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Ben Gibbard: Living With Ghosts

Credit Ryan Russell / Courtesy of the artist

Ben Gibbard's first album as a solo artist is called Former Lives.

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Death Cab for Cutie is known for bittersweet love songs, stirring melodies and frontman Ben Gibbard's unmistakable voice, soft and sincere. After 15 years in the band, Gibbard is releasing his first solo album, Former Lives.

"Over the years, I've accrued a number of songs that I've always been very fond of but didn't fit tonally, lyrically, musically in with the palette of songs that were in front of us for a Death Cab for Cutie record," Gibbard tells NPR's Guy Raz.

12:53 pm

Sat October 20, 2012

This Candy Is From Heaven (But Don't Eat It)

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Credit Mark Mauthner / Heritage Auctions

Credit Heritage Auctions/iStockphoto

See the resemblance?

By Maria Godoy

Originally published on Sat October 20, 2012 1:15 pm

Pop quiz: What is this thing?

11:45 am

Sat October 20, 2012

Obama And Romney, Metaphorically Speaking

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Credit Chris O'Meara / AP

Whatever you think about the candidates, we can all agree both have been punching bags for their opponents.

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Red Velvet Obama and a Romney Croissant? One pastry expert says that's how she'd describe the candidates, if they were desserts.

By Linton Weeks

Originally published on Sat October 20, 2012 4:46 pm

Sometimes it feels like everything that should be said about President Obama and Republican Mitt Romney has already been said.

But maybe there is a way to talk about politicians in a fresher, cleaner way — without talking about politics. Like — or as — poets do it. Speaking metaphorically.

Sometimes you can say more about someone by not really talking about the person, but talking about something else. My love is like a red red rose, Robert Burns wrote. He is a feather in the wind, Led Zeppelin sang.

9:11 am

Sat October 20, 2012

Beware Election-Year 'Scam PACS'

By editor

Originally published on Mon October 22, 2012 3:21 pm

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What business would you tell a young person to go into these days? Plastics? Oooh, that can mean lots of regulations. Wind turbines? Solar panels? Who knows how long those may take to pay off? App development? How many Angry Birds does the world need?

Then what about superPACS? They're political-action committees that can spend unlimited amounts of money to laud, mock or bash any political candidate.

8:03 am

Sat October 20, 2012

Fresh Air Weekend: Michael Feinstein, Roxy Music, Tyler Perry

Credit Simon & Schuster

Michael Feinstein (right) worked for six years as Ira Gershwin's cataloger and archivist.

By editor

Originally published on Sat October 20, 2012 3:59 pm

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Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors, and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:

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4:00 pm

Sat October 20, 2012