artist: Frank Ocean

Album: Channel Orange

8. Bloom

Artist: Beach House

Album: Bloom

9. Coexist

Artist: The xx

Album: Coexist

10. The Idler Wheel...

Artist: Fiona Apple

Album: The Idler Wheel...

11. Some Nights

Artist: Fun.

Album: Some Nights

12. The Carpenter

Artist: Avett Brothers

Album: The Carpenter

13. Celebration Rock

Artist: Japandroids

Album: Celebration Rock

14. What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

Artist: Regina Spektor

Album: What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

15. Gossamer

Artist: Passion Pit

Album: Gossamer

16. Break It Yourself

Artist: Andrew Bird

Album: Break It Yourself

17. Sun

Artist: Cat Power

Album: Sun

18. Port of Morrow

Artist: The Shins

Album: Port of Morrow

19. The Lion's Roar

Artist: First Aid Kit

Album: The Lion's Roar

20. Lonerism

Artist: Tame Impala

Album: Lonerism

21. There's No Leaving Now

Artist: The Tallest Man on Earth

Album: There's No Leaving Now

22. Swing Lo Magellan

Artist: Dirty Projectors

Album: Swing Lo Magellan

23. An Awesome Wave

Artist: Alt-J

Album: An Awesome Wave

24. The Heist

Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Album: The Heist

25. Good Kid M.A.A.D. City

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Album: Good Kid M.A.A.D. City

That's just some of the wonderful, unpredictable and endlessly fascinating music of 2012.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton chat with NPR Music critic Ann Powers and editor Stephen Thompson about the music that mattered most to them in 2012, including their favorite songs, favorite albums, biggest surprises and favorite new artists.

Kishi Bashi

    Album: 151A

    Song: Bright Whites

Lianne La Havas

    Album: Is Your Love Big Enough?

    Song: Lost & Found

The Dø

    Album: Both Ways Open Jaws Extended

    Song: The Wicked & the Blind

Kacey Musgraves

    Album: Merry Go 'Round

    Song: Merry Go 'Round

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

    Album: Psychedelic Pill

    Song: Walk Like a Giant

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

    Album: The Heist

    Song: Thrift Shop

Cloud Nothings

    Album: Attack on Memory

    Song: Stay Useless

The Sea and Cake

    Album: Runner

    Song: On And On

Alt-J

    Album: An Awesome Wave

    Song: Tessellate

Cat Power

    Album: Sun

    Song: Sun

Frank Ocean

    Album: Channel Orange

    Song: Lost

Japandroids

    Album: Celebration Rock

    Song: The House That Heaven Built

Dirty Projectors

    Album: Swing Lo Magellan

    Song: Offspring Are Blank

Best Coast

    Album: The Only Place

    Song: The Only Place

Miguel

    Album: Kaleidoscope Dream

    Song: Adorn

Ty Segall

    Album: Twins

    Song: Thank God For Sinners

Songs Featured On The Show

Matthew Dear

• Artist: Matthew Dear

• Album: Beams

• Song: Ahead Of Myself

Acid Pauli

• Artist: Acid Pauli

• Album: Mst

• Song: La Voz Tan Tierna

Kelan Philip Cohran/The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

• Artist: Kelan Philip Cohran/The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

• Album: Kelan Philip Cohran & the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

• Song: Spin

Samuel Yirga

• Artist: Samuel Yirga

• Album: Guzo

• Song: Abet Abet [Punt Mix]

John Adams

• Artist: John Adams

• Album: Harmonielehre; Short Ride in a Fast Machine

• Song: Short Ride in a Fast machine, fanfare for orchestra

Kendrick Lamar

• Artist: Kendrick Lamar

• Album: Good Kid M.A.A.D. City

• Song: Swimming Pools (Drank) [Extended Version] [Version]

Advisory: This song contains profanity.

Waxahatchee

• Artist: Waxahatchee

• Album: American Weekend

• Song: Be Good

Pallbearer

• Artist: Pallbearer

• Album: Sorrow and Extinction

• Song: The Legend

We recently asked listeners to tell us their picks for bands that should be way bigger than they are and we were surprised by how many we didn't know. On this edition of All Songs Considered we share some of the discoveries we made, along with some of our own candidates for bands that should be bigger.

Also on the show: Hear a cut from the upcoming Local Natives record, Hummingbird, the band's much-anticipated sophomore followup to 2010's Gorilla Manor. We've also got some fantastic new discoveries, including the ambient-rock group IO Echo, dreamy electronica from Blackbird Blackbird, and the mesmerizing voice of singer Angel Olsen. Plus we check back in with the Tempe, Ariz. band Gospel Claws, a group we first featured on All Songs Considered back in 2010.

Host Bob Boilen has been on the road having way too much fun. (CMJ Music Marathon, Moogfest, Peter Gabriel). This week, Bob's finally back in the office, and he and co-host Robin Hilton share some of their favorite records and songs of the week, including beautiful new music from Andrew Bird, a stunning music app and album from Brian Eno, a blistering rock gem from Ty Segall and more. Bob also shares tips from a new book, Supernatural Strategies For Making A Rock 'n' Roll Group, by Ian F. Svenonius, the lead singer of bands The Make-Up and Chain and the Gang. For example, "If one makes a rock 'n' roll group, one must eventually make some music. But before that, one must make a photograph of the group."

Later in the show they're joined by NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich, who shares a mind-blowing electronica cut from Holly Herndon.

Songs Featured On This Episode

Ty Segall

Album: Twins

Song: Thank God For Sinners

Andrew Bird

Album: Hands of Glory

Song: When That Helicopter Comes

Casket Girls

Album: Sleepwalking

Song: Walking On A Wire

Brian Eno

Album: Lux

Song: Lux 1

Pantha du Prince

Album: Elements Of Light

Song: Photon

Gashcat

Album: Devil Kid Demos

Song: Lady of the Ark

Holly Herndon

Album: Movement

Song: Fade

This past weekend, a remarkably gifted group of electronic and experimental rock artists gathered in Asheville, N.C., for the annual Moogfest. All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen and NPR electronic and dance-music contributor Sami Yenigun were there and, on this week's show, discuss some of their favorite sets, including a special performance from electronic-music pioneer Morton Subotnick, Andy Stott, DJ legends Carl Craig and Richie Hawtin, along with Ana Sia, Squarepusher, Exitmusic and more.

Morton Subotnick

Subotnick released the first all-electronic album, Silver Apples of the Moon, in 1967. Last Friday, he returned to Moogfest 2012 in Asheville, N.C., to perform the whole thing live. Hear the performance in its entirety.

Andy Stott

Stott is known for deep, brooding techno tracks that are shrouded in fuzzy tones. Hailing from Manchester, U.K., the producer has released music both under his own name and as Andrea.

Blondes

This is the official video for the Blondes song "Wine" from the band's self-titled full-length debut.

Ana Sia

Ana Sia produces high-energy bass music set to hip-hop rhythms. Born in Minnesota, Sia saw her DJing career take off while in San Francisco, where her mix of low-end-heavy styles earned her a reputation for slaying the dance floor. Appropriately, her nickname is "Princess Slay-ah."

Death Grips

Watch Death Grips perform at the CMJ Music Marathon via NPR Music and WNYC.

This group from Sacramento, Calif., has given some of the most memorable live performances of any act this year, with bass-heavy beats and intensely physical theatrics.

Squarepusher

Note: Squarepusher's set at Moogfest 2012 was not among the shows NPR Music recorded.

This track is "303 Scopem Hard" from Squarepusher's 2012 album Ufabulum, via KCRW.

Richie Hawtin

Hear Richie Hawtin's full performance at Moogfest 2012.

Hawtin came up in the Detroit techno scene during the '90s, and built his reputation on a minimal style of dance music. It's not music for everyone, but those who follow any of Hawtin's numerous aliases do show with impassioned vigilance.

Carl Craig

This cut is "Sketches, Pt. 4" from Carl Craig's 2012 EP Last Decade, released under the alias Carls Davis.

Disclosure

Hear Disclosure's full performance at Moogfest 2012.

Brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence grew up on the outskirts of London, and got their start in the U.K. garage scene making music as Disclosure.

Ahleuchatistas

This song is "Mistaken Identity" from the 2011 Ahleuchatistas album Location Location.

Tim Hecker & Daniel Lopatin

The song featured here is "Uptown Psychedelia" from Tim Hecker and Daniel Lopatin's album Instrumental Tourist, due out in November 2012.

Exitmusic

This performance of "White Noise," from Exitmusic's 2012 album Passenger, comes via WFUV.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, recorded live at the Judson Memorial Church in New York City, host Bob Boilen talks with Thor Slaughter (yes, that's his real name), Music Director for KWVA radio in Eugene, Ore., and Emmy Black with Bar/None Records. The three share memories of this year's appropriately titled "Music Marathon" and talk about some of their favorite discoveries, including the trippy, psychedelic group Ghost Pal, the country-tinged garage rock band Turbo Fruits and the fantastically named duo Foxygen.

Ghost Pal

Album: Nathan Jones Is Dead

Song: Skeleton Dance

Turbo Fruits

Album: Butter

Song: Sweet Thang

Foxygen

Album: We Are The 21st Century ambassadors Of Peace And Magic

Song: Shuggie

Brick + Mortar

Album: Making Moves

Song: Bangs

People Get Ready

Album: People Get Ready

Song: New June

Jinja Safari

Album: The Key Of Sea, Vol. 2

Song: Silence Of The Guns

Brainstorm

Album: Heat Waves

Song: Beast In the Sky

Mac DeMarco

Album: 2

Song: Ode to Viceroy

Hundred Waters

Album: Hundred Waters

Song: Visitor

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen joins the conversation and shares what he calls "relationship therapy," in the song "Friendly Advice," by Bad Books. Later, things get loud when NPR Music's Frannie Kelley stops by to share a cut from the new Death Grips album, while Robin plays a brutal cut from the self-titled Metz album.

Bob and Robin end the show on a wistful note and take a trip down memory lane with Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up," from of his forthcoming 25th anniversary deluxe edition of the classic album 'So.'

Peter Bjorn And John

Artist: Peter Bjorn And John

Album: Yo Gabba Gabba! Music Is Awesome Vol. 4

Song: I Wish I Was A Spy

Bad Books

Artist: Bad Books

Album: II

Song: Friendly Advice

Ultraísta

Artist: Ultraísta

Album: Ultraísta

Song: Gold Dayzz

Death Grips

Artist: Death Grips

Album: No Love Deep Web

Song: Lil Boy

METZ

Artist: METZ

Album: METZ

Song: Headache

Peter Gabriel

Artist: Peter Gabriel

Album: So 25th Anniversary Edition

Song: Don't Give Up

Few artists have had careers as long, as distinguished or revered as John Cale's. A founding member of experimental rock pioneers The Velvet Underground, Cale has spent nearly a half-century as an vanguard musician in drone, rock, and classical. He's known in part for producing seminal works by other artists, such as The Stooges, Patti Smith, and The Modern Lovers. But Cale has also had a prolific solo career. He's just released his 15th solo album, Shifty Adventures In Nookie Wood. On this edition of All Songs Considered he talks about the new record, and shares some of his favorite songs by other artists, including Miles Davis and The Isley Brothers. Cale also reveals a few surprises, including the parallels he sees between minimalist music and Hip-Hop.

Miles Davis

Artist: Miles Davis

Album: Kind of Blue

Song: Freddie Freeloader

The Beach Boys

Artist: The Beach Boys

Album: Forever Beach Boys

Song: In My Room

John Cale

Artist: John Cale

Album: Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood

Song: Face to the Sky

Snoop Dogg

Artist: Snoop Dogg

Album: R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece

Song: Drop It Like It's Hot

John Cale

Artist: John Cale

Album: Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood

Song: Nookie Wood

The Isley Brothers

Artist: The Isley Brothers

Album: The Essential Isley Brothers

Song: Harvest for the World

The Velvet Underground

Artist: The Velvet Underground

Album: Velvet Underground & Nico [Deluxe Edition]

Song: The Black Angel's Death Song

The Velvet Underground & Nico

Artist: The Velvet Underground & Nico

Album: The Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary Box Set

Song: Melody Laughter

Note: This is an excerpt from the upcoming 45th anniversary box set of The Velvet Underground & Nico.

More importantly, we've got a great mix of essential new songs, including a sneak preview of the upcoming album by Atoms For Peace, which features Radiohead's Thom Yorke, producer Nigel Godrich, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and drummer Joey Waronker. The album, due out sometime next year, doesn't have a name yet but the cut we've got is called "Default."

Also on the show: A bold, adventurous and completely surprising new record from Tilly & The Wall; sinister new rock from the New York City-based band Bad Powers; new Afro-punk-inspired electronic music from Sinkane; and an epic jam from Brooklyn's Woods.

We're also joined by Alt.Latino hosts Jasmine Garsd and Felix Contreras, who share a fantastic new electro-pop song from the Chilean group Astro.

If you follow our blog, you may have seen a recent post asking you to tell us about the most important band of your college years. We got a lot of great stories on the blog, and on ourSoundcloud page, from people both reminiscing about their college years long gone by, and the college years they're currently living. On this edition of All Songs Considered, we share some of those stories and the bands that made a difference in people's lives when they needed it most.

Also on the show: A peek at Animal Collective's latest sonic adventures on the group's new album Centipede Hz; The Brooklyn-based duo Buke and Gase are back with an equally adventurous EP called Function Falls; We've got a gritty new song from Menomena, and composer and arranger Matthew E. White pays homage to early Randy Newman Americana on White's debut solo record, Big Inner.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Album: Same Love

Song: Same Love

Cat Power

Album: Sun

Song: Sun

Animal Collective

Album: Centipede Hz

Song: Moonjock

Buke & Gase

Album: Function Falls

Song: Fussrate

Menomena

Album: Moms

Song: Capsule

Matthew E. White

Album: Big Inner

Song: Big Love

Also on the show: the best new music in a decade from the Chicago-based band Sea And Cake; the inimitable storytelling of Swedish pop singer Jens Lekman; and an epic new album from post-punk veterans Swans.

Jens Lekman

Album: I Know What Love Isn't

Song: I Know What Love Isn't

Niki and the Dove

Album: Instinct

Song: Drummer

Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra

Album: Theatre Is Evil

Song: Smile (Pictures or It Didn't Happen)

Omar Rodriguez Lopez

Album: Octopus Kool Aid

Song: People Feeding

Nils Frahm

Album: Felt

Song: Familiar

The Sea and Cake

Album: Runner

Song: On And On

Swans

Album: Seer

Song: Mother Of The World

Also on the show, two bands that hail from NPR's home city of Washington, D.C. Drop Electric is a "Sigur Ros-ian" band with an epic sound and Deleted Scenes mixes surf rock with off-kilter rhythms and instrumentation.

Host Bob Boilen is joined by NPR Music editor Jacob Ganz and All Songs Considered intern Emily White for this week's show. You can listen to the entire discussion above or each individual song below. Read more about the 21st anniversary Blur box set on the blog.

Tame Impala

Artist: Tame Impala

Album: Lonerism

Song: Elephant

Conveyor

Artist: Conveyor

Album: Conveyor

Song: Right Sleep

Drop Electric

Artist: Drop Electric

Album: Drop Electric 

Song: Empire Trashed

Deleted Scenes

Artist: Deleted Scenes

Album: Young People's Church of the Air

Song: Baltika 9

Miguel

Artist: Miguel

Album: Art Dealer Chic

Song: Adorn

Blur

Artist: Blur

Album: Great Escape [Special Edition]

Song: The Universal

Listen to Django Django's refreshing mix of sounds, the moody melodies of Ormonde, David Byrneand St. Vincent's horn-based collaboration, Bob's favorite jazz record of the year (by Neneh Cherry & The Thing) and more.

Plus, Mike Katzif joins this week's show to play his pick, the vibrant and provocative "Fineshrine" by Purity Ring. Mike came to NPR as an intern for All Songs Considered, and over the last seven years has had a hand in our Tiny Desk Concerts, the Alt.Latino podcast and much of our festival coverage, along with the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. Now Mike's is leaving us for a new job at WNYC.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen talks with festival producer, Jay Sweet about the extraordinary talent that makes the annual music celebration so special.

This is the fifth year in a row NPR Music will be at the Newport Folk Festival to live webcast full concerts, along with WFUV, mvyradio, Folk Alley, and WUMB. You can see the full lineup of artists and watch live video from the festival at our Newport Folk page.

This year Newport will celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of Woody Guthrie. All Songs Considered shares music from some of the "disciples" of Guthrie: from Wilco to the supergroup, New Multitudes (consisting of Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, and Jim James). But the festival is not only about paying tribute and traditional folk artists, but re-defining what folk means today. Every year has a curve ball, and Sweet says this year's sharp elbow is tUnE-yArDs.

NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL PREVIEW

New Multitudes

Album: New Multitudes

Song: Talking Empty Bed Blues

Dawes

Album: Nothing Is Wrong

Song: If I Wanted Someone

Billy Bragg & Wilco

Album: Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions

Song: Jolly Banker

Charles Bradley

Album: No Time For Dreaming

Song: The World (Is Going Up In Flames)

Rodriguez

Album: Searching for Sugar Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Song: Sugar Man

tUnE-yArDs

Album: w h o k i l l

Song: Bizness

My Morning Jacket

Album: Circuital

Song: Wonderful (The Way I Feel)

Also on the show: a masterfully restrained song from Frank Ocean's first full-length studio album; a premiere of the song "Counter Charm" from the Brooklyn-based duo, She Keeps Bees; euphoric electro-pop from Passion Pit; the wildly infectious artist Dan Deacon and his ecstatic new album,America; Iranian-Canadian producer Amirali; Canadian country singer Corb Lund; and singer Cate Le Bon channels Nico.

The xx - Angels
Frank Ocean - Pilot Jones
Passion Pit - Carried Away
Dan Deacon - Lots
Corb Lund - Dig Gravedigger Dig
Cate Le Bon - What Is Worse
Amirali - Harmonious Song
She Keeps Bees - Counter Charm 

The forthcoming album from Taken By Trees, the solo project of Victoria Bergsman, was inspired by a recent trip to Hawaii. Premiering here, "Dreams" is a tropical, slightly sultry song. Also inspired by landscapes, Son Lux (also known as Ryan Lott) created the song "Resound" for a compilation album of musical vignettes inspired by the remote countryside of Iceland. Lott used samples of My Brightest Diamond vocalist Shara Worden's voice and the sound of a piano shattered by a baseball bat to create an ethereal song.

Also on the show, Bob Boilen schools Robin Hilton on their bet from last week by twisting the numbers a bit, but the search for the Albums Everyone Can Love is far from over. You can hear the entire discussion above and listen to each track discussed below.

Dinosaur Jr.

Album: I Bet On Sky

Song: Watch The Corners

Young Rapids

Album: Day Light Savings

Song: Discussion

Woodpecker!

Album: Thanks Anyway

Song: Paperbacks With Paragraphs Underlined

Taken By Trees

Album: Dreams

Song: Dreams (Album Version)

Son Lux

Album: Outliers, Vol. I: Iceland

Song: Son Lux - Resound

Baroness

Album: Yellow & Green

Song: Take My Bones Away

Ponderosa

Album: Pool Party

Song: Get A Gun

After a month of guest DJs, previews and other special shows, Bob and Robin are back with a good ol' fashioned mix of picks for this week's essential listening. Hear a new song from New Zealand's Lawrence Arabia and a cut from Robin's favorite new discovery, the French-Finnish duo, The Dø. Plus, an entrancing track by George Harrison's son Dhani Harrison and his band Thenewno2, and some melodic slide guitar in a new cut from the band Delicate Steve.

Finally, Bob and Robin discuss some of the surprises in the ongoing summer search for The Albums Everyone Can Love, and make confident predictions about how this week's poll will turn out.

NEW MIX: DELICATE STEVE, EL-P, LAWRENCE ARABIA AND MORE

Lawrence Arabia

Artist: Lawrence Arabia

Album: Sparrow

Thenewno2

Artist: Thenewno2

Album: Thefearofmissingout

Song: Station (featuring Holly Marilyn)

Delicate Steve

Artist: Delicate Steve

Album: Positive Force

Song: Afria Talks To You

The Dø

Artist: The Dø

Album: Both Ways Open Jaws Extended

Song: The Wicked & the Blind

El-P

Artist: El-P

Album: Cancer4Cure

Song: For My Upstairs Neighbor (Mums the Word)

Jaill

Artist: Jaill

Album: Traps

Song: Madness

Nick Drake

Artist: Nick Drake

Album: Pink Moon

Song: Pink Moon

The White Stripes

Artist: The White Stripes

Album: White Blood Cells

Song: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

English singer-songwriter Bill Fay returns with his first new album in 40 years, while Cat Power returns after a six-year hiatus with what may be her best album ever. A year after releasing a spectacular full-length record, The Antlers are back with a surprise EP of pure sonic bliss.

Later on the show, Bob and Robin are joined by resident hip-hop expert Frannie Kelley of The Record who selects, as Robin says, a "dope" track from Nas; and Patrick Jarenwattananon of A Blog Supreme picks jazz trumpeter (and coincidentally nephew of Nas collaborator and saxophonist Donald Harrison), Christian Scott.

The show ends with Lars Gotrich's pick, the crushing and explosive "Even If You Knew" from Six Organs of Admittance.

Jeff the Brotherhood

Album: Hypnotic Nights

Song: Country Life

Hypnotic Nights will be released on July 17th on Warner Bros. Records.

Divine Fits

Album: A Thing Called the Divine Fits

Song: Would That Not Be Nice

A Thing Called The Divine Fits will be released on Aug 28th on Merge Records. 

Grizzly Bear

Album: TBD

Song: Sleeping Ute

The as-yet-unnamed album will be released on September 18th on Warp Records.

Cat Power

Album: Sun

Song: Cherokee

Note: This song can be heard in the full version of All Songs Considered. Click the link at the top of the page to "Hear The Discussion."

You can also hear the new Cat Power single, "Ruin," on the All Songs Considered blog.

Nas

Album: Life Is Good

Song: Accident Murderers feat. Rick Ross (Produced by No I.D.)

You can hear this song on the artist's SoundCloud page.

Life is Good will be released on July 17th on Island Def Jam.

Christian Scott

Album: Christian aTunde Adjuah

Song: Spy Boy/Flag Boy

Christian aTunde Adjuah will be released on July 31st on Concord.

The Very Best

Album: MTMTMK

Song: We OK

MTMTMK will be released on July 17th on Moshi Moshi and Cooperative Records.

Bill Fay

Album: Life Is People

Song: Never Ending Happening

Life Is People will be released on August 21st on Dead Oceans. 

Avett Brothers

Album: The Carpenter

Song: Live and Die

The Carpenter will be released on September 11th on Universal Records.

Ivan & Alyosha

Album: All The Times We Had

Song: Be Your Man

All The Times We Had will be released on August 7th on Missing Piece Records.

Sean Rowe

Album: The Salesman and the Shark

Song: Horses

The Salesman and the Shark will be released on August 28th on ANTI-.

The Antlers

Album: Undersea

Song: Crest

Undersea will be released on July 24th on ANTI-.

\Six Organs of Admittance

Album: Ascent

Song: Even If You Knew

Ascent will be released on August 21st on Drag City.

"It's my one regret in all of my work," Smith says. "I don't know if I was ever successful to give the people a song where they had to leap up," But Bob immediately proves her wrong with her 1976 rocker, "Ask the Angels."

As Bob and Patti Smith play songs from the album, she talks about what influenced Banga, why she loves singing and playing Neil Young's songs, and what inspired her to write songs as disparate as a prayer to the Japanese people and Amy Winehouse.

Listen to Smith tell stories about seeing a young Stevie Wonder join Smokey Robinson live on stage, and going to her very first rock concert: The Rolling Stones.

Maureen Gray

Artist: Maureen Gray

Album: Best of Philly Soul, Vol. 3

Song: Today's the Day

Patti Smith Group

Artist: Patti Smith Group

Album: Radio Ethiopia

Song: Ask the Angels

Hank Williams

Artist: Hank Williams

Album: 40 Greatest Hits

Song: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Artist: Neil Young & Crazy Horse

Album: Americana

Song: Jesus' Chariot

Patti Smith

Artist: Patti Smith

Album: Banga

Song: Fuji-san

Patti Smith

Artist: Patti Smith

Album: Banga

Song: After the Gold Rush

Patti Smith

Artist: Patti Smith

Album: Banga

Song: This Is the Girl

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Artist: The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Album: Electric Ladyland

Song: 1983... (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)

Kishi Bashi

Album: 151A

Song: Bright Whites

Now, Now

Album: Threads

Song: Thread

Hurray For The Riff Raff

Album: Look Out Mama

Song: Born to Win (Part One)

Japandroids

Album: Celebration Rock

Song: Fire's Highway

Sinead O'Connor

Album: How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?

Song: I Had A Baby

Fiona Apple

Album: The Idler Wheel...

Song: Hot Knife

Icona Pop

Album: I Love It (Single)

Song: I Love It

Spiritualized

Album: Sweet Heart Sweet Light

Song: Hey Jane

Exitmusic

Album: Passage

Song: City

Regina Spektor

Album: What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

Song: Small Town Moon

Bobby Womack

Album: The Bravest Man In The Universe

Song: Please Forgive My Heart

Carly Rae Jepsen

Album: Call Me Maybe [Single]

Song: Call Me Maybe

Patrick Watson

Album: Adventures In Your Own Backyard

Song: Adventures In Your Own Backyard

Simone White

Album: Silver Silver

Song: Big Dreams and the Headlines

Best Coast

Album: The Only Place

Song: The Only Place

On this edition of All Songs Considered, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton reflect on their own parents' record collections and share stories from NPR Music listeners. One thing they learned: The music people discovered wasn't always great, but it always made a lasting impact.

Throughout the summer, All Things Considered is asking people to share memories of their mom and dad's record collections. They launched the series with a story from singer and actress Audra McDonald, who described how she discovered and fell in love with the song "Edelweiss."

Share your own memories of your parents' record collection in the comments section or on the All Songs Considered blog.

Now in its thirteenth year, Movement: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival has featured an enormously diverse group of electronic producers and DJs from around the world. Detroit is the birthplace of Techno and after all these years of being more popular nearly everywhere but Detroit, there was a feeling at this year's festival that it's all coming back home. In fact, Detroit's mayor declared it "Detroit Techno Week." Fresh off the plane from Detroit, NPR's Sami Yenigun and U Street Music Hall promotions director Morgan Tepper talk to host Bob Boilen about the music they heard at the festival's parties, the after-parties and the after-after-parties.

The Bells

Artist: Jeff MillsAlbum: Kat Moda

Learn more about this release on Beatport.

Deez Nuts

Artist: Maceo Plex

Album: Ellum Sleazy Riders Collection

Corinne (Benoit & Sergio Cover)

Artist: Metronomy

Album: English Riviera: Unreleased Remixes

Tourist Trap (Jamie Jones 'Miss X' Remix)

Artist: 11:11

Album: Tourist Trap (Jamie Jones 'Miss X' Remix)

LTD

Artist: Till von Sein

Album: #LTD

Sunrise BCN

Artist: Audiofly, Matthew Dekay & Lee Burridge

Album: All Day I Dream Single

Be sure to follow our two metal scribes at MDF this week as they document four days of sweaty mosh, sometimes questionable hygiene and so, so many black t-shirts. You'll find interviews and photos on Lars' Tumblr and @totalvibration, plus more coverage from @grimkim. See you in the pit.

Eyehategood

Album: Southern Discomfort

Song: Southern Discomfort 

Autopsy

Album: Macabre Eternal

Song: Always About to Die

Dragged Into Sunlight

Album: Hatred for Mankind

Song: Volcanic Birth

Saint Vitus

Album: Lillie: F-65

Song: Bleeding Ground

Infernal Stronghold

Album: Godless Noise

Song: Snorting the Ruins of Sodom

Coke Bust

Album: Lines in the Sand

Song: Forced to Live

Extermination Angel

Album: Demo 2009 a?.?k?.?a. "Advancement Into Obscurity"

Song: Whirlwind Killing Spree

Hellbastard

Album: Natural OrderSong: I Beg in Blood

Learn more about this release on the band's website.

Electric Wizard

Album: Black Masses

Song: Black Mass

Vote For The Albums Everyone Can Love

This discovery got us thinking: Is it possible to form a top ten list of records everyone can agree on? The kinds of records that, if you put them on at a party, everyone would say, "turn it up!"

So we need you to vote. We've started by nominating 20 albums that we think will be loved by everyone who listens to them, and we want you to tell us whether YOU feel that love. To keep this running through the summer, we'll need more suggestions for albums that might fit the bill. Keep voting, and by August we hope to have a final list we can agree on.

A big quest like this one needs a big kickoff, so for this week's show Bob and Robin play a few selections they and the rest of the NPR Music team think everyone will love. Bob and Robin are also joined by folk singer Glen Hansard, who throws Bob Marley's Exodus into the ring.

We don't even scratch the surface of the surface with this show. But we hope to get the discussion going by fitting in as much in as possible, from quiet, emotional folk, and psychedelic funk, to high-strutting, head-banging rock.

SONGS FEATURED ON THIS EPISODE

Paul Simon

Album: Graceland

Song: Graceland

Shuggie Otis

Album: Inspiration Information

Song: Strawberry Letter 23 

Pink Floyd

Album: The Dark Side of the Moon

Song: Speak to Me/Breathe

Ramones

Album: Rocket to Russia

Song: Rockaway Beach

AC/DC

Album: Back in Black

Song: Back in Black

Billie Holiday

Album: Ultimate Collection

Song: Solitude

Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova

Album: Once (Soundtrack)

Song: Falling Slowly

Bob Marley & the Wailers

Album: Exodus [Bonus Tracks]

Song: Turn Your Lights Down Low

The Beatles

Album: The Beatles [White Album]

Song: Back in the U.S.S.R.

Boston

Album: Boston

Song: More Than a Feeling

De La Soul

Album: 3 Feet High and Rising

Song: Magic Number

On the show: Patti Smith's first album in eight years, which includes a collaboration with Tom Verlaine on the song "April Fool"; a nostalgic garage-pop offering from Best Coast; Austin's Deep Time (formerly YellowFever) makes a pop song that surprises; a tropical-infused, electronic song from Hundred Waters and the Debo Band, which Bob fell in love with at globalFEST this year, unveils the first single off its Sub Pop debut.

Fun.

Album: Some Nights

Song: Carry On

Deep Time

Album: Deep Time

Song: Clouds

Patti Smith

Album: Banga

Song: April Fool

Hundred Waters

Album: Hundred Waters

Song: Me and Anodyne

Best Coast

Album: The Only Place

Song: How They Want Me To Be

Debo Band

Album: Debo Band

Song: Asha Gedawo

Also on the show: Last week Bob challenged listeners to guess what The Mynabirds song "Generals" reminds him of. You've been tossing and turning in your bed trying hopelessly to figure it out. This week, Bob and Robin talk with The Mynabirds singer and songwriter Laura Burhenn about the song and play a few of the listener guesses. Did anyone win a date with Bob? All answers will be revealed in this episode.

Also on this week's show: Fiona Apple just released her first new song in seven years and we've got it. "Every Single Night" is a highly detailed, orchestral imagining of her own creative process; The Mynabirds' members get political with the fierce, stomping cut "Generals"; a sneak preview of the brooding, epic new full-length from Exitmusic; and Fenster crafts dreamy bedroom pop with "White to Red."

St. Vincent

Album: KrokodilSong: Grot

The Mynabirds

Album: Generals

Song: Generals

Fiona Apple

Album: The Idler Wheel...

Song: Every Single Night

Fenster

Album: Bones

Song: White to Red

Exitmusic

Album: Passage

Song: The Night

Also on this week's show: a new blast of guitar from Jack White's debut solo record, Blunderbuss; Yuck takes a try at shoegaze with its new song "Chew"; Timothy Presley (a.k.a. the insanely prolific White Fence) channels Syd Barrett for his psychedelic folk album Family Perfume Vol. 1; We Are Serenades creates beautiful harmonies in "Walking Home"; and a gorgeous song with a wistful message of loss and remembrance from Maps & Atlases.

Jack White

Album: Blunderbuss

Song: Sixteen Saltines

Yuck

Album: Chew (Single)

Song: Chew

Maps & Atlases

Album: Beware and Be Grateful

Song: Old & Gray

White Fence

Album: Family Perfume, Vol. 1

Song: Do You Know Ida Know?

We Are Serenades

Album: Criminal Heaven

Song: Walking Home

Spiritualized

Album: Sweet Heart Sweet Light

Song: Hey Jane

See a video of this interview on the NPR Music site

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/13/150593292/jack-white-how-i-made-blunderbuss?ps=mh_frimg1

Japandroids

Album: Celebration Rock

Song: The House That Heaven Built 

Sarah Jaffe

Album: The Body Wins

Song: Glorified High

Hot Chip

Album: In Our Heads

Song: Flutes

Dirty Projectors

Album: Swing Lo Magellan

Song: Gun Has No Trigger

Bayatas

Album: The Hand Effect/What Is The Dream

Song: The Hand Effect

Bobby Womack

Album: The Bravest Man In The Universe

Song: Please Forgive My Heart

Peter Broderick

Album: http://www.itstartshear.com

Song: Colin

SONGS FEATURED ON THIS EPISODE

Rex Harrison

Album: My Fair Lady [Original Soundtrack]

Song: A Hymn to Him

The Velvet Underground

Album: Loaded [Fully Loaded Edition]

Song: Sweet Jane [Full Length Version]

William Shatner

Album: Has Been

Song: Common People

The Modern Lovers

Album: The Modern Lovers

Song: She Cracked

U2

Album: Unforgettable Fire

Song: Pride (In the Name of Love)

Mozart

Album: Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro

Song: Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), opera, K. 492 [Act 1. Scene 1 & 2. No. 2. Duettino. Se a caso madama]

Christine Schäfer

Album: Arnold Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire; Herzgewächse; Ode to Napoleon

Song: Pierrot lunaire, melodrama for voice & chamber ensemble, Op. 21 [Act I, No. 1, "Mondestrunken"]

Laurie Anderson

Album: Mister Heartbreak

Song: Blue Lagoon 

Suzanne Vega

Album: Solitude Standing

Song: Tom's Diner

The Mountain Goats

Album: Sunset Tree

Song: Love Love Love

Wilco

Album: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Song: I Am Trying to Break Your Heart

Also on the show: Former Fleet Foxes drummer Josh Tillman returns with a solo album under the name Father John Misty; We spin new music from our favorite artist from this year's South by Southwest festival, Patrick Watson, and one of our most surprising discoveries, Gashcat; and NPR Music's most recent member, Saidah Bount, joins us to share one of her favorite new discoveries.

Father John Misty

Album: Fear Fun

Song: Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings

Norah Jones

Album: Little Broken Hearts

Song: Say Goodbye

Patrick Watson

Album: Adventures In Your Own Backyard

Song: Into Giants

THEESatisfaction

Album: awE naturalE

Song: Queens

Gashcat

Album: Reunion!

Song: The Morning Sun

A Place to Bury Strangers

Album: Onwards to the Wall

Song: I Lost You

Sigur Ros

Album: Valtari

Song: Ekki Mukk

Paul McCartney/Wings

Album: Band on the Run

Song: Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five

The B-52's

Album: Wild Planet

Song: Dirty Back Road

Misfits

Album: Walk Among Us

Song: I Turned Into a Martian

Devo

Album: Freedom of Choice 

Song: Girl U Want

Red Fang

Album: Murder the Mountains

Song: Wires

Holy Sons

Album: Survivalist Tales!

Song: Chapter Must Be Closed

Islands

Album: Sleep & A Forgetting

Song: This Is Not a Song

Ike and Tina Turner

Album: Come Together

Song: It Ain't Right (Lovin' to Be Lovin')

On the show:

Bad Sports: "Can't Just Be Friends"
Lady Leshurr: "Lego"
Filastine: "Colony Collapse"
Quiet Company: "You, Me and The Bottom"
Mr. Gnome: "House of Circles"
Teen Daze: "Let's Groove"
Bright Moments: "Natives"
The City And Horses: "We Will Never Be Discovered"
No: "Stay With Me"
Sauti Sol: "Soma Kijana"
Daughter: "Landfill"
Impending Doom: "There Will Be Violence"
The Black And White Years: "Up!"
Mirel Wagner: "No Death"
Deafheaven: "Violet"
Trippple Nippple: "LSD"
Line Upon Line Percussion: "A Man With A Gun Lives Here"
Clyde And Clem's Whiskey Business: "The Ballad of Ed Geen"
Young Prism: "Floating In Blue"
Sore Losers: "Letter To My Competition"
ZZ Ward: "Criminal"
Kishi Bashi: "Bright Whites" 

Regina Spektor

Artist: Regina Spektor

Album: What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

Song: All The Rowboats

Kishi Bashi

Artist: Kishi Bashi

Album: 151A

Song: Bright Whites

Mati Zundel

Artist: Mati Zundel

Album: Amazonico Gravitante

Song: Senor Montecostez

Krzysztof Penderecki and Jonny Greenwood

Artist: Krzysztof Penderecki and Jonny Greenwood

Album: Threnody For The Victims Of Hiroshima/Popcorn Superhet Receiver

Song: 48 Responses To Polymorphia: Pacay Tree

Zammuto

Artist: Zammuto

Album: Zammuto

Song: Too Late To Topologize

Cowboy Junkies

Artist: Cowboy Junkies

Album: Wilderness: The Nomad Series, Vol. 4

Song: Angels in the Wilderness

Mind Spiders

Artist: Mind Spiders

Album: Meltdown

Song: You Are Dead

Also on the show: no-frills blues-rock from Ohio's Mount Carmel, a snowballing slow-burner from London's Dry the River and shoegazey pop from Minnesota's Now, Now (whose members met in marching band). Plus, Julia Holter and Tiny Victories get playful with the tools and conventions of electronic music, and a CD picked solely for its cover art turns out to be from NPR's own backyard.

Mount Carmel

Album: Real Women

Song: Swaggs

Dry the River

Album: Shallow Bed

Song: Lion's Den

Now, Now

Album: Threads

Song: Prehistoric

Julia Holter

Album: Ekstasis

Song: Für Felix

Office of Future Plans

Album: Office of Future Plans

Song: Harden Your Heart

M. Ward

Album: A Wasteland Companion

Song: Primitive Girl

Tiny Victories

Album: Those Of Us Still Alive EP

Song: Mr. Bones

Also on the show: Hot Chip's Joe Goddard emerges with the side project The 2 Bears and the mysterious Spanish producer John Talabot unveils his first proper album. Plus, Sami and Otis discuss the homegrown sounds coming out of San Francisco and explain the logic behind limited-edition releases.

VCMG

Album: Ssss

Song: Bendy Bass

Burial

Album: KindredSong: Loner

John Talabot

Album: Fin

Song: Destiny

The 2 Bears

Album: Be Strong

Song: Be Strong

Nina Kraviz

Album: Nina Kraviz

Song: Taxi Talk

Grimes

Album: Visions

Song: Vowels = Space and Time

Claude VonStroke

Album: Le Fantôme

Song: Le Fantôme 

Zinja Hlungwani / Burnt Friedman

Album: Theo Parrish Meets Mancingelani/Burnt Friedman Meets Zinja Hlungwani 12"

Song: Burnt Friedman Meets Zinja Hlungwani

1. The xx - VCR
2. Dr. Dog - Where'd All The Time Go?
3. Bjork - Joga
4. Carlos Gardel: El Dia Que Mi Quieras
5. Fesit - The Park
6. The Beatles - Why Don't We Do It In The Road?
7. Led Zeppelin - Friends
8. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World 

Andrew Bird

Album: Break It Yourself

Song: Eyeoneye

Hospitality

Album: Hospitality

Song: Liberal Arts

iNDEED

Album: iNDEED

Song: Black Tears 

Spoek Mathambo

Album: Father Creeper

Song: Stuck Together 

Julianna Barwick

Album: Never Change

Song: Never Change

Artificial Lover

Album: Nava

Song: Happy Nightmare

Thee American Revolution

Album: Buddha Electrostorm

Song: Electric Flame

An interview with Sharon Van Etten with questions from NPR Music listener and Sharon fans.

On her 2009 breakthrough Because I Was in Love, Sharon Van Etten is the embodiment of exposed nerves; the very essence of wounded vulnerability. In that record's best song, "Much More Than That," she lays out her insecurities while laying herself bare: Adorned by little more than a chorus of her own looped voice, Van Etten tentatively recalls tiny romantic gestures as a way of expressing the inexpressible. "One day I'll be a better writer," she sings at one point, as if laying out illustrative details in only a few words weren't already the hallmark of a gifted communicator.

The albums which follow, 2010's epic and the new Tramp, stretch muscles and viscera over those raw nerves. Even when she's conveying disappointment, hurt or longing, Van Etten sounds more assertive and complex these days, aided by the ever-knottier contributions of guest players from The National, Wye Oak, Beirut and The Walkmen. The feathery coos of "Much More Than That" have given way to a tensely argumentative and conflicted sneer in "Serpents," the remarkable first single from Tramp, out Feb. 7. When she sings, "I had a thought that you would take me seriously," her words are smeared with accusation instead of apologies. She says it herself in the song's chorus: "Everyone changes in time." By the time she gets to "All I Can" a few songs later, even her most defensive pronouncements — "I do all I can / We all make mistakes" — ring out with stormy grandiosity that sounds downright triumphant.

To put it mildly, Van Etten wears those changes well. Evolving convincingly before the eyes of the world, she's now both a fearless balladeer and a blood-and-guts rocker, not to mention an increasingly vital and promising live performer. There's no artifice to Sharon Van Etten: With refreshing, unmistakable directness, she sings like a human being who wants more from herself. On Tramp, she finds what she's looking for.

NEW MIX: CEREMONY, SEA OF BEES, YOUTH LAGOON, MORE

Mitchmatic

Album: It's Probably Raining

Song: Why Don't You Know

Young Magic

Album: Melt

Song: Slip Time

Liz Green

Album: O, Devotion!

Song: Displacement Song

Thomas Patrick Maguire

Album: The Future's Coming So Fast

Song: What's Your Malfunction 

Ceremony

Album: Zoo

Song: Hysteria

Sea of Bees

Album: Orangefarben

Song: Broke

Lucius

Album: Lucius EP

Song: Don't Sit There

The Magnetic Fields

Album: Love at the Bottom of the Sea

Song: Andrew In Drag

Gotye

Album: Making Mirrors

Song: Easy Way Out

White Rabbits

Album: Milk Famous

Song: Heavy Metal

Lambchop

Album: Mr. M

Song: Gone Tomorrow

Leonard Cohen

Album: Old Ideas

Song: Going Home

Porcelain Raft

Album: Strange Weekend

Song: Drifting In and Out

Lost In The Trees

Album: A Church That Fits Our Needs

Song: Red

Lower Dens

Album: Nootropics

Song: Brains

For this week's edition of All Songs Considered, NPR Music's Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR contributor and Afropop.org senior editor Banning Eyre, and Rob Weisberg of WNYC (who also hosts WFMU'sTranspacific Sound Paradise) join Bob Boilen to revisit some of the highlights and favorite discoveries from this year's globalFEST.

Album: Reign of Terror

Song: Born to Lose

Shearwater

Album: Animal Joy

Song: Animal Life

Stew & The Negro Problem

Album: Making It

Song: Love Is A Cult

Adam Arcuragi

Album: Like a Fire That Consumes All Before It...

Song: The Well

Craig Finn

Album: Clear Heart Full Eyes

Song: Rented Room

Dirty Three

Album: Toward The Low Sun

Song: That Was Was

Imperial Teen

Album: Feel the Sound

Song: Out From Inside

Charlie Haden/Hank Jones

Album: Come Sunday

Song: Going Home

Sharon Van Etten

Album: Tramp

Song: Serpents

Laura Gibson

Album: La Grande

Song: La Grande

The White Buffalo

Album: Once Upon a Time in the West

Song: BB Guns and Dirtbikes

Chairlift

Album: Something

Song: Met Before

Holiday music is inescapable this time of year, but it's worth remembering that "Jingle Bell Rock" isn't the only game in town. This week on All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen sits down with NPR's Jacob Ganz and Barrie Hardymon to play some holiday music you may not have heard before. That includes a 15th-century English carol, a 2010 club banger revamped with a Hanukkah theme, and a truly bizarre Prince song that finds the Purple One toasting his dead lover with a banana daiquiri ... on Christmas Eve.

Paul Simon

Album: So Beautiful or So What

Song: Getting Ready For Christmas Day

Natalie Merchant

Album: A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 3

Song: Children Go Where I Send Thee

Adam Arcuragi

Album: Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

Song: Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

This song is available on Bandcamp.

Prince

Album: Hits/The B-Sides

Song: Another Lonely Christmas

The King's Singers

Album: A Little Christmas Music

Song: The Boar's Head Carol

The Polyphonic Spree

Album: It's Christmas!

Song: It's Christmas!

This release is available from Good Records Recordings.

The Walkmen

Album: Little House of Savages EP

Song: The Christmas Party

Darlene Love

Album: SNL Sketch

Song: Christmas for the Jews

The Leevees

Album: Hanukkah Rocks

Song: Kugel

The Maccabeats

Album: Candlelight

Song: Candlelight

YouTube

Merle Haggard

Album: A Christmas Present

Song: If We Make It Through December

Kate & Anna McGarrigle

Album: McGarrigle Christmas Hour

Song: Spotlight on Christmas

Julian Koster and the Music Tapes

Album: Tiny Desk Concert

Song: Zat You, Santa Claus?

Six months later, many of those albums have held their ground — but our poll of listeners' 100 favorite records from all of 2011 still had its surprises. The Black Keys swooped into the No. 6 slot with El Camino, an album just a few days older than the poll itself. Ceremonials, the follow-up to Florence + the Machine's sleeper hit Lungs, followed close behind. And it wasn't just the dark horses that stunned us — two of our personal favorites, the strong spring releases from Wye Oak and The Antlers, each dropped a dozen spots.

This week's episode includes songs from the top 25 listener picks. Once you've listened to the show, head to the All Songs blog for the full list of your 100 favorite albums of 2011.

Bon Iver

Album: Bon Iver

Song: Calgary

Fleet Foxes

Album: Helplessness Blues

Song: Grown Ocean

Adele

Album: 21

Song: Rolling In The Deep

The Decemberists

Album: The King Is Dead

Song: June Hymn

Radiohead

Album: The King Of Limbs

Song: Lotus Flower

The Black Keys

Album: El Camino

Song: Lonely Boy

Wilco

Album: Whole Love

Song: Born Alone

Florence + the Machine

Album: Ceremonials

Song: Shake It Out

Beirut

Album: The Rip TideSong: Santa Fe

Foster the People

Album: Torches

Song: Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)

M83

Album: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Song: Midnight City

Feist

Album: Metals

Song: How Come You Never Go There

Iron & Wine

Album: Kiss Each Other Clean

Song: Tree by the River

tUnE-yArDs

Album: w h o k i l l

Song: Bizness

St. Vincent

Album: Strange Mercy

Song: Cruel

The Civil Wars

Album: Barton Hollow

Song: Barton Hollow

Death Cab For Cutie

Album: Codes And Keys

Song: You Are A Tourist

Tom Waits

Album: Bad As Me

Song: Bad As Me

My Morning Jacket

Album: Circuital

Song: Circuital

Bright Eyes

Album: The People's Key

Song: Shell Games

Jay-Z/Kanye West

Album: Watch the Throne

Song: Otis

Coldplay

Album: Mylo Xyloto

Song: Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall

PJ Harvey

Album: Let England Shake

Song: Let England Shake

Cults

Album: Cults

Song: Go Outside

James Blake

Album: James Blake

Song: The Wilhelm Scream

Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson and Ann Powers take on these head-spinning moments and more — including their favorite songs, albums and discoveries of 2011 — in this year-end edition of All Songs Considered. You can listen to the complete show above, and complete selections from the discoveries and songs of the year in the list below. And don't forget: once you've listened, head to the blog to vote for your own favorite music of 2011.

Alabama Shakes

Album: Alabama Shakes

Song: Hold On

Little Scream

Album: The Golden Record

Song: Cannons

Caveman

Album: Coco Beware

Song: Old Friend

Delay Trees

Album: Delay Trees

Song: Gold

The Roots

Album: Undun

Song: The OtherSide

Neutral Milk Hotel

Album: You've Passed / Where You'll Find Me Now 7"

Song: You've Passed

Wilco

Album: Whole Love

Song: Art of Almost

tUnE-yArDs

Album: w h o k i l l

Song: You Yes You

Apparat

Album: The Devil's Walk

Song: Black Water

St. Vincent

Album: Strange Mercy

Song: Cheerleader

Bright Eyes

Album: The People's Key

Song: One For You, One For Me

Drake

Album: Take Care

Song: Take Care

Add to PlaylistPurchase Music

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

Album: Diamond Mine

Song: Bubble

Bon Iver

Album: Bon Iver

Song: Perth

Herzog

Album: Search

Song: Silence

The Mountain Goats

Album: All Eternals Deck

Song: Estate Sale Sign

Cults

Album: Cults

Song: Abducted

Beyoncé

Album: 4

Song: Countdown

As NPR Music begins year-end music list season, we normally save producer and Viking's Choice blogger Lars Gotrich's favorite furious blast beats, meditative drones, spiraling riffs and other such unclassifiable sounds for after Christmas. Not this time around. We wanted the noise and we wanted it now.

While no one sound or trend truly dominated metal or outer sound in 2011, Lars talks to All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen about a set of field recordings from a Swiss gondola, why strong songwriting always matters in metal, and how sometimes hues are more dramatic than blocks of sound in drone.

This episode of All Songs Considered includes highlights from a pair of Top 25 lists. Over on the All Songs blog, you'll find the complete lists of 2011's best metal and best outer sound albums.

The Psychic Paramount

Album: II

Song: N5

Ernst Karel

Album: Swiss Mountain Transport Systems

Song: Oberdorf—Weissenstein

Hammers Of Misfortune

Album: 17th Street

Song: Grain

Glenn Jones

Album: The Wanting

Song: Of Its Own Kind

Tombs

Album: Path of Totality

Song: Silent World

Witch Mountain

Album: South of Salem

Song: Wing of the Lord

Julia Holter

Album: Tragedy

Song: Celebration

YOB

Album: Atma

Song: Prepare the Ground

Nicholas Szczepanik

Album: Please Stop Loving Me

Song: Please Stop Loving Me

Cormorant

Album: Dwellings

Song: The First Man

Will Hermes was there. He was a teenager during the mid-'70s, and he's written a new book about that era called Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York that Changed Music Forever.

This week on All Songs Considered, Hermes tells Bob Boilen how a city plagued by crime and economic ruin fostered a booming arts scene, thanks in large part to cheap rent. And he spins some of the groundbreaking music that emerged during those years: a milestone composition by Steve Reich, an instrumental jam that became a classic hip-hop breakbeat, an extended dance cut that would be one of the first disco hits and the Talking Heads single that gives the book its name.

Talking Heads

Album: Love Goes To Building On Fire (1977 Single)

Song: Love Goes to Building on Fire

Incredible Bongo Band

Album: Bongo RocSong: Apache

Dinosaur (Arthur Russell)

Album: Kiss Me Again (12" Single)

Song: Kiss Me Again

Steve Reich

Album: Music for 18 Musicians

The Art Ensemble of Chicago

Album: Nice Guys

Song: 597-59

Television

Song: Little Johnny Jewel

Also on this episode: a straight-ahead rocker from The Black Keys, a slow jam with an engaging backstory from Drake, some nostalgic emoting from Real Estate and Future Islands, and cover tunes from The Antlers and Ólöf Arnalds.

The Black Keys

Album: El Camino

Song: Run Right Back 

Real Estate

Album: Days

Song: It's Real

Ólöf Arnalds

Album: Ólöf Sings

Song: With Tomorrow / I'm On Fire

Drake

Album: Take Care [Clean]

Song: Take Care

The Antlers

Album: (together)

Song: VCR (The xx cover)

Future Islands

Album: On The Water

Song: Where I Found You

Jónsi

Album: We Bought a Zoo [Original Soundtrack]

Song: Gathering Stories

Such songs can be simple and anthemic, like The Modern Lovers' garage-punk or Kelly Clarkson's roller-coaster pop. Or they can be densely layered, like LCD Soundsystem's studio wizardry or OutKast's all-out aural assaults. But in each case, the message is the same: Let the music, whatever it might be, overwhelm you.

The Modern Lovers

Album: The Modern Lovers

Song: Roadrunner

LCD Soundsystem

Album: This Is Happening

Song: All I Want

OutKast

Album: Stankonia [Clean]

Song: B.O.B.

Brian Eno

Album: Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)

Song: Third Uncle

Kelly Clarkson

Album: All I Ever Wanted

Song: I Do Not Hook Up

The Smiths

Album: Meat Is Murder

Song: How Soon Is Now?

Justice

Album: Ed Rec Vol. 2

Song: Phantom

Elastica

Album: Elastica

Song: Annie

Ramones

Album: Road to Ruin

Song: I Wanna Be Sedated

The Exploding Hearts

Album: Guitar Romantic

Song: Modern Kicks

Led Zeppelin

Album: Physical Graffiti

Song: Kashmir

This past weekend, a remarkably gifted group of electronic and experimental rock artists gathered to celebrate Moog's genius in Asheville, N.C. for the annual Moogfest. All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen and NPR Music producer Jacob Ganz were there and, on this week's show, report back with some of their favorite discoveries, including music from Amon Tobin, The Field, Tangerine Dream, and soundscape artist Tim Hecker.

Brian Eno also presented his breathtaking sound and visual installation 77 Million Paintings, and the influential minimalist composer Terry Riley performed for nearly two hours. There were DJ sets from Flying Lotus and James Murphy, and prog-rock from Battles.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen sits down with two New York journalists: Maura Johnston, music editor for The Village Voice, and Sydney Brownstone, a writer and videographer for The L Magazine. Together, the three pick a dozen favorite acts from this year's CMJ, while sharing stories of their disparate journeys through the festival.

Clips

Artist: Ava Luna

Album: Services / 3rd Avenue Island

Song: Clips

Perfect

Artist: Fort Lean

Album: Fort Lean

Song: Perfect

Old Friend

Artist: Caveman

Album: Coco Beware

Song: Old Friend

Keep Time

Artist: Gauntlet Hair

Album: Gauntlet Hair

Song: Keep Time

Dresinen

Artist: Casiokids

Album: Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen

Song: Dresinen

See You Hurry

Artist: WIM

Album: WIM

Song: See You Hurry

How Can U Luv Me

Artist: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Album: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Song: How Can U Luv Me

She's A River

Artist: Firehorse

Album: So They Ran Faster...

Song: She's A River

Add to Playlist

Where The Asphalt Dies

Artist: Clouder

Album: Serious Business EP

Song: Where The Asphalt Dies

Add to Playlist

Mayday

Artist: Pujol

Album: Nasty, Brutish, and Short

Song: Mayday

Gun Shy

Artist: Widowspeak

Album: Widowspeak

Song: Gun Shy

Add to Playlist

Shivers

Artist: Zola Jesus

Album: Conatus

Song: Shivers

Along the way, Sami and Otis explain some of the peculiarities and buzzwords of the electronic scene, such as "dubplate culture," and why dance tracks so often sound like one long middle.

1. M83 ft. Zola Jesus: Intro
2. Unknown: Swims
3. Burial and Massive Attack: Four Walls
4. Roll The Dice: Iron Bridge
5. Luca Bacchetti: Tango
6. The Field: Is This Power
7. RxRy: P Block
8. Four Tet: Pyramid 

Also on the show, new music from some great unknowns, including the ethereal, London-based rock group Still Corners, the Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit, Indo-Canadian singer Kiran Ahluwalia, and Kacey Underwood and Alice Costelloe, otherwise known as Big Deal, a group we first introduced on our Fall Preview show.

Messes of Men

Artist: mewithoutyou

Album: Brother, Sister

Free as a Bird

Artist: The BeatlesAlbum: Anthology 1

The Lion's Roar

Artist: First Aid Kit

Album: The Lion's Roar

Visions

Artist: Big Deal

Album: Lights Out

Mustt Mustt

Artist: Kiran Ahluwalia

Album: Aam Zameen: Common Ground

Submarine

Artist: Still Corners

Album: Creatures of an Hour

Here is the conversation we had in an office in New York City.

And here are a few quotes of interest.

"I found in the touch screen a way to visualize how I see a song when I close my eyes."

"For me, this project's very much about solving things, solving riddles. I guess you could say that it is sort of about finding a new angle; how the electronic and acoustic could work together. How nature and technology could work together ... trying to find a fresh point where the listener and the music maker exchange music."

"A lot of the times on this project, him (Damian Taylor), me and my assistant James, we were in a house for a year in Puerto Rico. So we were basically waking up together, programming together, making music together, getting drunk together, swimming in the ocean. So it was a very good way to be totally immersed in the project. Then we were making pendulums out of buckets and string and rope and we ordered pipe-organ pipes, really cheap ones from eBay, and were plugging the touch screens to that. Basically, what we were making was coming out of those pipes."

"I found in the touch screen a way to visualize how I see a song when I close my eyes."

So basically each app has a theme, a musicology theme, and this app (accompanying the song "Crystalline") is about structure.

In the beginning, I thought I would make a music house in Iceland, a music museum for children so each song was a room. So you go to one room [and] you get to play with the lightning, you write a song; you go to another room, there are crystals there, and so on. That didn't happen. ... And then we thought maybe this is a 3D movie, and that may seem like a big jump, but actually for me, going from each song being a room to being a scene in a movie, isn't that much of a jump. 

You can use the tool of Western civilization and be impulsive and intuitive and emotional — and that, for me, creates a lot of hope.

On this episode of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen and NPR Music producer (and Viking's Choice blogger) Lars Gotrich look back at the festival not in a studio, not in a hotel room, but in Bob's car on the drive home to Washington, D.C.

Also on this episode: Sporting another comically referential name, Ringo Deathstarr offers slow, woozy guitar rock in the tradition of My Bloody Valentine. Plus, new discoveries from Dum Dum Girls, Megafaun, Zola Jesus and Youth Lagoon, as well as a live orchestral outing from Peter Gabriel.

Swirly

Artist: Ringo Deathstarr

Album: Sparkler

Always Looking

Artist: Dum Dum Girls

Album: Only in Dream

Vessel

Artist: Zola Jesus

Album: Conatus

Get Right

Artist: Megafaun

Album: Megafaun

Montana

Artist: Youth Lagoon

Album: The Year of Hibernation

Solsbury Hill

Artist: Peter Gabriel

Album: New Blood: Live in London

Bonfire

Artist: Childish Gambino

Album: CAMP

1. Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett:  "The Lady Is A Tramp" from 'Duets II'
2. Exitmusic:  "The Sea" from 'From Silence'
3. Milagres: "Halfway" from 'Glowing Mouth'
4. Laura Veirs: "Little Lap Dog" from 'Tumble Bee'
5. Harold Budd:  "Haru Spring" from 'In The Mist'
6. Pujol: "Stuff" from 'Nasty, Brutish and Short'
7. AA Bondy: "The Heart Is Willing" from 'Believers'
8. The Olivia Tremor Control: "New Day" from 'Black Foliage...' 

On Monday, Sept. 19, we played the entire new Wilco album, The Whole Love, for a special online listening party. This is that conversation with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt and Pat Sansone 

Summer's almost over, but if this year's warm-weather months weren't everything you hoped they'd be, there's one heck of a consolation prize around the corner: loads and loads of great new music.

This week on All Songs Considered, NPR Music's Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson and The Record critic Ann Powers join hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton to talk about some of the releases they're most looking forward to coming out this fall. That includes a new multimedia "app" album from Bjork, Feist's long-awaited follow-up to 2007's The Reminder and a sophomore effort from Real Estate. Also on the program: The prolific drone-rock artist Atlas Sound is back with more new music, veteran English folksinger June Tabor reunites with The Oyster Band, and Swedish story-song artist Jens Lekman spins a fantastic new tale. Plus, hear new discoveries from Gem Club, Gringo Star, Gauntlet Hair and more.

Shadow

Artist: Gringo Star

Album: Count Yer Lucky Stars

By Your Hand

Artist: Los Campesinos!

Album: Hello Sadness

Learn more about this release at Los Campesinos!' website.

Chair

Artist: Big Deal

Album: Lights Out

Learn more about this release at Big Deal's website.

Bonny Bunch of Roses

Artist: June Tabor & Oysterband

Album: Ragged Kingdom

Twins

Artist: Gem Club

Album: Breakers

Video Games

Artist: Lana Del Rey

Album: Video Games

Learn more about this release at Stranger Records.

Moon

Artist: Bjork

Album: Biophilia

Terra Incognita

Artist: Atlas Sound

Album: Parallax

Easy

Artist: Real Estate

Album: Days

My Day

Artist: Cosmo Jarvis

Album: Is The World Strange Or Am I Strange?

An Argment with Myself

Artist: Jens Lekman

Album: An Argument with Myself

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Keep Time

Artist: Gauntlet Hair

Album: Gauntlet Hair

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Night or Day

Artist: Cubic Zirconia

Album: Follow Your Heart

Learn more about this release at Fool's Gold Records.

Replicate

Artist: Fanfarlo

Album: Replicate

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Learn more about this release at Fanfarlo's website.

How Come You Never Go There

Artist: Feist

Album: Metals

On this edition of All Songs Considered, Lowe joins host Bob Boilen to talk about The Old Magic and his long career making razor-sharp pop music. Lowe also shares some of the artists and songs he's loved over the years, from the country-boogie singer Tennessee Ernie Ford to a Conway Twitty-Loretta Lynn duet, as well as a rarely heard R&B tune from Jewel and the Rubies.

I Can See Her Face

Artist: Kippington Lodge

Album: We Can Fly: Rare Psych Obscurities

Shot-Gun Boogie

Artist: Tennessee Ernie Ford

Album: Capitol Collectors Series

Sensitive Man

Artist: Nick Lowe

Album: The Old Magic

Kidnapper

Artist: Jewel and the Rubies

Album: Good Vibrations: 30 Carolina Beach Music Classics

Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries

Artist: Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty

Album: The Very Best of Loretta and Conway

House for Sale

Artist: Nick Lowe

Album: The Old Magic

Harlan County

Artist: Jim Ford

Album: Harlan County

Without Love

Artist: Nick Lowe

Album: Labour of Lust

1. Neutral Milk Hotel: Oh Sister
2. Olivia Tremor Control: The Game You Play Is In Your Head
3. Lisa Hannigan: Home
4. Pedro Soler & Gasper Claus: Insomnio Mineral
5. Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter: Come To Mary
6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Same Mistake
7. Tom Waits: Bad As Me
8. James Blake and Bon Iver: Fall Creek Boys Choir 

When the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers film O Brother, Where Art Thou? hit American ears 10 years ago, the impact was as massive as it was unexpected. Led by producer T-Bone Burnett, the album paired contemporary artists with the folk, blues, country and gospel of the movie's Depression-era setting. It became a runaway hit, selling roughly nine million copies and scoring a Grammy for Album of the Year. More importantly, it kick-started an Americana music revival that is still going strong.

On this episode of All Songs Considered, Burnett speaks with Bob Boilen about the significance of the album a decade later, and plays selections from the new deluxe edition.

'In The Jailhouse Now' 

performed by Harley Allen

Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

'Little Sadie' 

performed by Norman Blake

Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]

'Hogfoot' 

performed by John Hartford

Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]

'Big Rock Candy Mountain' 

performed by Van Dyke Parks

Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]

'I'll Fly Away' 

performed by The Kossoy Sisters

Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]

Mood Indigo

Artist: Duke Ellington

Rocks Off

Artist: Rolling Stones

Album: Exile On Main Street

Young Folks

Artist: Peter Bjorn and John

Album: Writer's Block

Dog Days Are Over

Artist: Florence and the Machine

Album: Lungs

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel

Album: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

The Swimming Song

Artist: Loudon Wainwright III

Album: Attempted Mustache

Feeling Good

Artist: Nina Simone

Album: I Put a Spell on You

I Wanna Be Sedated

Artist: Ramones

Album: Road to Ruin

On this episode of All Songs Considered, Bob and NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson share their stories of the most moving and surprising moments from three and a half years of live music in the NPR offices. 

Gogol Bordello

Song: "Start Wearing Purple"

Bob: "I remember saying to the leader of the band, Eugene Hutz, 'Do you guys need something to drink?' And out of a big paper bag he pulls a very chilled, huge bottle of vodka and says, 'Do you have glasses?'"

Chuck Brown

Song: "Bustin' Loose

Stephen: "Not the first noisy artist to play the Tiny Desk, but still the biggest band ... The godfather of go-go music did not strip his sound down for the occasion whatsoever. And, because he's Chuck Brown, we indulged his every whim."

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Song:  "Home"

Stephen: "It's a very unusual-looking crop of very committed musicians, with this beautiful, communal vibe to them that really comes through."

The Avett Brothers

Song: "Laundry Room" 

Stephen: "Unbelievable volume, unbelievable power ... 'Laundry Room' is probably the individual song performance at a Tiny Desk Concert that I have listened to the most."

Adele

Song: "Someone Like You" 

Bob: "I always love performers whose speaking voice is so different — such a disconnect from their singing voice."

Stephen: "She also has this absolutely magnificent cackle. Right at the end of the set, she's like, 'Forgot to take my gloves off, hahahaha!' You just can't believe this incredibly delicate instrument is also tuned to that cackle. Marvelous, marvelous performance."

Tom Jones

Song: "Green, Green Grass Of Home"

Bob: "I imagined he would come with a backing track or something — I didn't know how he was going to do this. But this single guitar player, and Tom Jones' voice, was absolutely astonishing."

Buke And Gass

Song: "Medulla Oblongata"

Bob: "A baritone ukulele and a guitar-bass hybrid. These are two old friends who have been making music for a long time — super-powerful, angular music."

Phoenix

Songs: "Lisztomania" 

Stephen: "We have to turn off the air-conditioning units when the bands start to perform, because you get a low hum if you leave them on. And we have gigantic picture windows — sort of like ants under a magnifying glass, with no air conditioning and probably 150 people streaming in to see Phoenix, one of the biggest bands we've had play ... Just imagine the engines of NPR wheezing to a halt for about 10 minutes."

Wu Man

Song:"White Snow in Spring"

Bob: "Anyone who's into any kind of virtuosity in music should watch ... There's something going on that doesn't really look humanly possible."

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Song: "Hanuman"

Stephen: "They played in metal bands, and somehow found a way to fuse it with flamenco music on nylon strings. That's one of those things where I feel like the target audience is anyone. You just have to love that."

The Swell Season

Song:"When Your Mind's Made Up"

Bob: "There's that one moment in 'When Your Mind's Made Up,' where it builds to an explosive guitar moment ... and then it stops."

Stephen: "And there's this buildup of nervous tension that then dissolves into laughter."

Herzog:  Silence

Grouplove: Tongue-Tied

REM: Begin the Begin

Andrew Bird: Bein' Green

The Teddybears: Crystal Meth Christian

Bjork: Crystalline

The Features: Kids

We Were Promised Jet Packs: Act On Impulse

On this edition of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen chats with Newport folk festival producer Jay Sweet about some of the surprises in this year's lineup. Later Bob's joined by NPR Music jazz producer and A Blog Supreme editor Patrick Jarenwattananon, and Josh Jackson, host of WBGO's The Checkout, to talk about the Newport jazz festival.

Artist: Earl Scruggs and Friends

Album: Earl Scruggs and Friends

Song: Blue Ridge Mountain Blues

Artist: Gillian Welch

Album: Harrow and the Harvest

Song: Scarlet Town

Artist: Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Album: Stranger Here

Song: Rising High Water Blues

Artist: Tegan and Sara

Album: If It Was You

Song: Time Running

Artist: Wanda Jackson

Album: The Party Ain't Over

Song: Shakin' All Over

Artist: River City Extension

Album: Unmistakable Man

Song: South for the Winter

Artist: James Farm

Album: James Farm

Song: Polliwog

Artist: Trombone Shorty

Album: For True

Song: For True

Artist: John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble

Album: Eternal Interlude

Song: Foreign One

Artist: Miguel Zenón

Album: Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook

Song: Alma Adentro

Artist: Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green

Album: Apex

Song: Summit