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Wednesday November 30, 2011

The Best Outer Sound Albums Of 2011

Artwork for Nicholas Szczepanik 's Please Stop Loving Me. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Viking's Choice

The Best Outer Sound Albums Of 2011

by Lars Gotrich

November 30, 2011 • Synths got out of control in 2011, but Lars Gotrich picks the best, plus drone and abstract guitar.

The Best Metal Of 2011

Artwork from Cormorant's Dwellings. Alice Duke hide caption

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Alice Duke

Viking's Choice

The Best Metal Of 2011

by Lars Gotrich

November 30, 2011 • Metallic meditations ruled Lars Gotrich's 2011, but so did knotty death-metal and "The Grain."

Viking's Choice: 2011 In Metal And Outer Sound

Witch Mountain. Justine Murphy/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Justine Murphy/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Viking's Choice: 2011 In Metal And Outer Sound

November 30, 2011 • Lars Gotrich highlights the year in Swiss gondola recordings, progressive metal and dramatic drone.

Viking's Choice: 2011 In Metal And Outer Sound

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Tuesday November 29, 2011

You've Never Heard Patti Smith's 'Horses'?!

Arista Records

You've Never Heard?...

You've Never Heard Patti Smith's 'Horses'?!

by Charlie Kaplan

November 29, 2011 • NPR Music intern and classic rock fan Charlie Kaplan listens to Patti Smith's 1975 masterpiece for the first time.

Monday November 28, 2011

Do You Know What This Is?

Mallory Benedict/NPR

All Songs Considered

Do You Know What This Is?

November 28, 2011 • Is this item familiar or does it make you scratch your head? Perhaps it's part of an IKEA cabinet?

Sunday November 27, 2011

One Of India's Leading Musicians, Sultan Khan, Dies At Age 71

Indian classical sarangi master Sultan Khan. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

One Of India's Leading Musicians, Sultan Khan, Dies At Age 71

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

November 27, 2011 • A composer and master of the sarangi, he was beloved from Bollywood to the world's concert stages.

Wednesday November 23, 2011

10 Reasons To Visit Your Local Record Store Day On Black Friday

A general view of atmosphere in the record store during Day 3 of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival 2011 held at the Empire Polo Club on April 17, 2011 in Indio, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images) Michael Tullberg/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

10 Reasons To Visit Your Local Record Store Day On Black Friday

by Clare Flynn

November 23, 2011 • Independent record stores around the country will offer exclusive material from Wilco, Iron and Wine, Sharon Jones and many more to kick off the holiday shopping season.

Tuesday November 22, 2011

When New York Was 'On Fire': A Mid-'70s Musical Revolution

Clockwise from top left: DJ Kool Herc, Patti Smith, the Fania All-Stars, Talking Heads at CBGB, Laurie Anderson and her viophonograph. From 'Love Goes to Buildings on Fire'/Courtesy of Cindy Campbell, Columbia Records, Fania Records, Robert Spencer, Laurie Anderson hide caption

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From 'Love Goes to Buildings on Fire'/Courtesy of Cindy Campbell, Columbia Records, Fania Records, Robert Spencer, Laurie Anderson

All Songs Considered

When New York Was 'On Fire': A Mid-'70s Musical Revolution

November 22, 2011 • With author Will Hermes, All Songs explores the heady years that birthed new-wave, hip-hop, salsa, minimalism and more.

When New York Was 'On Fire': A Mid-'70s Musical Revolution

Listen · 32:31 32:31

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First Watch: Caveman, 'Easy Water'

Kate Edwards

All Songs Considered

First Watch: Caveman, 'Easy Water'

by Clare Flynn

November 22, 2011 • The Brooklyn band's mysterious music video captures the "dark and vibey" tone of its music.

Monday November 21, 2011

iTunes Match: Thousands Of Songs, With A Couple Of Hitches

Courtesy of Apple

All Songs Considered

iTunes Match: Thousands Of Songs, With A Couple Of Hitches

November 21, 2011 • The new service from Apple offers access to all of your songs, anywhere. It's a huge step forward for music lovers, and iTunes Match very nearly lives up to its promise.

Marketa Irglova And Sean Rowe Cover Neil Young's 'Birds'

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Marketa Irglova And Sean Rowe Cover Neil Young's 'Birds'

by Clare Flynn

November 21, 2011 • The Oscar winner and the gritty folksinger collaborate on a gorgeous rendition of the Young classic.

Marketa Irglova And Sean Rowe Cover Neil Young's 'Birds'

2:55

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Friday November 18, 2011

First Watch: Adele, Live At The Royal Albert Hall

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

First Watch: Adele, Live At The Royal Albert Hall

by Clare Flynn

November 18, 2011 • Adele's rich and powerful voice is on display in this heartfelt performance from the artist's new concert film.

First Watch: Hubble Soundtracks Hubble Telescope Images

Traveling through space, we encounter a spiral galaxy and Hubble's orbiting guitar wizardry. Courtesy of NASA, ESA and STScl hide caption

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Courtesy of NASA, ESA and STScl

Viking's Choice

First Watch: Hubble Soundtracks Hubble Telescope Images

by Lars Gotrich

November 18, 2011 • Traveling through space, we encounter a spiral galaxy and Hubble's orbiting guitar wizardry.

Thursday November 17, 2011

First Watch: Neon Indian, 'Hex Girlfriend'

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

First Watch: Neon Indian, 'Hex Girlfriend'

by Clare Flynn

November 17, 2011 • Watch a video, which examines what it's like to perform in a concert venue with no one watching.

Wednesday November 16, 2011

First Watch: Tunabunny, 'Cross Wire Technique'

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

First Watch: Tunabunny, 'Cross Wire Technique'

by Clare Flynn

November 16, 2011 • Tunabunny has a head-spinning good time making music. That much is unmistakable from watching the band's freewheeling music video.

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