Music http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1039&ft=1&f=1039 NPR Music features, streams, live concerts and music news. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Music http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1039&ft=1&f=1039 The National: Falling For 'Graceless' The band performs a special studio session for New York City's WFUV in advance of its new sixth album, <em>Trouble Will Find Me</em>. Watch The National perform "Graceless," live from The Cutting Room Studios in Manhattan. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/event/music/185548038/the-national-falling-for-graceless?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/event/music/185548038/the-national-falling-for-graceless?ft=1&f=1039 The band performs a special studio session for New York City's WFUV in advance of its new sixth album, Trouble Will Find Me. Watch The National perform "Graceless," live from The Cutting Room Studios in Manhattan.

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]]> The Doors' Keyboard Counterpoint Goes Silent: Remembering Ray Manzarek Ray Manzarek, whose keyboard was a trademark of The Doors sound, died at the age of 74 on Monday. Tue, 21 May 2013 03:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/05/21/185619707/the-doors-keyboard-counterpoint-goes-silent-remembering-ray-manzarek?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/05/21/185619707/the-doors-keyboard-counterpoint-goes-silent-remembering-ray-manzarek?ft=1&f=1039 Ray Manzarek, whose keyboard was a trademark of The Doors sound, died at the age of 74 on Monday.

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]]> Ray Manzarek, Founding Member Of The Doors, Dies The keyboardist co-founded the band after meeting Jim Morrison in California. The Doors went on to become one of the most successful rock 'n' roll acts of the 1960s. Manzarek, 74, died in Germany after a long battle with bile duct cancer. Mon, 20 May 2013 18:03:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185608273/ray-manzarek-founding-member-of-the-doors-dies?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/20/185608273/ray-manzarek-founding-member-of-the-doors-dies?ft=1&f=1039 The keyboardist co-founded the band after meeting Jim Morrison in California. The Doors went on to become one of the most successful rock 'n' roll acts of the 1960s. Manzarek, 74, died in Germany after a long battle with bile duct cancer.

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]]> Aesop Rock And Kimya Dawson Showcase Their Strengths As The Uncluded, the two cancel each other's weaknesses — Dawson gains heft, while Aesop Rock lightens up. Critic Robert Christgau says the collaborative album is almost like two halves of a whole. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183924031/aesop-rock-and-kimya-dawson-showcase-their-strengths?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/183924031/aesop-rock-and-kimya-dawson-showcase-their-strengths?ft=1&f=1039 As The Uncluded, the two cancel each other's weaknesses — Dawson gains heft, while Aesop Rock lightens up. Critic Robert Christgau says the collaborative album is almost like two halves of a whole.

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]]> Loudon Wainwright III On Mountain Stage The singer-songwriter gives a unique and unexpectedly personal performance, recorded live at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, W.Va. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/event/music/185523584/loudon-wainwright-iii-on-mountain-stage?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/event/music/185523584/loudon-wainwright-iii-on-mountain-stage?ft=1&f=1039 The singer-songwriter gives a unique and unexpectedly personal performance, recorded live at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, W.Va.

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]]> Mohammad Reza Shajarian: Tiny Desk Concert Joined by three excellent collaborators, Shajarian gives what amounts to a brief master class in the art of singing. In the course of this love song, titled "Az Eshgh," the Iranian icon unleashes torrents of swooping, soaring, goosebump-inducing sound that's still perfectly controlled at age 73. Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/event/music/185533273/mohammad-reza-shajarian-tiny-desk-concert?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/event/music/185533273/mohammad-reza-shajarian-tiny-desk-concert?ft=1&f=1039 Joined by three excellent collaborators, Shajarian gives what amounts to a brief master class in the art of singing. In the course of this love song, titled "Az Eshgh," the Iranian icon unleashes torrents of swooping, soaring, goosebump-inducing sound that's still perfectly controlled at age 73.

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]]> Next: Hanni El Khatib The singer-songwriter combines soul, blues and punk on his blistering new album, <em>Head in the Dirt</em>. Mon, 20 May 2013 13:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185515882/next-hanni-el-khatib?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/185515882/next-hanni-el-khatib?ft=1&f=1039 The singer-songwriter combines soul, blues and punk on his blistering new album, Head in the Dirt.

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]]> Dawes: Songs And 'Stories' From Laurel Canyon The newly independent California band plays songs from its new record, <em>Stories Don't End</em>, and singer-songwriter Taylor Goldsmith talks about the inspiration behind the album. Mon, 20 May 2013 13:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/179223132/dawes-comes-down-from-laurel-canyon-on-new-album?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/179223132/dawes-comes-down-from-laurel-canyon-on-new-album?ft=1&f=1039 The newly independent California band plays songs from its new record, Stories Don't End, and singer-songwriter Taylor Goldsmith talks about the inspiration behind the album.

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]]> Do You Really Listen To Full Albums? With so many distractions and different ways to hear songs, it's getting to be pretty impossible to give full albums the attention they deserve. When was the last time you actually listened to one all the way through, without any interruptions? Mon, 20 May 2013 13:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/05/20/185534315/do-you-really-listen-to-full-albums?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2013/05/20/185534315/do-you-really-listen-to-full-albums?ft=1&f=1039 With so many distractions and different ways to hear songs, it's getting to be pretty impossible to give full albums the attention they deserve. When was the last time you actually listened to one all the way through, without any interruptions?

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]]> Sarah Vaughan: A New Box Set Revels In Glorious Imperfections <em>Divine: The Jazz Albums, 1954-1958</em> packs four CDs with Vaughan's music, recorded live or in the studio with bands big and small. Two live albums from Chicago nightclubs are standouts, partly when a performance threatens to slide off the rails. Mon, 20 May 2013 12:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/179869404/sarah-vaughan-a-new-box-set-revels-in-glorious-imperfections?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/20/179869404/sarah-vaughan-a-new-box-set-revels-in-glorious-imperfections?ft=1&f=1039 Divine: The Jazz Albums, 1954-1958 packs four CDs with Vaughan's music, recorded live or in the studio with bands big and small. Two live albums from Chicago nightclubs are standouts, partly when a performance threatens to slide off the rails.

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]]> First Listen: Mount Kimbie, 'Cold Spring Fault Less Youth' The British beat-makers shed their electronics in pursuit of a sound designed to translate live. For their second album, Mount Kimbie's Dominic Maker and Kai Campos even trot out languid vocal performances and a real live drum kit, while still sounding like themselves in the process. Sun, 19 May 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184809601/first-listen-mount-kimbie-cold-spring-fault-less-youth?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184809601/first-listen-mount-kimbie-cold-spring-fault-less-youth?ft=1&f=1039 The British beat-makers shed their electronics in pursuit of a sound designed to translate live. For their second album, Mount Kimbie's Dominic Maker and Kai Campos even trot out languid vocal performances and a real live drum kit, while still sounding like themselves in the process.

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]]> First Listen: Tricky, 'False Idols' The producer's best album since the mid-'90s, <em>False Idols</em> is one of 2013's biggest surprises so far. His signature mix of menace and seduction still sounds contemporary after Tricky's more than 20 years in (and out of) the spotlight. Sun, 19 May 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184813703/first-listen-tricky-false-idols?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184813703/first-listen-tricky-false-idols?ft=1&f=1039 The producer's best album since the mid-'90s, False Idols is one of 2013's biggest surprises so far. His signature mix of menace and seduction still sounds contemporary after Tricky's more than 20 years in (and out of) the spotlight.

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]]> First Listen: Laura Marling, 'Once I Was An Eagle' Marling's songs dig well beyond the everyday, with each sung in a wise, dusky, brooding voice that always seems in control of its surroundings. The U.K. folksinger's fourth album, <em>Once I Was an Eagle</em>, takes a remarkable journey over the course of 16 hypnotic, subtly inventive songs. Sun, 19 May 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184795915/first-listen-laura-marling-once-i-was-an-eagle?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184795915/first-listen-laura-marling-once-i-was-an-eagle?ft=1&f=1039 Marling's songs dig well beyond the everyday, with each sung in a wise, dusky, brooding voice that always seems in control of its surroundings. The U.K. folksinger's fourth album, Once I Was an Eagle, takes a remarkable journey over the course of 16 hypnotic, subtly inventive songs.

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]]> First Listen: Sean Nelson, 'Make Good Choices' Eight years after his last album with Harvey Danger, Nelson returns with a wonderfully catchy and quotable solo record. True to virtually every piece of music the singer-songwriter has ever written, <em>Make Good Choices</em> is fueled by a cocktail of quotability and charm. Sun, 19 May 2013 22:20:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184811141/first-listen-sean-nelson-make-good-choices?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184811141/first-listen-sean-nelson-make-good-choices?ft=1&f=1039 Eight years after his last album with Harvey Danger, Nelson returns with a wonderfully catchy and quotable solo record. True to virtually every piece of music the singer-songwriter has ever written, Make Good Choices is fueled by a cocktail of quotability and charm.

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]]> Deke Sharon Makes A Cappella Cool Again The movie <em>Pitch Perfect</em> has plans for a sequel in 2015; NBC's reality show <em>The Sing-Off</em> is coming back for its fourth season after being cancelled, and Pentatonix has millions of hits on YouTube for making awesome videos like "The Evolution of Music." The father of contemporary a cappella explains the genre's appeal. Sun, 19 May 2013 16:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184786553/deke-sharon-makes-a-cappella-cool-again?ft=1&f=1039 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/19/184786553/deke-sharon-makes-a-cappella-cool-again?ft=1&f=1039 The movie Pitch Perfect has plans for a sequel in 2015; NBC's reality show The Sing-Off is coming back for its fourth season after being cancelled, and Pentatonix has millions of hits on YouTube for making awesome videos like "The Evolution of Music." The father of contemporary a cappella explains the genre's appeal.

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