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After 27 Years, Guster Is Still Surprising Fans

Guster performing live at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia for WXPN's Free At Noon Concert. John Vettese/WXPN hide caption

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John Vettese/WXPN

World Cafe

After 27 Years, Guster Is Still Surprising Fans

XPN

Guster's latest album, Look Alive, is a trippy and textured twist on everything you might already love about the band.

Guster On World Cafe

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New Music Friday: Our Top 6 Albums Out April 19

Cuz I Love You, from the singer Lizzo, is on our short list of the best albums out April 19. Luke Gilford/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Luke Gilford/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: Our Top 6 Albums Out April 19

Our list of the best albums out this week includes Lizzo's long-awaited debut, the rousing, infectious anthems of Johnnyswim, new music from The Tallest Man On Earth, Loyle Carner and more.

New Music Friday: Our Top 6 Albums Out April 19

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Josh Ritter Performs Stripped-Down Acoustic Version Of 'Fever Breaks'

Josh Ritter performs live for World Cafe Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN hide caption

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Gabriela Barbieri/WXPN

World Cafe

Josh Ritter Performs Stripped-Down Acoustic Version Of 'Fever Breaks'

XPN

The master songwriter performs songs just like he did for Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires on their Nashville porch.

Josh Ritter On World Cafe

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First Listen: Rodrigo y Gabriela, 'Mettavolution'

Rodrigo y Gabriela's Mettavolution comes out April 26. Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ebru Yildiz/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

First Listen: Rodrigo y Gabriela, 'Mettavolution'

Rodrigo y Gabriela's career offers insight into how creative you can be with just two guitars. Mettavolution closes with a mesmerizing version of Pink Floyd's "Echoes."

Mettavolution

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    Song
    Mettavolution
    Album
    Mettavolution
    Artist
    Rodrigo y Gabriela
    Label
    ATO Records
    Released
    2019

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Sharon Van Etten Makes A Punchy And Powerful Leap Forward

Sharon Van Etten inside the World Cafe Performance Studio Rachel Del Sordo/WXPN hide caption

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Rachel Del Sordo/WXPN

World Cafe

Sharon Van Etten Makes A Punchy And Powerful Leap Forward

XPN

Van Etten is more present than ever, but wouldn't be where she is today without the struggle.

Sharon Van Etten On World Cafe

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New Mix: Tank And The Bangas, Jesca Hoop, Chris Staples, More

Top row, left to right: Cover art for Jesca Hoop's Stonechild, Sevdaliza, Chris Staples; Bottom row, left to right: Tank and the Bangas, Vera Sola Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

New Mix: Tank And The Bangas, Jesca Hoop, Chris Staples, More

This week we've got wild and wonderful new music from Tank and the Bangas, a message of unity from singer Jesca Hoop (with Lucius), the mysterious voice of Sevdaliza and more.

New Mix: Tank And The Bangas, Jesca Hoop, Chris Staples, More

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6 Years Of Life Fueled Phosphorescent's Latest Album

Phosphorescent performs at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Recorded live for this session. Taylor Johnson/WXPN hide caption

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Taylor Johnson/WXPN

World Cafe

6 Years Of Life Fueled Phosphorescent's Latest Album

XPN

Matthew Houck, who records as Phosphorescent, shares how meeting his partner in a New England bar, having a child and almost dying from meningitis informed his new music.

Phosphorescent On World Cafe

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Persian Musicians And A Parisian Monastery: Making Glen Hansard's 'This Wild Willing'

Glen Hansard Stephan Vanfleteren/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Stephan Vanfleteren/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Persian Musicians And A Parisian Monastery: Making Glen Hansard's 'This Wild Willing'

XPN

Hansard's latest record was initially supposed to be a simple, acoustic album. But that changed after a chance jam session with Persian musicians.

Glen Hansard On World Cafe

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New Music Friday: Our Top 7 Albums Out On April 12

Anderson .Paak's Ventura arrives just five months after his previous full-length, Oxnard and is a return to form. Francesco Prandoni/Redferns hide caption

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Francesco Prandoni/Redferns

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: Our Top 7 Albums Out On April 12

Anderson .Paak drops his followup to Oxnard, Norah Jones collaborates with Jeff Tweedy, and Sia joins Labrinth and Diplo for "LSD." Those and more make our shortlist of the week's best new albums.

New Music Friday: Our Top 7 Albums Out On April 12

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Beyond The Summer Of Love, 'Get Together' Is An Anthem For Every Season

The Youngbloods circa 1967. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

American Anthem

Beyond The Summer Of Love, 'Get Together' Is An Anthem For Every Season

The song was everywhere during the 1967 gatherings in San Francisco. After it was used in a public service announcement, it became an anthem for the rest of the world.

Beyond The Summer Of Love, 'Get Together' Is An Anthem For Every Season

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Viking's Choice: Psychedelic Speed Freaks, Ahmed Ag Kaedy, More

Clockwise from upper left: Ahmed Ag Kaedy (photo: Konrad Waldmann), Psychedelic Speed Freaks (photo: Anna Aguirre), Catherine Watine, Keith Fullerton Whitman's modular synthesizer. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

Viking's Choice: Psychedelic Speed Freaks, Ahmed Ag Kaedy, More

After a few months taking care of his newborn, NPR Music's Lars Gotrich is back with buzzing Ethiopian hymns and Tuareg folk songs, but also white-hot psych-rock and a modular synth frenzy.

Viking's Choice: Psychedelic Speed Freaks, Ahmed Ag Kaedy, More

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