Song Of The Day 'Come Down' to the Sound of Grunge Reborn KEXP October 31, 2007 • The Valley's "Come Down" opens with a high-pitched charge right into a wall of guitars, and it's off from there. The words aren't complicated or particularly deep, but that's all right: Monster riffs are the draw here.
Song Of The Day An 'Average Dance' That's Perplexingly Fun October 30, 2007 • For all its whirling bits and pieces (cyclic banjo and accordion lines, ping-ponging toy synthesizer, overlapping vocals, a repeating bass line), "Earned Average Dance America" finds The Seedy Seeds generating a surprisingly cohesive sound.
Britney Spears Is So Back — and Now It's Personal October 30, 2007 • Test listen new music from Britney Spears, Kanye West and the new Bob Dylan biopic. Britney Spears Is So Back — and Now It's Personal Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15766502/15766468" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Britney Spears Is So Back — and Now It's Personal Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15766502/15766468" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Song Of The Day A Downcast 'Discussion,' with Stumbling Drums October 29, 2007 • The track may be called "Our Discussion (of the Matter)," but the narrator of Nina Nastasia and Jim White's gorgeously turbulent song is mostly having a conversation with herself. White's arrhythmic drums only enhance the unsettled emotions in play.
'Voice of Lightness' Revives African Pop in U.S. October 26, 2007 • In the 1970s and '80s, pop music fans in Africa were dancing to a Congo-based music known as Soukous. One of its pioneers, Tabu Ley Rochereau, infused elements of American soul into the music. A major collection of his music was just released in the U.S. 'Voice of Lightness' Revives African Pop in U.S. Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15673556/15673507" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Dominating the '60s Charts: A Motown Profile Fresh Air October 26, 2007 • In 1964, Motown, a black-owned record company in Detroit achieved the nearly impossible goal of dominating the American pop and soul charts. Ed Ward looks back on 1965 and Hip-O Select's "Complete Motown Singles" series. Dominating the '60s Charts: A Motown Profile Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15660768/15660756" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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The New Pornographers, a 'Real' Supergroup October 25, 2007 • Critics have been calling The New Pornographers a supergroup for years. Meredith Ochs calls the designation a misnomer, though the vibrant pop arrangements of the band's new album Challengers lead her to reconsider her nomenclature. The New Pornographers, a 'Real' Supergroup Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15630417/15636547" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Song Of The Day Pop-Rock Bliss, Familiar and Timeless October 25, 2007 • The Lodger's "Kicking Sand" works with well-worn ingredients (memorable guitar hooks, a thumping bass line) without adhering to a single sound or era: Siddall's sweet voice even calls to mind Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits. The result begs to be played to excess.
For Percussion Projects, the Beat Goes Unevenly On Fresh Air October 24, 2007 • The cliché about a catchy song: "It's got a good beat, you can dance to it." But things get more complicated when the beat is all there is to it. Two recent albums put the percussion front and center: Batterie, from Loop 2.4.3, and Global Drum Project, with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and tabla master Zakir Hussain. For Percussion Projects, the Beat Goes Unevenly On Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15591120/15591719" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Song Of The Day Sharon Jones' '100 Nights' of Heartache October 24, 2007 • Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' "100 Days, 100 Nights" is about love, not some supersized flood; according to the singer, that's how long it takes for a man's heart to unfold. Meanwhile, her dynamite backup band chips in the brassy punctuation marks.
Song Of The Day 'Take These Thoughts,' Drenched in Harmony October 23, 2007 • From its name to its stripped-down acoustic Americana, the L.A.-based duo Chris & Thomas revels in straightforward simplicity. But make no mistake: There's nothing easy about writing songs as purely infectious as "Take These Thoughts."
Robert Plant, Meet Alison Krauss October 23, 2007 • On this new music Tuesday, we check out releases from Ryan Adams, Babyshambles and Carrie Underwood. Plus, a new collaboration project between Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Robert Plant, Meet Alison Krauss Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15545432/15545395" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Song Of The Day Georgie James: In Defense of Looking Back October 22, 2007 • While many contemporary songs draw from The Kinks' early garage-blues sound, later acoustic folk-rock or penchant for storytelling, Georgie James' "Henry and Hanzy" reflects the band's strong sense of nostalgia and the way it was influenced by old musicals.
Beirut Blares Gypsy Brass in 'Flying Club Cup' October 18, 2007 • Zach Condon is a young singer-songwriter who grew up in Albuquerque, N.M., but whose musical interests have looked abroad. His debut, which drew on Balkan gypsy music, was a surprise hit among Internet indie-rock cognescenti last year. His second set with the band Beirut is The Flying Club Cup. Beirut Blares Gypsy Brass in 'Flying Club Cup' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15413627/15413596" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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'Chicha' Music Expands out of Peru Fresh Air October 18, 2007 • Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias from Peru is the first album of Chicha music released outside of Peru. The unique music style grew out of the booming cities of the Peruvian Amazon in 1970 and incorporates surf guitars, synthesizers and distinctive melodies. 'Chicha' Music Expands out of Peru Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/15400402/15400390" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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