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The All Songs Considered Holiday Cruise
© Nick Gunderson/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

The All Songs Considered Holiday Cruise

In 2018, Steve Martin, John Legend, William Shatner and more joined Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton for All Songs Considered's annual holiday extravaganza, which unfolded like a bad high school play.

Listen to our Holiday cruise adventure

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Why Are There No New Christmas Songs?

Thousands of new holiday songs have been released since 1994, but none have become standards in the way pop songs about Christmas routinely did in the '60s, '70s and '80s. What's the challenge of cracking the tiny yuletide canon? Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images hide caption

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Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

Music News

Why Are There No New Christmas Songs?

Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" is back at the top of the chart a quarter century after it was first released. So why haven't there been any lasting Christmas songs to take its place?

Why Are There No New Christmas Songs?

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The All Songs Considered Holiday Cruise 2018
© Nick Gunderson/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images

Music

The All Songs Considered Holiday Cruise 2018

Steve Martin, John Legend, William Shatner, Lucius and more join hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton for this year's All Songs Considered holiday extravaganza, which unfolds like a bad high school play.

The All Songs Considered Holiday Cruise 2018

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Songs We Love: Aloe Blacc, 'Merry Christmas Mr. Brown'

Aloe Blacc. Reid Rolls/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Reid Rolls/Courtesy of the artist

Songs We Love

Songs We Love: Aloe Blacc, 'Merry Christmas Mr. Brown'

The soul singer's musical gift to the families of police violence is a healing Christmas Spirit.

'Merry Christmas Mr. Brown'

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Putting A Name And Face To A Famous Voice

It's become the newest sports anthem: "The Man" by Aloe Blacc. The song is everywhere. Reid Rolls/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Reid Rolls/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Putting A Name And Face To A Famous Voice

Aloe Blacc sang two of the past year's most ubiquitous singles. So why haven't you heard of him?

Putting A Name And Face To A Famous Voice

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Sasquatch 2011: Aloe Blacc, Live In Concert

Aloe Blacc performs at the 2011 Sasquatch Music Festival. James Bailey for KEXP hide caption

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James Bailey for KEXP

Sasquatch Music Festival

Sasquatch 2011: Aloe Blacc, Live In Concert

One of the great recent records to accompany a late-night drive through the city, Aloe Blacc's Good Things synthesizes the sounds of vintage soul with a contemporary vision.

Sasquatch 2011: Aloe Blacc, Live In Concert

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The Evolution Of Aloe Blacc

Rapper turned retro-soul singer Aloe Blacc says he draws inspiration from Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone and James Taylor. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

The Evolution Of Aloe Blacc

The critically acclaimed rapper turned retro-soul crooner has undergone many transformations over the course of his decade-long career. But instead of abandoning his hip-hop roots, he plans to remain in all of his musical outfits, while still exploring new ones.

The Evolution Of Aloe Blacc

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First Listen: Aloe Blacc, 'Good Things'

Aloe Blacc's Good Things is a laid-back collection of vintage soul and modern emotions. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen

First Listen: Aloe Blacc, 'Good Things'

Some will know this soul singer from the opening credits for HBO's How to Make It in America, which features his piano-powered recession special, "I Need a Dollar." That same song kicks off Good Things, a laid-back collection of vintage sounds and modern emotions that's sure to rank among the best albums of 2010. Hear it in its entirety here until its Sept. 28 release.

Review

Song Of The Day

Blissful Optimism Fades into Doubt

As a singer, rapper, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Aloe Blacc is a remarkably inventive experimenter, defying easy categorization on "Nascimento (Birth)," which begins as an aria and concludes as broken-beat hip-hop.

'Nascimento (Birth)' by Aloe Blacc

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