Music News

Mbongwana Star rose out the remains of Staff Benda Bilili.

Music & Culture

What Artist Did You Fall In Love With In 2015?

6:47pm December 28, 2015

Three staffers from NPR Music tell Audie Cornish about a futurist Congolese band, a couple of house-music Kiwis in London and the unreleased recordings of a pianist who dated Doris Duke.

Queue Listen Now

So Sad Today's Melissa Broder says The Weeknd's songs are "sexy, though not longing-y on his part, because I feel like he is in control."

Music & Culture

A Rational Conversation: Passing Judgment On Music In 2015 With So Sad Today

1:07pm December 28, 2015

by Eric Ducker

Longing and the fear of failure dominated 2015 for the writer behind the existentially dark Twitter account So Sad Today. Plus: How to manage multiple Spotify playlists!

John Scofield's latest album, Past Present, reunites an old quartet for set of tunes steeped in reflection and loss.

Music & Culture

For John Scofield, Everything Old Is New Again — Even The Hard Parts

7:57am December 27, 2015

by Tom Cole

The jazz guitarist has a new record out with an old quartet, playing music that deals, in part, with the death of Scofield's son.

Harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy found that by blowing a little too hard into his instrument, he could conjure notes it was never made to play. "And it freaked me out, I have to tell you," he says.

Music & Culture

Pocket-Sized Revolution: Behind The Harmonica's World-Music Takeover

8:29am December 26, 2015

by John Burnett

Howard Levy found he could get a radical new sound out of the mouth harp, essentially by playing it wrong. Today, followers of his method are finding their way into the world's top conservatories.

'Hello,' We Meet Again: Adele's Hit Revives Another

8:29am December 26, 2015

Linda Wertheimer muses on the similarities between Adele's hit song "Hello," and a "Hello" of a different era. Lionel Richie's '80s hit is finding new fans.

LCD Soundsystem, which broke up in 2011, reunited to record what frontman James Murphy calls "this depressing Christmas song I'd been singing to myself for the past 8 years."

Music & Culture

Holiday Music Roundup: New Songs From Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem And More

1:04pm December 25, 2015

by Jacob Ganz

New music arriving over the holiday season has become a tradition of the streaming era. This year's haul includes a handful of sad Christmas songs and welcome non-holiday originals.

Edie Brickell, Steve Martin Broadway Bound With 'Bright Star'

5:50am December 25, 2015

by Vince Pearson

In 2014, Steve Martin and Edie Brickell won a Grammy for the title track to their Bluegrass album Love Has Come for You. Now the duo is headed to Broadway with a musical inspired by that album.

Music & Culture

Listeners Weigh In On Worst Christmas Songs Ever

6:35am December 24, 2015

Earlier this week Morning Edition asked listeners to send nominations for the worst holiday song ever. And, boy, did they answer.

Music & Culture

Beatles Music Available To Stream

6:06am December 24, 2015

Beatles fans got an early Christmas present. For the first time, the Fab Four's music is available to stream.

Music & Culture

2015 All Songs Considered Holiday Extravaganza

5:22am December 22, 2015

All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton discuss their favorite albums of 2015. This year's show features guest appearances by Ben Folds, Aimee Mann, Carrie Brownstein and more.