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Albini led the abrasive underground rock bands Big Black and Shellac and recorded — by his own estimate — thousands of albums, including classics like Nirvana's In Utero and Pixies' Surfer Rosa.
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As the jolt of adrenaline lit by the clash between the two biggest rappers of a generation fades, it's worth holding onto the possibility — however slim — that something new can grow from the chaos.
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Madlib's music feels like a magic trick. On this edition of 8 Tracks, we bow down to Madlib's mastery, plus check out new music by Charly Bliss, Fana Hues and reminisce on an old Ted Leo record.
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Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music was more than an hour of feedback and noise with no noticeable structure. A new tribute album called Metal Machine Muzak interprets the spirit behind that work.
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With decades clocked behind the piano and a strong catalog, Kiefer Shackelford is primed for this moment.
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Over a million fans are expected to turn up on Rio's famous Copacabana beach Saturday for Madonna's end-of-tour mega concert.
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NPR's Scott Simon talks with composer Jeff Beal about his new collection of solo piano works, "The New York Etudes," and about living and working with multiple sclerosis.
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The singer-songwriter's fourth album is her best yet, with crisp, commanding songwriting, shades of '60s baroque pop and melodies that seem to have existed forever.
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The outrageously fun Japanese punk band speeds and screams through its catalog.
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A big part of what makes the Final Fantasy franchise so beloved is its score. Rebirth's composers aimed to make music that pleases fans of the original while trying something new and surprising.
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A new documentary, Hip-Hop and the White House, considers rap's association with presidential politics — and in so doing, reveals a persistent misunderstanding of how both operate.
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We received nearly 7,000 entries to this year's Tiny Desk Contest. Cast your vote for your favorite entry from Top Shelf.