Best Music Of 2011 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=142592217&ft=1&f=142592217 NPR Music looks back at the best music and trends of the year. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Best Music Of 2011 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=142592217&ft=1&f=142592217 The Current's Surprise Hits Of 2011 The Twin Cities radio station played lots of hits in 2011, from Adele to Tom Waits. These five songs unexpectedly climbed the charts to become listener favorites. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/30/144444460/the-currents-surprise-hits-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/30/144444460/the-currents-surprise-hits-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 The Twin Cities radio station played lots of hits in 2011, from Adele to Tom Waits. These five songs unexpectedly climbed the charts to become listener favorites.

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]]> The Year In Garage Rock: 5 Favorites For 2011 It's an exciting time to be a garage-rock fan, not to mention an excellent time to convert. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/30/144452776/the-year-in-garage-rock-5-favorites-for-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/30/144452776/the-year-in-garage-rock-5-favorites-for-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 It's an exciting time to be a garage-rock fan, not to mention an excellent time to convert.

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]]> Psych Rock Redefined: The Reissues Of 2011 This year saw a series of record companies further a loosely aligned, mutually agreed-upon mission to extend psychedelia's reaches. Tie-dyed shirts, Zapp comics and LSD aren't necessary, but an open-mindedness toward the unknown certainly is. Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/144345541/psych-rock-redefined-the-reissues-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/144345541/psych-rock-redefined-the-reissues-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 This year saw a series of record companies further a loosely aligned, mutually agreed-upon mission to extend psychedelia's reaches. Tie-dyed shirts, Zapp comics and LSD aren't necessary, but an open-mindedness toward the unknown certainly is.

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]]> Intern Uprising: Music We Missed In 2011 Our interns tell us what we should have covered this year — and what we can't ignore in 2012. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:11:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144149377/intern-uprising-music-we-missed-in-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144149377/intern-uprising-music-we-missed-in-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 Our interns tell us what we should have covered this year — and what we can't ignore in 2012.

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]]> Bob Boilen's Favorite Songs Of The Year Listen to Bob Boilen's favorite songs of the year, from Cults to Caveman and Milagres to M83. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/12/22/144138953/bob-boilens-favorite-songs-of-the-year?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/12/22/144138953/bob-boilens-favorite-songs-of-the-year?ft=1&f=142592217 Listen to Bob Boilen's favorite songs of the year, from Cults to Caveman and Milagres to M83.

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]]> David Dye's Favorite New Bands Of 2011 Dozens of new bands stopped by WXPN's Philadelphia studios in 2011, and <em>World Cafe</em> host David Dye witnessed them all. Hear the host's top five performances by emerging artists and download a song from each session. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:53:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144375982/david-dyes-favorite-new-bands-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144375982/david-dyes-favorite-new-bands-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 Dozens of new bands stopped by WXPN's Philadelphia studios in 2011, and World Cafe host David Dye witnessed them all. Hear the host's top five performances by emerging artists and download a song from each session.

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]]> The Year In Hipstep (Or Dubhop?) This year the invasion of dubstep beats into mainstream hip-hop became impossible to deny. That infusion of bass is helping bring dubstep out of the darkness and into the light. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144092776/the-year-in-hipstep-or-dubhop?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144092776/the-year-in-hipstep-or-dubhop?ft=1&f=142592217 This year the invasion of dubstep beats into mainstream hip-hop became impossible to deny. That infusion of bass is helping bring dubstep out of the darkness and into the light.

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]]> Staff Picks: The Best Music Books Of 2011 The NPR Music staff presents 12 titles that range from the art of album covers to disco to Def Jam to metal to MTV. This year, our favorite music reads were mostly revealing biographies and wide-spanning analyses. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144325843/staff-picks-the-best-music-books-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144325843/staff-picks-the-best-music-books-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 The NPR Music staff presents 12 titles that range from the art of album covers to disco to Def Jam to metal to MTV. This year, our favorite music reads were mostly revealing biographies and wide-spanning analyses.

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]]> The Top 5 Dancehall Tracks Of 2011 Hear the delectably scandalous, dance-floor-ready anthems of the year. Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/01/143016082/the-top-5-dancehall-tracks-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/01/143016082/the-top-5-dancehall-tracks-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 Hear the delectably scandalous, dance-floor-ready anthems of the year.

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]]> Bob Boilen's Favorite Live Shows of 2011 Bob Boilen salutes his 15 favorite live concerts. What were your most memorable shows this year? Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/12/22/144139186/bob-boilens-favorite-live-shows-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/12/22/144139186/bob-boilens-favorite-live-shows-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 Bob Boilen salutes his 15 favorite live concerts. What were your most memorable shows this year?

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]]> Top 5 Jazz Vocal Performances Of 2011 These tunes from 2011 each exemplify how great singers and great songs fit together. Hear music featuring vocalists like Kurt Elling, Eliane Elias and Norah Jones. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:16:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2011/12/22/144146794/five-awesome-jazz-vocal-performances?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme/2011/12/22/144146794/five-awesome-jazz-vocal-performances?ft=1&f=142592217 These tunes from 2011 each exemplify how great singers and great songs fit together. Hear music featuring vocalists like Kurt Elling, Eliane Elias and Norah Jones.

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]]> The 5 Deadliest Grooves Of 2011 Here are five songs that find a way to a sort of magical dance-music alchemy, with grooves that kill every time. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:05:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/144020836/the-5-deadliest-grooves-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/144020836/the-5-deadliest-grooves-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 Here are five songs that find a way to a sort of magical dance-music alchemy, with grooves that kill every time.

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]]> Music And The Big Idea: The Top 5 Concept Albums Of 2011 Some of the most memorable recordings of 2011 were not just collections of great songs. They were also about something. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/07/143289920/music-and-the-big-idea-the-top-5-concept-albums-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/07/143289920/music-and-the-big-idea-the-top-5-concept-albums-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 Some of the most memorable recordings of 2011 were not just collections of great songs. They were also about something.

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]]> Who Needs A Record Label? The 5 Best Bandcamp Albums Of 2011 WXPN's Bruce Warren recommends some of the best artists making use of the independent music site. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/21/143773005/who-needs-a-record-label-the-5-best-bandcamp-albums-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/21/143773005/who-needs-a-record-label-the-5-best-bandcamp-albums-of-2011?ft=1&f=142592217 WXPN's Bruce Warren recommends some of the best artists making use of the independent music site.

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]]> Ken Tucker's Top 10: The Year In Music <em>Fresh Air</em>'s critic looks back on a fruitful year and lists his favorite music releases of 2011. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:09:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/143642768/ken-tuckers-top-10-the-year-in-music?ft=1&f=142592217 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/20/143642768/ken-tuckers-top-10-the-year-in-music?ft=1&f=142592217 Fresh Air's critic looks back on a fruitful year and lists his favorite music releases of 2011.

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