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Neko Case, M. Ward, Jesse Marchant, Bishop Allen, Franz Ferdinand, Serge Gainsbourg : All Songs Considered Hear a sneak preview the heartbreakingly beautiful new album from Neko Case. Also M. Ward, Franz Ferdinand, Bishop Allen, Jesse Marchant, and Serge Gainsbourg.

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All Songs Considered

Serge Gainsbourg, Neko Case, M. Ward, More

Serge Gainsbourg, Neko Case, M. Ward, More

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It's been more than 40 years since Serge Gainsbourg, France's "dirty old man of pop" music, released his controversial album Histoire de Melody Nelson. Now, for the first time ever, it's about to be released in the U.S. Hear a cut on this edition of All Songs Considered.

When Neko Case toured in support of 2006's Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, she claimed that she didn't like love songs, and that she was incapable of writing one. But on her sixth studio album, due out March 3, Case offers up what she calls "a bunch of love songs," which are heartbreakingly beautiful and, at times, comical. We've got a sneak preview of Middle Cyclone on this edition of All Songs Considered. You can also hear the entire album, beginning at midnight, Feb. 23 as part of our First Listen Series. Also on this edition: M. Ward offers a solo acoustic performance of a song from his new album, Hold Time; great unknown folk singer Jesse Marchant; a swaggering new recording from Scotland's Franz Ferdinand, and Brooklyn duo Bishop Allen.

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Serge Gainsbourg, Neko Case, M. Ward, More

cover for neko case

The Pharaohs

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101034126/100944601" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Neko Case

  • Song: The Pharaohs
  • from Middle Cyclone
cover for m. ward

Never Had Nobody Like You

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101034126/100944873" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

M. Ward

  • Song: Never Had Nobody Like You
  • from Hold Time

Note: This is a live, solo recording of M. Ward performing "Never Had Nobody Like You." The studio version is available on his new CD, Hold Time.

cover for bishop allen

The Ancient Commonsense of Things

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101034126/100944936" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Bishop Allen

  • Song: The Ancient Commonsense of Things
  • from GRR...
cover for jesse marchant

Cleo's Song

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101034126/100944880" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

JBM

  • Song: Cleo's Song
  • from not even in July
cover for franz ferdinand

No You Girls

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101034126/100944993" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Franz Ferdinand

  • Song: No You Girls
  • from Tonight
Cover for Histoire de Melody Nelson

Melody [Extrait de Melody Nelson]

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/101034126/100945115" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Serge Gainsbourg

  • Song: Melody [Extrait de Melody Nelson]
  • from Histoire de Melody Nelson

All Songs Considered

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