All Songs Considered

Project Song: Stephin Merritt - The challenge: write, record and mix a song in 2 days. Watch this video podcast with All Songs host Bob Boilen as Stephin Merritt composes and plays all the instruments on his new song The Man of a Million Faces.

The New Pornographers in concert. With host Bob Boilen. Includes an interview with the band. A full set list for this performance is available at NPR.org. (This version fixes a file error with a previous release of the New Pornographers concert).

Swedish pop artist Jens Lekman talks about his latest CD, Night Falls Over Kortedala and shares some of his favorite recordings. Hear selections from his new album, plus songs and musicians he's loving now, like Kim Ki O and the Rapper's Delight Club.

Spoon in concert. With host Bob Boilen. Includes an interview with the band at the end of the show.

Stars in concert. With host Bob Boilen. Includes an interview with the band at the end of the show.

A rare re-issue from David Byrne; Balkan Brass via the New York band Beirut; Wood spoons, laptop tunes: Tender Forever; More surprises from singer Nellie McKay; Black Flag memories from Dirty Projectors; The tainted love and fight songs of Shivaree; With host Bob Boilen.

Host Bob Boilen looks at some of the most anticipated CDs coming out before the end of the year, with NPR reviewers Meredith Ochs, Tom Moon and Robert Christgau. Hear new music from Radiohead, Neil Young, Youssou N'Dour and more.

Josh Ritter in Concert. With host Bob Boilen. A set list for this performance is available online. npr.org/liveconcerts (a previous version of this podcast contained an error)

Jose Gonzalez in concert. With host Bob Boilen. A set list for this performance is available online. npr.org/liveconcerts

Mathematician turned musician Dan Snaith, a.k.a. Caribou; the sound of '70s Southern California from Cass McCombs; A delightful Sunset Rubdown; Britpop singer, guitarist Richard Hawley; The quiet side of guitar rocker PJ Harvey; A tribute to Automatic for the People. With host Bob Boilen.

Okkervil River in concert. Propelled by the cryptic songwriting of frontman Will Sheff, the Austin band Okkervil River makes dark, literate rock that's as explosive as it is thoughtful and intimate. Now on tour in support of one of the year's best albums, 'The Stage Names,' Okkervil River visits Washington, D.C. for a full concert. The performance from the Rock and Roll Hotel was originally webcast live on NPR.org Sept. 30. A set list for this show is available at NPR.org.

Iron and Wine in concert. When soft became the new loud in indie circles a few years ago, Iron and Wine quickly stepped ahead of the pack as the most arresting of the whispery new-folk artists. Led by the gentle-voiced Sam Beam, the group makes morose and mysterious music, with impressively layered harmonies and the barest instrumentation. Hear the band in a full concert, recorded live from Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club, on Sept. 29. A set list for this show is available at NPR.org.

Animal Collective in concert, with host Bob Boilen. Animal Collective makes wildly experimental sound collages its members describe as "sonic, freeform, electronic, horror, gospel, hip-hop, soul, pop madness." To some, it's more noise than music. But to the group's fans, Animal Collective is making the most inventive and playfully refreshing sounds of the year. A set list for this show is available at NPR.org.

A duet from Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; Bob Dylan remixed by DJ Mark Ronson; British folk guitarist Martin Simpson; The trippy morning face of Small Sins; Artful harmonic pop from Georgie James; The beautifully depressing Doveman. With host Bob Boilen.

Rilo Kiley in concert. With host Bob Boilen. The hauntingly soulful voice of singer Jenny Lewis has drawn legions of fans to the L.A. band Rilo Kiley. Since releasing its first CD in 2001, the band has gradually abandoned its weepy pop-country sound for '80s-inspired college rock and new wave, but the incandescent passion in Lewis' voice has remained, drawing comparisons to Loretta Lynn and Neko Case. Now on tour in support of 'Under the Blacklight,' Rilo Kiley visits Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club for a full concert, originally webcast live on NPR.org Sept. 26.