Thursday night at the Gibson Showroom in Washington, D.C., we threw a listening party. Maybe you were one of the 100 or so people who packed the room. We played music, mostly unreleased tunes. Everyone used score cards to rate the music on a scale of 1 to 10, and then we talked.
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— The NPR Music panel rates a song at the NPR Music Listening Party at the Gibson Showroom in Washington, D.C..
The NPR Music panel rates a song at the NPR Music Listening Party at the Gibson Showroom in Washington, D.C..
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— The audience listens to and rates a new song at the NPR Music Listening Party at the Gibson Showroom in Washington, D.C.
The audience listens to and rates a new song at the NPR Music Listening Party at the Gibson Showroom in Washington, D.C.
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen leads the discussion.
All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen leads the discussion.
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— This song didn't do too hot.
This song didn't do too hot.
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— slideshow
slideshow
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— All Songs Considered producer Robin Hilton.
All Songs Considered producer Robin Hilton.
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— slideshow
slideshow
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— The panel (l to r): Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson, Sarah Godfrey.
The panel (l to r): Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson, Sarah Godfrey.
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— slideshow
slideshow
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— Patrick Jarenwattananon, of NPR Music's A Blog Supreme, provides Bob some context while listening to a jazz tune.
Patrick Jarenwattananon, of NPR Music's A Blog Supreme, provides Bob some context while listening to a jazz tune.
Michael Katzif / NPR
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— The crowd kisses up to the panel.
The crowd kisses up to the panel.
Michael Katzif / NPR
For some, hearing the twang of Gillian Welch was a welcome relief to a long drought. Her upcoming release will be her first in eight years. For others, that same music and was a deal-breaker. "You can't dance to it, so what's the point?" was one comment. "You've never been to a country bar in Houston and done the two step" was pretty much the retort.
There was a lot of applause and laughs and love for Cults from many, though Robin Hilton gave it a 4. Classical music by the group Build and jazz music by James Farm didn't fare as well as pop. Maybe the setting favored music that had more snap, less build. That said, the clear favorite — the music with the most 10s — was by Heavenly States, with guest singer Britt Daniel of Spoon. Here's a fun animation for the song we played, "Berlin Wall":
We're thinking we need to take this show on the road. Would you come?
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