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

All Songs Considered

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Thursday December 29, 2011

Clockwise from top left: Sleigh Bells, Stew, Sharon Van Etten, Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

2012 Winter Music Preview

December 29, 2011 • We look at some of the music coming out in the first few months of 2012 and play a dozen new songs from musicians including Sleigh Bells, Craig Finn, Shearwater and Sharon Van Etten.

2012 Winter Music Preview

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Tuesday December 27, 2011

Bob Boilen's Favorite Live Shows of 2011

Sufjan Stevens performing at the bandshell at Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park on August 3, 2011. Ryan Muir/Ryan Muir hide caption

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Ryan Muir/Ryan Muir

All Songs Considered

Bob Boilen's Favorite Live Shows of 2011

by Bob Boilen

December 27, 2011 • Bob Boilen salutes his 15 favorite live concerts. What were your most memorable shows this year?

Thursday December 22, 2011

Second Stage: Tan Vampires, 'I Found A Body'

Kyle Dean Reinford/Courtesy of the artist

Second Stage: Little-Known Bands You Should Hear

Second Stage: Tan Vampires, 'I Found A Body'

by Clare Flynn

December 22, 2011 • Hear a surprisingly dark and subversive song by the little-known New Hampshire-based band.

Tuesday December 20, 2011

All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special 2011

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All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special 2011

December 20, 2011 • There's more to the season than "Jingle Bell Rock." This week, the All Songs crew spins some holiday music you might not have heard before.

All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special 2011

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Hail of Bullets practically steamrolled East Saratoga St. with death metal at Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore this past May. Laina Dawes/Handshake Inc. hide caption

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Laina Dawes/Handshake Inc.

Viking's Choice

A Gift For Metalheads

by Lars Gotrich

December 20, 2011 • Hear sets from Exhumed, Hooded Menace, Oak, Pulling Teeth and Dropdead from America's best metal fest.

Interview With Funebrarum's Matt Medeiros (By Kim Kelly)

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Saturday December 17, 2011

Bear In Heaven Experiment With Longest, Slowest Album Stream Ever

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Bear In Heaven Experiment With Longest, Slowest Album Stream Ever

by Clare Flynn

December 17, 2011 • The Brooklyn-based band is streaming its latest album online — but slowing it down so drastically that it plays just once over four months.

Wednesday December 14, 2011

All Songs Considered

Listeners Pick Their Favorite Albums Of 2011: The Complete List Of 100

by Jacob Ganz

December 14, 2011 • After tens of thousands of votes were cast and counted, 100 albums remain.

Tuesday December 13, 2011

William Glasspiegel for NPR

All Songs Considered

5 Great Cover Songs From 2011

by Mike Katzif

December 13, 2011 • Hear five cover songs that honor the past while translating familiar sounds into something new.

First Watch: Talking Heads, 'Chronology'

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

First Watch: Talking Heads, 'Chronology'

by Clare Flynn

December 13, 2011 • Watch early footage of the band performing at CBGB in 1975 from the recently released, career-spanning documentary Chronology.

Monday December 12, 2011

Remembering Death Metal Pioneer Chuck Schuldiner

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Viking's Choice

Remembering Death Metal Pioneer Chuck Schuldiner

by Lars Gotrich

December 12, 2011 • Ten years after Schuldiner's passing, members of Cynic, Cormorant, Exhumed, Charred Walls of the Damned, Baroness and more write about their favorite Death songs.

Friday December 9, 2011

All Songs Considered

Vote For Your Favorite Albums Of 2011

by Jacob Ganz

December 9, 2011 • You've seen NPR Music's picks for the albums of the year, now it's time to tell us yours.

Touche Amore: A Hardcore Band Finds Comfort In Distance

Touche Amore. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Viking's Choice

Touche Amore: A Hardcore Band Finds Comfort In Distance

by Lars Gotrich

December 9, 2011 • The band's urgent second album asks where hardcore was, is and where it wants to go.

Thursday December 8, 2011

First Watch: Air Composes Music For 'Trip To The Moon'

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

First Watch: Air Composes Music For 'Trip To The Moon'

by Clare Flynn

December 8, 2011 • Watch a colorful scene from Georges Melies' 1902 silent film, with a new score by the French duo.

Wednesday December 7, 2011

Barton Hollow, by the Nashville duo The Civil Wars, was released in February, but took a long road to Ann Powers' list of albums of the year. Tec Petaja hide caption

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Tec Petaja

All Songs Considered

Ann Powers' 10 Favorite Albums of 2011

by Ann Powers

December 7, 2011 • Albums by The Civil Wars, Drake, Kate Bush and others that moved one critic through a year in perpetual transit.

Stephen Thompson's 10 Favorite Albums Of 2011

Wye Oak's Civilian, known now and forever as Stephen Thompson's third favorite record of 2011. Merge Records hide caption

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Merge Records

All Songs Considered

Stephen Thompson's 10 Favorite Albums Of 2011

by Stephen Thompson

December 7, 2011 • A list of albums showcasing the stormy elegance, big ideas and transporting melodies of 2011.

'Civilian' by Wye Oak

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