All Songs Considered Robin Hilton spins new music from emerging bands and musical icons.

All Songs Considered

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Thursday January 31, 2013

In an age of digital files, does handpicking and handing someone a music mix still matter? Leah Tihia/via Flickr hide caption

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Leah Tihia/via Flickr

Do We Still Need Mixtapes?

by Stephen Thompson

January 31, 2013 • In an age of digital files, does handpicking and handing someone a music mix still matter? Also, advice for a Mumford & Sons fan looking to branch out with some like-minded bands.

Courtesy of the artist

Trent Reznor: New Band, New Song, New Video, Still Terrifying

by Robin Hilton

January 31, 2013 • The video for "How Long," from How To Destroy Angels' debut album, Welcome Oblivion, imagines a terrifying, dystopian future where man hunts man for survival.

Wednesday January 30, 2013

A Secret Atoms For Peace Track, Roxy Music As '20s Jazz, More

Clockwise from upper left: Bryan Ferry, Night Beds, Thom Yorke of Atoms For Peace, Ex-Cops, Unknown Mortal Orchestra Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

A Secret Atoms For Peace Track, Roxy Music As '20s Jazz, More

January 30, 2013 • On this week's show we've got a hard-to-find cut from Thom Yorke's latest project, Atoms For Peace. You'll also hear Bryan Ferry's Roxy Music re-imagined as '20s jazz instrumentals. (It's not as crazy as you'd think). Plus the shape-shifting sounds of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Night Beds and more.

A Secret Atoms For Peace Track, Roxy Music As '20s Jazz, More

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Courtesy of the artist

From My Bloody Valentine's Many Layers, An Orchestral Pop Song Emerges

by Robin Hilton

January 30, 2013 • Canadian soprano Rachel Zeffira didn't know much about My Bloody Valentine before discovering the band's album Loveless a few years ago. But she could immediately imagine the group's music as fully orchestrated, acoustic pop.

Tuesday January 29, 2013

Thom Yorke And Friends On Making Music As Atoms For Peace

Thom Yorke of Atoms For Peace. Not pictured from the band: Nigel Godrich, Flea, Mauro Refosco and Joey Waronker. Eliot Lee Hazel hide caption

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Eliot Lee Hazel

Thom Yorke And Friends On Making Music As Atoms For Peace

by Bob Boilen

January 29, 2013 • The Radiohead singer put together his latest band while on tour for his 2006 solo album. He and bandmates Nigel Godrich and Joey Waronker talk with Bob Boilen about their new album, Amok.

Listen: Thom Yorke on 'Amok'

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Animals Move To The City, Become Human In New Hem Video

by Robin Hilton

January 29, 2013 • The Brooklyn-based band was on the verge of collapse when its main songwriter, Dan Messe, discovered the healing power of his own music. The result was a new album called Departure And Farewell and a stunning, new animated video.

Courtesy of the artist

Why I've Never Liked Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours'

by Bob Boilen

January 29, 2013 • When it came out in 1977, the album stood for everything in the music industry that a young Bob Boilen was trying to get away from. Until now, he's never looked back.

Monday January 28, 2013

Courtesy of the artist

Thao Confronts Critic In Hilarious New Video

by Robin Hilton

January 28, 2013 • Thao Nguyen of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down wants you to know she really doesn't care what critics say about her music. But in a new video to promote her band's latest album, We The Common, the singer decides that one writer has gone too far.

Friday January 25, 2013

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Watch The 1950s Get Its Mind Blown

by Bob Boilen

January 25, 2013 • Ordinary-looking images of family life in the '50s get sent on a twisted, surreal ride in the video for a new song by the DJ known as Bonobo.

Courtesy of the artist

I Hate You, I Miss You; A Duo Laments Love's Many Knots

by Robin Hilton

January 25, 2013 • Love is such a knotty mess. Even the little things someone does to make you feel good can lead to resentment and crushing breakups. In their new video, Adam Green and Binki Shapiro sing about their exes and all the niceties they took for granted.

Thursday January 24, 2013

Anna Bryukhanova/iStockphoto

When You Hear Music, Are You Really Listening?

by Stephen Thompson

January 24, 2013 • What's the best way to listen to music without letting it seep harmlessly into the ether? Plus, tips for selecting music that will complement but not overwhelm a small dinner party.

Wednesday January 23, 2013

Jack White On Bluesman Charley Patton, Plus Tegan And Sara, More

Clockwise from upper left: Tegan and Sara, Owen Pallett of Final Fantasy, Alessi's Ark, Fatoumata Diawara Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

Jack White On Bluesman Charley Patton, Plus Tegan And Sara, More

January 23, 2013 • On this week's show we welcome a parade of guest DJs, including Jack White, who talks about the music of legendary bluesman Charley Patton. Plus: new pop from Tegan and Sara, Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara and several new discoveries, including the London-based band Alessi's Ark.

Jack White On Bluesman Charley Patton, Plus Tegan And Sara, More

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Cat Stevens/Courtesy of the artist

Nick Cave To Kick Off NPR Music's SXSW Showcase

by Robin Hilton

January 23, 2013 • The NPR Music Team has been hard at work putting together plans for this year's South By Southwest music festival and conference, and we're happy to announce that Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds will kick off our opening night showcase on the night of Mar. 13.

Tuesday January 22, 2013

Jean-Baptiste Mondino/Courtesy of the artist

Question Of The Week: What Are Your Top Five Story Songs?

by Robin Hilton

January 22, 2013 • You can NOT be serious! You'd put Grandaddy's "Jed The Humanoid" over "She's Leaving Home" by The Beatles?! And I see no mention of Bob Dylan on this list! How daaaaare you. This week's debate looks at our favorite stories told in song.

Friday January 18, 2013

Watch A Supergroup From Mali Sing For Peace

Fatoumata Diawara and some of her musical collaborators on "Voices United for Mali" at a press conference held in Bamako, Mali on Jan. 17, 2013. Moustapha Diallo/courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Moustapha Diallo/courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

Watch A Supergroup From Mali Sing For Peace

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

January 18, 2013 • In a beautiful and powerful new song, Fatoumata Diawara, Amadou and Mariam, Oumou Sangare and nearly 40 more top musicians from Mali join together for one purpose: to help bring peace back to their shattering country.