Music

Pages

All Songs Considered Blog
7:47 am
Tue July 17, 2012

Song Premiere: She Keeps Bees, 'Counter Charm'

Credit Courtesy of the artist
Andy LaPlant and Jessica Larrabee of She Keeps Bees.

The Brooklyn-based duo She Keeps Bees likes to go it alone. Singer-guitarist Jessica Larrabee and drummer Andy LaPlant have been recording their music at home and self-releasing it since 2006. Their sound is intimate and moody, with incredibly spare arrangements that mix swampy blues with gritty rock.

To record the band's latest single, "Counter Charm," the duo headed to Paris, where they set up a makeshift studio in a small restaurant, late on Halloween night. If they were hoping to bottle the airy creepiness of the time and space, they found it.

Read more
All Songs Considered
5:54 am
Tue July 17, 2012

This Week's Essential Listening, From The xx, Dan Deacon, Frank Ocean And More

Credit Courtesy of the artists
The xx (clockwise from upper left), Cate Le Bon, Frank Ocean and Dan Deacon.

Originally published on Sat July 21, 2012 8:34 am

On this edition of All Songs Considered, hear the first new song from The xx since the group's stunning debut in 2009. "Angels" is a sensitive love song, and fantastically sparse in instrumentation, aside from a booming bass.

Read more
First Listen
3:13 pm
Mon July 16, 2012

First Listen: The Gaslight Anthem, 'Handwritten'

Credit Danny Clinch
The Gaslight Anthem's new album, Handwritten, comes out July 24.

Originally published on Wed July 25, 2012 3:23 pm

Audio for this feature is no longer available.

Read more
All Songs Considered Blog
10:21 am
Mon July 16, 2012

The xx Teases New Album 'Coexist' With The Simplest Of Love Songs

Originally published on Tue July 17, 2012 11:20 am

The Record
2:07 pm
Sun July 15, 2012

Def Leppard's Joe Elliott On Covering Def Leppard

Credit Jo Hale / Getty Images
Joe Elliott fronting Def Leppard in London last year.

Originally published on Tue September 18, 2012 5:30 pm

Music News
4:11 am
Sun July 15, 2012

LCD Soundsystem's Final Bash, Relived

Credit Oscilloscope Laboratories
James Murphy on stage at Madison Square Garden last year, during LCD Soundsystem's final concert.

Originally published on Sun July 15, 2012 6:08 pm

For an indie band, it seems almost impossible to achieve massive commercial success without losing credibility. LCD Soundsystem may have figured out the secret.

Read more
Music Interviews
10:03 am
Sat July 14, 2012

Dirty Projectors: A Polarizing Sound At The Fringes Of Pop

Originally published on Sat July 14, 2012 5:21 pm

Opinions about Dirty Projectors couldn't be more divided. At a recent NPR Music listening party, audience members gave the band's new album, Swing Lo Magellan, both very high marks and very low marks. It was a genuine split decision.

Intrigued, weekends on All Things Considered spoke with Dirty Projectors bandleader Dave Longstreth to figure out why. One thing became clear pretty quickly: Longstreth and Dirty Projectors take a lot of risks.

Read more
The Record
4:20 am
Sat July 14, 2012

He Keeps fun. Running

Originally published on Tue September 18, 2012 5:31 pm

When NPR's Scott Simon spoke with singer Nate Ruess of the band fun. three weeks ago, the band was wrapping up a marathon tour of the United States in support of its album Some Nights and the hit single "We Are Young."

Read more
Music Interviews
12:03 am
Sat July 14, 2012

Milo Greene: Born Of A Music-Industry Phantom

Credit L. Gray
Milo Greene's self-titled debut comes out Tuesday.

Originally published on Sun July 15, 2012 1:49 pm

Buzz has been building. There were standing ovations when Milo Greene toured with The Civil Wars. Esquire magazine put Milo Greene on its list of artists to watch in 2012, and Milo Greene will perform songs from its debut album on David Letterman's show later this month. But this budding star is probably not who you think he is.

Read more

Pages