All Songs Considered

St. Vincent (Annie Clark) joins us for a chat about her new record. If you missed our listening party, we played the entre record and then had St. Vincent join us for a conversation about her album Strange Mercy.

Nick Lowe is one of those musicians who actually seems to get better with age. He got his start in the mid-'60s English roots- and country-rock group Kippington Lodge, which later changed its name to Brinsley Schwarz, and earned a cult following in the local pub scene for the band's laid-back, feel-good swagger. Later, as a solo artist, he wrote inspired songs full of wit and heartache, such as "Cruel to Be Kind" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," a hit for Elvis Costello. Lowe also produced Costello's first five solo albums, including My Aim Is True and This Year's Model. Now, nearly 45 years after he released his first record, Lowe is back with his 13th solo album, The Old Magic. On this edition of All Songs Considered, Lowe joins host Bob Boilen to talk about The Old Magic and his long career making razor-sharp pop music. Lowe also shares some of the artists and songs he's loved over the years, from the country-boogie singer Tennessee Ernie Ford to a Conway Twitty-Loretta Lynn duet, as well as a rarely heard R&B tune from Jewel and the Rubies. I Can See Her Face Artist: Kippington Lodge Album: We Can Fly: Rare Psych Obscurities Shot-Gun Boogie Artist: Tennessee Ernie Ford Album: Capitol Collectors Series Sensitive Man Artist: Nick Lowe Album: The Old Magic Kidnapper Artist: Jewel and the Rubies Album: Good Vibrations: 30 Carolina Beach Music Classics   Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries Artist: Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty Album: The Very Best of Loretta and Conway House for Sale Artist: Nick Lowe Album: The Old Magic Harlan County Artist: Jim Ford Album: Harlan County Without Love Artist: Nick Lowe Album: Labour of Lust

On this edition of All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton share the music they love most this week: 1. Neutral Milk Hotel: Oh Sister 2. Olivia Tremor Control: The Game You Play Is In Your Head 3. Lisa Hannigan: Home 4. Pedro Soler & Gasper Claus: Insomnio Mineral 5. Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter: Come To Mary 6. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Same Mistake 7. Tom Waits: Bad As Me 8. James Blake and Bon Iver: Fall Creek Boys Choir 

When the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers film O Brother, Where Art Thou? hit American ears 10 years ago, the impact was as massive as it was unexpected. Led by producer T-Bone Burnett, the album paired contemporary artists with the folk, blues, country and gospel of the movie's Depression-era setting. It became a runaway hit, selling roughly nine million copies and scoring a Grammy for Album of the Year. More importantly, it kick-started an Americana music revival that is still going strong. On this episode of All Songs Considered, Burnett speaks with Bob Boilen about the significance of the album a decade later, and plays selections from the new deluxe edition. 'In The Jailhouse Now'  performed by Harley Allen Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition 'Little Sadie'  performed by Norman Blake Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] 'Hogfoot'  performed by John Hartford Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] 'Big Rock Candy Mountain'  performed by Van Dyke Parks Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] 'I'll Fly Away'  performed by The Kossoy Sisters Album: O Brother, Where Art Thou? [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] Mood Indigo Artist: Duke Ellington

After winter must come spring. Last month, All Songs Considered asked for stories about the songs that make you cry — and received about 8,000 responses, some of them deeply personal. It seemed only fitting, then, to explore the other side of the issue. On this week's show, Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, and ASC listeners share the songs that elevate their mood, inspiring them to whistle, dance in public, and move on from hardship and heartbreak. Rocks Off Artist: Rolling Stones Album: Exile On Main Street Young Folks Artist: Peter Bjorn and John Album: Writer's Block Dog Days Are Over Artist: Florence and the Machine Album: Lungs In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel Album: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea The Swimming Song Artist: Loudon Wainwright III Album: Attempted Mustache Feeling Good Artist: Nina Simone Album: I Put a Spell on You I Wanna Be Sedated Artist: Ramones Album: Road to Ruin

After close to 150 performances captured on video, we figured it was time for a look back at one of NPR Music's most unpredictable creations: Tiny Desk Concerts.  On this episode of All Songs Considered, Bob and NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson share their stories of the most moving and surprising moments from three and a half years of live music in the NPR offices.  Gogol Bordello Song: "Start Wearing Purple" Bob: "I remember saying to the leader of the band, Eugene Hutz, 'Do you guys need something to drink?' And out of a big paper bag he pulls a very chilled, huge bottle of vodka and says, 'Do you have glasses?'" Chuck Brown Song: "Bustin' Loose Stephen: "Not the first noisy artist to play the Tiny Desk, but still the biggest band ... The godfather of go-go music did not strip his sound down for the occasion whatsoever. And, because he's Chuck Brown, we indulged his every whim." Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Song:  "Home" Stephen: "It's a very unusual-looking crop of very committed musicians, with this beautiful, communal vibe to them that really comes through."   The Avett Brothers Song: "Laundry Room"  Stephen: "Unbelievable volume, unbelievable power ... 'Laundry Room' is probably the individual song performance at a Tiny Desk Concert that I have listened to the most." Adele Song: "Someone Like You"  Bob: "I always love performers whose speaking voice is so different — such a disconnect from their singing voice." Stephen: "She also has this absolutely magnificent cackle. Right at the end of the set, she's like, 'Forgot to take my gloves off, hahahaha!' You just can't believe this incredibly delicate instrument is also tuned to that cackle. Marvelous, marvelous performance."   Tom Jones Song: "Green, Green Grass Of Home" Bob: "I imagined he would come with a backing track or something — I didn't know how he was going to do this. But this single guitar player, and Tom Jones' voice, was absolutely astonishing." Buke And Gass Song: "Medulla Oblongata" Bob: "A baritone ukulele and a guitar-bass hybrid. These are two old friends who have been making music for a long time — super-powerful, angular music." Phoenix Songs: "Lisztomania"  Stephen: "We have to turn off the air-conditioning units when the bands start to perform, because you get a low hum if you leave them on. And we have gigantic picture windows — sort of like ants under a magnifying glass, with no air conditioning and probably 150 people streaming in to see Phoenix, one of the biggest bands we've had play ... Just imagine the engines of NPR wheezing to a halt for about 10 minutes."   Wu Man Song:"White Snow in Spring" Bob: "Anyone who's into any kind of virtuosity in music should watch ... There's something going on that doesn't really look humanly possible." Rodrigo y Gabriela Song: "Hanuman" Stephen: "They played in metal bands, and somehow found a way to fuse it with flamenco music on nylon strings. That's one of those things where I feel like the target audience is anyone. You just have to love that." The Swell Season Song:"When Your Mind's Made Up" Bob: "There's that one moment in 'When Your Mind's Made Up,' where it builds to an explosive guitar moment ... and then it stops." Stephen: "And there's this buildup of nervous tension that then dissolves into laughter."

Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton share their latest mix: Herzog:  Silence Grouplove: Tongue-Tied REM: Begin the Begin Andrew Bird: Bein' Green The Teddybears: Crystal Meth Christian Bjork: Crystalline The Features: Kids We Were Promised Jet Packs: Act On Impulse

It's been more than a half century since the Newport folk and jazz festivals got their start in Rhode Island. In the years since, both events have continued to unite a diverse mix of artists from the far-reaching branches of both genres, while breaking new talent and showcasing revered veterans. That tradition continues July 30 and 31 2011, with the Newport Folk Festival, followed by the Newport Jazz Festival on Aug. 6 and 7. NPR Music will be at both events to webcast and broadcast a full slate of live concerts starting at noon ET each day. On this edition of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen chats with Newport folk festival producer Jay Sweet about some of the surprises in this year's lineup. Later Bob's joined by NPR Music jazz producer and A Blog Supreme editor Patrick Jarenwattananon, and Josh Jackson, host of WBGO's The Checkout, to talk about the Newport jazz festival. Artist: Earl Scruggs and Friends Album: Earl Scruggs and Friends Song: Blue Ridge Mountain Blues Artist: Gillian Welch Album: Harrow and the Harvest Song: Scarlet Town   Artist: Ramblin' Jack Elliott Album: Stranger Here Song: Rising High Water Blues   Artist: Tegan and Sara Album: If It Was You Song: Time Running Artist: Wanda Jackson Album: The Party Ain't Over   Song: Shakin' All Over   Artist: River City Extension Album: Unmistakable Man Song: South for the Winter   Artist: James Farm Album: James Farm Song: Polliwog   Artist: Trombone Shorty Album: For True Song: For True   Artist: John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble Album: Eternal Interlude Song: Foreign One Artist: Miguel Zenón Album: Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook Song: Alma Adentro Artist: Rudresh Mahanthappa & Bunky Green Album: Apex Song: Summit

No one wants to see two grown men cry — especially not at work. For this week's all-tearjerker episode of All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton took the conversation offline and set up shop in Bob's apartment, armed with some home recording gear, a box of Kleenex and a bottle of wine. Thousands of listeners contributed stories about the music that makes them cry, and while there were some usual suspects — Adele, Sufjan Stevens, and Paul Simon, to name a few — Bob and Robin discovered that a song needn't necessarily be sad to get the waterworks going. Listen to the discussion here, then head to the All Songs blog for more. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? Artist: Louis Armstrong Album: Best of Louis Armstrong: The Complete RCA Victor Recordings If It's the Beaches Artist: The Avett Brothers Album: The Gleam End of the Rainbow Artist: Richard & Linda Thompson Album: I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight Plea from a Cat Named Virtue Artist: The Weakerthans Album: Reconstruction Site Something So Right Artist: Paul Simon Album: There Goes Rhymin' Simon Keep Ya Head Up Artist: 2Pac Album: Greatest Hits [Edited Version]   To Be Alone With You Artist: Sufjan Stevens Album: Seven Swans Someone Like You Artist: Adele Album: 21

Host Robin Hilton chats with NPR Music's Sami Yenigun and Otis Hart about new and upcoming electronic releases. 1.Hudson Mohawke- Thank You (Satin Panthers EP) 2. Apparat- Black Water 3. Danny Daze- Your Everything 4. Balam  Acab- Apart 5. Ital- Only For Tonight 6. Digital Line- Africa 7. Shlomo- Just Us 8. Tiger and Woods- Gin Nation

On this week's episode of All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton share the songs that made their summers in Queens and Kansas, respectively — and listeners chime in with their own memories. Included are American classics from Bob Dylan and Neil Young, some virtuosic noodling from Funkadelic and Rush, and the inevitable, all-time jam that is Violent Femmes' "Blister in the Sun." Like a Rolling Stone Artist: Bob Dylan Album: Highway 61 Revisited Maggot Brain Artist: Funkadelic Album: Maggot Brain Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere Artist: Neil Young with Crazy Horse Album: Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere Tom Sawyer Artist: Rush Album: Exit...Stage Left Blister in the Sun Artist: Violent Femmes Album: Violent Femmes The Wind Artist: Cat Stevens Album: Teaser and the Firecat Island in the Sun Artist: Weezer Album: Weezer (Green Album)

We've got an exclusive preview of the upcoming Fountains of Wayne album, Sky Full of Holes. Also the Paul McCartney classic "Every Night," from a beautifully remastered version of his debut solo album. Plus, Wilco offers an early taste of its upcoming album The Whole Love — the single is the band's first release on its newly founded label, dBpm Records. Also on the show: M. Ward joins neo-folk singer Carlos Forster for an enchanting homage to campfire songs, Gillian Welch returns with her first collection of new music in eight years. Scarlet Town Artist: Gillian Welch Album: Harrow and the Harvest I Might Artist: Wilco Album: I Might Campfire Songs Artist: Carlos Forster Album: Family Trees   Every Night Artist: Paul McCartney Album: McCartney (2011 Remaster) The Summer Place Artist: Fountains of Wayne Album: Sky Full of Holes Crime Of The Season Artist: Mini Mansions Album: Mini Mansions

New music from Fiery Furnaces singer Eleanor Friedberger and her first solo project and a slow-and-steady Buddy Holly cover by Patti Smith. We've also got two premieres from albums that are still months away: a hypnotic groove from the Malian blues veterans in Tinariwen and some typically triumphant indie-pop from Mates of State. Get Some Artist: Lykke Li Album: Wounded Rhymes Imidiwan Matanam Artist: Tinariwen Album: Tassili Add to Playlist Words of Love (performed by Patti Smith) Artist: Various Artists Album: Rave on Buddy Holly Palomino Artist: Mates of State Album: Mountaintops Add to Playlist My Mistakes Artist: Eleanor Friedberger Album: Last Summer Believer Artist: John Maus Album: We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

Around this time each year, the All Songs Considered gang pauses to marvel at how quickly the months are passing, and to reflect on some of the memorable music that's come out so far. What have been some of 2011's biggest surprises? Who are some of the best new artists? NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson and reviewer Ann Powers join co-hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton to share some of the songs and albums they think have helped define the first half of 2011. Songs in this episode: Rubber Artist: Yuck Album: Yuck House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls Artist: The Weeknd Album: House of Balloons     The Wilhelm Scream Artist: James Blake Album: James Blake We Sing In Time Artist: The Lonely Forest Album: Arrows Firewall Artist: Bright Eyes Album: The People's Key Red Horse (Judges II) Artist: Colin Stetson Album: New History Warfare, Vol. 2: Judges Flown Artist: Julianna Barwick Album: The Magic Place Coney Island Winter Artist: Garland Jeffreys Album: King of In Between Bloom Artist: Radiohead Album: The King Of Limbs Bizness Artist: tUnE-yArDs Album: w h o k i l l Civilian Artist: Wye Oak Album: Civilian Bubble Artist: King Creosote & Jon Hopkins Album: Diamond Mine Country Clutter Artist: Dolorean Album: The Unfazed Someone Like You Artist: Adele Album: 21 Helplessness Blues Artist: Fleet Foxes Album: Helplessness Blues Abducted Artist: Cults Album: Cults Album: Cults

This week on All Songs Considered: Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton talk about some of their favorite shows from the recent Sasquatch music festival, including a particularly memorable set from Wilco. Also on the this week's show, we hear some great new discoveries: neo-psychedelia from Other Lives, electro-folk from Motopony, a swirly dreamscape from BOBBY, heartbreaking melodies from Sam Phillips, and fuzzy noise-pop from JEFF the Brotherhood. Songs in the show: Via Chicago Artist: Wilco Album: Live at Sasquatch 2011     As I Lay My Head Down Artist: Other Lives Album: Tamer Animals Seer Artist: Motopony Album: Motopony We Saw Artist: BOBBY Album: BOBBY So Glad You're Here Artist: Sam Phillips Album: Solid State Bummer Artist: JEFF The Brotherhood Album: We Are The Champions Album: We Are The Champions