All Songs Considered

Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant is back with a new collaboration, this time with country singer and songwriter Buddy Miller. Their new album, 'Band of Joy,' is a fresh mix of rock folk and blues, and features other artists such as Patty Griffin and Darrel Scott. We've got a cut from the new record on this edition of All Songs Considered. Also on the program: Angular rock from Buke and Gass, the unusual instrumental music of Max Richter, a nod to Pink Floyd from Bellflur, the new project from David Sitek (TV On The Radio) called Maximum Balloon, The Capitalist Youth, and legendary guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson.

Ten years ago, Queens of the Stone Age released Rated R, a tuneful and riff-obsessed hard-rock album. It was simultaneously heavy, funky and melancholic, a far cry from the stoner rock of Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri's former band, Kyuss. To celebrate its anniversary, Rated R has been reissued with a bonus disc of B-sides and a live concert. Also on the show: Sean Lennon's new psych-pop project with Charlotte Kemp Muhl called The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger, Australian singer-songwriter Sarah Blasko, a new group featuring a former Great Lake Swimmers member called Siskiyou, an inspired mix of hip-hop and folk from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and the distinctive voices of Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan.

If you've ever seen the infamous video of David Bowie's Christmastime duet with Bing Crosby, then you know musicians are capable of the most imaginative (and baffling) collaborations. On this edition of All Songs Considered we look at odd pairings, some brilliant, and some just so very, very wrong.

Hear highlights from some of the more memorable performances from this year's Newport Folk Festival, with host Bob Boilen.

Host Bob Boilen chats with festival producer Jay Sweet about what to expect from this year's Newport gathering.

Rock guitarist and singer Liz Phair is back from a five-year hiatus with one of the most unusual and creative albums of her career, but hardly anyone has noticed. That's because she quietly self-released the record on her website, over the fourth of July weekend. On this edition of All Songs Considered we share a cut from the new album Funstyle. Also on the show: A gorgeous new solo record from Bon Iver drummer Sean Carey; a mesmerizing sound collage from The Books; feel-good garage rock from Agent Ribbons; new-folk singer David Dondero; Icelandic artist Olof Arnalds; jazz pianist Vijay Iyer covers a classic pop song from the '80s; and the New York-based rock group Ra Ra Riot returns with an epic sophomore release.

01. Panda Bear: "Slow Motion" from 'Tomboy' 02. The Walkmen: "Stranded" from 'Lisbon' 03. Dirty Projectors and Bjork: "All We Are" from 'Mount Wittenberg Orca' 04. Miniature Tigers: "Mansion of Misery" from 'Fortress' 05. Mountain Man: "Sewee Sewee" from 'Made the Harbor' 06. Hey Rosetta!: "New Goodbye" from 'Into Your Lungs' 07. Cowboy Junkies: "Sir Francis Bacon At The Net" from 'Renmin Park'

Summer is here and with it comes a crush of great new music. On this edition of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen chats with Monitor Mix blogger Carrie Brownstein, producer Robin Hilton and NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson about some of the upcoming albums they're most looking forward to, along with some great new discoveries. Hear previews from former Be Good Tanyas singer Frazey Ford, solo work from Radiohead drummer Phil Selway, M.I.A. and more.

Hear Bob count down the top 20 albums of 2010 (so far), as selected by NPR listeners.

Hear Bob count down the top 20 albums of 2010 (so far), as selected by NPR listeners.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen talks with NPR Music's Frannie Kelley, Amy Schriefer and Sami Yenigun about their favorite songs for getting your "groove" on and shaking your "booty" this summer. Hear new music from Swedish pop singer Robyn, Kylie Minogue, Big Boi, a special premiere of a new track by Scissor Sisters and more.

Host Bob Boilen chats with WFUV's Rita Houston, KUT's Andy Uhler and Jill Riley of Minnesota Public Radio's The Current about their favorite performances from this year's Bonnaroo festival.

Bob Boilen talks with Andy Uhler of NPR member station KUT, Jill Riley of The Current and Rita Houston of WFUV about this week's Bonnaroo music festival.

In response to our shout out for your favorite opening tracks, Bob Boilen gets together with Carrie Brownstein (NPR Monitor mix) and Tom Moon, (author of "1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die") We play some of your favorites and some of our own.

Arcade Fire's Win and Will Butler join All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen for a chat about their new album The Suburbs. We play 2 new songs, the title track and "Month of May."