Sera Cahoone

Sera Cahoone got her start playing drums for a few widely adored bands in the Pacific Northwest, most notably Band of Horses and the spell-checker-defying Carissa's Wierd. But her self-titled, self-released 2006 album marked her as a fully formed talent — a warm and inviting singer whose songs convey world-weariness and homespun grace. Cahoone stopped by the NPR offices to perform a few songs at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.

The next time you gather up close friends (or, better yet, load yourself into a hammock with a loved one while keeping a pitcher of iced tea within arm's reach), let these five songs set the tone. Each exudes some form of contentment, whether in the form of a well-placed string section or words that set a happy scene.

Naturally, no year-end music list can be definitive, just as it's impossible to rate a year in music using purely objective measures of quality. So here are the 10 albums that Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson treasured the most in 2008.

Like Band of Horses and Grand Archives, Sera Cahoone got her start in the surprisingly fruitful band Carissa's Wierd [sic]. Unlike her former cohorts, with their tendency toward sweeping rock, Cahoone plays country-infused music that's soft and quiet.

Cahoone has been playing warm, easygoing, country-tinged roots music ever since shedding her role as Band of Horses' drummer a few years ago. In that time, she's come to suit a specific mood to perfection: Her songs are about comforting the weary — acknowledging exhaustion while offering reassurance.

On this edition of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen chats with NPR Music blogger and Sleater-Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein, and music producer Stephen Thompson about the head-spinning number of bands they're most excited to see. Their chat is followed by an interview at the end of the show with Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig.

Sera Cahoone has played drums for Band of Horses and Carissa's Wierd (sic), two groups whose music can be majestically beautiful, wrenchingly powerful or both. None of their output, however, provides reason to expect Cahoone's solo work to drift into territory as soothing as her gorgeous, breezily hypnotic "Couch Song."

Last week, 1,700 bands converged on Austin, Texas, for the annual South by Southwest music festival. From a Chinese woman who sings AC/DC covers to a singer whose songs are like foot rubs at the end of a long night out, the music brought out power and beauty in unexpected places.

Naturally, no year-end music list can be definitive, just as it's impossible to rate a year in music using purely objective measures of quality. So here are the 10 albums that Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson treasured the most in 2008.

Like Band of Horses and Grand Archives, Sera Cahoone got her start in the surprisingly fruitful band Carissa's Wierd [sic]. Unlike her former cohorts, with their tendency toward sweeping rock, Cahoone plays country-infused music that's soft and quiet.

Cahoone has been playing warm, easygoing, country-tinged roots music ever since shedding her role as Band of Horses' drummer a few years ago. In that time, she's come to suit a specific mood to perfection: Her songs are about comforting the weary — acknowledging exhaustion while offering reassurance.

Sera Cahoone has played drums for Band of Horses and Carissa's Wierd (sic), two groups whose music can be majestically beautiful, wrenchingly powerful or both. None of their output, however, provides reason to expect Cahoone's solo work to drift into territory as soothing as her gorgeous, breezily hypnotic "Couch Song."

NPR station KEXP is an influential and innovative cultural force in Seattle and beyond. Kevin Cole — host of Afternoon Show, which highlights new releases, previews, vintage tracks, rarities, B-sides and in-studio performances — compiled this list of notable debuts.

Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson listened to thousands of albums in 2006 before settling on these 10 frequently overlooked favorites.