All Songs Considered

Was 2011 the year of the sneak attack? So many of big musical moments in the past 12 months seemed to appear out of nowhere. There was the unlikely return of the ukulele, which took a starring role in one of the year's most fascinating and talked-about releases, the tUnE-yArDs album w h o k i l l. Wilco and Bright Eyes, each coming off a run of albums that divided fans, dropped career-defining records — no less odd or experimental than their predecessors, but packed top to bottom with hummable songs. The Roots seemed to spin a dense, story-driven concept album out of thin air, with barely a peep of advance press. And Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum, missing in action for more than a decade, reemerged with a sold-out solo tour and heaps of previously unreleased music. Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson and Ann Powers take on these head-spinning moments and more — including their favorite songs, albums and discoveries of 2011 — in this year-end edition of All Songs Considered. You can listen to the complete show above, and complete selections from the discoveries and songs of the year in the list below. And don't forget: once you've listened, head to the blog to vote for your own favorite music of 2011. Alabama Shakes Album: Alabama Shakes Song: Hold On   Little Scream Album: The Golden Record Song: Cannons Caveman Album: Coco Beware Song: Old Friend Delay Trees Album: Delay Trees Song: Gold   The Roots Album: Undun Song: The OtherSide Neutral Milk Hotel Album: You've Passed / Where You'll Find Me Now 7" Song: You've Passed Wilco Album: Whole Love Song: Art of Almost tUnE-yArDs Album: w h o k i l l Song: You Yes You   Apparat Album: The Devil's Walk Song: Black Water St. Vincent Album: Strange Mercy Song: Cheerleader   Bright Eyes Album: The People's Key Song: One For You, One For Me Drake Album: Take Care Song: Take Care Add to PlaylistPurchase Music King Creosote & Jon Hopkins Album: Diamond Mine Song: Bubble   Bon Iver Album: Bon Iver Song: Perth Herzog Album: Search Song: Silence The Mountain Goats Album: All Eternals Deck Song: Estate Sale Sign Cults Album: Cults Song: Abducted   Beyoncé Album: 4 Song: Countdown

Viking's Choice: 2011 In Metal And Outer Sound As NPR Music begins year-end music list season, we normally save producer and Viking's Choice blogger Lars Gotrich's favorite furious blast beats, meditative drones, spiraling riffs and other such unclassifiable sounds for after Christmas. Not this time around. We wanted the noise and we wanted it now. While no one sound or trend truly dominated metal or outer sound in 2011, Lars talks to All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen about a set of field recordings from a Swiss gondola, why strong songwriting always matters in metal, and how sometimes hues are more dramatic than blocks of sound in drone. This episode of All Songs Considered includes highlights from a pair of Top 25 lists. Over on the All Songs blog, you'll find the complete lists of 2011's best metal and best outer sound albums. The Psychic Paramount Album: II Song: N5 Ernst Karel Album: Swiss Mountain Transport Systems Song: Oberdorf—Weissenstein Hammers Of Misfortune Album: 17th Street Song: Grain   Glenn Jones Album: The Wanting Song: Of Its Own Kind Tombs Album: Path of Totality Song: Silent World Witch Mountain Album: South of Salem Song: Wing of the Lord   Julia Holter Album: Tragedy Song: Celebration YOB Album: Atma Song: Prepare the Ground Nicholas Szczepanik Album: Please Stop Loving Me Song: Please Stop Loving Me Cormorant Album: Dwellings Song: The First Man

If you were in New York City in the 1970s, you might have stumbled upon the birth of punk, new-wave, hip-hop, salsa, disco, minimalist classical and avant-garde jazz. The city during these five years — 1973 through '77 — was the birthplace of many of the most innovative and influential musical genres born in the second half of the 20th Century, despite the fact that it was economically devastated, and was thought — at the time — to be musically bankrupt. Will Hermes was there. He was a teenager during the mid-'70s, and he's written a new book about that era called Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York that Changed Music Forever. This week on All Songs Considered, Hermes tells Bob Boilen how a city plagued by crime and economic ruin fostered a booming arts scene, thanks in large part to cheap rent. And he spins some of the groundbreaking music that emerged during those years: a milestone composition by Steve Reich, an instrumental jam that became a classic hip-hop breakbeat, an extended dance cut that would be one of the first disco hits and the Talking Heads single that gives the book its name. Talking Heads Album: Love Goes To Building On Fire (1977 Single) Song: Love Goes to Building on Fire Incredible Bongo Band Album: Bongo RocSong: Apache Dinosaur (Arthur Russell) Album: Kiss Me Again (12" Single) Song: Kiss Me Again Steve Reich Album: Music for 18 Musicians The Art Ensemble of Chicago Album: Nice Guys Song: 597-59 Television Song: Little Johnny Jewel

Sinners repent, for the end of the year is nigh. Starting soon, NPR Music will begin looking back on the best music of 2011 — but this week's All Songs sneaks a few new releases under the wire before all the counting down begins. Perhaps the biggest surprise is a new record from Jónsi, the Sigur Rós frontman who released his dazzling solo debut last year, and has been mostly quiet since then. Jonsi is behind the original soundtrack for the upcoming Cameron Crowe film We Bought a Zoo; this week's show has a premiere of the song "Gathering Stories." Also on this episode: a straight-ahead rocker from The Black Keys, a slow jam with an engaging backstory from Drake, some nostalgic emoting from Real Estate and Future Islands, and cover tunes from The Antlers and Ólöf Arnalds. The Black Keys Album: El Camino Song: Run Right Back  Real Estate Album: Days Song: It's Real   Ólöf Arnalds Album: Ólöf Sings Song: With Tomorrow / I'm On Fire   Drake Album: Take Care [Clean] Song: Take Care   The Antlers Album: (together) Song: VCR (The xx cover)   Future Islands Album: On The Water Song: Where I Found You Jónsi Album: We Bought a Zoo [Original Soundtrack] Song: Gathering Stories

There's no denying certain songs are best experienced when played as loud as possible. Since this Friday, 11/11/11, is Nigel Tufnel Day — the unofficial holiday honoring the fictional Spinal Tap guitarist, who cranked his amplifiers past 10 — this week's episode is all about the songs that instantly make you want to turn the volume up. Such songs can be simple and anthemic, like The Modern Lovers' garage-punk or Kelly Clarkson's roller-coaster pop. Or they can be densely layered, like LCD Soundsystem's studio wizardry or OutKast's all-out aural assaults. But in each case, the message is the same: Let the music, whatever it might be, overwhelm you. The Modern Lovers Album: The Modern Lovers Song: Roadrunner LCD Soundsystem Album: This Is Happening Song: All I Want OutKast Album: Stankonia [Clean] Song: B.O.B. Brian Eno Album: Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) Song: Third Uncle Kelly Clarkson Album: All I Ever Wanted Song: I Do Not Hook Up The Smiths Album: Meat Is Murder Song: How Soon Is Now? Justice Album: Ed Rec Vol. 2 Song: Phantom Elastica Album: Elastica Song: Annie   Ramones Album: Road to Ruin Song: I Wanna Be Sedated The Exploding Hearts Album: Guitar Romantic Song: Modern Kicks Led Zeppelin Album: Physical Graffiti Song: Kashmir

If it weren't for Robert Moog, a lot of the music you enjoy today might not have been possible. As inventor of the Moog synthesizer, he gave rise not only to the technology needed for modern electronic music, but also to the creative spirit that inspired countless musicians to take his vision and play with it, mold it and reshape it into mind blowing works of art. This past weekend, a remarkably gifted group of electronic and experimental rock artists gathered to celebrate Moog's genius in Asheville, N.C. for the annual Moogfest. All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen and NPR Music producer Jacob Ganz were there and, on this week's show, report back with some of their favorite discoveries, including music from Amon Tobin, The Field, Tangerine Dream, and soundscape artist Tim Hecker. Brian Eno also presented his breathtaking sound and visual installation 77 Million Paintings, and the influential minimalist composer Terry Riley performed for nearly two hours. There were DJ sets from Flying Lotus and James Murphy, and prog-rock from Battles.

As it does every fall, the CMJ Music Marathon came to New York City last week. They don't call it a marathon for nothing: For a band, performing in the festival can mean playing 10 shows in five days. For a fan, the choices of what to see are daunting and distant. Alabama Shakes might be playing on Delancey Street, while Teen is in Brooklyn and The Lonely Forest is playing KEXP's Showcase at the Ace Hotel, 20 minutes away. For music journalists, it's hard not to wish you could clone yourself to take it all in. In the end, the best way to have a rewarding CMJ experience might be to talk with a friend whose taste you trust. On this edition of All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen sits down with two New York journalists: Maura Johnston, music editor for The Village Voice, and Sydney Brownstone, a writer and videographer for The L Magazine. Together, the three pick a dozen favorite acts from this year's CMJ, while sharing stories of their disparate journeys through the festival. Clips Artist: Ava Luna Album: Services / 3rd Avenue Island Song: Clips   Perfect Artist: Fort Lean Album: Fort Lean Song: Perfect Old Friend Artist: Caveman Album: Coco Beware Song: Old Friend Keep Time Artist: Gauntlet Hair Album: Gauntlet Hair Song: Keep Time Dresinen Artist: Casiokids Album: Aabenbaringen Over Aaskammen Song: Dresinen See You Hurry Artist: WIM Album: WIM Song: See You Hurry How Can U Luv Me Artist: Unknown Mortal Orchestra Album: Unknown Mortal Orchestra Song: How Can U Luv Me She's A River Artist: Firehorse Album: So They Ran Faster... Song: She's A River Add to Playlist Where The Asphalt Dies Artist: Clouder Album: Serious Business EP Song: Where The Asphalt Dies Add to Playlist   Mayday Artist: Pujol Album: Nasty, Brutish, and Short Song: Mayday Gun Shy Artist: Widowspeak Album: Widowspeak Song: Gun Shy Add to Playlist   Shivers Artist: Zola Jesus Album: Conatus Song: Shivers

NPR Music producers Sami Yenigun and Otis Hart return once again to hold court with Bob Boilen on the best new electronic music. This episode of All Songs Considered includes tracks from superstars M83 and Four Tet, a collaboration between Burial and Massive Attack, off-the-radar releases from The Field, Luca Bacchetti, Roll the Dice and RxRy, and a mysterious single from an unknown artist. Along the way, Sami and Otis explain some of the peculiarities and buzzwords of the electronic scene, such as "dubplate culture," and why dance tracks so often sound like one long middle. 1. M83 ft. Zola Jesus: Intro 2. Unknown: Swims 3. Burial and Massive Attack: Four Walls 4. Roll The Dice: Iron Bridge 5. Luca Bacchetti: Tango 6. The Field: Is This Power 7. RxRy: P Block 8. Four Tet: Pyramid 

This past week has been filled with plenty of heartfelt remembrances for the late Apple guru Steve Jobs. And while some may say it's time for the media to move on, we think we'd be remiss if we didn't acknowledge on this edition of All Songs Considered all the amazing things he did for music. So in our final goodbye, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton turn the first part of the show over to the iPod for a couple of random discoveries, one of the many gifts Jobs gave to music lovers. Also on the show, new music from some great unknowns, including the ethereal, London-based rock group Still Corners, the Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit, Indo-Canadian singer Kiran Ahluwalia, and Kacey Underwood and Alice Costelloe, otherwise known as Big Deal, a group we first introduced on our Fall Preview show. Messes of Men Artist: mewithoutyou Album: Brother, Sister Free as a Bird Artist: The BeatlesAlbum: Anthology 1 The Lion's Roar Artist: First Aid Kit Album: The Lion's Roar Visions Artist: Big Deal Album: Lights Out Mustt Mustt Artist: Kiran Ahluwalia Album: Aam Zameen: Common Ground Submarine Artist: Still Corners Album: Creatures of an Hour

Bjork is a visionary. Sit down with her, and she'll tell you how today's technology gives her hope and allows her to be intuitive and emotive. Talk about music, and the Icelandic singer will tell you how the chorus in a song is like a wide-open space and how the verse is a constricted, narrow tunnel. Launch her collaborative iPad/iPhone application, and you'll see how this vision of music takes shape, literally. Here is the conversation we had in an office in New York City. And here are a few quotes of interest. "I found in the touch screen a way to visualize how I see a song when I close my eyes." "For me, this project's very much about solving things, solving riddles. I guess you could say that it is sort of about finding a new angle; how the electronic and acoustic could work together. How nature and technology could work together ... trying to find a fresh point where the listener and the music maker exchange music." "A lot of the times on this project, him (Damian Taylor), me and my assistant James, we were in a house for a year in Puerto Rico. So we were basically waking up together, programming together, making music together, getting drunk together, swimming in the ocean. So it was a very good way to be totally immersed in the project. Then we were making pendulums out of buckets and string and rope and we ordered pipe-organ pipes, really cheap ones from eBay, and were plugging the touch screens to that. Basically, what we were making was coming out of those pipes." "I found in the touch screen a way to visualize how I see a song when I close my eyes." So basically each app has a theme, a musicology theme, and this app (accompanying the song "Crystalline") is about structure. In the beginning, I thought I would make a music house in Iceland, a music museum for children so each song was a room. So you go to one room [and] you get to play with the lightning, you write a song; you go to another room, there are crystals there, and so on. That didn't happen. ... And then we thought maybe this is a 3D movie, and that may seem like a big jump, but actually for me, going from each song being a room to being a scene in a movie, isn't that much of a jump.  You can use the tool of Western civilization and be impulsive and intuitive and emotional — and that, for me, creates a lot of hope.

All Tomorrow's Parties isn't like most music festivals: It looks for artists on the fringes sonically and aesthetically, with guest curators adding a personal touch. The festival, which began in 1999, is held in both the U.K. and the U.S. The American version took place this past weekend on the boardwalk of Asbury Park, N.J. Portishead picked the bands to play Saturday's shows, which included everything from the U.K. post-punk group The Horrors and messed-up dub-rock outfit The Pop Group to a massive, bludgeoning two-hour set by Swans. On this episode of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen and NPR Music producer (and Viking's Choice blogger) Lars Gotrich look back at the festival not in a studio, not in a hotel room, but in Bob's car on the drive home to Washington, D.C.

Donald Glover is almost as prolific a rapper as he is an actor and comedian — which makes his upcoming album more than your average celebrity crossover record. The star of NBC's Community has been releasing hip-hop albums online since 2008 under the alias Childish Gambino (which he picked from a website that generates Wu-Tang Clan member names). This week's All Songs has a cut from his first physical release, CAMP, due out in November. Also on this episode: Sporting another comically referential name, Ringo Deathstarr offers slow, woozy guitar rock in the tradition of My Bloody Valentine. Plus, new discoveries from Dum Dum Girls, Megafaun, Zola Jesus and Youth Lagoon, as well as a live orchestral outing from Peter Gabriel. Swirly Artist: Ringo Deathstarr Album: Sparkler Always Looking Artist: Dum Dum Girls Album: Only in Dream   Vessel Artist: Zola Jesus Album: Conatus Get Right Artist: Megafaun Album: Megafaun Montana Artist: Youth Lagoon Album: The Year of Hibernation Solsbury Hill Artist: Peter Gabriel Album: New Blood: Live in London Bonfire Artist: Childish Gambino Album: CAMP

This week on All Songs Considered, youth and age meet in the middle. A still-kicking Tony Bennett teams up with the still freakishly youngLady Gaga on his new Duets II; Laura Veirs, who was very pregnant the last time she visited NPR, marks her new motherhood with a children's album; and Harold Budd, the wizened experimental composer who announced his retirement from music years ago, reemerges with one of the most beautiful albums of his career. Also on this episode: Exitmusic and Milagres, two New York bands with a fondness for echoing drums and spooky falsetto. 1. Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett:  "The Lady Is A Tramp" from 'Duets II' 2. Exitmusic:  "The Sea" from 'From Silence' 3. Milagres: "Halfway" from 'Glowing Mouth' 4. Laura Veirs: "Little Lap Dog" from 'Tumble Bee' 5. Harold Budd:  "Haru Spring" from 'In The Mist' 6. Pujol: "Stuff" from 'Nasty, Brutish and Short' 7. AA Bondy: "The Heart Is Willing" from 'Believers' 8. The Olivia Tremor Control: "New Day" from 'Black Foliage...' 

On Monday, Sept. 19, we played the entire new Wilco album, The Whole Love, for a special online listening party. This is that conversation with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt and Pat Sansone 

Summer's almost over, but if this year's warm-weather months weren't everything you hoped they'd be, there's one heck of a consolation prize around the corner: loads and loads of great new music. This week on All Songs Considered, NPR Music's Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson and The Record critic Ann Powers join hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton to talk about some of the releases they're most looking forward to coming out this fall. That includes a new multimedia "app" album from Bjork, Feist's long-awaited follow-up to 2007's The Reminder and a sophomore effort from Real Estate. Also on the program: The prolific drone-rock artist Atlas Sound is back with more new music, veteran English folksinger June Tabor reunites with The Oyster Band, and Swedish story-song artist Jens Lekman spins a fantastic new tale. Plus, hear new discoveries from Gem Club, Gringo Star, Gauntlet Hair and more. Shadow Artist: Gringo Star Album: Count Yer Lucky Stars By Your Hand Artist: Los Campesinos! Album: Hello Sadness Learn more about this release at Los Campesinos!' website. Chair Artist: Big Deal Album: Lights Out Learn more about this release at Big Deal's website.   Bonny Bunch of Roses Artist: June Tabor & Oysterband Album: Ragged Kingdom   Twins Artist: Gem Club Album: Breakers Video Games Artist: Lana Del Rey Album: Video Games Learn more about this release at Stranger Records.   Moon Artist: Bjork Album: Biophilia   Terra Incognita Artist: Atlas Sound Album: Parallax Easy Artist: Real Estate Album: Days My Day Artist: Cosmo Jarvis Album: Is The World Strange Or Am I Strange? An Argment with Myself Artist: Jens Lekman Album: An Argument with Myself Add to PlaylistPurchase Music   Keep Time Artist: Gauntlet Hair Album: Gauntlet Hair Add to PlaylistPurchase Music   Night or Day Artist: Cubic Zirconia Album: Follow Your Heart Learn more about this release at Fool's Gold Records.   Replicate Artist: Fanfarlo Album: Replicate Add to Playlist Learn more about this release at Fanfarlo's website. How Come You Never Go There Artist: Feist Album: Metals