Second Stage One For The Team: 'Best Supporting Actor' November 26, 2008 Minneapolis-based quintet One for the Team offers a healthy dose of sunshine on its sophomore album, Build It Up. The album, which first dropped this past summer, serves up a dozen tracks of jangly power pop, with glimmering unisex harmonies that offer a welcome balm to the wintry weather. Best Supporting Actor Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97543157/97490249" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Music From McCartney, Young: Something Old, New November 26, 2008 2008 has been a milestone year for music. Neil Young has released new solo albums in each of the past three years, and Paul McCartney is back this year with a surprising new album. Bob Boilen talks with Michele Norris about these stunning recordings, both new and old. From McCartney, Young: Something Old, New Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97533367/97546208" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Second Stage Faded Paper Figures: 'North By North' November 25, 2008 Southern California-based Faded Paper Figures wears its inspirations on its sleeve. On its MySpace page, bands such as The Postal Service and Stars are listed as major influences – a fact that's easy to hear on the electro-pop trio's debut, Dynamo. It features intriguing lyrics, the occasional duet, and plenty of drum machines and programmed keyboards. North by North Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97481193/97490248" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Kanye's Latest A Deeply Personal Departure November 25, 2008 The Chicago rapper's new album, 808s and Heartbreak features him singing instead of rapping, but he's filtered his vocals through the voice processing system known as Auto-Tune, an increasingly popular trend among pop artists. The result is a melancholy, intimate and decidedly quirky effort. Kanye's Latest A Deeply Personal Departure Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97451806/97481352" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Kanye's Latest A Deeply Personal Departure Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97451806/97481352" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
One Critic, Three New Pop Singles Fresh Air November 25, 2008 Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews a trio of new pop singles: Pink's "So What," Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," and "Crush," from onetime American Idol sensation David Archuleta. One Critic, Three New Pop Singles Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97447610/97447609" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Song Of The Day The Foreign Exchange And The Internal Inferno November 25, 2008 The group unpacks the emotions of an unfaithful lover in the sensual but scalding "House of Cards." Amid a hazy soundscape of haunting keyboard riffs, angst-ridden guitars and jackhammer beats, frontman Phonte Coleman confesses to himself: "There's no one else to blame / Your worst enemy is you." House of Cards Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97446203/97443505" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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World Cafe One Day International: Irish Indie-Pop XPN November 24, 2008 Produced by Bell X1 guitarist Brian Crosby, One Day International's Blackbird is full of melodic and intricate lullabies. Matt Lunson's emotional vocals tell stories of lovers and strangers, while the band's string and piano arrangements draw comparisons to Rufus Wainwright and Keane. One Day International: Irish Indie-Pop Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97413723/97386820" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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All Songs Considered 'The White Album' 40 Years Later November 24, 2008 On this edition of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen talks with Bruce Spizer, author of The Beatles On Apple Records, about the groundbreaking White Album and how it came to be. 'The White Album' 40 Years Later Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97391032/97410403" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Song Of The Day Blitzen Trapper: Blues-Rock Blitz November 24, 2008 One of Blitzen Trapper's best qualities has always been its devil-may-care approach to experimentation. "War on Machines" recalls The Allman Brothers and The Grateful Dead, but with a bit more discipline. War on Machines Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97388770/97387901" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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At Long Last, 'Chinese Democracy' Exists November 24, 2008 The making of Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy took more than a decade, during which time the hard-rock band spent many millions of dollars and experienced the departure of every prominent band member except reclusive singer Axl Rose. Now that the album is finally in stores, does it live up to expectations? At Long Last, 'Chinese Democracy' Exists Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97372979/97383748" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
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Second Stage Michna: 'Swiss Glide' November 21, 2008 The music of New York City-based producer and DJ Michna (also known as DJ Egg Foo Young) could be called trombone electronic dance pop. His debut album, Magic Monday, features smooth, down-tempo electronic beats, blended with plenty of urban flair, needle-drops, and Michna's own trombone work. Michna is a skilled trombonist and makes use of the instrument throughout Magic Monday. Swiss Glide Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97333542/97332603" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Song Of The Day The Dead Trees: The Absurd And The Vulgar November 21, 2008 Sometimes, song lyrics fall off a singer's tongue in such a way that their meaning is practically irrelevant. Michael Ian Cummings, singer and guitarist for The Dead Trees, already knows how to bend and slur words to his will, if his new album is any indication. "OK Standby" finds him conveying yearning without bothering to tell a linear story. OK Standby Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97302965/97301839" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Second Stage Sara Lov: 'New York' November 20, 2008 The Los Angeles-based dream-pop duo Devics has enchanted fans for years with its beautifully dark and moody music, but there's hardly been a peep from the band since its 2007 album, Push the Heart. Thankfully, singer Sara Lov has just released a solo EP, The Young Eyes, which features gorgeous ballads, setting her flawless voice over melancholic piano and strings. New York Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97233613/97285776" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Song Of The Day McCoy Tyner, Derek Trucks: Timeless Melody November 20, 2008 In the grand scheme of Tyner's discography (one of postwar jazz's most consistently invigorating), the duets collection Guitars feels like more of a curious one-off than a significant late-career addendum. In his new reinvention of "Greensleeves," the jazz-piano legend collaborates with blues guitarist Derek Trucks. Greensleeves Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97251725/97248628" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Detroit Rock History In 'A-Square' Fresh Air November 20, 2008 Music critic Milo Miles reviews A-Square (Of Course), a new collection featuring artists from Hugh 'Jeep' Holland's rock label. Detroit Rock History In 'A-Square' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97251461/97252722" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Detroit Rock History In 'A-Square' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/97251461/97252722" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript