Musician Kurt Wagner is the frontman for the Nashville music collective Lambchop and over the course of 12 albums, he's drawn on everything from country to hip-hop, to create odd, lyrically rich music. With his new album, "Flotus," he's added beat-driven electronica into the mix. The Los Angeles Times describes it as, "something really magical." The Nashville native builds us a playlist that mixes a touch of "Hee Haw" with a little doo-wop.
Back in the '80s, Rick Astley scored a string of synth-backed R&B hits. Including "Together Forever"... and another little number that, decades later... earned an unlikely second life as the internet meme "rickrolling." He gave us a list of funny and dramatic alternatives to use the next time you want to rickroll a friend.
Last week, newly-minted “A Prairie Home Companion” host Chris Thile built us a party playlist filled with tunes he considered "required listening." Which got us thinking: which songs do our fans think of as "required listening"?
On October 15th, Chris Thile steps on-stage as the new, permanent host of public radio's venerable variety show, "A Prairie Home Companion," with the blessing of mentor Garrison Keillor. Chris cut his teeth playing mandolin for bluegrass bands Nickel Creek and The Punch Brothers, with which he won four Grammys. But he's a musical omnivore and -- according to the MacArthur foundation-- a musical genius. Get an eclectic playlist of tunes that Chris considers required listening at your next dinner party.
Tom Krell (aka How To Dress Well) shares a soundtrack that highlights songs that influence his own style -- a heady mix of pop, R&B and electronic music
Leonard Cohen -- yes that Leonard Cohen -- has a new album out in a couple of weeks. It's called "You Want it Darker." Check out the first track off that album.
Jack Garratt's mix of electronica, pop and soul won him the BBC's "Sound of 2016" Poll and a Brits "Critics' Choice" Award. To put things in context, the last folks to do that were Sam Smith and Adele. He mixes up a party playlist perfect for a throwback dinner party, featuring songs by Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, and more.
Joan Shelley is a Kentucky-based singer-songwriter who releases new music every September. Her latest is a single called "Cost of the Cold."
The R&B singer and poet, best known as a featured vocalist on standout tracks by Chance the Rapper and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, provides a chilled-out, funky playlist for a magical overnight gathering under the stars.
Angel Olsen is an Asheville-based singer and guitarist. She made a name for herself with haunting vocals and harmonic soundscapes that draw on everything from psychedelia to country-western music. Her much-anticipated sophomore album, called "My Woman," comes out this week. She also performed a few songs at our live show in St. Paul, Minnesota, last year. Here she is with a party playlist for the long weekend ahead.