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All Songs Considered
With Kids In The Car, Who Controls The Stereo?
February 27, 2013 When parents and kids can't find common musical ground, what can they listen to in the car? Obviously, "something everyone can enjoy" is the easiest answer, but there are rules that accompany it.
First Listen
First Listen: Chelsea Light Moving, 'Chelsea Light Moving'
February 25, 2013 With Sonic Youth on hiatus, Thurston Moore's new band sets out to pulverize and polarize on an album of sharp left turns. Loose but jagged, playful but menacing, the music of Chelsea Light Moving still finds room for glimmers of beauty.
First Listen
First Listen: Josh Ritter, 'The Beast In Its Tracks'
February 24, 2013 The singer-songwriter's new album was written entirely in response to his recent divorce. Even in its darkest moments, though, The Beast in Its Tracks finds Ritter sounding more bruised than wounded, and yearning to compartmentalize and preserve the happy memories that remain.
First Listen
First Listen: Cloud Cult, 'Love'
February 24, 2013 The Twin Cities band's ninth album bursts with warmth, whether in spare examinations of faith or in big-hearted explosions of ecstatic celebration. At times, Cloud Cult's music recalls the larger-than-life reverie of The Polyphonic Spree, but the music on Love feels more personal and fragile.
All Songs Considered
Should I Come To SXSW If I Don't Have A Badge?
February 22, 2013 Is SXSW just for industry pros and rich music fans? Or can someone on a budget make it worthwhile? We run through the pros, cons and opportunities that come with attending the festival on the cheap.
All Songs Considered
Playing SXSW? Send Us Your Song
February 21, 2013 The All Songs Considered gang is gathering MP3s to prepare for its coverage of the annual music festival. If you're an artist playing SXSW 2013, here's some information on how to make sure we hear one of your songs beforehand.
First Listen
First Listen: Atoms For Peace, 'Amok'
February 18, 2013 On Atoms for Peace's first official album, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke lays his weary-but-soaring vocals over an assortment of sounds that whir, clatter, click, twitch and sprawl.
First Listen
First Listen: Shout Out Louds, 'Optica'
February 17, 2013 Particularly in its first half, Optica plays like a marvelous '80s mixtape, albeit one with modern production values and a good deal of subtlety. In all their sweet and sunny glory, the Swedish pop band's songs invariably chime and shine.
All Songs Considered
It's Valentine's Day, So Here's A Gorgeous Love Song By Rhye
February 14, 2013 Sultry and sweet, "Open" is like a heartfelt love letter tucked tenderly into a makeout mix.
All Songs Considered
Music To Help You Ignore Valentine's Day
February 14, 2013 Many people hate Valentine's Day. Some even love it. What do you listen to if you just don't care? Also, thoughts on why so much music revolves around love and relationships.
First Listen
First Listen: 'Son Of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys'
February 10, 2013 Tom Waits, Patti Smith, Nick Cave, Beth Orton, Shane MacGowan, Courtney Love, Dr. John, Iggy Pop, Johnny Depp and more form a bleak-music Murderer's Row on this 140-minute collection of pirate-themed music.
First Listen
First Listen: Ivan & Alyosha, 'All The Times We Had'
February 10, 2013 It's about time Ivan & Alyosha received due praise as a standard-bearer for hyper-accessible, harmony-rich roots music: The band writes gorgeous, swelling, impeccably built songs about love and faith, and performs them with real charm.
Monkey See
Spend Grammy Night Staring At Screens With Us!
February 9, 2013 For the fifth straight year, whether marveling at Taylor Swift's capacity for surprise or trying to figure out what to type during the combined 37 minutes of Bruno Mars performances, Linda Holmes and Stephen Thompson live-blogged the ceremony in an effort to serve your reading-along needs.
