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Now that the MP3 is king, vinyl has become something of an underground revolution. More and more artists have begun to insist on releasing their new albums on vinyl, and music fans who jettisoned their collections in favor of "clear, perfect digital sound CDs" are raiding garage sales and rediscovering analog music all over again. Here are 10 releases from 2008 that are worth the extra effort of vinyl.

Throughout his three-decade history leading the Berlin Philharmonic, the conductor struggled to find perfection in the symphony orchestra. Karajan biographer Richard Osborne offers a list of five albums that embody the maestro's magic.

Officials in Afghanistan on Wednesday said it launched an operation to drive Taliban insurgents from villages on the outskirts of Kandahar. Afghan government troops have been joined by Canadian forces in the operation.

Published reports this weekend say Yahoo has sent a letter to Microsoft rejecting a bid by the giant software maker to buy the search-engine company. But the letter could just be a negotiating ploy.

Charlton Heston, a Hollywood leading man for six decades, died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills. At 84, he had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. In films ranging from biblical epics to science-fiction dystopias, he stood tall as a heroic figure.

Financial markets around the world reacted favorably to the U.S. government's plan to take over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In the United States, the move sent interest rates down, raising hopes in the real estate industry that prospective buyers may be ready to enter the housing market.

This has been a strong year for African music, with two big trends emerging: the continuing integration of African music into the U.S. and European mainstream, as well as the ongoing unearthing of treasures from Afropop's "golden era," particularly the '70s.

Israel confirmed Wednesday that a cease-fire with Hamas will begin Thursday. Hamas, a militant group, currently rules the Gaza Strip. The truce was brokered by Egyptian officials.

Serbs in Kosovo rallied Monday to protest Kosovo's declaration of independence Sunday. President Bush, who is traveling this week in Africa, was first to recognize new independence, which is opposed by Russia. The move has prompted Serbia to recall its ambassador from Washington.

For the past month, NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich laid out multiple strips of paper on his desk, with names like Uncle Owen Aunt Beru, Extra Life and Erykah Badu printed on them.

The end of another year means another giant stack of books you missed during the past 12 months. Nancy Pearl, our favorite librarian, stops by to share recommendations that should keep old, young and 'tween readers content.

It was an unusually strong year for great unknown artists. While bigger, more established bands continued to attract the most attention, smaller, lesser-known acts made the most memorable music of 2008. All of the great unknown artists featured here made music that was inspired, original and heartfelt.