NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Hazel Cills discuss new releases by Billie Eilish, Portishead's Beth Gibbons and Rapsody.Featured albums:- Billie Eilish, 'Hit Me Hard and Soft'- Rapsody, 'Please Don't Cry'- Beth Gibbons, 'Lives Outgrown'Other notable albums out May 17:- Shellac, 'To All Trains'- The Avett Brothers, 'The Avett Brothers'- V/A, 'Everyone's Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense'- Mach-Hommy, '#RICHAXXHAITIAN'- Cage the Elephant, 'Neon Pill'- of Montreal, 'Lady on the Cusp'- Wu-Lu, 'Learning To Swim On Empty'- Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band, 'Loophole'- The Lovely Eggs, 'Eggistentialism'- Kaia Kater, 'Strange Medicine'- Álvaro Díaz, 'SAYONARA'- ZAYN, 'Room Under the Stairs'- One Step Closer, 'All You Embrace'- A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, 'Better Off Alone'- Crumb, 'AMAMA'- Lightheaded, 'Combustible Gems'- Pallbearer, 'Mind Burns Alive'- Joywave, 'Permanent Pleasure'- Blitzen Trapper, '100's of 1000's, Millions of Billions'- Payroll Giovanni, 'Have Money, Have Heart' EP- UFOmammut, 'Hidden'- SQÜRL, 'Music for Man Ray'- pub, 'process the wise'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ana and Felix collect their favorite recent releases from the past few months, including new material from the breakout regional band Grupo Frontera, a country/Latin cross-over in the music of Wyatt Flores, a new song from groundbreaking rapper Mala Rodriguez and more.Songs featured in this episode:•Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, "Mas Que Nada"•Luis Muñoz, "Crescent Moon"•Mala Rodriguez, "Casi Nada [Explicit]"•Alih Jay, "Bang Bang (Mi Baby Me Mató)"•Cher, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"•Grupo Frontera, "Me Hizo Un Favor"•Wyatt Flores, "Half Life"•Danny Ocean, "Cero Condiciones [Explicit]"•Fabiola Méndez, "Lamento en Celinés"•Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, "EL ÚNICO"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We update our running list of the year's best songs with new ones from Dominic Fike, Willow, Kamasi Washington, Illuminati Hotties and more.Featured artists and songs:1. WILLOW: "run!" from 'empathogen'2. Dominic Fike: "hi grace" from '14 minutes'3. Kamasi Washington, George Clinton & D Smoke: "Get Lit," from 'Fearless Movement'4. Illuminati Hotties: "Can't Be Still" (single)5. Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion: "To Music," from 'Rectangles and Circumstance'6. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross: "L'ouef" from 'Challengers' OSTLike the show? Tell your friends and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!Feedback always welcome: [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week's episode of New Music Friday from All Songs Considered showcases artists stretching limits across a wide spectrum of genres. NPR Music editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Alt.Latino host Anamaria Sayre dig into the most exciting albums out May 10, 2024, from a juggernaut of the Mexican regional scene experimenting with song forms and sounds from across Latin America to an R&B singer getting loose after portraying a jazz icon to a blockbuster collection of contemporary indie artists pulled together for the soundtrack of a discombobulating movie rooted in the 1990s. Featured Albums:• Grupo Frontera, Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada• Andra Day, Cassandra (cherith)• Various Artists, I Saw the TV Glow Original SoundtrackOther notable albums out May 10:• Yaya Bey, Ten Fold• Les Savy Fav, OUI LSF• I. Jordan, I Am Jordan• Ryan Castro, El Cantante del Ghetto• Amen Dunes, Death Jokes• Arab Strap, I'm totally fine with it don't give a f*** anymore• Brad Mehldau, After Bach II• Brad Mehldau, Après Fauré• Chick Corea & Béla Fleck, Remembrance• Chief Keef, Almighty So 2• Conway the Machine, Slant Face Killah• Dehd, Poetry• Gunna, One of Wun• How To Dress Well, I Am Toward You• Jim White and Marisa Anderson, Swallowtail• Kelsey Waldon, There's Always a Song• Kings of Leon, Can We Please Have Fun• Mick Harvey, Five Ways to Say Goodbye• Morgan Guerin, Tales of the Facade• Myriam Gendron, Mayday• Orville Peck, Stampede, Vol. 1• Pokey LaFarge, Rhumba Country• Shannon & the Clams, The Moon Is In The Wrong Place• Villagers, That Golden TimeLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Get your hanky out. With Mother's Day nearing, listeners share the songs that remind them of their moms and the deeply moving stories behind them.Featured songs and artists:1. Hoagy Carmichael: "Stardust"2. Christina Aguilera: "Beautiful"3. Jeannie C. Riley: "Harper Valley PTA"4. Stevie Wonder: "Isn't She Lovely"5. Kermit the Frog: "Rainbow Connection"6. Phyllis Hyman: "You Know How to Love Me"7. MILCK: "Oh, Mother"8. Christina Perri: "You Are My Sunshine"9. The Tokens: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"10. Four Tops: "Reach Out I'll Be There"11. Sweet Honey in the Rock: "Wanting Memories"Enjoy the show? Tell your friends and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!Feedback? Drop us an email: [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On the May 3 episode of New Music Friday, NPR Music's Hazel Cills and WRTI's Nate Chinen discuss the week's essential new albums, including Radical Optimism, from the dance-pop superstar Dua Lipa. The songs on Radical Optimism are mostly in the vein of Dua Lipa's earlier work, but that itself might be reason to keep a militantly sunny attitude: A parade of hits from her last album, Future Nostalgia, proved to have incredible staying power — "Levitating" hung around in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart for nearly a year — and she contributed to last year's cultural juggernaut Barbie with "Dance the Night." Still, Hazel and Nate say the new album offers hints of a few surprising artistic developments in her sound.Radical Optimism isn't the only album out this week that demands attention. New records by the inimitable folk songwriter Jessica Pratt and the always ambitious jazz maestro and saxophonist Kamasi Washington focus their own sounds in new and highly rewarding ways. Featured Albums:• Dua Lipa, 'Radical Optimism'• Jessica Pratt, 'Here in the Pitch'• Kamasi Washington, 'Fearless Movement'Other notable albums out May 3:• Willow, 'empathogen'• Mdou Moctar, 'Funeral for Justice'• Steph Richards, 'Power Vibe'• Charlotte Day Wilson, 'Cyan Blue'• Luke Stewart's Silt Trio, 'Unknown Rivers'• 4batz, 'u made me a st4r'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's the 10th annual Tiny Desk contest and there's been a strong showing of Latin artists behind desks across the United States and Puerto Rico.Felix and Ana sifted through all the entries and pulled their favorites from artists with roots all across the Americas. And if one of them ends up winning, you can thank us for the introduction.Songs featured in this episode:•Cathia, "Taza de Café"•Manu Manzo, "Celos"•Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices, "Quiero Volver"•Flaco el Jandro, "Lluvia Pesada"•Los Quinceañeros, "Guero"•La Doña, "Loser Girl"•Alejandro Aranda, "Pieces"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Brittany Luse, host of NPR's It's Been A Minute, joins All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton to update our running list of the year's best songs. Featured artists and songs:1. Ekko Astral: "Baethoven," from 'pink balloons'2. Nubiyan Twist: "Carry Me (feat. Seun Kuti)," from 'Find Your Flame'3. T-Bone Burnett: "He Came Down," from 'The Other Side'4. Bien et Toi: "So Long (feat. Paris Texas)," from 'London Safari II'5. Bnny: "Missing," from 'One Million Love Songs'6. Chanel Beads: "Unifying Thought," from 'Your Day Will Come'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Sheldon Pearce discuss new albums from St. Vincent, Charley Crockett, Iron & Wine and more.Feature Albums:• St. Vincent, 'All Born Screaming'• Charley Crockett, '$10 Cowboy'• Iron & Wine, 'Light Verse'• Maria Chiara Argirò, 'Closer'Other notable albums out April 26:• Neil Young and Crazy Horse, 'FU##IN' UP'• PartyNextDoor, 'PartyNextDoor 4'• Justice, 'Hyperdrama'• Anitta, 'Funk Generation'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Is April, as T.S. Eliot put it, the cruelest month? We reflect on the question with a mix that's both cringe-inducing and hilarious, from the cruelest takedowns to the most insidious earworms.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Ann Powers and Hazel Cills dig into Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' which hit streaming services last night, and share a handful of other new albums out Friday, April 19.Featured Albums:• Taylor Swift, 'The Tortured Poets Department'• Bbymutha, 'Sleep Paralysis'• claire rousay, 'sentiment'• Pearl Jam, 'Dark Matter'Other notable albums out April 19:• Stephanie Lambring, 'Hypocrite'• Cadence Weapon, 'ROLLERCOASTER'• Tei Shi, 'Valerie'• Ekko Astral, 'pink balloons'• Bill Frisell, 'Orchestras'• BIG|BRAVE, 'A Chaos of Flowers'• Blue Lab Beats, 'Blue Eclipse'• Chanel Beads, 'Your Day Will Come'• Local Natives, 'But I'll Wait For You'• Gangrene (The Alchemist & Oh No), 'Heads I Win, Tails You Lose'• Brian Eno, 'Eno'• Cloud Nothings, 'Final Summer'• Melvins, 'Tarantula Heart'• Mozzy, 'CHILDREN OF THE SLUMS'• Lucy Rose, 'This Ain't The Way You Go Out'• Pillow Queens, 'Name Your Sorrow'• A Certain Ratio, 'It All Comes Down To This'• Cavalier, 'Different Type Time'• Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds, 'That Delicious Vice'• T Bone Burnett, 'The Other Side'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite new music, from Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko's boundary-pushing new music, to Alejandro Escovedo's genre-bending rock and Angelica Garcia's electro-cumbia.Songs featured in this episode:• Young Miko, "Tamagotchi"• The Mavericks, "Moon & Stars (with Sierra Ferrell)"• Angelica Garcia, "Juanita"• Alejandro Escovedo, "Castañuelas"• Nella, Yendry, "Veinte Años"• Sheila E., "Bemba Colorá (ft. Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar)"Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week's update to our list of the year's best songs includes thunderous shoegaze from Wisp, a classic Cuban piano piece from Dánae Olano, a deeply moving story from Pedro The Lion and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Pedro The Lion: "Modesto," from 'Santa Cruz'2. Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly: "Destejer," from 'Mestizx'3. Sheila E.: "Bemba Colorá (feat. Gloria Estefan)," from 'Bailar'4. Lizzy McAlpine: "I Guess," from 'Older'5. Dánae Olano: "Danzón para la abuela" from 'Children's Corner'6. Wisp: "Pandora" from 'Pandora' EPQuestions, comments, feedback, suggestions? Emaill us: [email protected] up for our newsletter to keep up with the latest from NPR Music, including Tiny Desks, new playlists, features and more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce and WRTI's Nate Chinen take you through the biggest new releases of the week, including Maggie Rogers, Shabaka Hutchings and more.Featured albums:- Shabaka, 'Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace'- Maggie Rogers, 'Don't Forget Me'- Lizz Wright, 'Shadow'- Leyla McCalla, 'Sun Without the Heat'Other notable albums out April 5:- METZ, 'Up On Gravity Hill'- Caroline Davis & Wendy Eisenberg, 'Accept When'- girl in red, 'I'M DOING IT AGAIN BABY!'- Future & Metro Boomin, 'We Still Don't Trust You'- V/A, 'My Black Country - The Songs of Alice Randall'- Still House Plants, 'If I don​'​t make it, I love u'- Clarissa Connelly, 'World of Work'- Meshell Ndegeocello, 'Red Hot and Ra: The Magic City'- Bad Bad Hats, 'Bad Bad Hats'- Dave Douglas, 'GIFTS'- BODEGA, 'Our Brand Could Be Yr Life'- English Teacher, 'This Could Be Texas'- James Elkington & Nathan Salsburg, 'All Gist'- Mark Knopfler, 'One Deep River'- The Ophelias, 'Ribbon' EP- Tusks, 'Gold'- Raphael Schön, 'Heart Times'- Sunburned Hand of the Man, 'Nimbus'- Rejoicer, 'This Is Reasonable'- Aaron Lee Tasjan, 'Stellar Evolution'- Dolo Percussion, 'DOLO 6'- Baby Blue, 'Of My Window'- The Reds, Pinks & Purples, 'Unwishing Well'- Water Damage, 'In E'- Will Hoge, 'Tenderhearted Boys'- Jess Ribeiro, 'Summer of Love'- Sunbeam Sound Machine, 'Soft Signal' EPLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

"Weird Al" Yankovic helps curate a mix of some of the funniest songs of all time, from classics like Tom Lehrer's "The Elements," to more fringe discoveries from The Hazzards, Tonio K. and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Tonio K: "H-A-T-R-E-D"2. Robbie Fulks: "Fountains of Wayne Hotline"3. Tenacious D: "Tribute"4. Spike Jones: "Der Fuehrer's Face"5. Bill Oddie: "BLIMPHT"6. The Hazzards: "Just A Temp"7. Garfunkel and Oates: "Google"8. Tom Lehrer: "The Elements"9. Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Erika Henningsen, Ashley Park & Busy Philipps: "Famous 5eva"10. Flight of the Conchords: "Hiphopopotamus Vs. Rhymenocerous (Featuring Rhymenocerous And The Hiphopapoatumus)"11. Shel Silverstein: "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out"12. Weird Al: "One More Minute"13. Weird Al: "The Saga Continues"14. Bad Lip Reading: "Seagulls! (Stop It Now)"15. Fun With Animals: "Goin' To Pasadena"16. Spinal Tap: "Big Bottoms"17. The Lonely Island: "Lazy Sunday"Feedback, questions, comments, suggestions? Email us: [email protected] the NPR Music newsletter to keep up with the latest Tiny Desks, playlists, features and more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's a big week for fans of early aughts rock bands, with new releases from The Black Keys and Vampire Weekend hitting streaming services. Kick back with NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and World Cafe host Raina Douris as they run through the new albums you need to know about.Featured albums:1. The Black Keys, 'Ohio Players'2. Vampire Weekend, 'Only God Was Above Us'3. Katie Pruitt, 'Mantras'4. Khruangbin, 'A La Sala'Other notable releases for April 5, 2024:• Phosphorescent, 'Revelator'• Grace Cummings, 'Ramona'• Young Miko, 'att.'• Adam Wiltzie, 'Eleven Fugues For Sodium Pentothal'• Fabiana Palladino, s/t• Vegyn, 'The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions'• Benson Boone, 'Fireworks and Rollerblades'• Jane Weaver, 'Love in Constant Spectacle'• José James, '1978'• Lizzy McAlpine, 'Older'• Melissa Aldana, 'Echoes of the Inner Prophet'• Mount Kimbie, 'The Sunset Violent'• Pernice Brothers, 'Who Will You Believe'• Sheila E., 'Bailar'• Sinkane, 'We Belong'• TisaKorean, 'MUMU 8818'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The release of Beyoncés Cowboy Carter has sparked a national conversation about who gets to sing country music and the complex roots of the genre. Which got Alt.Latino thinking — what about the Latinos in country?This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras travel to Austin, Texas to speak with AmeriChicana musician Carrie Rodriguez about the difference between violin and fiddle, strings and "strangs," and who gets to play country music.Songs featured:•Carin Leon, Leon Bridges: "It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tu)"•Cuco Sanchez: "La Cama de Piedra"•Merle Haggard: "Big City"•Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: "San Antonio Rose"•Robert Earl Keen: "Feelin' Good Again"•Chip Taylor, Carrie Rodriguez: "Dirty Little Texas Story"•Eva Garza: "Quiero Verte Una Vez Mas"•Rick Trevino: "Doctor Time"•Ruben Ramos: "Crying Time"•Sammy Arriaga: "Tennessee Whiskey - Spanglish"•The Mavericks: "There Goes My Heart"•Louie TheSinger: "Come and Take It"•Carrie Rodriguez: "I Dreamed I Was Lola Beltran"•Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino, and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour dig into the highly anticipated Cowboy Carter and consider whether Beyoncé is knocking down the doors of the country establishment, or looking for validation.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We update our running list of the year's best songs with Charlotte Day Wilson's beguiling "Canopy," wry punk from Gustaf, a breathtaking new solo work from Adrianne Lenker and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Gustaf: "Starting and Staring," from 'Package, Pt. 2'2. Mustafa: "Imaan" (Single)3. Adrianne Lenker: "No Machine," from 'Bright Future'4. Charlotte Day Wilson: "Canopy," from 'Cyan Blue'5. Gary Clark Jr.: "Maktub," from 'JPEG RAW'6. Nourished by Time: "Hell of a Ride," from 'Catching Chickens'Questions, comments, suggestions, general feedback? Email us: [email protected] up for the NPR Music newsletter to keep up with the Tiny Desks, playlists, features and more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Shakira just released her first album in seven years, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, and most listeners and critics have high praise. But this episode of Alt.Latino puts the record to the test. Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento talk about what makes a Shakira record a Shakira record, how pop artists reinvent themselves and loving your favorite artists even if you don't always love their music.Songs featured in this episode:•Shakira: "Puntería"•Shakira: "La Fuerte"•Shakira: "Obtener un Si"•Shakira: "El Jefe"•Paul Simon: "You Can Call me Al"•Shakira: "Cómo Dónde y Cuándo"•Santana: "Smooth"•Shakira: "Cohete"•Karol G, Shakira: "TQG"•Miles Davis: "Bitches Brew"•Shakira: "Monotonía"•Shakira: "Escondite Ingles"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino, and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Beyoncé's breathlessly-anticipated Act II: Cowboy Carter is finally here, and NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce shares his initial reactions after staying up late to listen to the album as soon as it hit streaming services. But Queen Bey isn't the only artist with a new album worthy of discovery and dissection this week, and Sheldon is joined by Ann Powers to talk about a handful of other albums that deserve celebration. Those include a pair of albums — by Reyna Tropical and Kelly Moran — shaped by tragedy and its aftermath.Featured albums:1. Beyoncé, Act II: Cowboy Carter2. Reyna Tropical: Malegría3. Kelly Moran: Moves in the Field4. Chastity Belt: Live, Laugh, LoveOther notable releases for March 29, 2024:• Alejandro Escovedo, Echo Dancing• Chicano Batman, Notebook Fantasy• Dawn Landes, The Liberated Woman's Songbook• Jim White, All Hits: Memories• Kenny Chesney, BORN• Rico Nasty & Boys Noize, HVRDC0RE DR3MZ EP• Ride, Interplay• Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Revelations• Shabazz Palaces, Exotic Birds of Prey• Sheryl Crow, EvolutionLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's music to the rescue on this week's All Songs Considered, with a mix of songs to slow the blood, including the one track scientists believe can reduce anxiety by up to 65%.Featured songs and artists:• Marconi Union: "Weightless"• Mary Lattimore: "Wawa by the Ocean" from 'Collected Pieces'• Van-Anh Nguyen and Noshika Masuda: "Spiegel im Spiegel" by Arvo Pärt• Brian McBride: "Girl Nap" from 'The Effective Disconnect' • Laraaji: "Meditation No. 1" from 'Day of Radiance'• Arooj Aftab: "Saans Lo" from 'Vulture Prince'• Eluvium: "One" from 'Talk Amongst The Trees'• Enya: "Watermark" from 'Watermark'• Adele: "Somoene Like You" from '21'• Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, John Pritchard & London • Philharmonic Orchestra: "O Mio babbino caro" from 'Kiri Te Kanawa Sings Puccini and Verdi'• Yo La Tengo: "Our Way To Fall" from 'And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out'• Cassandra Jenkins: "Hard Drive" from 'An Overview of Phenomenal Nature'• Ruth Laredo: "Clair de Lune" from 'My First Recital'• Rachika Nayar: "Our Wretched Fantasy" from 'Heaven Come Crashing'• Radiohead: "Everything in its Right Place" from 'Kid A'• Clem Snide: "Nick Drake Tape" from 'A Beautiful EP'Visit our site to see the Top 10 songs scientists say are the most relaxing.Feedback? Write us: [email protected] the NPR Music newsletter.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael interviews the rap visionary about her new album, faking it until you make it and why success breeds suicidal thoughts.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Though it isn't quite as packed with huge names as last week, we're digging through another robust assortment of terrific albums. Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Stephen Thompson open by hailing Tigers Blood, the latest album from a singer-songwriter — Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee — who sounds more assured and potent than ever.Plus: inescapably catchy global pop from South African singer Tyla, genre-straddling roots music from Sierra Ferrell, indescribable electronic compositions from Jlin and more.Featured albums:1. Waxahatchee, Tigers Blood2. Tyla, Tyla3. Sierra Ferrell, Trail of Flowers4. Jlin, AkomaOther notable releases for March 22:• Rosie Tucker, 'Utopia Now!'• Empress Of, 'For Your Consideration'• Adrianne Lenker, 'Bright Future'• The Jesus and Mary Chain, 'Glasgow Eyes'• Future & Metro Boomin, 'We Don't Trust You'• SiR, 'HEAVY'• Good Morning, 'Seven'• Tatyana, 'It's Over'• Aoife O'Donovan, 'All My Friends'• Brothers Osborne, 'Break Mine'• Cakes da Killa, 'Black Sheep'• Matt Champion (of Brockhampton), 'Mika's Laundry'• Gary Clark Jr., 'JPEG RAW' • Glass Beams, 'Mahal' • Gossip, 'Real Power'• Julia Holter, 'Something in the Room She Moves' • Nourished by Time, 'Catching Chickens' EP • Rosali, 'Bite Down'• Shakira, 'Las Mujeres La No Lloran' Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The weather's heating up and so are the music releases. The hosts of Alt.Latino share their most quintessentially them picks, with Latin jazz across the board from Felix and indie pop-rock bops from Ana. The two sit down to ping-pong favorite picks back and forth from different parts of the country — plus, Felix puts Ana's picks to an impromptu test.Featured tracks:Lara Project, "Extraños"Julieta Eugenio, "Breath I"Esteman, Villano Antillano, "Noches de Verano"Rodrigo Recabarren, Pablo Menares, Yago Vazquez, "Santiago"Elsa y Elmar, "Entre Las Piernas"Hurray For The Riff Raff, "Hawkmoon"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We update our tally of the year's best contenders with the effervescent Bombay Bicycle Club, Residente's epic and profound "313," cellist Maya Beiser's take on Terry Riley's "In C" and more.Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and NPR Music's Tom Huizenga join host Robin HiltonFeatured Artists And Songs:1. Bombay Bicycle Club: "Willow (feat. Lucy Rose)," from 'Fantasies'2. Ela Taubert: "Como Paso" (single)3. Jlin: "Sodalite (feat. Kronos Quartet)," from 'Akoma'4. Maya Hawke: "Missing Out," from 'Chaos Angel'5. Residente: "313" from 'LAS LETRAS YA NO IMPORTAN'6. Maya Beiser: "In C," from 'Maya Beiser x Terry Riley: In C'Questions, comments, feedback? Email us: [email protected] to the show sponsorship-free and support public radio with NPR Music +.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It feels like the first major springtime release week of 2024. Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen discuss the hotly awaited album by Kacey Musgraves and the full-length debut by Tierra Whack, plus more. Featured albums: 1. Kacey Musgraves, Deeper Well2. Tierra Whack, World Wide Whack3. Justin Timberlake, Everything I Thought It Was4. The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, The Messthetics and James Brandon LewisOther notable releases for March 15• Four Tet, Three• The Black Crowes, Happiness Bastards• Charles Lloyd, The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow• The Dandy Warhols, Rockmaker• Holly Humberstone, work in progress EP• Flo Milli, Fine Ho, Stay• Elcamino, The Game Is The GameLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

World Cafe's Raina Douris joins NPR's Sheldon Pearce and host Robin Hilton to talk about the most anticipated albums out this spring, including new ones from Vampire Weekend, Waxahatchee, Portishead's Beth Gibbons and more.Featured artists, albums and songs:Reyna Tropical: "Conexión Ancestral" from 'Malegría,' out March 29Yaya Bey: "Chasing the Bus" from 'Ten Fold,' out May 10METZ: "Entwined (Street Light Buzz)" from 'Up On Gravity Hill,' out April 12Vampire Weekend: "Gen X Cops" from 'Only God Was Above Us,' out April 5Shabaka: "End of Innocence" from 'Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace,' out April 12Beth Gibbons: "Floating on a Moment" from 'Lives Outgrown,' out May 17Waxahatchee: "365" from 'Tigers Blood,' out March 22Amen Dunes: "Rugby Child" from 'Death Jokes,' out May 10girl in red: "Doing It Again" from 'I'm Doing It Again Baby!' out April 12See a list of more of NPR Music's most anticipated albums for spring 2024.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A wave of springtime releases might be just around the corner, but the biggest albums out this week are keeping things cool in an enticing variety of ways. Ann Powers and Hazel Cills discuss what Jack Antonoff, Norah Jones, Moor Mother's Camae Ayewa and Kim Gordon have in common, besides a common release date.Featured albums:1. Kim Gordon, The Collective2. Bleachers, Bleachers3. Norah Jones, Visions4. Moor Mother, The Great BailoutOther notable releases for March 8:• Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine• Bolis Pupul, Letter to Yu• Judas Priest, Invincible Shield• YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Compliments of Gravedigger Mountain• Oisin Leech, Cold Sea• Cyrille Aimée, à Fleur de Peau• Dion, Girl Friends• Chris Potter, Eagle's Point• Torrey, Torrey• Daniel Carter and Stefan Christoff, In the wind now• homeshake, CD Wallet• Pixies, At the BBC• Meatbodies, Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom• Ronnie Lion, Spanish Town• Vanessa Bedoret, Eyes• Charles Moothart, Black Holes Don't Choke• Anja Huwe, Codes• Erika Angell, The Obsession With Her Voice• The Rhythm Method, Peachy• The Hanging Stars, On A Golden Shore• astrel k, The Foreign Department• Observers, The Age of the Machine EntitiesLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras visited Cuba and give us an audio-rich tour of Havana.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Brittany Luse, host of NPR's It's Been A Minute, joins NPR's Stephen Thompson and host Robin Hilton to update our running tally of songs that could end up on NPR Music's best-of-the-year lists.Featured Tracks:1. Empress Of: "Feminine," from For Your Consideration2. Rosie Tucker: "All My Exes Live In Vortexes," from UTOPIA NOW!3. Patrick Watson: "Perfect Day" (Single)4. Summer Banton: "Boyfriend" (Single)5. Madi Diaz: "God Person," from Weird Faith6. Friko: "Get Numb To It," from Where we've been, Where we go from hereLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ann Powers and Sheldon Pearce discuss Faye Webster's Underdressed at the Symphony and a handful of the week's other brand new albums on which a musician's personality seems to be embodied by their voice — even when the music is completely instrumental. Featured albums:1. Faye Webster, Underdressed at the Symphony2. ScHoolboy Q, Blue Lips3. Julian Lage, Speak To Me4. Sheer Mag, Playing FavoritesOther notable releases for March 1:Paula Cole, LoJacob Collier, Djesse Vol. 4Everything Everything, MountainheadNils Frahm, DayHannah Frances, Keeper of the ShepherdBen Frost, Scope NeglectLiam Gallagher & John Squire, Liam Gallagher & John SquireAlbert Hammond, Body of WorkJahari Massamba Unit, Karriem Riggins & Madlib, YHWH is LOVEKaiser Chiefs, Kaiser Chiefs' Easy Eighth AlbumLang Lang, Saint-SaënsMannequin Pussy, I Got HeavenMinistry, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSESPissed Jeans, Half DivorcedThat Mexican OT, Texas TechnicianUranium Club, Infants Under the BulbYard Act, Where's My Utopia?De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising (35th Anniversary Edition)Linda Smith, Nothing Else Matters and So I Liked Spring (reissues)Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nothing on mainstream radio sounded like Beck's "Loser" when it dropped in 1994. Thirty years later, we explain why, look at its impact on the rise of slacker rock and how we still hear it today.With KEXP's Cheryl Waters, NPR's Stephen Thompson and host Robin Hilton.Beck tracks featured in this episode:From 'Mellow Gold':"Loser""Truck Driving Neighbor Downstairs (Yellow Sweat)" "Beercan""Black Hole" From 'Stereopathetic Soulmanure':"Satan Gave Me A Taco" "Rowboat" From 'One Foot in the Grave':"One Foot in the Grave"Also featured:Basehead: "Brand New Day" from 'Play with Toys'Ween: "Push Th' Little Daisies" from 'Pure Guava' King Missile: "Detachable Penis" from 'Happy Hour'Pussy Galore: "Brick" from 'Sugars*** Sharp'The Lemonheads: "Half The Time" from 'Lovey'Guided By Voices: "#2 in the Model Home Series" from 'Vampire on Titus'Sebadoh: "Soul and Fire" from 'Bubble & Scrape'Pavement: "Cut Your Hair" from 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain'Alex G: "Runner" from 'God Save the Animals'Courtney Barnett: "History Eraser" from 'The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas'Frankie Cosmos: "Apathy" from 'Vessel'Beck: "F**** With My Head (Mountain Dew Rock)" from 'Mellow Gold'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen discuss Hurray for the Riff Raff's career-defining new album The Past Is Still Alive, along with a trio of other thrilling new releases that reveal the distinct strengths of the musicians behind them. Featured albums:1. Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Past Is Still Alive2. Erika de Casier, Still (released Wednesday, Feb. 21)3. Real Estate, Daniel4. Mary Timony, Untame The TigerOther notable releases out Feb. 23:• Daymé Arocena, Alkemi• glaive, a bit of a mad one• Glitterer, Rationale• Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, Souvenirs• Corb Lund, El Viejo• Mama Zu, Quilt Floor• MGMT, Loss of Life• Laetitia Sadier, Rooting for Love• Nadine Shah, Filthy Underneath• Rafael Toral, Spectral Evolution• TWICE, With YOU-thLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre round up their favorite new music, including Southern Cone rock and cumbia, atmospheric vocals from the U.S. and even some delicate yet emotionally powerful music from the Catalan region of Spain.Featured songs:El Cuarteto de Nos: "Chivo Expiatorio (En Vivo)"Helado Negro: "Best For You and Me"La Yegros: "Bodas de Plumas"Lau Noah: "If a tree falls in love with a river"Daymé Arocena: "A Fuego Lento" (feat. Vicente García)Residente: "Ron En El Piso"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Host Robin Hilton hangs with composer and artist Julia Holter and NPR's Lars Gotrich to gab about their favorite new music, including the calming sounds of Helado Negro, Daisy Rickman and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Jessica Pratt: "Life Is" from 'Here In The Pitch'2. Deerlady: "Masterpieces" from 'Greatest Hits'3. Helado Negro: "Colores Del Mar" from 'Phasor'4. Julia Holter: "Spinning" from 'Something in the Room She Moves'5. Daisy Rickman: "Signpost to the Stars" from 'Howl'6. Frances Chang: "Spiral in Houston" from 'Psychedelic Anxiety'7. Jessika Kenney & Eyvind Kang: "Ocean" from 'Azure'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Felix Contreras and WRTI's Nate Chinen run down new albums by Gaby Mareno, Les Amazones d'Afrique and more. Then, Nate Chinen is joined by NPR Music's Tom Huizenga to discuss the legacy and controversy around George Gershwin's masterpiece, "Rhapsody in Blue," which celebrated its centennial this week.Featured albums out Feb. 16:• Gaby Moreno, 'Dusk'• Mike McGinnis +9, 'Outing: Road Trip II'• Mike LeDonne and the Groover Quartet, 'Wonderful!'• Nathalie Joachim, 'Ki moun ou ye'• Les Amazones d'Afrique, 'Musow Danse'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We asked listeners to tell us about a time they put a song on a mixtape or playlist to woo a crush. On this week's show, we share some of those songs ... and find out if they worked.Featured Songs:1. Peter Gabriel: "In Your Eyes"2. Depeche Mode: "Somebody"3. Erykah Badu: "Kiss Me On My Neck"4. Madness: "It Must Be Love"5. Mirah: "Dreamboat"6. Q-Tip: "Vivrant Thing"7. The Kinks: "Tired of Waiting for You"8. The Magnetic Fields: "I Don't Want To Get Over You"9. The Modern Lovers: "I Wanna Sleep In Your Arms"10. Mazzy Star: "Fade Into You"Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ann Powers and Sheldon Pearce listen to the new albums out on Feb. 9 — including Brittany Howard's What Now — and find themselves wondering about the cultural value of virtuosity in 2024.Featured albums:1. Brittany Howard, What Now2. Joel Ross, nublues3. Boldy James & Nicholas Craven, Penalty of Leadership (released Jan. 12)4. Kali Malone, All Life Long5. Sonic Youth, Walls Have Ears6. Usher, Coming HomeOther notable albums out Feb. 9:• Helado Negro, PHASOR• Chelsea Wolfe, She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She• Madi Diaz, Weird Faith• Declan McKenna, What Happened To The Beach?• Little Simz, Drop 7 EP• Shygirl, Club Shy EP• Kelela, RAVE:N, The Remixes • Mk.gee, Two Star & The Dream Police• Ducks Ltd., Harm's Way• David Nance & Mowed Sound, David Nance & Mowed Sound• Split System, Vol. 2• The Telescopes, Growing Eyes Become String

Nothing captures the agony of love, loss, hope and redemption like the song form known across all of Latin America: the bolero.Last December, UNESCO declared the bolero "an intangible cultural heritage of humanity" and "an indispensable part of the Latin American sentimental song." And given that Valentine's Day is coming up, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre did something special this week, in honor of this news: they asked some of their favorite artists and show listeners to share their most-loved boleros, and break down exactly what makes them so special. Join Felix and Ana as they laugh, cry and sing a little to the love songs of the ages.And be sure to check out the playlists we made for this episode, feature Ana and Felix's picks, as well as the selections from featured artists and listeners, on Spotify and Apple Music.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino and our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Host Robin Hilton hangs with NPR's Hazel Cills and Sheldon Pearce to geek out about the new Billy Joel, Kim Gordon, Shygirl, Nia Archives and more.

Our friends at NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour break down the major winners and highlights from the 2024 Grammy Awards.

Ann Powers, Sidney Madden and Stephen Thompson make predictions ahead of Sunday night's 66th annual Grammy Awards. Notable albums out Feb. 2:• The Last Dinner Party, Prelude to Ecstasy• J Mascis, What Do We Do Now• Kirin J Callinan, If I Could Sing• Lee Scratch Perry, King Perry• Paul McCartney & Wings, Band on the Run (Underdubbed Mixes)• The Paranoid Style, The Interrogator• Liquid Mike, Paul Bunyan's Slingshot• Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey, Compassion• Jenny Sturgeon & Boo Hewerdine, Outliers

With Green Day's stellar new album, Saviors, the 20th anniversary of American Idiot and 30th anniversary of Dookie, NPR's Daoud Tyler-Ameen, Stephen Thompson and Robin Hilton look at the band's legacy.

There's plenty about Wall of Eyes, the new album by the British rock trio The Smile, to remind you of Radiohead, the band with which The Smile shares Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood. But there's something about The Smile that resists feeling like Radiohead redux, and on this week's episode Ann Powers, Tom Huizenga and Sheldon Pearce get to the bottom of what makes Wall of Eyes so satisfying on its own terms.Plus: Discussion of a week's worth of great albums leads to a conversation about the state of music criticism, which took a blow last week when the long-standing, much-beloved, occasionally-hated website Pitchfork was folded into the men's magazine GQ and much of its staff laid off. Featured Albums for January 26, 2024:1. Patricia Kopatchinksaja, Reto Bieri, Polina Leschenko — Take 32. Benny the Butcher — Everybody Can't Go3. Katy Kirby — Blue Raspberry4. The Smile — Wall of Eyes

In this week's Alt.Latino episode, Chilean rapper and singer Ana Tijoux talks to hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre about her new album, Vida, and why it took so long to return to the studio.

With the announcement of the 96th annual Oscar nominees, we're revisiting our conversation with Volker Bertelmann, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Score last year for All Quiet On The Western Front.

NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce, Rodney Carmichael and Sidney Madden dig into hip-hop superstar 21 Savage's new album, his notorious ICE arrest and what it means to capture the American dream.Noteworthy albums out January 19:- Sleater-Kinney, Little Rope- Green Day, Saviors- Eladio Carrión, Sol María- Ana Tijoux, Vida- Brittney Spencer, My Stupid Life- Mary Halvorson, Cloudward- Ethan Iverson, Technically Acceptable- glass beach, plastic death- ericdoa, DOA- Neck Deep, Neck Deep- Fredo Bang, Yes, I'm Sad- Keyon Harrold, Foreverland- Jozef Van Wissem, The Night Dwells In The Day- Oren Ambarchi, Jim O'Rourke & Keiji Haino, With pats on the head, just one too few evil one too many is good that's all it is- Mali Obomsawin and Magdalena Abrego, Greatest Hits

Host Robin Hilton hangs with NPR Music's Anamaria Sayre and Tom Huizenga to share their current musical obsessions, from the solo piano of Philip Glass to the garage punk of Sprints, Spain's super chill Club del Rio and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Lavinia Meijer: "The Departure" from Winter2. Xavi: "La Diabla (Single)3. Faye Webster and Lil Yachty: "Lego Ring" from Underdressed at the Symphony4. Philip Glass: "Opening," from Philip Glass Solo5. Club del Rio: "Una Vida" (Single)6. Sprints: "Literary Mind" from Letter to SelfEnjoying the show? Tell your friends and leave a review for us wherever you listen to podcasts. Feedback welcome at [email protected]

To ring in the new year, NPR Music's critics take over the latest episode of New Music Friday to offer predictions about the artists, genres and stories that might dominate conversations about music in 2024. Ann Powers, Rodney Carmichael and Nate Chinen join editor Jacob Ganz to discuss whether Usher's Super Bowl performance or Dua Lipa's new sound could launch these hardworking artists to new levels of ubiquity. Is it possible for either to one steal some of the spotlight that Beyoncé and Taylor Swift dominated last year?

Hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre share the latest new songs that live rent-free in their heads.Featured songs:Candeleros, "Le Quedan Dos"Cuco, "When The Day Comes To An End (DJ Sliink Remix)"Gaby Moreno, "Dance the Night Away"Ed Maverick, "Lagunas"Helado Negro, "I Just Want To Wake Up With You"Ana Tijoux, "Tania"

We take a spin through the albums we're most excited about for this year, including Sleater-Kinney, Brittany Howard, Hurray for the Riff Raff and more, plus a few rumored releases.Featured Albums:1. Sleater-Kinney — Little Rope2. The Smile — Wall of Eyes3. Brittany Howard — What Now4. Mary Timony — Untame the Tiger5. Lee Scratch Perry — King Perry6. Grandaddy — Blu Wav7. Hurray for the Riff Raff — The Past Is Still Alive8. serpentwithfeet — GRIP9. Chelsea Wolfe — She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She10. Erika de Casier — StillOther notable releases for 2024:Jan. 12: Kid Cudi — InsanoJan. 12: Kali Uchis — OrquideasJan. 19: Green Day — SaviorsJan. 26: Future Islands — People Who Aren't There AnymoreJan. 26: Torres — What an enormous roomJan. 26: Ty Segall — Three BellsFeb. 9: Helado Negro — PHASORFeb. 16: Laura Jane Grace — Hole In My HeadFeb. 16: IDLES — TANGKFeb. 29: Jacob Collier — Djesse Vol. 4March 1: Sheer Mag — Playing FavoritesMarch 8: Bleachers — BleachersMarch 29: Chastity Belt — Live Love Laugh

Our resident Viking, Lars Gotrich, connects epic Japanese storytelling, soul-sampling powerviolence, ambient rap and beautiful noise through thematic webs of history and memory. Featured Artists and Albums:• Matmos: "Music or Noise?" from Return to Archive• PoiL Ueda: "Kokô part 2" from Yoshitsune • Mayssa Jallad: "Baynana" from Marjaa: The Battle of the Hotels• Ruth Anderson & Annea Lockwood: "For Ruth" from T​ê​te​-​à​-​t​ê​te• Zulu: "Lyfe Az a Shorty Shun B So Ruff" from A New Tomorrow • Yungwebster: "Stay FOCUSSSS [fast+reg]" from Yungwebster• Liis Ring: "after-image I: nothing stands still" from Homing• Chuquimamani-Condori: "Breathing" from DJ E• Sunwatchers: "World People" from Music Is Victory over Time Follow the Viking's Choice mixtape and newsletter.

We asked listeners to tell us about a song they ugly cried to, or just couldn't stop playing in 2023. On this episode we share some of their picks and the stories behind them.

While 2022 may have been a year completely dominated by a certain sad summer reggaeton album, 2023 drew its power from a set of familiar sounds that took on new prominence: tubas, accordions and a whole lot of lively, sneakily danceable beats.

Our annual celebration of the season returns with a trip back to the snowy cabin in the woods where it all began, as we attempt once again to throw a holiday party for the ages.

You know all those tubas and brass instruments you hear behind your favorite regional Mexican hits? That's banda sinaloense and this week Alt.Latino wraps up the Regional Goes Global series with a visit to Sinaloa, Mexico, the birthplace of the genre.Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras visit the picturesque town Mocorito, a pueblo magico where tradition and pride in the musical heritage runs deep. That's the case even among members of the drug cartels, which are responsible for some of the country's societal ills. It's a complex story as passionate and heartfelt as the music that stretches from the hills of Sinaloa to this side of the U.S.-Mexico border.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with production support from Lilly Quiroz, Suraya Mohamed, Josephine Nyounai and Natalia Fidelholtz. The editor for this episode is Jacob Ganz, and our project manager is Grace Chung. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

NPR Music's Hazel Cills and Sheldon Pearce join Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and host Robin Hilton to spin and discuss the best songs of the year, from Olivia Rodrigo, 100 gecs, Noname, J Noa and more.

NPR Music's Hazel Cills and Sheldon Pearce join Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and host Robin Hilton to spin and discuss the best songs of the year, from Olivia Rodrigo, 100 gecs, Noname, J Noa and more.

It's that time of year again. Over the next few weeks at NPR.org and here on the All Songs Considered podcast, we'll be sharing lists of and conversations about the best music of 2023. We're kicking things off with the standout albums of the year. Gathered on the show are NPR Music's three main critics: Rodney Carmichael, who writes about hip-hop and R&B; Nate Chinen of WRTI, who covers jazz and classical and Ann Powers, maven of pop, rock, folk, country and a little of everything else. Speaking with editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen, the trio dives into a heavy and heady year to discuss the releases that inspired the most vivid feelings, and together make a case — in an era when singles and playlists drive the industry numbers — for the album as a still-indispensable art form.The fun won't stop there. Stay tuned for more conversations about the songs that made us drop everything and the tours that turned into vessels for community. There will be lists of our favorite releases on NPR.org and conversations about the sounds and stars that defined the year, enough to keep you listening well into 2024.

For the second episode of Alt.Latino's regional Mexican music series, hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras interview the rising family band Yahritza y Su Esencia in its hometown of Yakima, Washington. The two discover that the U.S.-Mexico border looms large in this regional Mexican moment, especially for Yahritza y Su Esencia — not strictly because of the music's obvious Mexican roots, but also the ways in which the border can create an "us" and "them" dynamic. The band's struggles with musical and personal identity also reflect the real struggles that millions of US-born folks with Mexican heritage face. And what started as a musical journey for Ana and Felix, has now become a personal journey.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with production support from Janice Llamoca, Shelby Hawkins, Suraya Mohamed and Natalia Fidelholtz. The editor for this episode is Jacob Ganz and our project manager is Grace Chung. Hazel Cills is the podcast editor and digital editor for Alt.Latino. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Peter Gabriel is back with I/O, his first studio album of all-new songs in more than 20 years. To mark the occasion, we're revisiting a conversation and guest DJ session we with did with the singer when he was touring for the 25th anniversary of his album So.

Sure, there are lots of songs for Christmas and other holidays, but what about Thanksgiving? On this episode we share stories and songs that remind our listeners of time spent with families.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the pairing of 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne, drumless Daft Punk and more.

Earlier this year, Peso Pluma — a 24-year-old who grew up in between Guadalajara, Jalisco and San Antonio — became the first regional Mexican artist to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart. Something in the music industry was changing. Streaming numbers for regional Mexican shot up astronomically, as the musical stylings of banda and norteño made their way onto the Coachella main stage and burgeoning stars like Peso Pluma began to book their first U.S. tours in major markets. But what accounted for regional Mexican's rise? And what does the genre's continued popularity say about not just changing trends in the Latin music industry, but the changing shape of America? For the next three episodes of Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras dive into the regional Mexican explosion, revealing the complex relationships both Mexicans and Mexican Americans have with identity from either side of the border. In this first episode, Felix and Anamaria travel to Nashville, Tenn. to witness Peso Pluma's performance and to try to understand the root of the phenomenon, through their own personal experiences and the people they meet along the way.Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Janice Llamoca and Joaquin Cotler, with production support from Shelby Hawkins, Suraya Mohamed, Natalia Fidelholtz and Lauren Migaki. The editor for this episode is Jacob Ganz and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

For the first time in nearly two decades, André 3000 is releasing an album of new music. New Blue Sun, set to be released this Friday, Nov. 17, is a stunning 87-minute mind-bender, minimalist and experimental, tribal and transcendent. One thing it is not, however, is a rap record. In a conversation with NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael, the legendary musician talks about creativity, grief and inspiration, about finding his voice in a new instrument, and explains why he took his music in a wildly unexpected direction. You can read the full interview with André 3000 at NPR.org/music.

The holiday season is a time for reflection — so, we're reflecting on music, with stories and memories from listeners who recall what they first discovered from their parents' record collections.

The week's best albums include the gothic Heaven Knows from PinkPantheress, a meticulously recreated — and legendary — Bob Dylan concert from Cat Power, Mon LaFerte's seductive Autopoiética and more.Featured Albums:1. PinkPantheress — Heaven KnowsFeatured Songs: "Another Life (feat. Rema)," "Nice to Meet You (feat. Central Cee)," "Blue"2. Cat Power — Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Concert HallFeatured Songs: "Fourth Time Around," "Ballad of a Thin Man," "She Belongs to Me," "Just Like a Woman"3. Mon LaFerte — AutopoiéticaFeatured Songs: "Autopoiética," "Tenochtitlan," "40 y MM," "Casta Diva"4. Aïsha Devi — Death is HomeFeatured Song: "Immortelle"5. mxmtoon — plum blossom (revisited)Featured Song: "1-800-DATEME (revisited)"6. Chris Stapleton — HigherFeatured Song: "White Horse"7. Lila Blue — Sweet Pea Featured Song: "Sweat Pea"8. Aesop Rock — Integrated Tech SolutionsFeatured Song: "Infinity Fill Goose Down"9. R.E.M. — UpFeatured Song: "Lotus"Other notable releases for Nov. 10:AJR — The Maybe ManBeirut — HadselBrandy — Christmas With BrandyDaneshevskaya — Long is the TunnelJelani Blackman — The Heart of ItScream — DC SpecialTyvek — Overground

Mind-blowing AI tools made it possible for The Beatles to release what they're calling their last song, "Now And Then." To mark the occasion, we're revisiting a conversation with producer Giles Martin, who used the same AI to remix the original mono recordings of The Beatles album Revolver.

The week's best albums include rapper and singer Tkay Maidza's menacing yet beautiful Sweet Justice, the ever-shifting jazz rock of Sen Morimoto's Diagnosis, Actress' spellbinding LXXXVIII and more.Featured Albums:1. Tkay Maidza — Sweet JusticeFeatured Songs: "WUACV," "Ring-A-Ling," "Ghost!," "Free Throws," "WASP"2. Sen Morimoto — DiagnosisFeatured Songs: "Bad State," "Feel Change," "St. Peter Blind," "Pain"3. Actress — LXXXVIIIFeatured Songs: "Push Power," "M2," "Typewriter World," "Its me"4. Resavoir — ResavoirFeatured Song: "Inside Minds"5. Kevin Abstract — BlanketFeatured Song: "Blanket"6. Hilary Woods — Acts of LightFeatured Song: "Burial Rites"Other notable releases for Nov. 3:Cold War Kids — Cold War KidsIan Sweet — SUCKERJean-Michael Jarre — OXYMOREWORKSJimmy Buffett — Equal Strain on All Parts (final album)Joey Alexander — ContinuanceJung Kook — GOLDENKevin Drew — AgingKing Creosote — I DESLaura Veirs — Phone OrphansMatmos — Return to ArchiveMichael Franti & Spearhead — Big Big LoveSemisonic — Little Bit of SunSnail Mail — Valentine DemosThe Struts — Pretty Vicious

We asked listeners to send us stories about a time when music came to the rescue, particularly when they were growing up. On this episode we share some of those stories, along with the music they say helped them get through their teens.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the long-awaited sophomore full-length from Black Pumas, Peruvian electronic artist Sofia Kourtesis, The Mountain Goats and more.Featured Albums:1. Black Pumas — Chronicles of a DiamondFeatured Songs: "More Than A Love Song," "Gemini Sun," "Angel," "Hello," "Rock and Roll"2. Sofia Kourtesis — MadresFeatured Songs: "Funkhaus," "Vajkoczy," "Habla Con Ella," "Estación Esperanza (feat. Manu Chao)"3. The Mountain Goats — Jenny from ThebesFeatured Songs: "Fresh Tattoo," "Only One Way," "Going to Dallas"4. María José Llergo — ULTRABELLEZAFeatured Song: "RUEDA, RUEDA"5. Mint Field — Aprender a SerFeatured Song: "Respiro Profundo"6. Taylor Swift — 1989 (Taylor's Version) Featured Song: "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)"7. Shabazz Palaces — Robed in RarenessFeatured Song: "Binoculars (feat. Royce The Choice)"8. Nirvana — In Utero (30th Anniversary Super Deluxe)Featured Song: "Heart-Shaped Box (Live In Seattle, Seattle Center Arena - January 7, 1994)"Other notable releases for Oct. 27:Angie McMahon — Light, Dark, Light AgainDJ Shadow — Action AdventureDuran Duran — DANSE MACABREThe Gaslight Anthem — History BooksThe Kills — God GamesMayer Hawthorne — For All TimeMike Reed — The Separatist PartyOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark — Bauhaus StaircasePoppy — ZigWild Nothing — Hold

With Halloween coming up we thought we'd revisit an episode featuring songs that rattle the nerves, from Bernard Herman, Iron Maiden and yes, Sufjan Stevens, plus a whole lot more.

The Colombian singer Maluma has a lot to be excited about these days — a world tour, a new album and a shot at exploring a different part of his humanity: being a parent.The artist has often felt a sense of responsibility: to support up and coming artists he seeks out on social media and to showcase a more joyful, loving side of Colombia to the world. And, now, responsibility is about to take on a whole new meaning.Following a tear-filled performance at the Tiny Desk, the artist sat down with Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre to talk about what it means now to have two loves of his life.Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include U.K. singer-songwriter Sampha, a Rolling Stones comeback and more.Featured Albums: 1. Sampha — LAHAIFeatured Songs: "Dancing Circles," "Stereo Colour Cloud (Shaman's Dream)," "What If You Hypnotise Me (feat. Léa Sen)," "Spirit 2.0," "Only"2. The Rolling Stones — Hackney DiamondsFeatured Songs: "Bite My Head Off," "Depending On You," "Dreamy Skies," "Mess It Up," "Sweet Sounds Of Heaven," "Whole Wide World"3. Glen Hansard — All That Was East Is West of Me NowFeatured Songs: "The Feast Of Saint John," "Sure As The Rain," "Bearing Witness"4. Dylan LeBlanc — CoyoteFeatured Song: "Dust"5. Helena Deland — Goodnight Summerland (Out Oct. 13)Featured Song: "Bright Green Vibrant Day"6. Valee & Michael Vincent Waller — ValeedationFeatured Song: "Tailor Swift"Other notable releases for Oct. 20:awakebutstillinbed — Chaos Takes the Wheel and I Am a PassengerBlink-182 — ONE MORE TIME...Blues Traveler — Traveler's SoulBombay Bicycle Club — My Big DayBoys Like Girls — Sunday At FoxwoodsDevo — 50 Years Of De-Evolution (1972-2023)Emily Wolfe — The BlowbackIsrael Nash — OzarkerKatie Von Schleicher — A Little Touch of Schleicher in the NightLost Girls (Jenny Hval & Håvard Volden) — SelvutsletterPip Blom — BobbieSalt-N-Pepa — Very Necessary (30th Anniversary Edition)Sleaford Mods — More Uk Grim EPSummer Walker — Girls Need Love (Girls Mix)Vince Guaraldi — A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (first-ever release)

With the retirement of longtime All Songs host Bob Boilen, we're looking back and sharing some of our favorite episodes from over the years. This week we've got songs we should retire — songs that are undeniably great, that we truly love — and that get overplayed way too much.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Australian pop star Troye Sivan, singer-songwriter Jamila Woods and more.

With Bob Boilen retiring, we're taking time to remember some of our favorite episodes from over the years, including this one about the songs that make you cry, featuring stories from listeners about the music that moves them and why.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the rapper Earl Sweatshirt, the return of Sufjan Stevens and more.1. Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist — Voir DireFeatured Song: "27 Braids"2. Sufjan Stevens — JavelinFeatured Song: "Goodbye Evergreen"3. Jolie Holland — Haunted MountainFeatured Song: "Highway 72"

Twenty three years after creating and hosting All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen is retiring. But before he goes, we've got a special send-off, featuring a surprise guest list of his favorite artists.You'll hear from Brian Eno, Sharon Van Etten, Jeff Tweedy, Mitski and a whole lot more.

The best albums out now include singer Jorja Smith's soaring but solitary full-length Falling or Flying, an inspired, messy affair from Cherry Glazerr, Becky G's ode to Mexican Regional and more.Featured Albums: 1. Jorja Smith — Falling or FlyingFeatured Songs: "Try Me," "Little Things," "Falling or Flying," "Backwards," "She Feels"2. Cherry Glazerr — I Don't Want You AnymoreFeatured Songs: "Bad Habit," "Touched You With My Chaos," "I Don't Want You Anymore"3. Becky G — ESQUINASFeatured Songs: "2NDO CHANCE (feat. Ivan Cornejo)," "CHANEL (feat. Peso Pluma)," "CUIDADITO (feat. Chiquis)," "QUERIDO ABUELO"4. Blonde Redhead — Sit Down For DinnerFeatured Songs: "Before," "Sit Down For Dinner Pt. 1," "Kiss Her Kiss Her"5. Wilco — CousinFeatured Songs: "Infinite Surprise," "Levee," "Ten Dead," "Sunlight Ends"Lightning Round: Jlin — PerspectiveLydia Loveless — Nothing's Gonna Stand In My Way Again (Released Sept. 22)MJ Nebreda — Arepa MixtapeMolly Burch — DaydreamerOther notable releases for Sept. 29:Addison Grace — Diving LessonsAnimal Collective — Isn't It Now?Armand Hammer — We Buy Diabetic Test StripsCode Orange — The AboveEd Sheeran — Autumn VariationsDessa — Bury The Ledehemlocke springs — going... going... GONE!Maxo — Debbie's SonOneohtrix Point Never — Again

Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras sit down with Becky G, right after her forthcoming Tiny Desk performance, to talk about the cultural mash-up of her music, her philosophy for working with women in the industry and representing her Mexican heritage at Coachella. Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

NPR Music's Hazel Cills and Marissa Lorusso join host Bob Boilen to share their favorite new tracks. Featured Artists And Songs: 1. Katy Kirby: "Cubic Zirconia" (Single) 2. Daneshevskaya: "Somewhere In the Middle," from Long Is the Tunnel 3. Olivia Rodrigo: "love is embarrassing," from GUTS 4. Sufjan Stevens: "Will Anybody Ever Love Me?" from Javelin 5. Katie Von Schleicher: "Every Step Is an Ocean," from A Little Touch of Schleicher in the Night 6. Marina Herlop: "La Alhambra," from Nekkuja

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Doja Cat's Scarlet, Kylie Minogue's Tension, yeule's genre-hopping softscars and more.Featured Albums: 1. Doja Cat — ScarletFeatured Songs: "Demons," "97," "Go Off," "Often"2. Mykki Blanco — Postcards From ItaliaFeatured Songs: "Tequila Casino Royale," "Holidays In The Sun," "Love Fell Down Around Me," "Magic On My Back"3. yeule — softscarsFeatured Songs: "4ui12," "software update," "x w x," "dazies," "fish in the pool"4. Kylie Minogue — TensionFeatured Songs: "You Still Get Me High," "Padam Padam," "10 Out Of 10," "Story"5. Loraine James — Gentle ConfrontationFeatured Songs: "Let U Go (ft. keiyaA)," "Gentle Confrontation," "Glitch the System (Glitch Bitch 2)," "I DM U," "One Way Ticket To the Midwest (Emo) [feat. Corey Mastrangelo]"Lightning Round:Doechii — "Pacer" (single)DUFFY x UHLMANN — Doubles Moemaw Naedon and C. Scott — Yinztroducing... The National — Laugh TrackOther notable releases for Sept. 22:Bakar — HaloBibio — Sunbursting (EP)The Breeders — Last Splash (30th Anniversary Edition)Brent Cobb — Southern StarCHAI — CHAIChappell Roan — The Rise and Fall of a Midwest PrincessDevendra Banhart — Flying WigGrails — Anches En MaatGrrrl Gang — Spunky!Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids — Afro Futuristic DreamsKEN mode — VOIDLydia Loveless — Nothing's Gonna Stand In My Way AgainPkew Pkew Pkew — Siiick DaysRoosevelt — EmbraceTeenage Fanclub — Nothing Lasts Forever

Anamaria Sayre, Felix Contreras and producer Isabella Gomez Sarmiento sit down to talk some real chisme this week — a special episode dedicated to the Latin Grammy nominations. Was there really a regional snub and what does it say about the way we choose to elevate our own art? Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Bob Boilen will retire from NPR on Oct. 2, and he decided to spend one of his final episodes hosting All Songs Considered with NPR Music's resident Viking, Lars Gotrich, for a mix of pop punk, meticulously cut-up banjo drone, worlds-collapsing free jazz and fingerstyle guitar. Featured Songs And Artists: 1. MxPx: "What I Tell Myself" from Find a Way Home 2. Slant: "Criminal" from Demo 2023 3. Daniel Bachman: "Summer's fingers sweetly linger (Everywhere on every side)" from When the Roses Come Again 4. Matana Roberts: "shake my bones" from Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the garden... 5. Svitlana Nianio: "Episode III" from Transilvania Smile, 1994 6. Liam Grant: "Androscogging River Ragg" from Amoskeag

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Corinne Bailey Rae's Black Rainbows, Mitski's The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We, a stunning debut from Ralphie Choo and more.Featured Albums:1. Corinne Bailey Rae — Black RainbowsFeatured Songs: "Erasure," "Peach Velvet Sky," "A Spell, A Prayer," "New York Transit Queen"2. Mitski — The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are WeFeatured Songs: "I Don't Like My Mind," "When Memories Snow," "The Frost," "The Deal," "I Love Me After You"3. Ralphie Choo — SUPERNOVAFeatured Songs: "MÁQUINA CULONA (feat Mura Masa)," "BULERÍAS DE UN CABALLO MALO," "WHIPCREAM (feat. Paris Texas)," "TANGOS DE UNA MOTO TRUCADA"4. Vagabon — Sorry I Haven't CalledFeatured Songs: "Lexicon," "Do Your Worst," "Can I Talk My S***?," "Nothing to Lose"Lightning Round:The Beaches — Blame My ExJóhann Jóhannsson — A Prayer to the DynamoKiller Mike — MICHAEL (Deluxe)Madison Beer — Silence Between SongsPharoah Sanders — PharoahOther notable releases for Sept. 15:Baroness — StoneBombino — SahelCarlos Niño & Friends — (I'm just) Chillin', on FireCleo Sol — HeavenChristone "Kingfish" Ingram — Live In LondonDemi Lovato — RevampedDengue Fever — Ting MongExplosions in the Sky — EndK. Flay — MONO Luluc — DiamondsShakey Graves — Movie of the WeekS. Carey & John Raymond — ShadowlandsTeddy Swims — I've Tried Everything But Therapy (Pt. 1)Vic Mensa — VictorWoods — PerennialWorriers — Trust Your Gut

This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras preview the artists coming to play Tiny Desk performances for their 'El Tiny' takeover, including indie explosion Kali Uchis returning home to Colombian beats, pop star Becky G debuting some Mexican regional soul and "La Caballota" herself Ivy Queen boasting pure boricua pride. Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Cher Vincent. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Thirty years ago this month, Nirvana released what would be its third and final album, In Utero. To mark the milestone, we revisit our 2013 conversation with surviving members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic (for what was then In Utero's 20th anniversary) about how the album came to be.

The best albums out this week include Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS, James Blake's Playing Robots Into Heaven, Yussef Dayes' Black Classical Music and more. Featured Albums:1. Olivia Rodrigo — GUTSFeatured Songs: "get him back!" "all-american bitch," "ballad of a homeschooled girl," "the grudge"2. Jalen Ngonda — Come Around and Love MeFeatured Songs: "Come Around and Love Me," "It Takes a Fool," "Give Me Another Day"3. Anjimile — The KingFeatured Songs: "Mother," "Genesis," "Black Hole," "The King"4. James Blake — Playing Robots Into HeavenFeatured Songs: "Big Hammer," "If You Can Hear Me," "Fall Back," "Fire The Editor," "I Want You to Know"5. Yussef Dayes — Black Classical MusicFeatured Songs: "Afro Cubanism," "Marching Band (feat. Masego)," "Birds of Paradise," "Black Classical Music (feat. Venna & Charlie Stacey)," "Early Dayes," "Cowrie Charms (feat. Leon Thomas & Barbara Hicks)"Lightning Round: Allison Russell — The ReturnerRomy — Mid AirSparklehorse — Bird MachineSylvester — Private Recordings, August 1970Other notable releases for Sept. 8:Apollo Brown & Planet Asia — SardinesAshley McBryde — The Devil I KnowBlind Boys of Alabama — Echoes Of The SouthThe Chemical Brothers — For That Beautiful FeelingCourtney Barnett — End of the DayGaika — DriftIrreversible Entanglements — Protect Your LightLaufey — BewitchedRóisín Murphy — Hit ParadeTeezo Touchdown — How Do You Sleep At Night?Tinashe — BB/ANG3LTyler Childers — Rustin' in the RainV — LayoverZZ Ward — Dirty Shine

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the jagged indie-rock of Rabbit Rabbit from Speedy Ortiz, hip-hop royalty Illa J's No Traffic and more.Featured Albums:1. Speedy Ortiz — Rabbit RabbitFeatured Songs: "Ghostwriter," "Ballad of Y&S," "Scabs," "Kim Cattrall"2. Illa J — No TrafficFeatured Songs: "Off the Tap," "Circus," "Get Down (feat. AmpFiddler)," "Snaps," "OG Funk"3. Puma Blue — Holy WatersFeatured Songs: "Hounds," "O, The Blood!," "Falling Down," "Pretty"4. Slowdive — everything is aliveFeatured Songs: "alife," "prayer remembered," "shanty"Lightning Round: L'Rain — "Pet Rock" (Single)Ama Lou — I Came Home Late Kendra Morris — I Am What I'm Waiting For Jeff Rosenstock — HELLMODEOther notable releases for Sept. 1:The 1975 — Live From GorillaAesop Rock — Skelethon (10 Year Anniversary Edition)dadá Joãozinho — tds bem GlobalDream — to whoever wants to hear EPField Music — light is gone 2Ghost of Vroom — Ghost of Vroom 3Icona Pop — Club RomantechLarry Fleet — Earned ItLaya — Bet That EPThe Natvral — Summer of No LightNeil Young — Odeon BudokanTaake — Et Hav av Avstand

As summer break comes to a close for many and students head back to school, we take a moment to celebrate one of the season's greatest joys: ice cream. It turns out there are a lot of songs about this delightful treat. So, for this week's episode, we're sharing a show from our archives all about ice cream and the (many) ways it's inspired bands and artists over the years.Note: This episode originally ran on July 12, 2016

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include global sensation Burna Boy, rising R&B star Victoria Monét and more.

From our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour: What makes for an unshakable rap verse — the kind that shifts your world view and sticks around years after the first time you encountered it? This month marks 50 years since the birth of hip-hop, so we reached out to some NPR colleagues and a few hip-hop luminaries and asked them what hip-hop verse changed their lives.

Singer Paul Simon surprised fans earlier this year by releasing Seven Psalms, his first album since 2018. It was surprising not because so much time had passed, but because he had originally said his previous album, In the Blue Light, would be his last. In an interview with All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen, Simon said he was ready to retire from music and pursue other creative projects, like painting. This week, we go back to that 2018 conversation when Simon first announced he was done making new music. He talks about his dreams, the creative process and life's biggest questions. "We don't have the capacity to understand the great mysteries of life and God or no God or infinity," Simon says. "We just can't get it. It's beyond us, but that's fine."

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new releases from Jon Batiste, Hozier, Rhiannon Giddens, Cautious Clay and more.Featured Albums:1. Jon Batiste — World Music RadioFeatured Songs: "BOOM FOR REAL," "Hello, Billy Bob," "Be Who You Are (feat. JID, NewJeans & Camilo)," "Uneasy (feat. Lil Wayne)"2. Hozier — Unreal UnearthFeatured Songs: "Anything But," "De Selby (Part 1)," "Eat Your Young," "Butchered Tongue," "Who We Are"3. Genesis Owusu — StrugglerFeatured Songs: "Leaving The Light," "Stay Blessed," "Freak Boy," "That's Life (A Swamp)"4. Rhiannon Giddens — You're the OneFeatured Songs: "Way Over Yonder," "You Louisiana Man," "If You Don't Know How Sweet It Is"5. Cautious Clay — KARPEHFeatured Songs: "Fishtown," "102 Years of Comedy (Intro)," "Karpehs Don't Flinch"Lightning Round: DeYarmond Edison — EPOCHQuavo — Rocket PowerReneé Rapp — Snow AngelTalking Heads — Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition)Other notable releases for Aug. 18:Alana Springsteen — Twenty SomethingBirdy — PortraitsBobby Rush — All My Love For YouFiddlehead — Death is Nothing To UsGrace Potter — Mother RoadMargaret Glaspy — Echo The DiamondMick Jenkins — The PatiencePanda Bear, Sonic Boom & Adrian Sherwood — Reset In DubRuss — SANTIAGOShamir — Homo AnxietatemTash Sultana — Sugar EP.Teddy Thompson — My Love of Country

This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite music from the last few months, including Mexican bedroom pop from Bratty, jazz from Argentinian composer Dario Acosta Teich, a new song from rising regional star DannyLux and more. To hear more of Alt.Latino's favorite music, follow our Spotify and Apple Music playlists. Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited, mixed and produced by Janice Llamoca. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Robbie Robertson, lead guitarist and songwriter for The Band, died Aug. 9 at the age of 80. For this remembrance, we're sharing an encore presentation of a conversation Robertson had with All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen in 2018, on the 50th anniversary of The Band's seminal album Music From Big Pink.Note: This interview originally published Aug. 8, 2018.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Noname's long-awaited Sundial, Karol G's Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season), a long-lost Neil Young release and more.Featured Albums:1. Noname — SundialFeatured Songs: "Oblivion (feat. Atyoni & Common)," "Beauty Supply," "Namesake"2. Jungle — VolcanoFeatured Songs: "Us Against the World," "Candle Flame (feat. Erick the Architect)," "Dominoes," Every Night"3. Neil Young — Chrome DreamsFeatured Songs: "Will to Love," "Like a Hurricane," "Look Out for My Love"4. Joell Ortiz & L'Orange — SignatureFeatured Songs: "Uncle Chris Car," "Therapeutic," "OG," "One Day"5. Son Lux — Alternate FormsFeatured Songs: "Ransom (All Innocence)," "Alternate Worlds (Alternate Life)," "Easy (Fight to Forget)," "No Crimes (New History)"Lightning Round: Bonnie "Prince" Billy — Keeping Secrets Will Destroy YouG Flip — DrummerKarol G — Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season)Tash Sultana — "Bitter Lovers (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)" (Single)Other notable releases for Aug. 11:K.A.A.N. — The Death of a Rapper Lawrence English & Lea Bertucci — Chthonic Les Imprimés — Rêverie Louis Cato — Reflections Peter McPoland — Piggy Public Image Ltd. — End of WorldSpencer Zahn — Statues I $uicideboy$ — I No Longer Feel The Razor Guarding My Heel (V)Suzi Quatro & KT Tunstall — Face to Face Trippe Redd — A Love Letter To you 5

When DJ Kool Herc spun records at a small party in the Bronx in August of 1973, no one would have predicted his unique style would give birth to the most influential and dominant music in the world: hip-hop. In this special episode, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the genre by looking at how and why the music has managed to remain a local phenomenon, even as it's taken hold of the world, and what's happening in some of the country's most vibrant scenes.

This week, Son Lux returns with Alternate Forms, the band's first new album since releasing its beloved score to the film Everything Everywhere All At Once. To mark the occasion, we're sharing an encore presentation of our interview with Son Lux frontman Ryan Lott about how the band managed to score one of the most awarded — and bonkers — films of all time.This interview originally ran on Feb. 20, 2023.

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with the Puerto Rican hip-hop artist Eladio Carrión to discuss what drives him, learning Spanish through music and how he's changing the game of Latin rap. Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Cher Vincent, with production support from Suraya Mohamed and Robin Hilton. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our production assistant is Sofia Seidel. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

NPR Music's Lars Gotrich joins All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen to share their favorite new tracks of the week.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Meurtrières: "Ronde De Nuit," from Ronde De Nuit2. Sally Anne Morgan: "Awake," from Carrying3. Mitski: "Bug Like an Angel," from The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We4. GUJI: "I Like to Hang Out in China," from GUJI5. Irreversible Entanglements: "Free Love," from Protect Your Light6. Activity: "Careful Let's Sleepwalk," from Spirit in the Room

The best albums out this week include new ones from Post Malone, Carly Rae Jepsen, composer and singer Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Joni Mitchell's surprise performance at Newport last year and more.Featured Albums:1. Post Malone — AUSTINFeatured Songs: "Texas Tea," "Something Real," "Don't Understand," "Mourning"2. Georgia — EuphoricFeatured Songs: "It's Euphoric," "Give It up for Love," "Live Like We're Dancing (Part II)," "Friends Will Never Let You Go"3. Beverly Glenn-Copeland — The Ones AheadFeatured Songs: "Harbour (Song For Elizabeth)," "People of the Loon," "Stand Anthem"4. Carly Rae Jepsen — The Loveliest TimeFeatured Songs: "Anything to Be With You," "Shy Boy," "Kollage," "So Right," "Stadium Love"5. Joni Mitchell — At Newport Featured Songs: "Both Sides, Now," "Just Like This Train," "Amelia (feat. Taylor Goldsmith)," "Summertime"Lightning Round:Chika — SAMSON: THE ALBUMMadeline Kenney — A New Reality Mind Paris Texas — MID AIRStevie Nicks — Stevie Nicks Complete Studio Albums & Rarities Other notable releases for July 28:Aphex Twin — Black Box Life Recorder 21f / in a Room7 F760Bethany Cosentino — Natural DisasterThe Budos Band — Frontier's EdgeBush Tetras — They Live in My HeadChief Xian aTunde Adjuah — Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning The Clientele — I Am Not There AnymoreDarlingside — Everything Is AliveFly Anakin — Skinemaxxx (Side B)Jessy Lanza — Love HallucinationNite Bjuti — Nite BjutiTravis Scott — UTOPIA

NPR Music's Hazel Cills and critic Marissa Lorusso join All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen to share their favorite new tracks of the week.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Mary Jane Dunphe: "Stage of Love," from Stage of Love2. Squirrel Flower: "When A Plant Is Dying," from Tomorrow's Fire3. Saya Gray: "DIZZY PPL BECOME BLURRY," from QWERTY4. SPELLLING: "Under the Sun," from SPELLLING & the Mystery School5. Josaleigh Pollett: "Empty Things," from In the Garden, by the Weeds6. Sivan Levy: "Jacaranda," from side:s EP7. Big Thief: "Vampire Empire" (Single)

K-Pop convention-breakers NewJeans drop their second EP this week, along with new ones from Andrew Bird, Fatboi Sharif, the super-stacked Barbie soundtrack, a rare Nina Simone recording and more.Featured Albums:1. New Jeans — Get UpFeatured Songs: "ETA," "Super Shy," "ASAP" 2. Fatboi Sharif & Steel Tipped Dove — DecayFeatured Songs: "Designer Drugs," "Phantasm," "The 6th Floor," "Dimethyltryptamine," "Green Winged Shoulder Padding"3. Andrew Bird — Outside ProblemsFeatured Songs: "Festivus," "Mormon House Party," "Mancey"4. Various — Barbie The AlbumFeatured Songs: Dua Lipa, "Dance the Night"; Lizzo, "Pink"; Sam Smith, "Man I Am"; GAYLE, "butterflies"; Billie Eilish, "What Was I Made For"; Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (with Aqua), "Barbie World"5. Nina Simone — You've Got to LearnFeatured Songs: "Blues for Mama," "Mississippi Goddamn," "You've Got to Learn"Lightning Round: Blur — The Ballad of DarrenLucki — s*x m*ney dr*gs (released July 14)MJ Lenderman — "Rudolph" (Single)Mother Tongues — Love in a Vicious WayOther notable releases for July 21:Allegra Krieger — I Keep My Feet on the Fragile PlaneBabyface Ray — Summer's MineGuided By Voices — Welshpool FrilliesGreta Van Fleet — StarcatcherMehmet Ali Sanlıkol & Whatsnext? — Turkish Hipster: Tales From Swing To Psychedelic Nils Lofgren — MountainsParis Texas — MID AIR

Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre speaks with YEИDRY, the Dominican-born, Italian-raised singer about using music as a tool to marry her two worlds. Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our production assistant is Sofia Seidel. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite discoveries of the week.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Grandaddy: "The Town where I'm Livin Now," from Sumday: Excess Baggage2. Liza Anne: "Rainbow Sweater," from (Single)3. Courtney Barnett & Stella Mozgawa: "Life Balance," from End Of The Day (music from the film Anonymous Club)4. Lowland Hum: "Together (In That Way)," from From Self, With Love5. Raia Was: "If You're Asking (I'm Offering)," from Captain Obvious6. Yard Act: "The Trench Coat Museum," from (Single)

The best albums out this week include Beautiful and Brutal Yard from rapper J Hus, the ragged rock of Palehound, vivid reflections on life in your 20s from country singer Alana Springsteen and more.Featured Albums:1. Kool & The Gang — People Just Wanna Have FunFeatured Songs: "Go Get It," "Let's Party (feat. Sha Sha Jones)," "That's What I Love About You," "My Weakness"2. Alana Springsteen — TWENTY SOMETHING: Figuring It OutFeatured Songs: "twenty something," "chameleon," "when we were friends"3. Mahalia — IRLFeatured Songs: "In My Head (feat. Joyce Wrice)," "Ready," "Terms and Conditions," "It's Not Me, It's You (feat. Destin Conrad)," "Wassup (feat. Kojey Radical)"4. J Hus — Beautiful and Brutal YardFeatured Songs: "Who Told You (feat. Drake)," "Bim Bim," "Cream (feat. CB)"5. Palehound — Eye on the BatFeatured Songs: "The Clutch," "Independence Day," "Head Like Soup," "My Evil"Lightning Round:Haviah Mighty — Crying CrystalsRauw Alejandro — PLAYA SATURNORita Ora — You & ITessa Violet — MY GOD!Other notable releases for July 14:Blake Mills — Jelly RoadHilary Hahn — Eugène Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Violin Solo, op. 27IDMAN — RiskLauren Spencer-Smith — MirrorLindstrøm — Everyone Else is a StrangerMarc Ribot's Ceramic Dog — ConnectionPVRIS — EVERGREENTECH N9NE — Bliss

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Palehound: "Independence Day," from Eye on the Bat2. Talking Heads: "Cities (Live)," from Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition) [Live]3. Margo Price: "Strangers in a Strange Land," from A Song For Leon4. Hania Rani: "Dancing with Ghosts" (feat. Patrick Watson), from Ghosts5. Laufey: "Promise," from Bewitched6. Margaret Glaspy: "Act Natural," from Echo The Diamond

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the return of PJ Harvey, the continued arrival of Dominic Fike, Little Dragon, Aluna and more.Featured Albums:1. Aluna — MYCELiUMFeatured Songs: "The Way I'm Wired," "Kiss It Better"2. Dominic Fike — SunburnFeatured Songs: "Sick," "How Much Is Weed?" "Ant Pile"3. ANOHNI and the Johnsons — My Back Was A Bridge For You To CrossFeatured Songs: "Rest," "It Must Change," "Sliver Of Ice"4. Little Dragon — Slugs of LoveFeatured Songs: "Slugs of Love," "Kenneth," "Tumbling Dice"5. PJ Harvey — I Inside the Old Year DyingFeatured Songs: "Lwonesome Tonight," "Seem an I," "A Child's Question, August" Lightning Round:Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band — Kings HighwayThe Japanese House — In The End It Always DoesJulie Byrne — The Greater WingsSampha — "Spirit 2.0" (Single)Other notable releases for July 7:AJ Suede — Ark FlashingtonAlayna — Self Portrait Of A Woman UnravelingAlice Phoebe Lou — ShelterJim O'Rourke — Hands That Bind (OST)Local Natives — Time Will Wait For No OneThe Pink Spiders — FreakazoidTaylor Swift — Speak Now (Taylor's Version)Various — The Endless Coloured Ways: The Songs Of Nick Drake

The singer talks with NPR Music's Ann Powers about Harvey's album I Inside the Old Year Dying, a ragged, highly crafted adaptation of her epic poem Orlam. It's a work that runs on the rhythm of the seasons and captures the beauty, fantastical rawness and occasional horror of English rural life.

Hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite albums of 2023 so far, from the modern corridos tumbados of Peso Pluma, a new, reimagined version of one of Fito Paez's greatest albums, dream pop from Y La Bamba and more. Plus: a run down of regional Mexican's current explosion. Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our production assistant is Sofia Seidel. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we asked NPR member stations to pick their favorite new artists of 2023.1. Blondshell: "Olympus," from 'Blondshell'2. Hannah Jadagu: "What You Did," from 'Aperture'3. Nat Myers: "Yellow Peril," from 'Yellow Peril'4. Abraham Alexander: "Tears Run Dry," from 'SEA/SONS'5. Madison McFerrin: "Stay Away (From Me)," from 'I Hope You Can Forgive Me'6. Peter One: "Cherie Vico," from 'Come Back To Me'

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include a self-titled dopamine hit from Coi Leray, the return of Big Freedia, Kelly Clarkson, a debut from Tommy Prine and more.Featured Albums:1. Coi Leray — COIFeatured Songs: "Black Rose," "Bops," "Bitch Girl," "My Body"2. Big Freedia — Central CityFeatured Songs: "$100 Bill (feat. Ciara)," "Central City Freestyle," "Bigfoot," "Big Time"3. Tommy Prine — This Far SouthFeatured Songs: "Crashing Again," "By the Way," "Some Things"4. Kelly Clarkson — ChemistryFeatured Songs: "favorite kind of high," "my mistake," "skip this part"5. Arthur Russell — Picture of Bunny RabbitFeatured Songs: "The Boy With a Smile," "Picture of Bunny Rabbit"Lightning Round:Bishop Briggs — When Everything Went DarkLloyd Cole — On PainPortugal. The Man — Chris Black Changed My LifeSleep Sinatra — Incorruptible Saints (feat. Televangel)Other notable releases for June 23:Amanda Shires, Bobbie Nelson — Loving YouEliza Gilkyson — Home Jason Mraz — Mystical Magical Rhythmical RideKim Petras — Feed The BeastLunice — OPEN M. Ward — Supernatural ThingPeso Pluma — GenesisWallice — Mr. Big ShotThe Watson Twins — HollerWye Oak — Every Day Like the LastYoung Thug — BUSINESS IS BUSINESS

Alt.Latino's Felix Contreras sits down with percussion icon Sheila Escovedo, aka Sheila E., to talk about the influence of the Bay Area on her music, holding her own in the face of music industry sexism and why drumming is a language of its own. Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our production assistant is Sofia Seidel. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Have you heard dodie's new band? Looking for some ethereal sonic adventures? On this week's All Songs Considered, NPR Music's Hazel Cills along with Marissa Lorusso (hopefully) turn you on to something new, beginning with FIZZ, the new crazy fun band from dodie.Featured Artists And Songs:1. FIZZ: "High In Brighton," from The Secret To Life2. L'Rain: "New Year's UnResolution," (Single)3. Glasser: "Vine," from crux4. Allegra Krieger: "Lingering," from I Keep My Feet on the Fragile Plane5. Silvana Estrada: "Milagro y Desastre," from (Single)6. Luluc: "Diamonds," from Diamonds

The best releases out this week include Killer Mike's first solo album in more than a decade, the majestic return of Iceland's Sigur Rós, the legendary Bettye LaVette, Asake and more.Featured Albums:1. Bettye LaVette — LaVette!Featured Songs: "Mess About It (feat. Ray Parker & Jon Batiste)," "Hard to Be a Human," "Plan B"2. Killer Mike — MichaelFeatured Songs: "Two Days (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)," "Motherless," "Down By Law (feat. Cee-Lo Green)," "Scientists & Engineers (feat. Andre 3000, Future & Eryn Allen Kane)," "Something for the Junkies (feat. Fabo & Minister Louis Farrakhan)"3. Sigur Rós — ÁTTAFeatured Songs: "Klettur," "Skel," "Mór"4. Asake — Work Of ArtFeatured Songs: "2:30," "Lonely at the Top," "What's Up My G"5. Meshell Ndegeocello — The Omnichord Real BookFeatured Songs: "Georgia Ave. (feat. Josh Johnson)," "Good Good (feat. Jade Hicks & Josh Johnson)," "Call the Tune" Lightning Round: Ambré — who's loving you? Hand Habits — Sugar the BruiseMemorrhage — MemorrhageWild Up — Julius Eastman Vol. 3: If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?Other notable releases for June 16:Balmorhea — Pendant WorldBen Howard — Is It?Boris & Uniform — Bright New DiseaseDeer Tick — Emotional ContractsKing Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard — PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless DamnationKool Keith — Black Elvis 2Queens of the Stone Age — In Times New RomanSon Volt — Day of the DougYusuf / Cat Stevens — King of a Land

On this special edition of All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen speaks with Jónsi, from the Icelandic band Sigur Rós, about ÁTTA, that group's first studio album in more than 10 years. Coming out 26 years after they released their first album, ÁTTA is music the group made over years, first in informal reunions in Jónsi's basement before and during the COVID pandemic, and eventually in collaboration with the London Contemporary Orchestra. The unmistakable singer talks about how it felt to have the band playing together again after a decade and reveals some of the meaning behind the first single from the album.

Bob Boilen shares new songs (in one case, a new recording) from a few of his favorite artists, plus discoveries from Montana and Alaska.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Bob Dylan: "When I Paint My Masterpiece," from Shadow Kingdom2. Annie Bartholomew: "All for the Klondike's Gold," from Sisters of White Chapel3. Darlingside: "Eliza I See," from Everything Is Alive4. Sparks: "Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is," from The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte5. Alaska Reid: "Back To This," from Disenchanter6. Buck Meek: "Haunted Mountain," from Haunted Mountain

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from Amaarae, Janelle Monáe, King Krule, Keaton Henson and more.Featured Albums:1. Amaarae — Fountain BabyFeatured Songs: "Counterfeit," "Angels in Tibet," "Sex, Violence, Suicide Pt. 2," "Come Home to God"2. King Krule — Space HeavyFeatured Songs: "Hamburgerphobia," "That Is My Life, That Is Yours," "Pink Shell"3. Jenny Lewis — Joy'AllFeatured Songs: "Joy'All," "Chain of Tears," "Puppy and a Truck"4. Janelle Monáe — The Age of PleasureFeatured Songs: "Champagne Shit," "Black Sugar Beach," "Phenomenal (feat. Doechii)," "Lipstick Lover"5. Keaton Henson — House PartyFeatured Songs: "I'm Not There," "Holiday," "Envy," "Hooray"Lightning Round:Emile Mosseri — Heaven Hunters Feeble Little Horse — Girl With FishSquid — O Monolith Youth Lagoon — Heaven is a JunkyardOther notable releases for June 9:Andy Stack & Jay Hammond — Inter PersonalChristine and the Queens — Paranoia, Angels, True LoveThe Dead Milkmen — Quaker City Quiet PillsDream Wife — Social LubricationGabriel Ólafs — Lullabies For Piano And CelloJason Isbell and the 400 Unit — WeathervanesJayda G — GuyJess Williamson — Time Ain't AccidentalJonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa — Jarak QaribakThis Is The Kit — Careful Of Your Keepers

This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite music from the last few months, including new work from the prolific Eduardo Cabra, surprisingly straight-ahead regional from Santa Fe Klan and a premiere of a new song from Elsa y Elmar.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen and NPR Music's Lars Gotrich share their favorite new tracks including new music from the Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara, the Swedish ambient rock artist SOLE and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Dorotheo: "Las Nubes," from Nada Escrito 2. Fatoumata Diawara: "Dambe," from London Ko 3. High Rise: "Outside Gentiles," from Dispersion 4. Anjimile: "The King," from The King5. Laure Boer: "Lapin," from Les cit​é​s englouties 6. SOLE: "nous (feat. Chamoon)," from våra liv

Hear the powerfully poetic Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? from McKinley Dixon, a scorcher from Bully, Aisha Badru's Learning to Love Again, the first new solo album in 15 years from Ben Folds and more.Featured Albums:1. McKinley Dixon — Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?Featured Songs: "Run, Run, Run," "Hanif Reads Toni," "Live! From the Kitchen Table (feat. Ghais Guevara)"2. Bully — Lucky For YouFeatured Songs: "Hard to Love," "Lose You (feat. Soccer Mommy)," "All I Do"3. Aisha Badru — Learning to Love AgainFeatured Songs: "Path of Least Resistance," "Inside," "Move"4. Ben Folds — What Matters MostFeatured Songs: "What Matters Most," "Clouds with Ellipses," "Kristine from the 7th Grade," "Moments (feat. Tall Heights)"5. W.I.T.C.H. — ZangoFeatured Songs: "Waile," "Avalanche of Love (feat. Sampa the Great)"Lightning Round:Foo Fighters — But Here We AreJuan Wauters — Wandering RebelLazy Salon — BellisToosii — NAUJOUROther notable releases for June 2:The Aquadolls — CharmedBob Dylan — Shadow KingdomCowboy Junkies — Such Ferocious BeautyJack Johnson — In Between DubKenny Rogers — Life is Like a SongLinda May Han Oh — The Glass HoursMoneybagg Yo — Hard to LoveNoel Gallagher's High Flying Birds — Council SkiesProtomartyr — FormalRufus Wainwright — FolkocracyTanya Tucker — Sweet Western Sound

Over the last nine episodes, Louder Than A Riot has tackled the unwritten rules of rap that hold the whole culture back. For the show's finale, we dig into the root of all those rules: the scarcity mindset. It's the belief that access and resources are so limited for those marginalized in hip-hop that you have to fight tooth and nail for them, and that only one can make it to the top at a time.

Our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour remember the legendary Tina Turner, who died last week at the age of 83, leaving behind an indelible legacy that spanned decades across the music world, the stage, and the screen.

The best albums out this week include Lil Durk's Almost Healed, reflections on surviving your 20s from Arlo Parks and Miya Folick, Gia Margaret's Romantic Piano, a new Kassa Overall project and more.Featured Albums:1. Lil Durk — Almost HealedFeatured Songs: "Same Side (feat. Rob49)," "Therapy Session," "Never Again," "All My Life (feat. J. Cole)"2. Arlo Parks — My Soft MachineFeatured Songs: "Dog Rose," "Bruiseless," "Purple Phase," "Pegasus (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)"3. Gia Margaret — Romantic PianoFeatured Songs: "Ways of Seeing," "Cicadas," "Juno"4. Kassa Overall — ANIMALSFeatured Songs: "Clock Ticking (feat. Danny Brown & Wiki)," "Still Ain't Find Me (feat. Tomoki Sanders, Bendji Allonce, Mike King & Ian Finklestein)"5. Miya Folick — ROACHFeatured Songs: "Get Out of My House," "Oh God," "Cartoon Clouds"Lightning Round:Alex Anwandter — El Diablo en el CuerpoAnna Thorvaldsdottir — ARCHORA / AIŌNSparks — The Girl is Crying in Her LatteWande Coal — Legend or No LegendOther notable releases for May 26:Bayonne — Temporary TimeHenry Threadgill — The Other OneJanai Shankar — Hot & Cold Kari Faux — REAL B*TCHES DON'T DIE!Kevin Morby — More Photographs (A Continuum)MeeeZ — [red album]M. Sage — Paradise CrickMatchbox Twenty — Where The Light GoesMike Oldfield — Tubular Bells - 50th Anniversary CelebrationMaya Ongaku — Approach to AnimaShirley Collins — Archangel HillSimply Red — TimeWater From Your Eyes — Everyone's CrushedWolf Eyes — Dreams in Splattered Lines

On this episode of Louder Than A Riot, something a little different: It's part meditation, part conversation — between host Rodney Carmichael and writers Kiese Laymon and Jamilah Lemieux — about beats, rhymes and life. For Rodney, interrogating misogynoir in hip-hop means confronting some hard questions — as a man, and especially as a father. As Rodney thinks about raising the next generation without replicating his mistakes, he's looking more closely at how hip-hop shaped his definition of masculinity.

Alt.Latino host Anamaria Sayre sits down with the experimental, Guatemalan cellist Mabe Fratti to discuss the admiration she's developed for imperfection, finding a musical community in Mexico City and how religion sparked a personal rebellion. Audio for this episode of 'Alt.Latino' was edited and mixed by Robin Hilton. Our show editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our production assistant is Sofia Seidel. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen and NPR Music editor Hazel Cills share their favorite new tracks of the week and highlight this year's new Tiny Desk Contest winner, the Springville, Utah, band Little Moon.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Little Moon: "Wonder Eye" (Single)2. yeule: "sulky baby" (Single)3. Sweeping Promises: "Eraser," from Good Living Is Coming For You4. Cola: "Keys Down If You Stay" (Single)5. ANOHNI & The Johnsons: "It Must Change," from My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross6. Chris Farren: "Cosmic Leash," from Doom Singer

A joint project from the rapper Aminé and producer KAYTRANADA tops our list of the best albums out this week, along with new ones from Paul Simon, Kesha, Sufjan Stevens and more.Featured Albums:1. Aminé & Kaytranada — KAYTRAMINÉFeatured Songs: "Who He Iz," "Westside," "Ugh Ugh," "K&A"2. Kesha — Gag OrderFeatured Songs: "Only Love Can Save Us Now," "Fine Line," "Peace & Quiet," "Living in My Head"3. Paul Simon — Seven Psalms4. Hannah Jadagu — ApertureFeatured Songs: "What You Did," "Admit It," "Warning Sign"5. Sufjan Stevens, Timo Andres & Conor Hanick — ReflectionsFeatured Songs: "Reflexion," "Ekstasis," "Mnemosyne"Lightning Round:Alex Lahey — The Answer is Always YesBrandy Clark — Brandy ClarkSir Chloe — I Am The DogSummer Walker — CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFEOther notable releases for May 19:Califone — villagersDave Matthews Band — Walk Around the MoonDef Leppard — Drastic SymphoniesGraham Nash — NowJealous of the Birds — HinterlandJuanes — Vida CotidianaMandy, Indiana — I've Seen A WayMega Bog — End of EverythingThe Milk Carton Kids — I Only See the MoonMoor Mother — Jazz Codes (Deluxe Version)Pony — VelveteenRobert Ellis — Yesterday's NewsSalami Rose Joe Louis — AkousmatikousTanlines — The Big MessTemps — PARTY GATOR PURGATORYTinariwen — AmatssouYes — Mirror to the Sky

Rico Nasty's music creates a haven for heavy emotions. And in a world that paints Black girls showing any emotion as too much, having a place to release anger and anxiety is essential. But when Rico joined the 2021 Playboi Carti tour, his fans harassed her repeatedly and that safety was stripped away. On this episode of Louder Than A Riot, we talk with Rico about keeping a brave face, hear from a fan who was there in the crowd, and ask: When the outlet for your anger is shut down, how do you get your power back?

While coming up with the concept for her new album Mañana Será Bonito, Colombian superstar Karol G had an epiphany that would change her life: what if she was just more herself? Alt.Latino host Anamaria Sayre sits down with global phenom Karol G to chat about the singer's latest evolution.Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Robin Hilton. Our editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our production assistant is Sofia Seidel. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a collaboration between Fred again.. and Brian Eno, the return of Youth Lagoon, the dub ensemble African Head Charge and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Youth Lagoon: "The Sling," from Heaven Is a Junkyard2. This Is The Kit: "More Change," from Careful of Your Keepers3. dodie: "Special Girl," from dodie (Live at NPR's Tiny Desk) - EP4. African Head Charge: "Microdosing," from A Trip to Bolgatanga5. Brian Eno & Fred again..: "Come On Home," from Secret Life6. Grandbrothers: "Adrift," from Late Reflections

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include debuts from singer Madison McFerrin, the U.K. electronic duo Overmono, deep grooves from Rahill, Céline Dion, Belinda Carlisle and more.Featured Albums:1. Overmono — Good LiesFeatured Songs: "Good Lies," "Is U," "Skulled"2. Madison McFerrin — I Hope You Can Forgive MeFeatured Songs: "Fleeting Melodies," "Utah," "God Herself," "Run"3. Belinda Carlisle — KismetFeatured Songs: "Sanity," "If U Go"4. Rahill — Flowers At Your FeetFeatured Songs: "Fables (feat. Beck)," "I Smile for E," "Tell Me," "Gone Astray," "Ode to Dad"5. Céline Dion — Love Again (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)Featured Songs: "Love Again (from the Motion Picture Soundtrack)," "Love of My Life," "It's All Coming Back to Me Now"Lightning Round:Aespa — MY WORLD - The 3rd Mini Album - EPBOKANI DYER — RADIO SECHABA RP Boo — Legacy Volume 2Midwife & Vyva Melinkolya — OrbweavingOther notable releases for May 12:Alison Goldfrapp — The Love InventionBC Camplight — The Last Rotation of EarthBela Fleck, Zakir Hussain & Edgar Meyer — As We Speak (feat. Rakesh Chaurasia)Bruce Cockburn — O Sun O MoonDaisies — Great Big Open SkyEluvium — (Whirring Marvels In) Consensus RealityThe Jonas Brothers — The AlbumMoby — Resound NYCSexmob — The Hard WayVarious — KPOP (Original Broadway Cast Recording)War — The Remixes

On this episode of Louder Than A Riot, we talk with Saucy Santana, a viral TikTok rapper who isn't shy about rocking a beat face, trimmed beard, acrylic nails and booty shorts, all of which have become his calling card. But in an industry that values marketability and reinforces masculinity to a toxic level, how can femme-presenting gay men sidestep from being considered viral jokes to become undeniable stars?

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a new one from PJ Harvey ahead of her first studio album in seven years, a Neil Young cover by Rufus Wainwright and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Rhiannon Giddens: "You're the One," from You're the One2. Rufus Wainwright: "Harvest," from Folkocracy3. Hand Habits: "Private Life," from Sugar the Bruise4. PJ Harvey: "A Child's Question, August," from I Inside the Old Year Dying5. Wila Frank: "Tonight," from Black Cloud6. Strange Ranger: "She's On Fire," from Pure Music

The best albums out this week include the nostalgia-fueled, future-looking Soul,PRESENT from Q, a staggering collaboration between billy woods and Kenny Segal, yMusic's self-titled album and more.Featured Albums:1. Q — Soul,PRESENTFeatured Songs: "WELCOME TO THE SOUL, PRESENT," "TODAY," "STEREO DRIVER," "LOVE"2. Emily King — Special OccasionFeatured Songs: "Medal," "Who Wants My Love," "This Year"3. Artemis — In Real TimeFeatured Songs: "Empress Afternoon," "Penelope," "Timber," "Whirlwind"4. Billy Woods & Kenny Segal — MapsFeatured Songs: "Soft Landing," "Facetime (feat. Samuel Herring)," "Waiting Around (feat. Aesop Rock)," "Soundcheck (feat. Quelle Chris)"5. yMusic — YMUSICFeatured Songs: "Three Elephants," "The Wolf"Lightning Round:Atmosphere — So Many Other Realities Exist SimultaneouslyDurand Jones — Wait Til I Get OverMagos Herreras — AireRoomful of Teeth — Rough MagicOther notable releases for May 5:The Album Leaf — Future FallingArmani White — The Road to Casablanco.Bailen — Tired HeartsCian Nugent — She Brings Me Back to the Land of the LivingConway the Machine — Won't He Do ItDavid Wax Museum — You Must Change Your LifeDrain — Living ProofEd Sheeran — - [Subtract]Gaby Moreno — X Mí (Vol. 1)Immaterial Possession — Mercy of the Crane FolkOnyx — Blood On Da XRodney Crowell — The Chicago SessionsRudy Royston — DAYSam Sweeney & Louis Campbell — ShapesSBTRKT — The Rat RoadSmashing Pumpkins — AtumSQÜRL — Silver Haze

How has hip-hop affected perceptions of Black masculinity? We unpack that question through the story of iLoveMakonnen, a rapper who has navigated different realms of masculinity his entire life, and faced backlash from the industry for being unapologetically himself.

NPR Music's Lars Gotrich joins All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen to share his favorite new sonic adventures in the loud and weird, including Bodywash, the Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Julie Christmas: "Not Enough" (single)2. Bodywash: "Perfect Blue," from I Held The Shape While I Could3. Rắn Cạp Đuôi: "What Cherubs," from *14. Hayden Pedigo: "Elsewhere," from The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored5. Balmorhea: "Step Step Step," from Pendant World6. The Aaltos: "Känner du en vän," from GRAMMOFON - MISSIONEN

The singer and rapper Labrinth, beloved for his score to the HBO show Euphoria, drops his latest album this week, along with new ones from Jessie Ware, Smokey Robinson, Joy Oladokun and more.Featured Albums:1. Labrinth — Ends & BeginsFeatured Songs: "Kill For Your Love," "Everything," "Power Couple"2. Jessie Ware — That! Feels Good!Featured Songs: "Freak Me Now," "Beautiful People"3. Joy Oladokun — Proof of LifeFeatured Songs: "Spotlight (available only on CD and vinyl)," "Changes," "Taking Things For Granted," "We're All Gonna Die"4. Baby Rose — Through And ThroughFeatured Songs: "Fight Club (feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow)," "Stop the Bleeding," "I Won't Tell (feat. Smino)"5. Smokey Robinson — GasmsFeatured Songs: "How You Make Me Feel," "Beside You," "Gasms"Lightning Round: Dreamer Isioma — Princess ForeverIndigo De Souza — All of This Will EndThe National — First Two Pages of FrankensteinTony Shhnow — Love StreakOther notable releases for April 28:Arturo O'Farrill — Legacies Avalon Emerson — & the Charm Bebe Rexha — BebeDiplo — Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2, Swamp Savant Great Lake Swimmers — Uncertain CountryJFDR — MuseumJim Legxacy — homeless n**** pop musicJosh Ritter — Spectral LinesJoseph — The SunNeil Gaiman & Fourplay String Quartet — Signs of LifeNew Breed Brass Band — Made in New OrleansPeach PRC — Manic Dream Pixie Rickie Lee Jones — Pieces Of TreasureSkinny Pelembe — Hardly the Same SnakeTaj Mahal — SavoyY La Bamba — LuchaYUNGMORPHEUS — From Whence It Came

In this episode of Louder Than A Riot, we ask what it means to speak up in a culture where it's always been safer to keep quiet. In 2006, Kim Osorio, then editor-in-chief of The Source, sued the magazine and its owners for workplace sexual harassment. Nearly two decades later, hip-hop still has not had a true reckoning around sexual misconduct. The Louder team talks with former Source writers who take us behind the scenes at the hip-hop bible and the circumstances that led to the suit. Activist Tarana Burke, creator of "Me Too," also reflects on how this case could have put hip-hop ahead of the curve on reckoning with misogynoir.

This week, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite music from the last few months, kicking things off with a surprising collab from Bad Bunny and regional Mexican group Grupo Frontera. Plus, new music from Becky G, Gaby Moreno, Esteman and more. This episode of 'Alt.Latino' was produced by Robin Hilton. Our editor is Hazel Cills and our project manager is Grace Chung. Our production assistants are Jerusalem Truth and Sofia Seidel and our intern is Pilar Galván. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a collaboration between Tiny Desk contest winner Gaelynn Lea and Michael Stipe, the LA-based singer known as Wallice and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Michael Stipe (feat. Gaelynn Lea): "Give Me A Hand," from EarthPercent x Earth Day '23 Compilation Album2. Abraham Alexander (feat. Mavis Staples): "Déjà Vu," from SEA/SONS3. Bees in a Bottle: "Wet Widow," from The Sun Left and Took The Moon With It4. Wallice: "Best Friend," from Mr Big Shot5. Cowboy Junkies: "What I Lost," from Such Ferocious Beauty6. Angelo De Augustine: "Another Universe," from Toil and Trouble

The debut studio album from Agust D (Suga) of BTS is out this week, along with new ones from Everything But the Girl, the rapper and producer Alfa Mist, Rodrigo y Gabriela and more.Featured Albums:1. Everything But the Girl — FuseFeatured Songs: "Nothing Left to Lose," "When You Mess Up"2. Alfa Mist — VariablesFeatured Songs: "Borderline," "Foreword," "Aged Eyes"3. Agust D — D-DayFeatured Songs: "Haegum," "D-Day"4. Rodrigo y Gabriela — In Between Thoughts... A New WorldFeatured Songs: "True Nature," "The Ride of the Mind," "The Eye That Catches The Dream"5. Easy Star All-Stars — Ziggy StardubFeatured Songs: "Ziggy Stardust (feat. The Skints)," "Hang On To Yourself (feat. Fishbone and JohnnyGo Figure)"Lightning Round Picks:Lael Neale — Star EatersSt. Paul & The Broken Bones — Angels in Science FictionWorldtown SoundSystem — House of LoveZombie Juice — Love Without ConditionsOther notable releases for April 21:Cinder Well — CadenceEsther Rose — Safe To RunThe Heavy — AMENHunter Hayes — Red SkyPearl & The Oysters — Coast 2 CoastThe Smashing Pumpkins — AtumTïesto — DRIVEYoungBoy Never Broke Again — Don't Try This At Home

Across her evolving discography, which includes everything from R&B ballads to danceable electronic beats, Girl Ultra has solidified her approach to deep, dark songs of love and heartbreak. In this episode of Alt.Latino, host Anamaria Sayre sits down with the up-and-coming Mexico City singer to talk lost loves, why the city is "haunted" and how she copes with a nostalgic heart.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen and NPR Music's Marissa Lorusso and Hazel Cills share their favorite new music of the week, including the first new Speedy Ortiz song in five years.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Indigo De Souza: "You Can Be Mean," from All of This Will End2. Peter One: "Cherie Vico," from Come Back to Me3. Speedy Ortiz: "Scabs" (Single)4. Bully: "Days Move Slow," from Lucky For You5. Charlotte Cornfield: "Cut and Dry," from Could Have Done Anything6. Laura Wolf: "Calligraphy and Calculations," from Shelf Life

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Black Thought from The Roots, the quietly powerful return of Feist and more.Featured Albums:1. El Michels Affair & Black Thought — Glorious Game2. Feist — Multitudes3. Abraham Alexander — SEA/SONS4. Petite Noir — MotherFather5. Kara Jackson — Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?Lightning Round: Dinner Party — Enigmatic SocietyGoGo Penguin — Everything Is Going to Be OKNatalie Merchant — Keep Your CourageThe Tallest Man on Earth — Henry St.Fenne Lily — Big Picture

Our favorite new releases for April 7, 2023, include:1. Daniel Caesar — Never Enough 2. Wednesday — Rat Saw God 3. Fly Anakin — Skinemaxxx (Side A) 4. Yaeji — With a Hammer 5. Brandee Younger — Brand New Life Lightning Round:Walter Smith III — return to casual Shame Gang — Better Late Than Never Braid — Frame & Canvas (25th Anniversary Edition)Overcoats — Winner Daughter — Stereo Mind Game

How did the "bad bitch" replace the "ride or die chick" in hip hop? In this episode of Louder Than A Riot we talk to the original baddest herself, Trina, about how her career flipped the script on dusty old stereotypes of Black women in rap, and left men down bad. We also sit down with Trick Daddy, the man that put her on, to hear how he feels to see her shining; and check in with Latto, a rapper carrying the torch that Trina set aflame 25 years ago.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen and NPR Music's Lars Gotrich share their favorite new music of the week, including the African psych-rock group Orchestra Gold, shoegaze from Zoon and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Jeremy Kiran Fernandes: "Sun and Rain," from Inside the Harmonic Prism2. Orchestra Gold: "Segou Heat," from Medicine3. Pry: "Chasing Ambulance," from The Party's Over4. Shirley Collins: "High and Away," from Archangel Hill5. Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru: "Jerusalem," from Jerusalem6. Zoon: "Gaagige," from Bekka Ma'iingan

NPR Music's picks for the best new albums out this week include Chlöe's In Pieces, the debut full-length from boygenius, South African singer Nakhane's Bastard Jargon and more.Featured Albums:1. Chlöe — In PiecesFeatured songs: "Told Ya (feat. Missy Elliott)," "Body Do," "Cheatback," "Pray It Away"2. B. Cool-Aid — Leather Blvd.Featured songs: "ChalkRoundIt (Talk abt it) (feat. Ladybug Mecca)," "So Soft Salon (feat. DJ Harrison, Demae, Nita Darling & Funky Chunky)," "Wassup (feat. Devin Morrison, Pher & MoRuf)"3. Nakhane — Bastard JargonFeatured songs: "The Caring," "Tell Me Your Politik (feat. Moonchild Sanelly & Nile Rodgers)"4. boygenius — the recordFeatured Songs: "Satanist," "Not Strong Enough," "Revolution 0," "We're In Love"5. Baaba Maal — BeingFeatured songs: "Boboyillo (feat. Rougi)," "Mbeda Wella (feat. Paco Lenol)," "Casamance Nights"Lightning Round: NOIA - GiselaThe New Pornographers — Continue As GuestPursuit Grooves — 100 SeamsTyler, The Creator — Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate SaleOther notable releases for March 31:Alberta Cross — Sinking ShipsBarrie — 5KBuzzy Lee — Internal AffairsCity and Colour — The Love Still Held Me NearDamien Jurado — Sometimes You Hurt the Ones You HateDeerhoof — Miracle-LevelThe Hold Steady — The Price Of ProgressLarry June & The Alchemist: The Great EscapeLIES — LiesTwo Shell — Lil SpiritsWild Child — End of the WorldWilliam Tyler & The Impossible Truth — Secret StratosphereThe Zombies — Different Game

In our latest episode of Louder Than A Riot we look at how the male gaze looms over hip-hop. Those under its watchful eye feel objectified or shamed if they don't give it what it wants to see. We share the stories of three artists who are pushing back on the male gaze in their personal relationships, social interactions and even industry-wide.

Anamaria Sayre, host of NPR's Alt.Latino, sits down with world-building producer and Mexican Institute of Sound frontman Camilo Lara to talk about using his fearless intuition to help artists find their voice in the burgeoning hub of Latin music.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including two surprising and wonderful collaborations.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Ólafur Arnalds (feat. Ella McRobb): "and we'll leave it there..." (Single)2. The Antlers: "I Was Not There" (Single)3. Sissoko Segal Parisien Peirani: "Ta Nyé," from Les Égar​é​s4. Lauren Early: "Good Girl Bad Boy," from Don't Take My Dream Away5. Protomartyr: "Make Way," from Formal Growth In The Desert6. Faten Kanaan: "Ebla," from Afterpoem

Contributor Nate Chinen interviews the three musicians behind the new improvisational supergroup Love In Exile about their new album, the mysteries of how songs emerge from improvisation and most crucially, how the music they create is an expression of how they listen to each other.

The Atlanta rapper and singer 6LACK, Lana Del Rey, R&B singer Yaya Bey, the veteran rock group Depeche Mode and more are among the artists dropping our picks for the best new albums out this week.Featured Albums:1. 6LACK — Since I Have A LoverFeatured Songs: "Inwood Hill Park," "Cold Feet," "Talkback," "Chasing Feeling"2. Lana Del Rey — Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd Featured Songs: "Peppers (feat. Tommy Genesis)," "Jon Batiste Interlude," "Margaret (feat. Bleachers)," "Judah Smith Interlude," "A&W"3. Yaya Bey — Exodus the North StarFeatured Songs: "when saturn returns," "exodus the north star"4. Lankum — False LankumFeatured Songs: "Clear Away in the Morning," "Fugue III," "Lord Abore and Mary Flynn"5. Depeche Mode — Memento MoriFeatured Songs: "My Cosmos Is Mine," "Always You," "People Are Good," "My Favourite Stranger"Lightning Round: Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily — Love in ExileBenny Sings — Young HeartsCaroline Rose — The Art of ForgettingFall Out Boy — So Much (For) StardustKele — The Flames, Pt. 2Lemar — Page In My HeartPink Floyd — The Dark Side of the Moon (50th Anniversary)Rosalía and Rauw Alejandro — RRSophie B Hawkins — Free MyselfOther notable releases for March 24:03 Greedo — Halfway ThereBabymetal — The Other OneThe HIRS Collective — We're Still HereJimin — FACEKate Davis — Fish BowlMeg Myers — TZIA Nickel Creek — CelebrantsPurling Hiss — Drag on GirardSpectacular Diagnostics — Raw Lessons

In our latest episode of Louder Than A Riot we break down legacy: who gets to leave one in hip-hop and who gets left out. Decades before hip-hop's current renaissance of women rappers, there was MC Sha-Rock. Despite her influence on future generations, her contribution to the craft of hip-hop is not widely known.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen is joined by NPR Music's Hazel Cills and Marissa Lorusso to share their favorite new tracks of the week. Featured Songs And Artists: 1. Kara Jackson: "pawnshop," from Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?2. feeble little horse: "Tin Man," from Girl with Fish3. MIIRRORS: "Sinistry," from Motion And Picture4. Savannah Conley: "More Than Fine," from Playing the Part of You Is Me5. Sofia Kourtesis: "Madres," (Single)6. Ratboys: "Black Earth, WI," (Single)

Our shortlist of the week's best new releases includes an incredible collection of cover songs from the rapper T-Pain, an EP from Hozier, labyrinthine surprises from Princess Nokia and more.Featured Albums:1. T-Pain — On Top of the CoversFeatured Songs: "War Pigs," "Tennessee Whiskey," "Don't Stop Believin'," "A Change Is Gonna Come"2. Hozier — Eat Your YoungFeatured Songs: "Eat Your Young," "All Things End," "Through Me (The Flood)"3. Princess Nokia — i love you but this is goodbyeFeatured Songs: "The Fool," "Happy," "Closure"4. 100 gecs — 10,000 gecsFeatured Songs: "Dumbest Girl Alive," "Frog On The Floor," "Billy Knows Jamie"5. Yves Tumor — Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)Featured Songs: "Echolalia," "Meteora Blues," "Heaven Surrounds Us Like A Hood"Lightning Round:Genevieve Artadi — Forever ForeverNiklas Paschburg — Panta RheiSo!YoON! — Episode1: LoveUnknown Mortal Orchestra — V Other notable releases for March 17:All Time Low — Tell Me I'm AliveThe Band of Heathens — Simple ThingsFIDLAR — That's LifeGideon — More Power, More PainModerat — Even More D4taTei Shi — Badd PremonitionU2 — Songs of Surrender

In our season two debut of Louder Than A Riot, we look at how the Tory Lanez trial sparked a real divide in hip-hop and stoked the coals on a 50-year battle for Black women to be heard. In this episode, we take you into Megan Thee Stallion's testimony to unpack the impact of misogynoir on rap.

Anamaria Sayre from NPR Music's Alt.Latino sits down with Mexican pop icon Julieta Venegas to discuss her role as a trailblazing female vocalist and mom to a daughter with impeccably cool music taste.

Author and professor Oliver Wang and writer Matthew Ritchie join NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce to talk through one of the most storied catalogs in hip-hop history, now available online for the first time.

Hear a preview from our upcoming season two of Louder Than A Riot, NPR Music's deep dive on the collision of rhyme and punishment in America.

Miley Cyrus' insanely anticipated Endless Summer Vacation is finally here, along with new music from Fever Ray, The War and Treaty, Meet Me @ The Altar and more.Featured Albums:1. Miley Cyrus — Endless Summer VacationFeatured Song: "Flowers"2. The War and Treaty — Lover's GameFeatured Songs: "Ain't No Harmin' Me," "Yesterday's Burn," "Up Yonder"3. Fever Ray — Radical RomanticsFeatured Songs: "Shiver," "Carbon Dioxide," "Kandy"4. Meet Me @ The Altar — Past // Present // FutureFeatured Songs: "T.M.I," "Say It (To My Face)"5. Jane Bunnett and Maqueque — Playing With FireFeatured Songs: "Tempus Fugit," "Human Race"Lightning Round:King Khan — The Nature of ThingsLonnie Holley — Oh Me Oh MyNia Archives — Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha WallShalom — SublimationOther notable releases for March 10:Ali Farka Touré — VoyageurDeath Cab For Cutie — Asphalt Meadows (Acoustic)EBK Young Joc — Hotboiiz:4LManchester Orchestra — The Valley of VisionRarelyalways — WORKFrankie Rose — Love as ProjectionH. Hawkline — Milk for FlowersSleaford Mods — UK GRIM

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week including, songs from Shame, Amber Arcades, Kimi Djabaté and more. Featured Songs and Artists: 1. Shame, "Adderall," from Food For Worms2. H. Hawkline, "Milk For Flowers," from Milk For Flowers3. Kimi Djabaté, "Afonhe," from Dindin4. Arthur Moon, "Ghost Ranch," from Chaos! Chaos! Chaos! Side B 5. Amber Arcades, "Contain," from Barefoot on Diamond Road 6. Water From Your Eyes, "Barley," from Everyone's Crushed

The best albums out this week include Kali Uchis' Red Moon in Venus, a self-titled joint from the Jamaican American artist Masego, singer and guitarist Jen Cloher's ode to the mess of life and more.Featured Albums:1. Kali Uchis — Red Moon in VenusFeatured Songs: "Hasta Cuando," "Como Te Quiero Yo," "Worth the Wait (feat. Omar Apollo)"2. Masego — MASEGO Featured Songs: "What You Wanna Try," "Afraid of Water," "Black Anime"3. Yazmin Lacey — Voice NotesFeatured Songs: "Legacy," "Where Did You Go?"4. Jen Cloher -- I Am the River, The River is MeFeatured Songs: "My Witch," "Mana Takatāpui," "The Wild," "Being Human"5. Chiiild — Better Luck in the Next LifeFeatured Songs: "(Running Out Of) Hallelujahs," "Good For Now (feat. Lucky Daye)"Lightning Round:Adi Oasis — Lotus GlowHello Mary — Hello MarySpektral Quartet & Julia Holter — Behind the WallpaperOther notable releases for March 3:Kate NV — WOWMacklemore — BENObject of Affection — Field of AppearancesRadio Supernova — ParatiisiWilliam Basinski — The Clocktower at the BeachXiu Xiu — Ignore GriefZulu — A New Tomororw

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras, hosts of NPR's Alt.Latino, round up their favorite new music from the last few months.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including songs from Anna B Savage, Daisies, Pest Control, Neil Gaiman & FourPlay String Quartet and more.Featured Songs And Artist: 1. Daisies: "Is It Any Wonder," from Great Big Open Sky 2. Anna B Savage: "The Ghost," from inFLUX 3. Pest Control: "Total Distraction," from Don't Test The Pest4. Neil Gaiman & FourPlay String Quartet: "In Transit," from Signs of Life 5. Mohamad Zatari Trio: "Black Tea," from Istehlal6. Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer & Shahzad Ismaily: "To Remain/To Return," from Love In Exile

Composer Volker Bertelmann explains why he wanted to "destroy the film" with his score, how he used a centuries-old instrument for the cause and what it meant as a German to dive deep into this story.

The best new albums out this week include Cracker Island from Gorillaz, the 30th anniversary of Naughty By Nature's 19 Naughty III, Gracie Abrams' Good Riddance and more.Featured Albums:1. Gorillaz — Cracker IslandFeatured Songs: "Oil (feat. Stevie Nicks)," "Tormernta (feat. Bad Bunny)," "Silent Running (feat. Adeleye Omotayo)"2. Naughty By Nature — 19 Naughty III - 30th AnniversaryFeatured Songs: "Hip Hop Hooray," "Daddy Was A Street Corner," "It's On (Beatnuts Remix)"3. quinnie — flounderFeatured Songs: "emblem," "touch tank," "man"4. Gracie Abrams — Good RiddanceFeatured Songs: "Where do we go now?," "I should hate you"5. Christian McBride's New Jawn — PrimeFeatured Songs: "East Broadway Rundown," "Head Bedlam"Lightning Round:Buster Williams — UnalomeKate Fagan — I Don't Want to Be Too Cool [Expanded Ed.]Laraaji — Segue to InfinityNeutral Milk Hotel — The Collected Works of Neutral Milk HotelOther notable releases for Feb. 24:Adam Lambert — High DramaAlgiers — ShookThe Church — The HypnogogueDierks Bentley — Gravel & GoldGruff Rhys — The Almond and the SeahorseIris DeMent — Workin' on a WorldLogic — College ParkMiss Grit — Follow the CyborgPhilip Selway — Strange DanceShame — Food for WormsRuss Millions — One Of A KindThe Strokes — Singles, Vol. 1U.S. Girls — Bless This Mess

NPR Music's Marissa Lorusso and Hazel Cills join Bob Boilen to share their favorite new tracks, including an epic new song from Lana Del Rey and a love song from beabadoobee.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Lana Del Rey: "A&W," from Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd2. Sidney Gish: "Filming School" (Single)3. Seán Barna, "Benjamin Whishaw Smiled," from An Evening at Macri Park4. Caroline Rose, "The Doldrums," from The Art of Forgetting5. Avalon Emerson, "Sandrail Silhouette" (Single)6. beabadoobee, "Glue Song" (Single)

Son Lux frontman Ryan Lott reveals how the band was able to keep pace with the frenetic, shape-shifting storytelling of Everything Everywhere All At Once, without missing its ultimate beat: love.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from Caroline Polachek, UK producer, rapper and filmmaker Wesley Joseph, P!NK, the Boston rock group Pile and more.Featured Albums:1. Caroline Polachek — Desire, I Want To Turn Into YouFeatured Songs: "Pretty In Possible," "Fly To You (feat. Grimes and Dido)"2. Wesley Joseph — GLOWFeatured Songs: "COLD SUMMER," "SUGAR DRIVE (feat. Dean)"3. Pile — All FictionFeatured Songs: "Loops," "Poisons," "Blood," "Gardening Hours"4. P!NK — TRUSTFALLFeatured Songs: "TRUSTFALL," "Just Say I'm Sorry (feat. Chris Stapleton)," "Kids In Love (feat. First Aid Kit)," "When I Get There"5. Tianna Esperanza — TerrorFeatured Songs: "Terror," "Lewis," "Princess Slit and the Raincoat Prince," "Granada"Lightning Round:crushed — extra lifeLisel — Patterns For Auto-tuned Voices and DelayJaimee Harris — Boomerang TownSkrillex — Quest for FireOther notable releases for Feb. 17:@ — Mind Palace MusicAnna B Savage — in|FLUXAvey Tare — 7sFree Range — PracticeLeon Lee Dorsey & Mike Clark — Cantaloupe IslandLowly — Keep Up The Good WorkRon Sexsmith — The Vivian LineScreaming Females — Desire PathwaySimona Premazzi — Wave In GravityVarious Artists — Transmissions from Total Refreshment Centre

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras from NPR's Alt.Latino sit down with prolific producer and creator Adrian Quesada to discuss his experimental approach to border-driven, sonic expression.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including re-imagined acoustic music from Fantastic Negrito, new Death Cab for Cutie and more.Featured Songs And Artist:1. Miya Folick: "Get Out Of My House," from Roach2. Fantastic Negrito: "Drifting Away," from Grandfather Courage3. Death Cab for Cutie: "The Plan," from Asphalt Meadows (Acoustic)4. Cinder Well: "Two Heads, Grey Mare," from Cadence5. Indigo De Souza: "Younger & Dumber," from All of This Will End6. Samana: "Two Wrongs," (Single)

The best albums out this week include Paramore's first new full-length in nearly six years, mind-blowing sonic explorations from Kelela and Liv.e, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Yo La Tengo and more.Featured Albums:1. Paramore — This Is WhyFeatured Songs: "You First," "C'est Comme Ca," "This Is Why"2. Liv.e — Girl in the Half PearlFeatured Songs: "Ghost," "A Slumber Party?," "Our Father," "Snowing!"3. Kelela — RavenFeatured Songs: "On the Run," "Contact," "Happy Ending"4. Black Belt Eagle Scout — The Land, The Water, The SkyFeatured Songs: "Fancy Dance," "Blue," "My Blood Runs Through This Land"5. Yo La Tengo — This Stupid WorldFeatured Songs: "This Stupid World," "Sinatra Drive Breakdown"Lightning Round: Andy Shauf — NormBrainorchestra — It Means A LotKING VISION ULTRA — SHOOK WORLDPearla — Oh Glistening Onion, The Nighttime Is ComingOther notable releases for Feb. 10:Amber Arcades — Barefoot on Diamond RoadThe Brian Jonestown Massacre — The Future is Your PastLisa O'Neil — All Of This Is ChanceTennis — PollenYou Me At Six — Truth Decay

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a reflection on lost youth from The Tallest Man On Earth, the debut solo album from Of Monsters And Men singer Nanna and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. The Tallest Man on Earth: "Every Little Heart," from Henry St.2. Fenne Lily: "Lights Light Up" (Single)3. Yo La Tengo: "Tonight's Episode," from This Stupid World4. Youth in a Roman Field: "It'll Pass," from Get Caught Trying5. Nanna: "Godzilla" (Single)6. Juni Habel: "Rhythm of the Tides," from Carvings

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include RAYE's long-awaited debut, My 21st Century Blues, SYML's stirring The Day My Father Died, the return of Shania Twain and more.Featured Albums:1. SYML — The Day My Father DiedFeatured Songs: "Chariot," "Howling (feat. Lucius)," "Lost Myself (feat. Guy Garvey)," "The Day My Father Died"2. RAYE — My 21st Century BluesFeatured Songs: "The Thrill Is Gone," "Oscar Winning Tears," "Hard Out Here"3. Joe Chambers — Dance KobinaFeatured Songs: "Gazelle Suite," "Caravanserai"4. Young Fathers — Heavy HeavyFeatured Songs: "Geronimo," "I Saw," "Tell Somebody"5. Shania Twain — Queen of MeFeatured Song: "Pretty Liar"Lightning Round Picks:Epik High — StrawberryThe Go! Team — Get Up Sequences Part TwoJames Brandon Lewis — Eye of IRobert Forster — The Candle and the FlameOther notable releases for Feb. 3:Ben Wolfe — UnjustBest Fern — Earth Then AirFantastic Negrito — Grandfather CourageHamish Hawk — Angel NumbersLoscil & Lawrence English — Colours of AirM(h)aol — Attachment StyleThe Psychotic Monks — Pink Colour SurgerySomebody's Child — Somebody's ChildSunny War — Anarchist GospelTropical F*** Storm — SUBMERSIVE BEHAVIORVarious — Ears of the People: Ekonting Songs from Senegal and the Gambia

Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras sit down with Erik Rodríguez of Cimafunk to talk about how he's created his singular sound, the complex African lineage of his music and why his band is his "tribe."

NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich joins Bob Boilen for a show full of sonic adventures in hopes of stretching your musical boundaries, including three songs that are over eight minutes long.Featured Songs and Artists:1. Jana Horn: "After All This Time," from The Window is the Dream2. Anna Mieke: "Go Away from My Window," from Theatre3. Nabalayo: "mtwapa siren," from INSHA4. Lankum: "Go Dig My Grave," from False Lankum5. PoiL Ueda: "Dan No Ura - Part 1," from PoiL Ueda6. Debashish Bhattacharya: "The Sound of the Soul," from The Sound of the Soul

Tom Verlaine spins everything from Charles Mingus to The Day the Earth Stood Still soundtrack.

The best albums out this week include A Reckoning from Kimbra, Sam Smith's deeply personal and powerful Gloria, jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin's Phoenix and more.Featured Albums:1. Kimbra — A ReckoningFeatured Songs: "la type (feat. Pink Siifu & Tommy Raps)," "save me," "foolish thinking (feat. Ryan Lott)"2. Sam Smith — GloriaFeatured Songs: "Unholy (feat. Kim Petras)," "I'm Not Here To Make Friends," "Love Me More," "Gloria"3. Lakecia Benjamin — PhoenixFeatured Songs: "Amerikkan Skin (feat. Angela Davis)," "Supernova (feat. Wayne Shorter)"4. Samia — HoneyFeatured Songs: "Amelia," "Pink Balloon," "Sea Lions," "Breathing Song"5. Jonah Yano — Portrait of a DogFeatured Songs: "Always," "So Sweet"Lightning Round:Bob Dylan — Fragments - Time Out of Mind Sessions 1996-1997 The Bootleg Series Vol. 17Joe Henry — All the Eye Can SeeNite Bjuti — "Mood (Liberation Walk)" (single)Popcaan — Great Is HeOther notable releases for Jan. 27:The Arcs — Electrophonic ChronicAva Max — Diamonds & DancefloorsBass Drum of Death — Say I Won'tElle King — Come Get Your WifeF***** Up — One DayHammock — Love in the VoidMeg Baird — FurlingSG Lewis — AudioLust & HigherLove

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including the return of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus as boygenius, The National and more.Featured Songs and Artists:1. boygenius: "$20," from the record2. The National: "Tropic Morning News," from First Two Pages of Frankenstein3. Niklas Paschburg & lùisa: "Darkside of the Hill," from Panta Rhei4. Miss Grit: "Lain (phone clone)," from Follow the Cyborg5. Baaba Maal: "Agreement," from Being6. The Hackles: "Damn the word," from What a beautiful thing I have made

Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre sits down with Fabi Reyna of Reyna Tropical to talk about the process of trusting yourself, how music saved her life and moving forward after losing her creative collaborator Sumohair.

New music from Peter Gabriel's first album of all new songs in 20 years. Also, Daughter has their first album of all new songs; it's been seven years for them. Plus, a heavy beat from Vagabon, wisdom from Steady Holiday and more.Featured Artists and Songs:1. Peter Gabriel: "Panopticom," from i/o2. Daughter: "Be On Your Way," from Stereo Mind Game3. Vagabon: "Carpenter," (Single)4. Steady Holiday: "The Balance," from Newfound Oxygen5. Gina Birch: "I Play My Bass Loud," from I Play My Bass Loud6. The Trials of Cato: "Aberdaron," from Gog Magog

The week's best new albums include a genre-spanning masterpiece from singer Margo Price, a tribute to the '80s from Seven Davis Jr., Belle and Sebastian, jazz trumpeter Derrick Gardner and more.Featured Albums:1. Margo Price — StraysFeatured Songs: "Light Me Up," "Time Machine," "Radio," "Anytime You Call"2. Seven Davis Jr. — savedbythebellFeatured Songs: "zero press," "wendy & lisa," "savedbythebell" 3. poolblood — moleFeatured Songs: "my little room," "wfy," "beam"4. Belle & Sebastian — Late DevelopersFeatured Songs: "So In the Moment," "When You're Not With Me," "Late Developers"5. Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets — Pan AfricaFeatured Songs: "The Sixth Village," "Djemba Kan," "Highlife Suite"Lightning Round: Jamee Cornelia — Art School DropoutJoesef — Permanent DamageLusillón — Pensando mucho y malObituary — Dying of EverythingWhitehorse — I'm Not Crying, You're CryingOther notable releases for Jan. 13: BabyTron — Bin Reaper 3: New TestamentDeclaime & Madlib — In the Beginning Vol. 3Gaz Coombes — Turn the Car AroundJulia Wolf — Good Thing We StayedLincoln — Everything Is WrongSkyzoo — The Mind of a Saint Stile Antico — The Golden Renaissance: William Byrd

NPR Music's Hazel Cills and Marissa Lorusso join host Bob Boilen to share their favorite new tracks of the week, including the jagged sounds of Dublin's M(h)aol, former jazz prodigy and singer Kate Davis and more.Featured Artists and Songs:1. Decisive Pink: "Haffmilch Holiday" (Single)2. Artist: "Friendship Is Frequency," from Mind Palace Music3. Kate Davis: "Consequences," from Fish Bowl4. Fievel Is Glauque: "Days of Pleasure," from Flaming Swords5. Rozi Plain: "Help," from Prize6. M(h)aol: "THERAPY," from Attachment Styles

For Glass Onion, composer Nathan Johnson had to navigate and illuminate the film's conflicting range of emotions. He found endless possibilities within an orchestra.

Can you hear the cha-cha-cha in The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"? Or the mambo in Ray Charles' "What'd I Say"? This week, our friends at Alt.Latino take a closer look at the Cuban roots of rock and roll.

Since her death in 1995, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez' legacy has spread far beyond her Tejano music roots. This week, Alt.Latino revisits a classic episode and explores how Selena became a powerful symbol of Latina identity.

On this year-end episode, NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich takes host Bob Boilen around the globe to experience Vietnamese ambient, Chilean speed metal and auto-tune'd Ghanaian gospel music. Featured Tracks and Artists: • BKO: "Sadiona" from Djine Bora• Cheba Wahida: "Jrouli Jrouli" from Jrouli • Sơn FM: "Go Into the Mountains" from Points of Light (ST​๐​๐​๗​)• Switchblade: "夜に踊る" from Blue Matter • Romperayo: "El Borracho" from Así No Se Puede Muchaches• La Colonie de Vacances: "L'amour universel" from ECHT• No Home: "Emerald Green Mirror" from Young Professional • Vórtize: "Mundo Bipolar" from ¡Tienes Que Luchar!• Linda Ayupuka: "Yine Faamam" from God Created Everything For more, follow the Viking's Choice playlist and subscribe to the newsletter.

In 2018, Steve Martin, John Legend, William Shatner and more joined Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton for All Songs Considered's annual holiday extravaganza, which unfolded like a bad high school play.

¡Felices fiestas y'all! This week, Alt.Latino revisits a classic episode from 2014 to enjoy the music of D.C. Latino choir, Cantigas.

Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson gather in a studio for the first time in nearly 3 years to count down NPR Music listeners' top 10 albums of 2022.

NPR's Ann Powers, Alt.Latino host Anamaria Sayre and contributor (and NPR Music alum) LaTesha Harris join host Robin Hilton to countdown the top 10 songs of 2022, as selected by the NPR Music team, contributors and partner stations.See NPR Music's top 100 songs, top 50 albums and more.

Alt.Latino host Anamaria Sayre sits down with Rolling Stone's Julyssa Lopez and NPR Music contributor Stefanie Fernández to talk about (some of) their favorite albums of the year. Show notes: You can help us improve Alt.Latino by taking some time to answer questions about the show. Please tell us what you like and how we could improve by going to npr.org/altlatinosurvey.

NPR's Ann Powers and Sheldon Pearce join critic Christina Lee and host Robin Hilton to countdown the top 10 albums of 2022, as selected by the NPR Music team, contributors and partner stations.See NPR Music's list of the top 50 albums from 2022 and more.

Whether you're from Ushuaia or East Los Angeles, you've likely heard cumbia blaring from a stereo. This week, Alt.Latino revisits a classic episode from 2015 and takes a closer look at the musical backbone of the Americas.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen joins NPR Music's Hazel Cills and Marissa Lorusso to count down NPR Music's top 10 rock albums of 2022. Featured songs and artists:10. Kevin Morby: "This Is a Photograph," from This Is a Photograph9. Soul Glo: "Jump!! (Or Get Jumped!!!)((by the future))," from Diaspora Problems8. Special Interest: "Foul," from Endure7. caroline: "Dark blue," from caroline6. Hurray for the Riff Raff: "PRECIOUS CARGO," from LIFE ON EARTH5. Alvvays: "Pharmacist," from Blue Rev4. Wet Leg: "Angelica," from Wet Leg3. Nilüfer Yanya: "stabilise," from PAINLESS 2. Alex G: "No Bitterness," from God Save the Animals1. Big Thief: "Spud Infinity," from Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In YouRead the ranked list the year's most essential rock music, along with a short list of personal favorites, by NPR Music staff and contributors.

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with Linda Ronstadt, who recently released her book Feels Like Home: A Song for the Sonoran Borderlands, to talk about her Mexican heritage, wanting to sing in Spanish earlier in her career and not feeling like the "quintessential American girl."

Our friends at Planet Money are trying something we thought All Songs listeners might find as fascinating as we do: They're trying to start their own record label to release a single song. It's a song about inflation, recorded in 1975... and never released until now.(This episode is part two of a series)Listen to "Inflation" on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Tidal, Amazon Music & Pandora.Subscribe to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez to talk about their musical legacy, sad songs and creating strong familial bonds through music. Show notes: You can help us improve Alt.Latino by taking some time to answer questions about the show. Please tell us what you like and how we could improve by going to npr.org/altlatinosurvey.

Our friends at Planet Money are trying something we thought All Songs listeners might find as fascinating as we do: They're trying to start their own record label to release a single song. It's a song about inflation, recorded in 1975... and never released until now.(This episode is part one of a series)Listen to "Inflation" on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Tidal, Amazon Music & Pandora.Subscribe to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney

The best albums out this week include rapper Roddy Ricch's emotional Feed Tha Streets III, Weyes Blood's majestic And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow, Honey Dijon's Black Girl Magic and more.Featured Albums:1. Roddy Ricch — Feed Tha Streets IIIFeatured Songs: "King Size," "Fade Away," "Letter 2 My Son"2. Weyes Blood — And In The Darkness, Hearts AglowFeatured Songs: "It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody," "The Worst Is Done," "God Turn Me Into a Flower," "In Holy Flux"3. Röyksopp — Profound Mysteries IIIFeatured Songs: "The Night (feat. Alison Goldfrapp)," "Just Wanted To Know (feat. Astrid S)," "The Next Day (feat. Jamie Irrepressible)"4. Honey Dijon — Black Girl MagicFeatured Songs: "Downtown (feat. Annette Brown & Nikki-O)," "Work (feat. Cor.Ece, Dave Giles II & Mike Dunn)," "Love Is A State Of Mind (feat. Ramona Renea)," "Drama (feat. Rimarkable & Dope Earth Alien)" 5. Cautious Clay — Thin Ice On The CakeFeatured Songs: "Burning Up Slow," "Camp Anonymous," "Sarah Tonin"Lightning Round:Daniel Bachman — Almanac Behinddumhi — Uncle MilesFousheé — softCOREOther notable releases for Nov. 18:-(16)- — Into DustAdrian Quesada – Jaguar SoundBilly Strings — Me/And/DadBrockhampton — The FamilyCaitlin Rose — CAZIMIIcewear Vezzo — Paint the CityKrill — Alarm No Hris (vinyl reissue)Neil Young & Crazy Horse — World RecordPeggy Lee — Norma Deloris Egstrom From Jamestown, North Dakota (50th Anniv. Ed.)Phony Ppl — EuphonyusThe Wombats — Is This What It Feels Like To Feel Like This?

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with Silvana Estrada to talk about vulnerability, bringing light into her shows and the lessons her parents have given her. Show notes: You can help us improve Alt.Latino by taking some time to answer questions about the show. Please tell us what you like and how we could improve by going to npr.org/altlatinosurvey.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a new solo release from Radiohead drummer Philip Selway, a new project with R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry and more.Featured Songs and Artists:1. Philip Selway: "Check For Signs Of Life," from Strange Dance2. Among Authors: "Fears We Hold" (Single)3. Lisa O'Neill: "Old Note," from All Of This Is Chance4. The Bad Ends: "Thanksgiving 1915," from The Power and The Glory5. Yo La Tengo: "Fallout," from This Stupid World

Our picks for the best albums out this week include the Spanish-language remix of Run The Jewels' RTJ4, Bruce Springsteen's tribute to classic soul, the debut from Memphis rapper GloRilla and more.Featured Albums:1. Run The Jewels — RTJCU4TROFeatured Songs: "JU$T," "santa calamif***"2. Bruce Springsteen — Only the Strong SurviveFeatured Songs: "Soul Days," "I Forgot To Be Your Lover," "Turn Back the Hands of Time"3. Christine And The Queens (as Redcar) — les adorables étoiles (prologue)Featured Songs: "Ma bien aimee bye bye," "My birdman" 4. GloRilla — Anyways, Life's Great...Featured Songs: "Blessed," "F.N.F. (Let's Go)," "PHATNALL"5. Bill Frisell — FourFeatured Songs: "Claude Utley," "Waltz For Hal Wilner"Lightning Round:claire rousay — a heavenly touch (vinyl reissue)Duval Timothy — Meeting with a Judas TreeErnest Hood — Back to the WoodlandsMorris Day — Last CallOther notable releases for Nov. 11:Actress — Dummy Corporation Ben LaMar Gay — Certain ReveriesGold Panda — The WorkHeather Trost — Desert FlowersHomeboy Sandman — Still ChampionIllogic — The TransitionJordana — I'm Doing Well, Thanks For AskingLyrics Born — Vision BoardNas — King's Disease IIIPuck — Best FriendSharon Van Etten — We've Been Going About This All Wrong (Deluxe Edition)The Sonora Pine — II (vinyl reissue)Tyondai Braxton — Telekinesis Wizkid — More Love, Less Ego

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre of NPR's Alt.Latino sit down with Natalia Lafourcade to talk about interpreting old songs, taking things slow and releasing her first album of original material in seven years.

In this encore episode from 2011, Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton, and All Songs Considered listeners share the songs that lift them up, inspire them to whistle, dance in public and move on from hardship.

Our picks for the best albums out this week include a droll, sometimes comical, sometimes graphic debut from the Atlanta duo Coco & Clair Clair, five new and totally different records from SAULT and more.Featured Albums:1. Coco & Clair Clair — SexyFeatured Songs: "8 AM," "Bad Lil Vibe," "The Hills," "Love Me"2. R.A.P. Ferreira — 5 to the Eye with StarsFeatured Songs: "fighting back," "mythsysizer instinct," "ours," "tennessee farmer jutsu"3. Phoenix — Alpha ZuluFeatured Songs: "Season 2," "Winter Solstice," "Artefact"4. Big Joanie — Back HomeFeatured Songs: "In My Arms," "Cactus Tree"5. SAULT — AIIR, Earth, Today & Tomorrow, UNTITLED (God), 11Featured Songs: "4am," "Heal The World," "Valley of the Ocean," "Together," "Life We Rent But Love Is Rent Free," "Love Is All I Know"Lightning Round:Connie Constance — Miss PowerFirst Aid Kit — PalominoMarvin Tate's D-Settlement — Marvin Tate's D-SettlementSurya Botofasina — Everyone's ChildrenOther notable releases for Nov. 4:Ami Dang — The Living World DemandsCaleb Landry Jones — Gadzooks Vol. 2Daniel Avery — Ultra TruthDrake — Her LossTropical Gothclub — Tropical GothclubEzra Collective — Where I'm Meant To Beh. Pruz — again, thereJakob Bro & Joe Lovano — Once Around the RoomLecrae — Church Clothes 4The Lone Bellow — Love Songs For LosersOkay Kaya — SAPRayland Baxter — If I Were A ButterflySpecial Interest — EndureTeddy Swims — Sleep Is ExhaustingThe Welcome Wagon — Esther

Alt.Latino's Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with Angélica Negrón to talk about the importance of representation, making music with plants and what inspired her to begin composing.

Open Mike Eagle confronted the past, Natalia Lafourcade returned to original songwriting, Katie Crutchfield and Jess Williamson collaborated as Plains, Víkingur Ólafsson intimately played piano and Maral deconstructed an ancestral groove.Featured Tracks and Artists:1. Open Mike Eagle: "Burner Account" and "For DOOM" from Component System with the Auto Reverse 2. Natalia Lafourcade: "María la Curandera" from De Todas las Flores 3. Plains: "Hurricane" and "Abilene" from I Walked With You A Ways 4. Víkingur Ólafsson: Robert Schumann's Study in Canonic Form, Op. 56, No. 1 and Béla Bartók's 3 Hungarian Folks Songs from Csík, III. 'White Lily' via From Afar5. Maral: "Mari's Groove" from Ground GrooveOur panel's additional recommendations for October: • Palm, Nicks and Grazes• Loyle Carner, hugo• Moin, PasteMore from NPR Music: • Interview: Open Mike Eagle• Review: Plains, I Walked With You A Ways • Víkingur Ólafsson: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

The technology used to remix the 56-year-old album is hard to fathom. But, with the help of producer Giles Martin, Revolver now sounds like a brand new album from a young band still putting out records.

The best albums out this week include Smino's Luv 4 Rent, Icelandic singer Ásgeir's Time On My Hands, a staggering new work from Benjamin Clementine and more.Featured Albums:1. Smino — Luv 4 RentFeatured Tracks: "Pro Freak," "Blu Billy," "Pudgy"2. Nosaj Thing — ContinuaFeatured Tracks: "We Are," "Look Both Ways"3. Ásgeir — Time on My HandsFeatured Tracks: "Time on My Hands," "Borderland," "Limitless"4. Benjamin Clementine — And I Have BeenFeatured Tracks: "Residue," "Lovelustreman," "Delighted"5. Ghost Funk Orchestra — A New Kind Of LoveFeatured Tracks: "Your Man's No Good," "Quiet Places"Lightning Round:Cakes da Killa — SvengaliFatboi Sharif & Noface — Preaching in HavanaField Guide — Field GuideJunior Boys — Waiting GameOther Notable Releases:Babehoven — Light Moving TimeThe Beatles — Revolver (Super Deluxe)Dear Nora — human futuresDIGAWOLF — INI (Spirit)Lee Fields — Sentimental FoolMartha — Please Don't Take Me BackShow Me The Body — Trouble The WaterTrampled By Turtles — AlpenglowTyshawn Sorey Trio +1 with Greg Osby — The Off-Off Broadway Guide to Synergism (Live)Yung Gravy - Marvelous

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre from NPR's Alt.Latino sit down with Carlos Santana to talk about nurturing his spirit, growing as an artist and 50 years of Caravanserai.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a collaboration between Phoebe Bridgers and Andrew Bird, John Cale's first new album in a decade and more.Featured Songs and Artists:1. Sunny War: "No Reason," from Anarchist Gospel2. Andrew Bird & Phoebe Bridgers: "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" (Single)3. Seán Barna: "Everyone's a Queen on Halloween" (Single)4. John Cale: "STORY OF BLOOD (feat. Weyes Blood)," from MERCY5. Weyes Blood: "Grapevine," from And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow6. Micah Frank & Chet Doxas: "Ave Maria (Featuring Mary Lattimore)," from The Music of Hildegard von Bingen Part One

The best albums out this week include Taylor Swift's Midnights, powerful meditations on race and identity from U.K. rapper Loyle Carner, the transfixing sounds of singer iLe and more.Featured Albums:1. Taylor Swift — MidnightsFeatured Songs: "Lavender Haze," "Vigilante S***," "Karma," "Sweet Nothing"2. Loyle Carner — hugoFeatured Songs: "Hate," "Nobody Knows," "Georgetown"3. Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn — PigmentsFeatured Songs: "Cerulean," "Vantablack" "Sandstone"4. iLe — NacarileFeatured Songs: "Ningún Lugar," "traguito"5. Nick Hakim — COMETAFeatured Songs: "Feeling Myself," "Something," "Ani"Lightning Round:Bibio — BIB10Frankie Cosmos — Inner World PeaceTegan & Sara — CrybabyOther Notable Releases:a-ha — True NorthAlice Boman — The Space BetweenArchers of Loaf — Reason in DeclineArctic Monkeys — The CarBabyface — Girls Night OutCarly Rae Jepsen — The Loneliest TimeDry Cleaning — StumpworkGoat — Oh DeathJesse Harris — Silver Balloon Jeezy & DJ Drama — SnofallMeghan Trainor — Takin' It BackRubblebucket — Earth WorshipSimple Minds — Direction of the HeartSloan — SteadyTakuya Kuroda — Midnight CrispWiki & subjxct 5 — Cold Cuts

Alt.Latino's Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with iLe to talk about salsa music, Puerto Rico's role in her art and being la bebé of the family.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a song for oppressed women worldwide from Sevdaliza, the experimental cellist Mabe Fratti, Billy Strings performing with his dad and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. The Arcs: "Keep On Dreamin'," from Electrophonic Chronic2. Sevdaliza: "Woman Life Freedom" (Single)3. Pearla: "The Place With No Weather," from Oh Glistening Onion, The Nighttime Is Coming4. Eszter Balint: "The First Day," from I HATE MEMORY!5. Billy Strings: "Long Journey Home," from Me/and/Dad6. Mabe Fratti: "Esta Vez," from Se Ve Desde Aquí

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the long-awaited return of M.I.A., plus new records from Tove Lo, The 1975, Mykki Blanco and more.Featured Albums:1. M.I.A. — MataFeatured Songs: "The One," "Popular"2. Tove Lo — Dirt FemmeFeatured Songs: "2 Die 4," "Suburbia"3. Mykki Blanco — Stay Close to MusicFeatured Songs: "Trust A Little Bit," "Family Ties," "French Lessons," "Carry On"4. The 1975 — Being Funny in a Foreign LanguageFeatured Songs: "I'm In Love With You," "When We Are Together"5. Ryuichi Sakamoto — Exception (Original Soundtrack)Featured Songs: "Opening For Exception," "Collusion," "Operating The Drone"Lightning Round: Lil Baby — It's Only MeMavi — Laughing So Hard It HurtsAO Gerber — Meet Me at the GloamingPlains — I Walked With You a WaysBetty Who — Big!

From our friends at Alt.Latino, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with Carlos Efrén Reyes Rosado to talk about creating the character of Farruko, developing a relationship with God and spreading a message of love.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares gorgeous new music from the Ghana-born artist Okaidja Afroso, a spare reflection from the singer Samia, the 20th anniversary edition of the Sigur Rós album ( ) and more.1. Okaidja Afroso: "Gidi Gidi," from Jaku Mumor2. Lydia Ramsey: "Revival," from Like A Dream3. Samia: "Kill Her Freak Out" (Single)4. JFDR: "The Orchid" (Single)5. Sigur Rós: "Untitled #7 (Jacobs Studio Sessions)," from ( ) Remastered

WILLOW's first single, "Whip My Hair," came out just shy of the singer's 10th birthday. Now 21, she's returned with her fifth full-length album, titled . The record has big arena-rock vibes to go with its spiky pop-punk songcraft, and it effectively captures WILLOW's gift for conveying deeply felt emotions and the thrum of anxiety. We've also got new albums from genre-smashing singer, rapper and multi-instrumentalist NNAMDÏ, arty rapper Open Mike Eagle, dance-music producer TSHA and the venerated space-jazz ensemble Sun Ra Arkestra. Featured Albums: 1. WILLOW — Featured Songs: "WHY?," "ur a " 2. NNAMDÏ — Please Have a Seat Featured Songs: "Armoire," "ANXIOUS EATER," "Careful" 3. Open Mike Eagle — Component System With the Auto Reverse Featured Songs: "79th and Stony Island," "I Retired Then I Changed My Mind," "Peak Lockdown Raps" 4. TSHA — Capricorn Sun Featured Songs: "OnlyL (feat. Nimmo)," "Giving Up (feat. Mafro)," "Running," "Sister," "Anxious Mind (feat. Clementine Douglas)" 5. Sun Ra Arkestra — Living Sky Featured Songs: "Somebody Else's Idea," "Marshall's Groove," "Night of the Living Sky," "Firefly" Lightning Round: Quavo & Takeoff — Only Built for Infinity Links Fatnice — Vanglorious Say She She — Prism Collapsing Stars — Chapter

From our friends at Alt.Latino, Felix Contreras sits down with Carla Morrison to talk about her new sound, the importance of mental health and the art of the Parisian non.

Tyler Childers went to church, Makaya McCraven sampled himself, Sudan Archives got silly and sexy, Alex G distilled his production quirks and Björk stuck her toes in the earth. Featured Tracks and Artists:1. Tyler Childers: "Old Country Church (Jubilee Version)" from Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? 2. Makaya McCraven: "Seventh String" from In These Times 3. Sudan Archives: "Selfish Soul" from Natural Brown Prom Queen 4. Alex G: "Miracles" from God Save the Animals 5. Björk: "Fungal City" from Fossora Our panel's additional recommendations for August: • Lou Turner, Microcosmos• SiR, "Nothing Even Matters"• Sonja, Loud ArriverRead the NPR Music review:• Makaya McCraven, In These Times• Sudan Archives, Natural Brown Prom Queen • Alex G, God Save the Animals

It's been five years since Björk last released an album, but now the Icelandic icon is back with a deeply inventive set called Fossora. Every sound on the record feels as if it's springing into the mix from a different direction, as her vibrant voice shares space with everything from bass clarinets to the voices of Björk's own offspring. Fossora was inspired, at least in part, by the death of the singer's mother, but joy also abounds. We've also got the star-packed major-label debut of veteran rapper Freddie Gibbs, a reinvention for the long-running jazz group The Bad Plus, the return of U.K. pop star Craig David and a wild electro-pop record from Shygirl. Featured Albums: 1. Björk — Fossora Featured Songs: "Fossora," "Mycelia," "Sorrowful Soil" 2. Freddie Gibbs — $oul $old $eparately Featured Songs: "Pain and Strife (feat. Offset)," "CIA" 3. The Bad Plus — The Bad Plus Featured Songs: "Sun Wall," "Stygian Pools," "In the Bright Future" 4. Craig David — 22 Featured Songs: "DNA," "My Heart's Been Waiting for You," "Teardrops" 5. Shygirl — Nymph Featured Songs: "Firefly," "Coochie (a bedtime story)," "Nike," Missin u"Lightning Round: Kid Cudi — Entergalactic Various Artists — The Birdsong Project Vol. V Adam Blackstone — Legacy (out Sept. 23) Various Artists — Blue Note Re:imagined II Ashley McBryde — Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville Tyler Childers — Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?

From our friends at Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras sit down with Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador to talk about intentionality in community building, almost quitting music and finding nourishment in her art.Correction: An earlier version of this episode incorrectly said Linda Diaz won the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest. She won in 2020.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen samples a massive, 20th anniversary edition of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and shares his favorite new tracks of the week, from Brian Eno, Julia Jacklin and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Wilco: "Ashes of American Flags (Stravinsky mix)," from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Deluxe Edition)2. Brian Eno: "We Let It In," from FOREVERANDEVERNOMORE3. Luke Sital-Singh: "Blind Missiles," from Dressing Like a Stranger4. JEAN DAWSON: "PIRATE RADIO*," from CHAOS NOW*5. Julia Jacklin: "Moviegoer," from PRE PLEASURE6. Steady Holiday & Bedouine: "People Take Pictures of Each Other" (Single)

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include veteran folksinger Beth Orton, Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré and more.Featured Albums: 1. Peter Matthew Bauer — Flowers Featured Songs: "Chiyoda, Arkansas, Manila," "Flowers" 2. Beth Orton — Weather Alive Featured Songs: "Lonely," "Fractals" 3. Vieux Farka Touré & Khruangbin — Ali Featured Songs: "Mahine Me," "Savanne" 4. Caroline Shaw & Attacca Quartet — Evergreen Featured Songs: "Other Song," "The Evergreen Stem" 5. Makaya McCraven — In These Times Featured Songs: "Dream Another," "The Title" Lightning Round: The Comet Is Coming — Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam Young RJ — World Tour Angelica Sanchez Trio — Sparkle Beings Alex G — God Save the Animals Nils Frahm — Music for Animals

From our friends at Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre sits down with Spanish superstar Rosalía, who just earned eight Latin Grammy nominations, to talk about her musical inspirations, divine sensuality and constant pull to transform.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including the return of Beth Orton, a solo debut from Okkervil River's Will Sheff, Miya Folick and more.Featured songs and artists:1. Courtney Marie Andrews: "These Are The Good Old Days," from Loose Future2. Beth Orton: "Forever Young," from Weather Alive3. Miya Folick: "Oh God," from 2007 - EP4. Hand Habits & Amelia Meath: "Under The Water" (Single)5. Will Sheff (feat. Cassandra Jenkins): "In the Thick of It," from Nothing Special6. Hammered Hulls: "Boilermaker's Notch," from Careening

The superstar K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is one of the biggest pop juggernauts in the world, with billions of streams and massive world tours to its name. Born Pink, its second full-length album — and "full-length" is relative here, since we're talking about eight songs in under 25 minutes — promises to further expedite BLACKPINK's domination of the U.S. charts. We've also got new projects from Brazilian-born electro-pop artist LYZZA, Afropop-inspired R&B singer-songwriter Miloe, Tiny Desk Contest-winning singer-songwriter Quinn Christopherson and dance-pop star Rina Sawayama. On this week's New Music Friday, Radio Milwaukee's Tarik Moody and NPR Music contributors Christina Lee and Cyrena Touros join guest host Stephen Thompson.Featured Albums: BLACKPINK — Born Pink Featured Songs: "Typa Girl," "Pink Venom," "Hard to Love"LYZZA — Mosquito Featured Songs: "Lucky You," "Hold Me," "Heathens Call (feat. Backxwash)" Miloe — gaps Featured Songs: "elastic," "rewind (feat. PawPaw Rod)"Quinn Christopherson — Write Your Name In Pink Featured Songs: "Uptown," "Evelene" Rina Sawayama — Hold the Girl Featured Songs: "Catch Me in the Air," "Hold the Girl," "Forgiveness" Lightning Round: Mura Masa — Demon Time Pink Siifu & Real Bad Man — Real Bad Flights The Beths — Expert in a Dying Field Jesca Hoop — Order of Romance Death Cab for Cutie — Asphalt Meadows Wilco — Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Super Deluxe Edition) Gogol Bordello — Solidaritine

From our friends at NPR's Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre sits down with R&B darling Omar Apollo to talk about his experiences growing up in Indiana and becoming a role model for queer Latinx kids.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen returns with some of his favorite tracks of the week, including new ones from the groundbreaking reggae artist Horace Andy, singer-songwriter Anna Tivel and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Horace Andy: "Feverish," from Midnight Scorchers2. The Comet is Coming: "TECHNICOLOUR," from Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam3. Very Very: "Strange Occasion" (Single)4. Anna Tivel: "Outsiders," from Outsiders5. Winter: "good," from What Kind of Blue Are You?6. Mama's Broke: "How It Ends," from Narrow Line

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include genre-straddling polymaths Santigold and Sudan Archives, R&B sensation Ari Lennox and more.Featured Albums: Ari Lennox — age/sex/location Featured Songs: "Queen Space (feat. Summer Walker)," "Hoodie" Sudan Archives — Natural Brown Prom Queen Featured Songs: "Copycat (Broken Notions)," "Chevy S10," "Yellow Brick Road, TDLY (Homegrown Land)" The Paranoyds — Talk Talk Talk Featured Songs: "Freak Out," "Single Origin Experience," "Sunburn" Sampa the Great — As Above, So Below Featured Songs: "Lane (feat. Denzel Curry)," "Can I Live"Santigold — Spirituals Featured Songs: "High Priestess," "Ain't Ready," "My Horror," "Shake" Lightning Round: Son Little — Like Neptune Jackson Wang — Magic Man Oliver Sim — Hideous Bastard Built To Spill — When the Wind Forgets Your Name Madison Cunningham — Revealer

A massive new collection of more than 240 songs and spoken word recordings — all about birds — features work from Andrew Bird, Kamasi Washington, Laurie Anderson, Alice Coltrane, Cassandra Jenkins, Yo-Yo Ma, Beck and more.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include rapper Psalm One, the veteran metal band Megadeth, English singer Yungblud and more. Featured Albums:1. Yungblud — YungbludFeatured Songs: "Memories (feat. WILLOW)," "Tissues"2. Psalm One X Custom Made — Bigg PerrmFeatured Songs: "Cristalle Jr.," "Pitchfork Score"3. Megadeth — The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!Featured Songs: "Night Stalkers (feat. Ice-T)"4. Living Hour — Someday Is TodayFeatured Songs: "Feelings Meeting (feat. Jay Som)," "Hump"5. Stereolab — Pulse of the Early Brain (Switched On Vol. 5)Featured Songs: "Laissez Faire," "ABC," "Symbolic Logic of Now!"

Punches flew from the Mountain Goats, Roc Marciano and The Alchemist teamed up, Tomu DJ took unexpected turns, Julia Jacklin looked deep within, Eli Winter opened up and Tommy McLain returned. Featured Tracks and Artists:1. The Mountain Goats: "Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome" from Bleed Out2. Roc Marciano & The Alchemist: "JJ Flash" from The Elephant Man's Bones 3. Tomu DJ: "Optimistic" from Half Moon Bay 4. Julia Jacklin, "Ignore Tenderness" from Pre Pleasure5. Eli Winter: "Dayenu" from Eli Winter6. Tommy McLain: "Somebody" from I Ran Down Every Dream Our panel's additional recommendations for August: Young Nudy, EA MonsterDiamanda Galás, Broken GargoylesQuinn Christopherson, "Celine" Danger Mouse & Black Thought, Cheat CodesEight, Delight in Eight

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week, including the highly anticipated third album by Atlanta rapper J.I.D. and a massive Blondie box set. Featured Albums:1. J.I.D — The Forever Story Featured Songs: "Dance Now," "Better Days," "Raydar"2. Stella Donnelly — Flood Featured Songs: "Lungs," "Morning Silence," "How Was Your Day?"3. Miguel Zenón — Müsica De Las Americas Featured Songs: "Opresion Y Revolucion," "Tainos Y Caribes"4. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith — Let's Turn It Into Sound Featured Songs: "Locate," "Have You Felt Lately?"5. Blondie — Against the Odds: 1974-1982 Featured Songs: "Rapture" "The Tide Is High (Demo Version)," "Heart of Glass"Lightning Round:Carolyn Malachi — Counter NarrativesJulia Jacklin — Pre PleasureRegina Spektor — 11:11 + Papa's BootlegsValerie June — Under CoverMeechy Darko — Gothic LuxuryOther notable releases for August 26:blackbear — In Loving MemoryBret McKenzie — Songs Without JokesChris Forsyth — Evolution Here We ComeDiamanda Galás — Broken GargoylesEmbrace — How To Be a Person Like Other PeopleEyedress — Full Time LoverEzra Furman — All of Us FlamesIngrid Andress — Good PersonMarcus King — Young BloodMuse — Will Of The PeoplePantha du Prince — Garden GaiaPianos Become the Teeth — DriftSélébéyone — Xaybu: The UnseenSpice — EmancipatedWilliam Orbit — The PainterYellowjackets — Parallel Motion

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from Hot Chip, the R&B singer Tink, Shemekia Copeland, singer-songwriter Anna Tivel and more.Featured Albums:1. Hot Chip — Freakout/ReleaseFeatured Songs: "Down," "Freakout/Release," "Miss the Bliss," "The Evil That Men Do"2. Terence Etc. — VortexFeatured Songs: "In Contemplation of Clair's Scent," "Infinence or Infinity," "The Merchant of Flatbush"3. Anna Tivel — OutsidersFeatured Songs: "Outsiders, "Black Umbrella," "The Basement"4. Tink — Pillow TalkFeatured Songs: "Mine," "Drunk Text'n"5. Shemekia Copeland — Done Come Too FarFeatured Songs: "Too Far To Be Gone," "The Talk," "Fell in Love with a Honky," "Gullah Geechee," "The Dolls are Sleeping"Lightning Round: Andrew Combs — SundaysInternet Money — We All We GotMuna Ileiwat — Twenty-SevenTHICK — Happy NowOther notable releases for Aug. 19:AITCH — Close to HomeCass McCombs — HeartmindDemi Lovato — HOLY FVCKEli Winter — Eli WinterKim Myhr — Sympathetic MagicLoudon Wainwright III — Lifetime AchievementMadonna — Finally Enough Love: 50 Number OnesMarketa Irglova — LilaThe Mountain Goats — Bleed OutPanic! At The Disco — Viva Las VengeanceRöyksopp — Profound Mysteries IISilversun Pickups — Physical Thrills The Soft Pink Truth — Was It Ever Real?

The best new albums out this week include Cheat Codes from Danger Mouse and Black Thought, a stunning debut from singer and TikTok phenom Bella Poarch, Hudson Mohawke's Cry Sugar and more.Featured Albums: 1. Danger Mouse & Black Thought — Cheat CodesFeatured Songs: "Strangers," "Aquamarine"2. Bella Poarch — DollsFeatured Songs: "Dolls," "Build a Bitch"3. Hudson Mohawke — Cry SugarFeatured Songs: "Rain Shadow," "Ingle Nook," "Stump," "Behold"4. Beastie Boys — Check Your Head (Deluxe Edition)Featured Songs: "Jimmy James," "Gratitude," "So What'Cha Want (Butt Naked Version)," "Pass the Mic (Pt. 2, Skills To Pay The Bills)"5. NIKI — NicoleFeatured Songs: "Keeping Tabs," "Take A Chance With Me," "Facebook Friends"Lightning Round:Andy Bey — Experience and Judgment Peter Mulvey & SistaSrings — Love is the Only ThingSylvan Esso — No Rules SandyTomu DJ — Half Moon BayOther notable releases for Aug. 12:Boris — Heavy Rocks (2022)Pale Waves — UnwantedPanda Bear & Sonic Boom — ResetPavement — Slanted and Enchanted (30th Anniversary Edition)Rat Tally — In My Car

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a new project from Waxahatchee's Katie Crutchfield and Jess Williamson, a Vieux Farka Touré--Khruangbin collaboration and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Plains: "Problem With It," from I Walked With You A Ways2. dodie: "Got Weird" (Single)3. Spring Summer: "Mountaineer," from T.E.A.R.S4. Vieux Farka Touré & Khruangbin: "Savanne," from Ali5. Hermanos Gutiérrez: "El Bueno Y El Malo," from El Bueno Y El Malo6. Young Jesus: "Ocean (feat. Tomberlin)," from Shepherd Head

NPR Music's picks for the best releases out this week include a potent new EP from the rapper Doechii, hyper-pop from Pussy Riot, roots salsa from Colombia's Meridian Brothers and more. Featured Albums:1. Doechii — she / her / black bitchFeatured Tracks: "Bitches Be," "Swamp Bitches," "Persuasive"2. Meridian Brothers & El Grupo Renacimiento — Meridian Brothers & El Grupo RenacimientoFeatured Tracks: "Bomba Atómica," "Metamorfosis"3. AJ Suede — Oil On CanvasFeatured Tracks: "Growing Diamonds," "Wonder," "Monochrome"4. Pussy Riot — MATRIARCHY NOWFeatured Tracks: "PRINCESS CHARMING," "PLASTIC," "POOF BITCH"5. Planet Drum — In The GrooveFeatured Track: "King Clave"Lightning Round:Alexia Bomtempo — DOCE CARNAVALAraceli Poma — "Agua de Olvido"Art Moore — Art MooreVarious — Rise Jamaica!Other notable releases for Aug. 5:Bobby Shmurda — BodBoyCalvin Harris — Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2Fireboy DML — PlayboyKokoroko — Could We Be MoreLee Bains III & The Glory Fires — Old-Time FolksMall Grab — What I BreatheNeil Young — Noise & FlowersT Bone Burnett — The Invisible Light: Spells

Maggie Rogers leveled up and Beyoncé dropped another album we'll think about all year. But Johnny Gandelsman also took us across America, Bear1Boss super-smashed rap and Caterina Barbieri found immanence in synths. Featured Tracks and Artists:1. Maggie Rogers: "Shatter" from Surrender2. Beyoncé: "PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA" from RENAISSANCE 3. Johnny Gandelsman: "Surrender to the Adventure for Musician & Tape: 1. Blossom / American Dream" and "O for Violin & Voices" from This is America: An Anthology 2020-20214. Bear1Boss: "$$$" from Bear1Boss5. Caterina Barbieri: "Canticle of Cryo" from Spirit ExitOur panel's additional recommendations for July: • Adam Kent, Tania León: Teclas de mi piano• Gwenno: Tresor• Kali Malone: Living TorchSee also:• Maggie Rogers' summer mixtape sweats with sweetness• Caterina Barbieri's rapturous electronica was forged in deep solitude

Beyoncé's Renaissance isn't the only big release out now. NPR Music's other picks for the week's best new albums include Maggie Rogers' Surrender, the debut from DOMI & JD Beck and more.Featured Albums:1. Beyoncé — RenaissanceFeatured Tracks: "PURE/HONEY"2. Maggie Rogers — SurrenderFeatured Tracks: "Want Want," "Horses," "Shatter," Different Kind of World" 3. DOMI & JD Beck — NOT TiGHTFeatured Tracks: "BOWLING," TAKE A CHANCE," "WHATUP," "PILOT"4. Lava La Rue — Hi-Fidelity Featured Tracks: "Don't Trip," "Motel," "Cry Baby," "Don't Come Back"5. Florist — FloristFeatured Tracks: "Red Bird Pt 2 (Morning)," "Spring in Hours"Lightning Round:King Princess — Hold On BabySnarky Puppy — "Bet" (single)Tems — "No Woman No Cry" (single)Wilder Maker — Male ModelsOther notable releases for July 29:Amanda Shires — Take It Like A Man Chat Pile — God's Country Deaton Chris Anthony — Sid the Kid Hayley Kiyoko — PANORAMAJosh Rouse — Going PlacesObijuan & YUNGMORPHEUS — Slang CasinoOf Montreal — Freewave Lucifer fckPhony — AT SOME POINT YOU STOP$uicideboy$ — Sing Me a Lullaby My Sweet TemptationTedeschi Trucks Band — I Am The Moon: III, The Fall

Due out this Friday, July 29, Beyoncé's Act I Renaissance has generated a massive wave of anticipation. In this round-table discussion, we breakdown why we're excited, why it matters and what we might expect.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from Flo Milli, Jack White, Rico Nasty, Joey Bada$$, The Sea And Cake's Sam Prekop and John McEntire, and more.Featured Albums:1. Flo Milli — You Still Here, Ho?Featured Tracks: "Conceited," "Pay Day," "On My Nerves"2. Jack White — Entering Heaven AliveFeatured Tracks: "I've Got You Surrounded (With My Love)," "A Tip from You to Me," "Taking Me Back (Gently)," "Queen of the Bees"3. Rico Nasty — Las RuinasFeatured Tracks: "Skullflower," "Messy," "Gotsta Get Paid," "Easy"4. Joey Bada$$ — 2000Featured Tracks: " Eulogy," "Show Me"5. Sam Prekop & John McEntire — Sons OfFeatured Tracks: "A Ghost At Noon," "A Yellow Robe"Lightning Round: Beach Bunny — Emotional CreatureJitwam — ThirdThe Koreatown Oddity — ISTHISFORREAL?Other notable releases for July 22:Ben Harper — Bloodline MaintenanceChannelers — Time, Space and ThoughtDawes — Misadventures Of DoomscrollerImperial Triumphant — Spirit of EcstasyThe Kooks — 10 Tracks to Echo in the DarkNina Nastasia — Riderless HorseOceans of Slumber — Starlight and AshODESZA — The Last GoodbyePool Kids — Pool KidsRafael Anton Irisarri - Agitas Al SolRZA & Bobby Digital — RZA Presents: Bobby Digital and the Pit of SnakesThe Sadies — Colder StreamsShe & Him — Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian WilsonTanya Tagaq — Tongues North Star RemixesThor Harris — Doom Dub IITy Segall — "Hello, Hi"See more of the best new music out now via NPR Music's #Nowplaying

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including new ones from The 1975, Tiny Desk Contest contestant Danielle Ponder, The Black Angels and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Madi Diaz: "Hangover" (Single)2. Danielle Ponder: "So Long," from Some of Us Are Brave3. King Princess: "Cursed," from Hold On Baby4. The Beths: "Expert in a Dying Field," from Expert in a Dying Field5. The 1975: "Part of the Band," from Being Funny In a Foreign Language6. The Black Angels: "Firefly," from Wilderness of MirrorsWatch videos for each track and more at the All Songs Considered website.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Lizzo's Special, the ramshackle pop of Superorganism, beabadoobee, a genre-defying solo release from The Internet's Steve Lacy and more.Featured Albums:1. Lizzo — SpecialFeatured Songs: "About Damn Time," "Grrrls"2. beabadoobee — BeatopiaFeatured Songs: "10:36," "See You Soon," "Ripples," "Talk"3. Steve Lacy — Gemini RightsFeatured Songs: "Mercury," "Helmet," "2geteher (Enterlude)"4. Superorganism — World Wide PopFeatured Songs: "Flying," "Teenager," "Black Hole Baby"5. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad with Katalyst — JID 013Featured Songs: "Juneteenth," "Summer Solstice"Lightning Round: Attia Taylor — Space Ghostblack midi — HellfireLil Silva — Yesterday is HeavyInterpol — The Other Side of Make-BelieveOther notable releases for July 15:The A's — FruitAmirtha Kidambi & Luke Stewart — Zenith/NadirArp — New PleasuresElf Power — Artificial Countrysidesj-hope — jack in the boxJoVia Armstrong — The Antidote SuiteM. Geddes Gengras — Expressed, I Noticed SilenceOzomatli — Marching OnRonnie Foster — Reboot

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen's favorite new tracks of the week include a stirring collaboration with Margo Price, Mavis Staples and Adia Victoria, a "training montage" from The Mountain Goats and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Margo Price: "Fight to Make It (feat. Mavis Staples & Adia Victoria)" (Single)2. The Mountain Goats: "Training Montage," from Bleed Out3. Tianna Esperanza: "Princess Slit and the Raincoat Prince" (Single)4. renforshort: "i miss myself," from dear amelia5. Wilder Maker: "Against Numbers (feat. Katie Von Schleicher)," from Male Models6. Indigo Sparke: "Pressure in My Chest," from Hysteria

R&B singer Brent Faiyaz's reflective Wasteland, Metric's epic Formentera, a meditative instrumental record from producer Apollo Brown and more make our shortlist for the best albums out this week.Featured Albums: 1. Brent Faiyaz — WASTELANDFeatured songs: "PRICE OF FAME," "GRAVITY," "DEAD MAN WALKING"2. Metric — FormenteraFeatured songs: "Doomscroller"3. Apollo Brown — This Must Be The PlaceFeatured songs: "Catching Moments"4. Anna Butterss — ActivitiesFeatured songs: "Doo Wop" 5. renforshort — dear ameliaFeatured songs: "better off" Lightning Round: Burna Boy — Love, DaminiNoSo — Stay Proud of Merei brown — XenoWu-Lu — LOGGERHEADOther notable releases for July 8:Delicate Steve — After HoursEmmanuel Jal — ShangahThe Faim — Talk TalkKaty J Pearson — Sound of the MorningLaura Veirs — Found LightMegadeth — The Sick, The Dying... and the Dead!Neil Young & Crazy Horse — ToastRae Morris — Rachel@FairylandRapport — Floating Through the WonderwaveTye Tribbett — All Things NewTyshawn Sorey Trio — Mesmerism Vancouver Sleep Clinic — Fallen ParadiseWet — Pink Room

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including a surprising new single from Sylvan Esso, the L.A. rock duo known as Momma, the singer-songwriter Ondara and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Sylvan Esso: "Your Reality" (Single)2. Nora Brown: "Little Satchel," from Long Time To Be Gone3. Lindsay Clark: "Evening Star," from Carpe Noctem4. Yard Act & Elton John: "100% Endurance" (Single)5. Momma: "Motorbike," from Household Name6. Ondara: "An Alien In Minneapolis," from Spanish Villager No. 3

June brought us The Suffers' socially conscious party music, Saya Gray's headphones-worthy debut, GIVĒON's R&B ballads, Regina Spektor's elaborate songwriting and Petrol Girls' amped-up punk.Featured Tracks and Artists:1. The Suffers: "Don't Bother Me" and "Yada Yada" from It Starts with Love2. Saya Gray: "I FOUND A FLOORBOARD UNDER THE SOIL!" from 19 Masters3. GIVĒON: "Scarred" from Give Or Take4. Regina Spektor "One Man's Prayer" from Home, before and after5. Petrol Girls: "Preachers" from Baby Our panel's additional recommendations for June:• S.G. Goodman, Teeth Marks• Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler, For All Our Days That Tear the Heart• Beyoncé, "BREAK MY SOUL" • SZA, "Jodie" • Linda Ayupuka, God Created Everything Discover NPR Music's favorite albums and songs of 2022 (so far).

The singer explains why Blue Note Records rejected her first version of the beloved album and shares her original, previously unheard tracks, now released for a 20th anniversary edition of the record.Plus a deep dive on the album with NPR Music's Ann Powers, WBGO and Jazz Night In America's Nate Chinen and host Robin Hilton.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from the electro-pop band MUNA, R&B singer GIVĒON, country star Jimmie Allen, Soccer Mommy and more.Featured Albums:1. MUNA — MUNAFeatured Song: "What I Want"2. GIVĒON — Give or Take Featured Song: "Lost Me"3. Soccer Mommy — Sometimes, Forever Featured Song: "Don't Ask Me"4. Jimmie Allen — Tulip Drive Featured Song: "what i'm talkin' 'bout"5. Lupe Fiasco — DRILL MUSIC IN ZIONFeatured Song: "AUTOBOTO (feat. Nayirah)"Lightning Round• Ella Fitzgerald — Ella at the Hollywood Bowl: The Irving Berlin Songbook• Katie Alice Greer — Barbarism• Dear Silas — It's Giving SELF LOVE!• Regina Spektor — Home, before and after• Luke Combs — Growin' Up• Arooj Aftab — Vulture Prince (Deluxe Edition)• Zola Jesus — Arkhon• Various Artists — Elvis (OST)• Joan Shelley — The Spur

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares an anthemic call to action from Jesca Hoop, a song for a stressed-out brain from Dry Cleaning, and two tunes inspired by television shows.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Jesca Hoop: "Hatred Has a Mother," from Order of Romance2. Jake Blount: "Didn't It Rain," from The New Faith3. Alex G: "Runner," from God Save the Animals4. Rubblebucket: "Morning in the Sun" (Single)5. Marlon Williams: "Thinking of Nina," from My Boy6. Dry Cleaning: "Don't Press Me," from Stumpwork

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from R&B singer Yaya Bey, the shape-shifting rock of Bartees Strange, Perfume Genius, DJ and producer J. Rocc and more.Featured Albums:1. Yaya Bey — Remember Your North StarFeatured Songs: "alright," "rolling stoner," "meet me in brooklyn"2. Bartees Strange — Farm to TableFeatured Songs: "Mulholland Dr.," "Hold the Line," "Hennessy," "Cosigns"3. Wild Up — Julius Eastman, Vol. 2: Joy BoyFeatured Songs: "Stay On It," "Touch Him When (Heavy)," "Joy Boy"4. J. Rocc — A Wonderful LetterFeatured Songs: "Keep On (Yeah)," "Pajama Party," "Dancing With the Best"5. Perfume Genius — Ugly SeasonFeatured Songs: "Teeth," "Cenote," "Scherzo"Lightning Round: Erica Banks — Diary of The Flow QueenHarkin — Honeymoon SuiteKevin Gates — KhazaRY X — Blood MoonOther notable releases for June 17:Alanis Morissette — The Storm Before the CalmCarlos Simon & Marco Pave' — Requiem for the EnslavedFlasher — Love is YoursFoals — Life is YoursHercules & Love Affair — In AmberInfinity Knives & Brian Ennals — King CobraLogic — Vinyl DaysMt. Joy — Orange BloodSound of Ceres — Emerald Sea

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares new tracks from Belgian-Egyptian singer Tamino, Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath and Daughter of Sword's Alexandra Sauser-Monnig together as The A's and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. The A's: "He Needs Me," from Fruit2. S.G. Goodman: "Dead Soldiers," from Teeth Marks3. The Beths: "Silence Is Golden," from Expert In A Dying Field4. Madison Cunningham: "Hospital," from Revealer5. Katie Bejsiuk: "Olive, Ny" from The Woman on the Moon6. Tamino: "The First Disciple," from Sahar

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Nature's World from the Chicago hip-hop duo Mother Nature, FKJ's VINCENT, a meditative album from Japanese composer Midori Takada and more. Featured Albums:1. FKJ — VINCENTFeatured Songs: "Let's Live," "Greener"2. ELUCID — I Told BessieFeatured Songs: "Ghoulie," "Smile Lines"3. Nick Mulvey — New MythologyFeatured Songs: "Mecca," "Star Nation"4. Mother Nature & Renzell — Nature's WorldFeatured Song: "Midnight Garden"5. Midori Takada — You Who are Leaving to Nirvana and Cutting Branches for a Temporary ShelterFeatured Songs: "Kannon Daiji," "Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter (In the Morning)"Lightning Round:BTS — ProofFlora Purim — If You Will (physical release)Julius Rodriguez — Let Sound Tell AllShearwater — The Great AwakeningOther notable releases for June 10:Bloomsday — Place to LandCarrie Underwood — Denim & RhinestonesFree the Robots — KaduwaGeorge Ezra — Gold Rush KidJoyce Manor — 40 Oz. to FresnoJudah & The Lion — RevivalMapache — Roscoe's DreamMax Richter — The New Four SeasonsMoonchild Sanelly — PhasesVance Joy — In Our Own Sweet TimeYann Tiersen — 11 5 18 25 18

All Songs host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week including the return of Death Cab for Cutie, a rare demo from Lou Reed, the singer-songwriter known as NoSo, Sylvan Esso and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Sylvan Esso: "Sunburn" (Single)2. Annie Hamilton: "Exist," from the future is here but it feels kinda like the past3. Death Cab for Cutie: "Roman Candles," from Asphalt Meadows4. NoSo: "Parasites," from Stay Proud of Me5. Tess Parks: "Wow," from And Those Who Were Seen Dancing6. Lou Reed: "I'm Waiting for the Man - May 1965 Demo," from Words & Music, May 1965

The week's best new albums include Fantastic Negrito's White Jesus Black Problems, Angel Olsen's Big Time, rapper Namir Blade's sci-fi-inspired Metropolis, 070 Shake's You Can't Kill Me and more.Featured Albums:1. Fantastic Negrito — White Jesus Black ProblemsFeatured Songs: "Venomous Dogma," "In My Head"2. Angel Olsen — Big TimeFeatured Songs: "All The Flowers," "Big Time"3. 070 Shake — You Can't Kill MeFeatured Songs: "Cocoon," "The Body," "Wine And Spirits"4. Namir Blade — MetropolisFeatured Song: "BoA"5. Editrix — Editrix II: Editrix Goes To HellFeatured Song: "Cowboy"Lightning Round:700 Bliss — Nothing to Declare (released May 27)Horsegirl — Versions of Modern PerformanceS.G. Goodman — Teeth MarksPost Malone — Twelve Carat ToothacheOther notable releases for June 3:Andrew Bird — Inside ProblemsChronophage — ChronophageGWAR — The New Dark AgesJasmyn — In the Wild (former Weaves lead singer)Merzbow & Lawrence English — Eternal StalkerMichael Franti & Spearhead — Follow Your HeartPurity Ring — Graves Queen of Jeans — Hiding in PlaceRemi Wolf — Juno DeluxeThe Suffers — It Starts with LoveTash Sultana — MTV Unplugged (Live In Melbourne)

May brought us Bad Bunny's stacked summer album, Kendrick Lamar's unsettled opus, Ravyn Lenae's otherworldly debut, Julia Reidy's microtonal guitar dissonance and Ethel Cain's haunted pop. Featured Tracks and Artists:1. Bad Bunny: "Después de la Playa" and "Otro Atardecer" from Un Verano Sin Ti2. Kendrick Lamar: "N95" and "Mother I Sober" from Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers 3. Ravyn Lenae: "Where I'm From (feat. Mereba)" from Hypnos 4. Julia Reidy: "World in World" from World in World 5. Ethel Cain: "Family Tree" from Preacher's DaughterOur panel's additional recommendations for May: • My Chemical Romance, "The Foundations of Decay" • Flores, The Lives They Left• Leikeli47, Shape Up

The best albums out this week include Wilco's double-length Cruel Country, a debut from the singer UMI, the latest installment in Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge's Jazz Is Dead series and more.Featured Albums:1. Jean Carne, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge — JID012Featured Songs: "Black Love," "Visions"2. Wilco — Cruel CountryFeatured Songs: "I Am My Mother," "The Plains," "A Lifetime To Find"3. X Alfonso — Ancestros Sinfonicos Featured Song: "Yakuma Kareré"4. UMI — Forest in the CityFeatuared Song: "what would u do?"5. Nduduzo Makhathini — In the Spirit of NTUFeatured Songs: "Mama," "Emlilweni"Other notable releases for May 27:Brian Jackson — This Is Brian JacksonBright Eyes — A Collection of Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997, Letting Off the Happiness and Fevers and MirrorsDehd — Blue SkiesHAAi — Baby, We're AscendingIsaac Dunbar — Banish the BansheeJonny Greenwood — The Power of the Dog OST (physical release)Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith & Emile Mosseri - I Could Be Your Dog / I Could Be Your MoonLiam Gallagher — C'MON YOU KNOWMaria BC — HyalineRosie Carney — I Wanna Feel HappySean Paul — ScorchaSofie Birch — HolotropicaStars — From Capelton HillSteve Earle & The Dukes — Jerry Jeff

In this special episode from our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour, host Stephen Thompson talks with critics Christina Lee and Marcus J. Moore about Kendrick Lamar's new double album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. It's been five years since Lamar released his previous album, DAMN. Since then, he's won a Pulitzer Prize, been nominated for an Oscar, and become a parent. But Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, is anything but a breezy victory lap. Lamar examines generational trauma, sexual politics, and his own attempts to grow amid high expectations and heavy introspection.

The best albums out this week include Harry's House from Harry Styles, jazz pianist Joey Alexander's Origin, new ones from R&B singer Ravyn Lenae, rapper Boldy James, Porridge Radio and more.Featured Albums:1. Harry Styles — Harry's HouseFeatured Tracks: "Music for a Sushi Restaurant," "Grapejuice"2. Joey Alexander — OriginFeatured Tracks: "Remembering," "Summer Rising"3. Ravyn Lenae — HypnosFeatured Tracks: "3D," "Inside Out," "Xtasy"4. Porridge Radio — Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the SkyFeatured Tracks: "Back to the Radio," "End of Last Year"5. Boldy James & Real Bad Man — Killing NothingFeatured Track: "Game Time"Other notable releases for May 20:Charlie Hickey — Nervous At NightCraig Finn — A Legacy of RentalsFlume — PalacesHanson — Red Green BlueJoe Rainey — NiinetaKronos Quartet — Mỹ LaiLykke Li — EYEYEMary Lattimore & Paul Sukeena — West Kensingtonmxmtoon — risingSOAK — If I never know you like this againUffie — Sunshine Factory

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen introduces this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, Alisa Amador, plus new music from SOAK, the identical twins duo Companion, Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Alisa Amador: "Milonga accidental" (Single)2. Jens Lekman: "The Linden Trees Are Still in Blossom," from The Linden Trees Are Still in Blossom3. Companion: "If I Were a Ghost," from Second Day of Spring4. SOAK: "purgatory," from If I never know you like this again5. Jasmyn: "Cruel Moon," from In The Wild

Kendrick Lamar's highly anticipated Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, Leikeli47's Shape Up, Florence + the Machine's Dance Fever and more are on our shortlist of the week's best new albums.Featured Albums: 1. Kendrick Lamar — Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers2. Leikeli47 — Shape UpFeatured Track: "Chitty Bang"3. Florence + the Machine — Dance FeverFeatured Track: "Choreomania"4. Quelle Chris — DEATHFAMEFeatured Track: "King in Black"5. Tank and the Bangas — Red BalloonFeatured Track: "Communion in My Cup"6. John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter & Daniel Davis — FirestarterFeatured Track: "Charlie's Rampage"Other notable releases for May 13:The Black Keys — Dropout BoogieKevin Morby — This Is A PhotographMandy Moore — In Real LifeMary Halvorson — Amaryllis and BelladonnaMonophonics — Sage MotelPkew Pkew Pkew — Open BarSam Gendel & Antonia Cytrynowicz — Live a LittleSay Sue Me — The Last Thing LeftThe Smile — A Light For Attracting AttentionThey Hate Change — Finally, New

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares the "most astonishing song" he's heard this year: Regina Spektor's "Up The Mountain," plus Stella Donnelly's "Lungs," the many colors of MABUTA and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Regina Spektor: "Up The Mountain," from Home, before and after2. Rachel Bobbitt: "More" (Single)3. Shane Cooper & MABUTA: "Finish The Sun," from Finish The Sun4. Tomberlin: "idkwntht," from i don't know who needs to hear this...5. Kathryn Joseph: "The Burning of Us All," from For You Who Are the Wronged6. Stella Donnelly: "Lungs," from Flood

Jewly Hight from member station WNXP talks with Bonnie Raitt about the folk-and-blues legend's new album Just Like That... and how she's navigated five decades of storied music-making.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Sharon Van Etten's We've Been Going About This All Wrong, Jack Harlow's Come Home The Kids Miss You, Arcade Fire's WE and more.Featured Albums:1. Jack Harlow — Come Home The Kids Miss YouFeatured Tracks: "Nail Tech," "First Class"2. Ibeyi — Spell 31Featured Tracks: "Made of Gold," "Sister 2 Sister"3. Arcade Fire — WEFeatured Tracks: "Age of Anxiety I," "End of the Empire"4. IDK & KAYTRANADA — Simple.Featured Track: "Dog Food"5. Sharon Van Etten — We've Been Going About This All WrongFeatured Tracks: "Headspace," "Born"Other notable releases for May 6:!!! — Let It Be BlueBad Bunny — Un Verano Sin TiBelle And Sebastian — A Bit of PreviousBryan Ferry — Love Letters Ella Mai — Heart On My SleeveEmile Sandé — Let's Say For InstanceJermiside & The Expert — The Overview EffectJOYFULTALK — Familiar ScienceKikagaku Moyo — Kumoyo IslandMidland — The Last Resort: Greetings FromOtoboke Beaver — Super ChamponSuki Waterhouse — I Can't Let GoSunflower Bean — Headful of Sugar

April brought us albums from a re-energized Pusha T, reggae legend Horace Andy, Myra Melford's improvised suite, Syd's broken-hearted R&B ballads and Straw Man Army's paranoid-but-expansive post-punk. Featured Albums:1. Horace Andy: "Watch Over Them" from Midnight Rocker2. Pusha T: "Dreamin of the Past" from It's Almost Dry3. Myra Melford's Fire and Water Quintet: "VII" from For the Love of Fire and Water4. Syd: "CYBAH" from Broken Hearts Club5. Straw Man Army: "Human Kind" from SOSOther notable releases for April:• Fontaines D.C. — Skinty Fia • Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder — Get On Board • Joel Ross — The Parable of the Poet • Miles Okazaki's Trickster Quartet — Thisness • Albert Ayler — Revelations • Vince Staples — Ramona Park Broke My Heart• Omar Apollo — Ivory• Bonnie Raitt — Just Like That...• The Linda Lindas — Growing Up• Wet Leg — Wet Leg

The week's best new albums include Toro y Moi's spectacular MAHAL, hard-hitting rap from the New Jersey hip-hop duo Dälek's Precipice, R&B singer Kehlani's blue water road and more.Featured Albums:1. Toro y Moi — MAHALFeatured Tracks: "Magazine," "The Medium"2. Girlpool — ForgivenessFeatured Track: "Nothing Gives Me Pleasure"3. Dälek — PrecipiceFeatured Tracks: "Devotion (When I Cry The Wind Disappears)," "Boycott"4. Kehlani — blue water roadFeatured Tracks: "wish i never" and "wondering/wandering"5. Let's Eat Grandma — Two RibbonsFeatured Tracks: "Watching You Go," "Strange Conversations"6. Girl Ultra — El SurFeatured Tracks: "Bombay," "Nade Que Hacer"Other notable release for April 29: Bloc Party — Alpha GamesBurnt Pink — Afterlife DubCongotronics International — Where's The One?Corb Lund — Songs My Friends WroteDiane Coffee — With PeopleEbi Soda — Honk If You're SadThe Head and the Heart — Every Shade Of BlueKelly Lee Owens — LP8Melody's Echo Chamber — Emotional EternalMiranda Lambert — PalominoRöyksopp — Profound MysteriesWilliam Basinski & Janek Schaefer — ...On Reflection

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a live recording for the 20th anniversary of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, a new single from Phoebe Bridgers and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Lizzy McAlpine: "weird (ft. Laura Elliot)," from five seconds flat2. Flasher: "Love Is Yours," from Love Is Yours3. Fontaines D.C.: "Roman Holiday," from Skinty Fia4. Phoebe Bridgers: "Sidelines" (Single for Hulu's Conversations with Friends)5. Quinn Christopherson: "2005" (Single)6. Wilco: "Reservations (Live at The Pageant, St. Louis, MO 7/23/02)," from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Deluxe Edition)

The best albums out this week include It's Almost Dry from Pusha T, space rock from Spiritualized, a gorgeous ambient record from OHYUNG, a rediscovered Charles Mingus live recording and more.Featured Albums:1. Pusha T — It's Almost DryFeatured Tracks "Let the Smokers Shine the Coupes," "Dreaming of the Past," "Just So You Remember," "I Pray For You"2. Jorge Drexler — Tinta y TiempoFeatured Tracks: "El Plan Maestro," "¡Oh, Algoritmo!"3. Ben Marc — Glass EffectFeatured Track: "Way We Are"4. Spiritualized — Everything Was BeautifulFeatured Tracks: "Always Together With You," "Crazy"5. Charles Mingus — The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott'sFeatured Track: "Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, Then Silk Blues"6. OHYUNG — imagine naked!Featured Track: "symphonies sweeping"Other notable releases for April 22:• Becca Stevens & Attacca Quartet — Becca Stevens & Attacca Quartet• Bill Evans — Inner Spirit: The 1979 Concert at the Teatro General San Martín, Buenos Aires • Bonnie Raitt — Just Like That...• Charles Mingus — Mingus Three (Deluxe Edition)• claire rousay — everything perfect is already here• Fontaines D.C. — Skinty Fia• Hatchie — Giving the World Away• Jason Aldean — GEORGIA• King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard — Omnium Gatherum• Mister Goblin — Bunny• Patrick Watson — Better in the Shade• Roger Eno — The Turning Year• S. Carey — Break Me Open

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including a surprise return from Pink Floyd and uplifting songs from Sonny Singh, Patrick Watson and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Pink Floyd: "Hey, Hey, Rise Up (featuring Andriy Khlyvnyuk of Boombox)" (Single)2. Sonny Singh: "Aisee Preet," from Chardi Kala3. Tuba Skinny: "Trickster's Rag," from Magnolia Stroll4. Charlie Hickey: "Dandelions," from Nervous At Night5. Patrick Watson & La Force: "Height of the Feeling," from Better in the Shade6. The Good Ones: "I Dream Someday To Have a Home," from Rwanda...You See Ghosts, I See Sky

NPR Music picks the best new albums out this week, including new releases by Kaitlin Butts, Samora Pinderhughes, Mal Blum and more.Featured Albums:1. Kaitlin Butts — what else can she doFeatured Song: "it won't always be this way"2. Samora Pinderhughes — GRIEFFeatured Song: "Masculinity"3. Mal Blum — Ain't It Nice
Featured Song: "Everybody Loves You"4. Jerry Paper — Free TimeFeatured Song: "Just Say Play"5. Dave Brubeck Trio — Live From Vienna 1967Featured Song: "St. Louis Blues"Other notable releases for April 15:• Joel Ross — The Parable of the Poet• Flock of Dimes — Head of Roses (Phantom Limb• Digga D — Noughty By Nature• Kurt Vile — (watch my moves)• Spanish Love Songs — Brave Faces, Etc.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including new ones from singer Joan Shelley, Florist, The Hold Steady's Craig Finn and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Florist: "Red Bird Pt. 2 (Morning)," from Florist2. Joan Shelley: "The Spur," from The Spur3. Sadurn: "snake," from Radiator4. Dana Gavanski: "I Kiss The Night," from When It Comes5. Craig Finn: "Messing With the Settings," from A Legacy of Rentals6. dani mack: "Someday"7. Medicine Singers: "Daybreak," from Medicine Singers

It's a crazy-packed release day with new albums from Camila Cabello, Omar Apollo, an all-star collaboration with Wiz Khalifa, Big K.R.I.T., Girl Talk and Smoke DZA, Syd's Broken Hearts Club and more.Featured Albums: 1. Omar Apollo — IvoryFeatured Songs: "Talk," "En El Ovido"2. Syd — Broken Hearts ClubFeatured Song: "BMHWDY"3. Girl Talk, Big K.R.I.T., Wiz Khalifa, Smoke DZA — Full Court PressFeatured Song: "Fly the Coop"4. Camila Cabello — FamiliaFeatured Song: "Psychofreak"5. BANKS — SerpentinaFeatured Song: "Meteorite"Other notable releases for April 8:Calexico — El MiradorCoi Leray — TrendsetterDeer Scout — WoodpeckerFather John Misty — Chloe and the Next 20th CenturyFivio Foreign — B.I.B.L.E.Hiatus Kaiyote — Mood Variant (The Remixes)Jack White — Fear of the DawnJohnnyswim — JohnnyswimKae Tempest — The Line Is A CurveThe Linda Lindas — Growing UpOrville Peck — BroncoSon Lux — Everything Everywhere All At Once (OST)Vince Staples — Ramona Park Broke My HeartWet Leg — Wet Leg

March's best new music includes Kilo Kish's pop treatise on this game called life, Jenny Hval's philosophy on art-making, Soul Glo's punk rage and more. Featured Music:1. Kilo Kish: "DISTRACTIONS III: SPOILED ROTTEN" from AMERICAN GURL2. Jenny Hval: "American Coffee" from Classic Objects3. Soul Glo: "Jump! (Or Get Jumped!!!) ((by the future))" from Diaspora Problems4. rusowsky, "pikito" 5. Jóhann Jóhannsson: "The Mountain View, the Majesty of the Snow-Clad Peaks, from a Place of Contemplation and Reflection" from Drone MassOther notable releases for March:• Lous and The Yakuza, "Kisé"• Cécile McLorin Salvant — Ghost Song • Charli XCX — Crash • Rosalia — MOTOMAMI• Emmanuelle Parrenin — Targala, la maison qui n'en est pas une

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from the Bronx rapper T-Shyne, Sondre Lerche, the Canadian pop singer known as LIGHTS and more. Featured Albums: 1. T-Shyne — Confetti NightsFeatured Track: "Feed the Fam" 2. Pillow Queens — Leave the Light OnFeatured Track: "Be By Your Side"3. Sondre Lerche — Avatars of LoveFeatured Track: "Summer in Reverse"4. LIGHTS — PEPFeatured Track: "Money in the Bag"5. GGGOLDDD — This Shame Should Not Be MineFeatured Track: "Spring"Other notable releases for April 1: Big Cheeko — Block Barry WhiteCarpenter Brut — Leather TerrorChristian Lee Hutson — QuittersDuster — TogetherField Works — StationsMeshuggah — ImmutableMolly Tuttle & Golden Highway — Crooked TreeNight Palace — Diving RingsPUP — THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBANDRed Hot Chili Peppers — Unlimited Love

What record changed your life? NPR Music's Turning the Tables, which challenges sexism in the pop music canon, asked writers that question. Every week in March, we're diving into their answers.

All Songs host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including songs of love from Angel Olsen and Soccer Mommy, a new one from the upcoming Perfume Genius album Ugly Season and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Perfume Genius: "Pop Song," from Ugly Season2. Zola Jesus: "Lost," from Arkhon3. Arooj Aftab: "Udhero Na (feat. Anoushka Shankar)," from Vulture Prince (Deluxe Edition)4. Angel Olsen: "All The Good Times," from Big Time5. Saya Gray: "IF THERE'S NO SEAT IN THE SKY (WILL YOU FORGIVE ME???)," from 19 MASTERS6. Soccer Mommy: "Shotgun," from Sometimes, Forever

Our picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from Nashville singer Maren Morris, the Jamaican rapper and singer Koffee, London's Afro-funk group Ibibio Sound Machine, Barrie and more.Featured Albums: 1. Maren Morris — Humble QuestFeatured Tracks: "Humble Quest" and "Nervous"2. Koffee — GiftedFeatured Track: "Shine"3. Ornette Coleman — Genesis of Genius: The Contemporary AlbumsFeatured Track: "Lorraine"4. Barrie — BarbaraFeatured Track: "Jersey"5. Ibibio Sound Machine — ElectricityFeatured Tracks: "Protection from Evil" and "Truth No Lie"Other notable releases for March 25:Aldous Harding — Warm ChrisBuddy — SuperghettoCamp Cope — Running with the HurricaneDenzel Curry — Melt My Eyez See Your FutureDestroyer — Labyrinthitis Machine Gun Kelly — mainstream selloutRema — Rave & RosesWalter Martin — The Bear

What record changed your life? NPR Music's Turning the Tables, which challenges sexism in the pop music canon, asked writers that question. Every week in March, we're diving into their answers.

All Songs host Bob Boilen's mix this week includes the joy of Valerie June, a new project from Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, with Sons Of Kemet's Tom Skinner, called The Smile, and more.Featured Tracks and Artists:1. Brittany Davis: "I Choose to Live," from I Choose to Live EP2. Valerie June: "Use Me" (Single)3. Arcade Fire: "Lightning I, II," from WE4. The Smile: "Skrting On the Surface" (Single)5. Congotronics International: "Where's The One?," from Where's The One?6. Andrew Bird: "Atomized" (Single)7. Typhoon: "New Wife," from Underground Complex EP

Two of the year's most anticipated albums — Rosalía's MOTOMAMI and Charli XCX's CRASH — drop today, along with Johann Johannsson's posthumous Drone Mass, Yumi Zouma's Present Tense and more. Featured Albums:1. Rosalía — MOTOMAMIFeatured tracks: "CUUUUuuuuuute," "BULERÍAS," "SAOKO"2. Jóhann Jóhannsson — Drone MassFeatured tracks: "Two is Apocryphal," "Take the Night Air"3. Raw Poetic & Damu The Fudgemunk — Laminated SkiesFeatured Tracks: "Open Roads," "Chewing Gum"4. Charli XCX — CRASHFeatured Tracks: "Crash," "Yuck"5. Yumi Zouma — Present TenseFeatured Track: "Astral Projections"Other notable releases for March 18:Bladee & Ecco2K — CrestBroadcast — Microtronics, Mother is the Milky Way, Maida Vale SessionsCypress Hill — Back in BlackMattiel — Georgia GothicMidlake — For the Sake of Bethel WoodsRuth Slenczynska — My Life in MusicSonic Youth — In/Out/In

What record changed your life? NPR Music's Turning the Tables, which challenges sexism in the pop music canon, asked writers that question. Every week in March, we're diving into their answers.

All Songs host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including some powerful story-songs, from a drug-filled fling to lies learned about a lost father, an underwater journey and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Curse Of Lono: "So Damned Beautiful (feat. Tess Parks)," from People In Cars2. Gang of Youths: "you in everything," from angel in realtime3. Belle and Sebastian: "Unnecessary Drama," from A Bit of Previous4. Niia: "Forward," from OFFAIR:Mouthful of Salt5. Deer Scout: "Peace with the Damage," from Woodpecker6. Scout laRue Willis: "Shouldn't I Be" (Single)

Our shortlist for the best albums out this week includes Rex Orange County's WHO CARES?, the immediately transfixing Getaway from singer Orion Sun, the genre-hopping sounds of Jenny Hval and more.Featured Albums: 1. Orion Sun — GetawayFeatured Tracks: "intro" and "without you"2. Rex Orange County — WHO CARES?Featured Tracks: "SHOOT ME DOWN" and "KEEP IT UP"3. Fly Anakin — FrankFeatured Tracks: "Love Song (Come Back)" and "Bread"4. Jenny Hval — Classic ObjectsFeatured Track: "Cemetery of Splendor"5. Irma Thomas — Full Time Woman, The Lost Cotillion Album (on vinyl)Featured Track: "Adam and Eve"Other notable releases for March 11:Alex Cameron — Oxy MusicBenny the Butcher — Tana Talk 4The Boo Radleys — Keep On With FallingBOYO — Echoes Like MemoriesDrug Church — Hygiene Fatboi Sharif & LoneSword — Cyber City SocietyLoop — SonancyLucky Daye — CANDYDRIP

What record changed your life? NPR Music's Turning the Tables, which challenges sexism in the pop music canon, asked writers that question. Every week in March, we're diving into their answers.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a collaboration between Mitski, David Byrne and Son Lux, the return of Regina Spektor and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Son Lux, Mitski, David Byrne: "This Is A Life," from Everything Everywhere All At Once2. Regina Spektor: "Becoming All Alone," from Home, before and after3. Suz Slezak: "Loneliness Is Measured," from Our Wings May Be Featherless4. Kevin Morby: "This Is A Photograph," from This Is A Photograph5. Sharon Van Etten: "Used To It" (Single)6. Superorganism: "Teenager (feat. CHAI & Pi Ja Ma)," from World Wide Pop

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Belgian singer and rapper Stromae's first new music in nearly a decade, the blood-slowing sounds of The Weather Station and more.Featured Albums:1. Stromae — MultitudeFeatured Tracks: "L'enfer," "Santé" and "Déclaration"2. Nilüfer Yanya — PainlessFeatured Tracks: "the dealer," "L/R" and "midnight sun"3. RZA & DJ Scratch — Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu TheaterFeatured Track: "Pugilism"4. Kojey Radical — Reason to SmileFeatured Track: "Silk"5. The Weather Station — How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars?Featured Track: "Ignorance"Other notable releases for March 4:Band of Horses — Things Are GreatCécile McLorin Salvant — Ghost SongDolly Parton — Run, Rose, RunJordan Rakei — BruisesKAINA — It Was A HomeMadi Diaz — Same History, New FeelingsPeach Pit — From 2 to 3Roy Montgomery — AudiotherapyTom Caruana — Strange Planet

What record changed your life? NPR Music's Turning the Tables, which challenges sexism in the pop music canon, asked writers that question. Every week in March, we're diving into their answers.

February's best new music includes a double album by Big Thief, Raveena's ambitious sophomore effort, Pusha T's old-school polish, Joyce DiDonato's wordless wondering and caroline's calming, crazy quilt of sound. Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Big Thief — Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in YouFeatured songs: "Spud Infinity" and "Dried Roses"2. Raveena — Asha's AwakeningFeatured song: "Mystery"3. Pusha T, "Diet Coke"4. Joyce DiDonato — EDENFeatured song: "The Unanswered Question"5. caroline — carolineFeatured song: "Dark blue"Other notable releases for February:• Hurray for the Riff Raff — LIFE ON EARTH• Mitski -- Laurel Hell• Erin Rae — Lighten Up• Chris Farren — Death Don't Wait (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)• Los Bitchos — Let the Festivities Begin!• Saba — Few Good Things

Robert Glasper returns this week with Black Radio III, the latest in his ongoing fusion of jazz, rap, hip-hop and R&B. Other notable albums this week include new ones from SASMI, EARTHGANG and more. Featured Albums:1. Robert Glasper — Black Radio IIIFeatured Tracks: "Why We Speak" and "In Tune"2. SASAMI — SqueezeFeatured Track: "Say It"3. Sevdaliza — Raving DahliaFeatured Track: "Everything Is Everything"4. EARTHGANG — Ghetto GodsFeatured Track — "Amen"5. Emily Wells — Regards to the EndFeatured Tracks: "All Burn, No Bridge" and "David's Got A Problem"Other notable releases for Feb. 25:Aspidistrafly — Altar of DreamsAvishai Cohen — Naked TruthAvril Lavigne — Love SuxBambara — Love on My MindBasia Bulat — The Gardencaroline — carolineIsaiah Collier & The Chosen Few: "Lift Every Voice" (single)King Hannah — I'm Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me Superchunk — Wild LonelinessTears for Fears — The Tipping Point

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks this week, including the "femmenoid" sounds of Sevdaliza, Tiny Desk contest winner Fantastic Negrito Porridge Radio and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Porridge Radio: "Back To The Radio," From Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky2. Sevdaliza: "High Alone," From Raving Dahlia (EP)3. Fantastic Negrito: "Highest Bidder," From White Jesus Black Problems4. Daniel Rossen: "Unpeopled Space," From You Belong There5. Roedelius & Story: "Nurzu," From 4 Hands6. Charbonneau / Amato: "Évaporations," From Synth Works Vol. 2

The week's best new music includes the deep grooves and heady soul of Khruangbin and Leon Bridges, an epic tale in sound from Beach House, the return of queer country pioneers Lavender Country and more. Featured Albums1. Khruangbin & Leon Bridges — Texas MoonFeatured songs: "B-Side" and "Doris"2. Beach House — Once Twice MelodyFeatured song: "Modern Love Stories"3. Hurray for the Riff Raff — LIFE ON EARTHFeatured song: "POINTED AT THE SUN" 4. Kendra Morris — Nine LivesFeatured song: "Dry"5. Lavender Country — Blackberry RoseFeatured song: "All Disillusions Behind"Other notable releases for Feb. 18:Anwar HighSign — Live N*gga Prophecy Big K.R.I.T. — Digital Roses Don't DieMAITA — I Just Want to Be Wild For YouMetronomy — Small WorldRokia Koné & Jacknife Lee — BamananSally Shapiro — Sad CitiesThe Shout Out Louds — HouseShovels & Rope — ManticoreTennyson — Rot

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen and NPR Music editor Hazel Cills share their favorite new tracks of the week, including the soulful sounds of The Suffers, the frenetic electronica of Whatever The Weather and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Lady Dan: "Not In Love" (Single)2. Maria BC: "The Only Thing," from Hyaline3. Maylee Todd: "Show Me," from Maloo4. Whatever The Weather: "17°C," from Whatever The Weather5. S. Carey: "Break Me Open," from Break Me Open6. Yungchen Lhamo: "Awakening," from Awakening7. The Suffers: "How Do We Heal (ft. Bryce The Third and Son Little" (Single)

NPR Music's picks for the week's best albums include Mary J. Blige's Good Morning Gorgeous, the sonic wonders of alt-j, spiritual guidance from Raveena, a new solo record from Eddie Vedder and more.Featured Albums: 1. Mary J. Blige — Good Morning GorgeousFeatured Track: "On Top"2. alt-J — The DreamFeatured Track: "Bane"3. Raveena — Asha's AwakeningFeatured Tracks: "Kathy Left 4 Khatmandu" and "The Internet Is Like Eating Plastic"4. Shamir — HeterosexualityFeatured Track: "Caught Up"5. Eddie Vedder — EarthlingFeatured Track: "Power of Right"Other notable releases for Feb. 11:Big Thief — Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In YouBuke and Gase & Rahrah Gabor — Buke and Gase & Rahrah GaborClaire Rousay & More Eaze — Never Stop Texting MeEmpath — VisitorFrank Turner - FTHCJoss Stone — Never Forget My LoveMoonchild — StarfruitPriscilla Block — Welcome to the Block PartySpoon — Lucifer on the SofaTrupa Trupa — B Flat AVoivod — Synchro AnarchyZeal & Ardor — Zeal & Ardor

In this special episode, our friends at the It's Been A Minute podcast talk with musician and filmmaker Questlove about the recently released soundtrack to his 2001 documentary Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). Host Sam Sanders chats with Questlove about the long history of Black erasure and the memorable performances from The 5th Dimension, Stevie Wonder (playing the drums!), Mavis Staples, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone and many more.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a collaboration between Madi Diaz and Waxahatchee, "Kissing Lessons" from Lucy Dacus and more.Featured Artist and Songs:1. Lucy Dacus: "Kissing Lessons" (Single)2. Madi Diaz w/ Waxahatchee: "Resentment (New Feelings Version)" (Single)3. illuminati hotties: "Sandwich Sharer" (Single)4. Luna Li (ft. beabadoobee): "Silver Into Rain," from Duality5. River Whyless: "Heaven and Light," from Monoflora6. Norma Waterson: "Bright Shiny Morning," from Bright Shiny Morning

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the final trap album from Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz, '80s-flavored pop from Mitski, Animal Collective's return to form and more.Featured Albums:1. 2 Chainz — Dope Don't Sell ItselfFeatured tracks: "10 Bracelets" and "Million Dollars Worth Of Game"2. Mitski — Laurel HellFeatured track: "Stay Soft"3. Animal Collective — Time SkiffsFeatured track: "Strung With Everything"4. Saba — Few Good ThingsFeatured tracks: "Survivor's Guilt" and "2012"5. Erin Rae — Lighten UpFeatured track: "California Belongs to You"Other notable releases for Feb. 4:Black Country, New Road — Ants From Up ThereCate Le Bon — PompeiiLord Kayso — More ChoresLos Bitchos — Let The Festivities Begin!The Reds, Pinks and Purples — Summer at Land's EndTank — R&B MONEY

In a career-spanning interview, the singer reflects on his decades-long life in music, from his earliest childhood memories to the artists who shaped his work and what his own songs have meant to others.

The Summer of Soul soundtrack is finally here, along with a breathtaking debut from singer Amber Mark, a mind-bender from jazz saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins and more.Featured Albums: 1. Various — The Summer of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)Featured Song: "Don'tcha Hear Me Callin' to Ya?"2. Lady Wray — Piece of MeFeatured Song: "Where Were You"3. Samm Henshaw — Untidy SoulFeatured Songs: "Thoughts and Prayers," "Chicken Wings," "Keyon (Interlude)"4. Amber Mark — Three Dimensions DeepFeatured Song: "One"5. Immanuel Wilkins — The 7th HandFeatured Song: "Don't Break"Other notable releases for Jan. 28:Anaïs Mitchell — Anaïs MitchellBabyface Ray — FaceBeirut — ArtifactsGreg Spero — The Chicago ExperimentSt. Paul & The Broken Bones — Alien Coast

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen and NPR Music editor Marissa Lorusso share their favorite new music of the week, including the latest from PUP and the curious and beautiful sounds of Isik Kural.Featured artists and tracks:1. PUP: "Robot Writes A Love Song," from THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND2. MAITA: "Loneliness," from I Just Want To Be Wild For You3. KAINA: "Apple," from It Was a Home4. Uwade: "Do You See The Light Around Me?" (Single)5. Imarhan: "Achinkad," from Aboogi6. Isik Kural: "paperhat," from in february

Emo rapper and singer iann dior, pianist Simone Dinnerstein, Americana singer-songwriter Aoife O'Donovan and more land on this week's shortlist for the best new releases out on Jan. 21. Featured Albums: 1. iann dior — on to better thingsFeatured Songs: "V12" and "hopeless romantic"2. Che Noir — Food For ThoughtFeatured Song: "Communion"3. Simone Dinnerstein — UndersongFeatured Songs: Erik Satie's "Gnossienne No. 3" and Philip Glass' "Mad Rush"4. Aoife O'Donovan — Age of ApathyFeatured Song: "Sister Starling" 5. Jana Horn — OptimismFeatured Song: "Optimism"6. Tanya Tagaq — TonguesFeatured Songs: "Earth Monster" and "Colonizer"Other notable releases for Jan. 21:Aurora - The Gods We Can TouchBoris — WBoy Harsher — The Runner (Original Soundtrack)Jake Xerxes Fussell — Good and Green AgainJanis Ian — The Light at the End of the LinePedro the Lion — HavasuYoung T & Bugsey — Truth Be Told

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks, including one from Hadestown creator Anaïs Mitchell, Frank Turner's dream-inspired ode to his late friend, Scott Hutchison and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Frank Turner: "A Wave Across A Bay," from FTHC2. Anaïs Mitchell: "On Your Way (Felix Song)," from Anaïs Mitchell3. Janis Ian: "Better Times Will Come," from The Light at the End of the Line4. Midlake: "Bethel Woods," from For The Sake of Bethel Woods5. Shamir: "Reproductive," from Heterosexuality6. Keeley Forsyth: "I Stand Alone," from Limbs

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include FKA Twigs' CAPRISONGS, SICK! from Earl Sweatshirt, joyful singalongs from The Lumineers and more.Featured Albums: 1. FKA Twigs — CAPRISONGSFeatured Songs: "papi bones" and "track girl interlude"2. Earl Sweatshirt — SICK!Featured Song: "God Laughs"3. The Lumineers — BrightsideFeatured Song: "Where We Are"4. Bonobo — FragmentsFeatured Song: "Rosewood"5. Cordae — From A Birds Eye ViewFeatured Song: "Champagne Glasses"6. Linying — There Could Be Wreckage HereFeatured Song: "Faith"Other notable releases for Jan. 14: Blood Red Shoes — GHOSTS ON TAPE; Broken Social Scene — Old Dead Young; Cat Power — Covers; Elvis Costello and The Imposters — The Boy Named If.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, along with NPR Music's curator of the weird and loud, Lars Gotrich.Featured Artists And Tracks:1. Kae Tempest: "More Pressure," from The Line Is A Curve2. Pigeon Pit: "Empties," from Feather River Canyon Blues3. Souk: "Sooner or Later," from Souk Demo4. Basia Bulat: "The Garden," from The Garden5. Barrie: "Quarry," from Barbara6. The Smile: "You Will Never Work In Television Again" (Single)7. Yard Act: "Rich," from The Overload

Our friends at NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast take a look Spotify's annual end-of-year event, and viral sensation, 'Wrapped.' In 2019 the service started pairing its year-end listening data with eye-catching and extremely shareable graphics. But, when the algorithm curates so much of our listening experience... are we just creating a perpetual feedback loop?

In this special episode from NPR's How I Built This with Guy Raz, Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan talk about how, as college students in the late '80s, they created one of the most influential indie labels of all time, Merge Records

Our friends at NPR's Throughline podcast take a deep dive into the Radiohead albums Kid A and Amnesiac, examining the ways the band confronted the monsters around us and within us at the dawn of a new millennium.

NPR Music's Lars Gotrich offers a tribute to the Peruvian punk, chiptuned black metal and Brazilian dub that soundtracked his home office in 2021, cranked on a trusty tape machine. Music heard on this episode:• Morbo: "En el cubil" from ¿A Quién Le Echamos La Culpa? • Cara Neir: "Damnation" from Phase Out • Felinto: "Chroma" from Futuro Antigo Perpétuo • Wendy Eisenberg: "Don't move" from Bent Ring • Lucy Liyou: "Uncle" from Practice• Neo Geodesia: "Fanta Rouge" from 2562 Neon Flames• Maraudeur: "TWYWYS" from Puissance 4 • Myriam Gendron: "C'est dans les vieux pays" from Ma délire - Songs of love, lost & found • Bacon Grease: "What Do You Know" from The Slow Burn• Znous: "El-Mansiette" from Znousland 3

When we held our first holiday extravaganza in 2012 (at a snow-covered cabin in the woods), nearly all of the guests we'd invited canceled. For 2019, we decided to return to the cozy cabin where it all began. What could possibly go wrong?

From 2018, hosts Bob and Robin decide to get away from it all with a holiday cruise to Bermuda. But nature inevitably runs its course and the gang finds itself stuck in the swirling vortex of the mystical Bermuda Triangle, desperate for some sort of passage back home.

In this holiday episode originally aired in 2016. Bob and Robin take a train ride to the North Pole in hopes of rediscovering the true spirit of the season. Along the way they meet some special friends, including Kacey Musgraves, Connor Oberst, Japanese Breakfast and more.

Through a series of unexpected events, we find ourselves hurtling through outer space, on an urgent musical mission. Join us as we take a rocket ride to the stars, grow homesick for the holidays, and find comfort from a few special guests and friends, including Angel Olsen, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, our favorite spaceman (Dan Deacon, of course), and more. This episode originally aired in 2014.

Originally aired in 2012, our first holiday special landed us at a remote cabin in the woods where we (trust us!) held a party for the ages. The guest list for our night of music and tall tales included Kishi Bashi, Dan Deacon, Carrie Brownstein, Nellie McKay and more.

The groundbreaking HBO series, which just ended a five-year run, provided a platform for showcasing great, unknown Black artists and recast expectations for what R&B, rap and hip-hop can be.

Members of the NPR Music team share their personal picks for the best songs or albums from 2021 that didn't make our final lists.1. dodie: "Hate Myself," from Build a Problem2. Tōth: "Turnaround (Cocaine Song)," from You And Me And Everything3. Flock of Dimes: "Price of Blue," from Head of Roses4. Blu DeTiger: "Vintage," from How Did We Get Here?5. doechii: "TRUTH," From Bra-Less6. girl in red: "Did You Come?" from if i could make it go quiet7. Moin: "Crappy Dreams Count," from Moot!8. Limp Bizkit: "Dad Vibes," from STILL SUCKS9. Madi Diaz: "Nervous," from History of a Feeling10. Tré Burt: "Funny Story (Song for Eva)," from You, Yeah, You11. Normani (feat. Cardi B): "Wild Side" (Single)12. Sarah Kinsley: "The King," from The King (EP)13. NIKARA: "Thick Girls," from NIKARA presents Black Wall Street14. Draco Rosa: "El Amor de Borikén," from Sound Healing 1:1115. Morgen Wurde feat. Maria Estrella: "Weiht," from Pop Ambient 2022

On this special episode, the Alt.Latino team discusses the best Latin music singles of 2021.

See what our listeners picked as the top 20 albums released in 2021.

Each year NPR's Alt.Latino crew parses through hundreds of new Latin music releases in the hopes of finding the best of the genre. On this episode they share just a few of their favorites that stood out in 2021.

A conversation with the singer, rapper, social-media sensation, and fashion icon about his groundbreaking pop banger "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)."

The singer reveals the stories and inspiration behind her breathtaking album. Released in January, Heaux Tales held our gaze throughout the year, becoming NPR Music's pick for the best album of 2021.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the soundtrack for Paul Thomas Anderson's new film Licorice Pizza, Turkish funk from El Michels Affair, Julie Doiron and more.Featured Albums:1. Various — Licorice PizzaFeatured Songs: "Peace Frog" (The Doors) and "Licorice Pizza" (Jonny Greenwood)2. El Michels Affair — AbominableFeatured Song: "Cham Cham"3. Julie Doiron — I Thought of YouFeatured Song: "Cancel the Party"4. Cynic — Ascension CodesFeatured Song: "Mythical Serpents" 5. Spectacular Diagnostics — Ancient MethodsFeatured Song: "The Wall"

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new songs of the week including Beach House's "Once Twice Melody," "Haunted House" from the actress Mckenna Grace, Medium Build and more.Featured Tracks:1. Beach House: "Once Twice Melody," from Once Twice Melody2. Medium Build: "Rabbit" (Single)3. Semler: "Prodigal Girl," from Late Bloomer EP4. Mckenna Grace: "Haunted House" (Single)5. Jasmyn: "Find the Light" (Single)6. Lizzy McAlpine: "doomsday" (Single)

Adele's long-awaited 30 tops NPR Music's picks for the best new albums out this week, along with new ones from Snoop Dogg, Makaya McCraven, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and more.Featured Albums:1. Adele — 30Featured track: "Oh My God"2. Snoop Dogg — AlgorithmFeatured tracks: "Big Subwoofer" and "Anxiety"3. Makaya McCraven — Deciphering the MessageFeatured track: "Black Rhythm Happening"4. Ben LaMar Gay — Open Arms to Open UsFeatured track: "Aunt Lola and the Quail"5. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss — Raise the RoofFeatured track: "Go Your Way"6. Apollo Brown & Stalley — BlacklightFeatured track: "Breathe"7. Coldcut — @0Featured track: "Star Ray" (performed by Julianna Barwick)Other notable releases for Nov. 19: Brian Wilson — At My Piano; Elbow — Flying Dream 1; Khemmis — Deceiver; Sting — The Bridge.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new songs of the week, including a just-announced track from Big Thief, the London-based Somali artist known as FACESOUL, Pinegrove and more.Featured Tracks:1. Big Thief: "Time Escaping," from Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You2. Maia Friedman: "Where the Rocks Are," from Under the New Light3. Mirrors: "Una Rosa," from Mirrors4. Pinegrove: "Alaska," from 11-115. Why Bonnie: "Galveston" (Single)6. FACESOUL: "The Path," from YSRA

The Bruno Mars-Anderson .Paak collab as Silk Sonic tops NPR Music's shortlist of the best albums out this week, along with new ones from Courtney Barnett, Aesop Rock, Jon Hopkins and more.Featured Albums: 1. Silk Sonic — An Evening with Silk SonicFeatured Songs: "Fly As Me" and "Blast Off"2. Atarashii Gakko — Snacktime!Featured Song: "Free Your Mind"3. Jon Hopkins — Music for Psychedelic TherapyFeatured Songs: "Love Flows over Us in Prismatic Waves" and "Sit Around the Fire"4. Courtney Barnett — Things Take Time, Take TimeFeatured Song: "Turning Green"5. Aesop Rock & Blockhead — GarbologyFeatured Song: "The Sea"6. Joell Ortiz — AutographFeatured Songs: "Uncle Chris Car" and "OG"Other notable releases for Nov. 12: Bill Charlap — Street of Dreams; IDLES — Crawler; Nirvana — Nevermind (30th Anniversary Super Deluxe); Taylor Swift — Red (Taylor's Version); They Might Be Giants — Book.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including the stunning voice of West African singer Rokia Koné, new solo work from Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi and more.Featured Tracks:1. Julie Doiron: "You Gave Me The Key," from I Thought Of You2. Cola: "Blank Curtain" (Single)3. David Keenan: "What Then Cried Jo Soap," from WHAT THEN?4. Rokia Koné & Jacknife Lee: "N'yanyan," from BAMANAN5. Jónsi: "Pyralone," from Obsidian6. Sóley: "Desert," from Mother Melancholia

NPR Music's picks for the best new albums out this week include ones from the Portland rapper Aminé, Snail Mail, composer and saxophonist Terrace Martin, the string ensemble Attacca Quartet and more.Featured Albums:1. Aminé — TWOPOINTFIVEFeatured Song: "OKWME"2. Attacca Quartet — Of All JoysFeatured Songs: "Mishima, 1957: Award Montage," "Miserere," "Fratres"3. Tasha — Tell Me What You Miss The MostFeatured Song: "Bed Song 1"4. Snail Mail — ValentineFeatured Song: "Mia"5. Terrace Martin — DronesFeatured Song: "Leave Us Be"6. Sloppy Jane — MadisonFeatured Songs: "Judy's Bedroom," "Overture" and "Lullaby Formica"7. Curtis Harding — If Words Were FlowersFeatured Song: "Hopeful"8. Remy Le Boeuf — Architecture of StormsFeatured Song: "The Melancholy Architecture of Storms"Other notable releases for Nov. 5: ABBA — Voyage; Diana Ross — Thank You; Hana Vu — Public Storage; Joan As Police Woman — The Solution is Restless; Radiohead — Kid A Mnesia; serpentwithfeet — DEACON'S GROVE; Summer Walker — Still Over It.

Every month, we ask the NPR Music staff: What's the one song you couldn't escape? What's the one album to which you'll return all year? In October, we fell far into the music of Helado Negro and Jordan Peters, screamed along to Illuminati Hotties and Cerce, and meditated on the voices of Buffalo Nichols and Emily D'Angelo. Music featured on this episode:• Buffalo Nichols: "Another Man" from Buffalo Nichols• Jordan Peters, "Float (feat. Obed Calvaire)"• Emily D'Angelo: "Nausicaa" from enargeia• Helado Negro: "Aguas Frías" from Far In• Illuminati Hotties: "MMMOOOAAAAAYAYA" from Let Me Do One More• Cerce: "Fate" from Cowboy MusicFollow the #NowPlaying blog for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

NPR Music picks the best new albums out this week, including new releases by Tori Amos, Mick Jenkins, Mon Laferte, The War on Drugs and more.Featured Albums1. The War on Drugs — I Don't Live Here AnymoreFeatured Song: "Change"2. Mick Jenkins — Elephant in the RoomFeatured Song: "Stiff Arm"3. Tori Amos — Ocean to OceanFeatured Song: "Speaking With Trees"4. Emily Scott Robinson — American SirenFeatured Song: "Let 'Em Burn"5. Lily Konigsberg — Lily We Need to Talk NowFeatured Song: "Alone"6. Eris Drew — Quivering in TimeFeatured Song: "Show U Love"7. Mon Laferte — 1940 CarmenFeatured Song: "Algo Es Mejor"8. Theon Cross — Intra-IFeatured Song: "40Tude"9. Lilli Lewis — AmericanaFeatured Song: "Wrecking Ball"10. Johnathan Blake — Homeward BoundFeatured Song: "Homeward Bound (For Ana Grace)"Other notable releases for October 29:Ed Sheeran — =; Migos — Culture III; Jónsi — Obsidian; Death Cab for Cutie — The Photo Album (20th Anniversary Edition); R.E.M. — New Adventures in Hi-Fi (25th Anniversary Edition); Spice Girls — Spice (25th Anniversary Edition); Johnny Cash — Bear's Sonic Journals: Johnny Cash at the Carousel Ballroom, April 24 1968; Maya Jane Coles — Night Creature; They Might Be Giants — BOOK; Charlotte Cornfield — Highs in the Minuses; Hayes Carll — You Get It All; Sam Evian — Time to Melt; Marissa Nadler — The Path of the Clouds; Mastodon — Hushed and Grim

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including a new one from Tiny Desk contest winner Quinn Christopherson, the English punk group IDLES and more.Featured Tracks:1. IDLES: "The Beachland Ballroom," from Crawler2. Quinn Christopherson: "Bubblegum," from I Am Bubblegum (EP)3. Anjimile: "Stranger" (Single)4. mehro: "howling" (Single)5. Anna Leone: "Still I Wait," from I've Felt All These Things6. Scout LaRue Willis: "Love Without Possession"(Single)7. Chloe Lilac: "19" (Single)

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out today include new ones from the K-pop singer CL, rapper and producer Wale, a new project from Tricky called Lonely Guest, Grouper and more.Featured Albums:1. CL — ALPHAFeatured song: "Chuck"2. Wale — Folarin IIFeatured song: "Name Ring Bells"3. Grouper — ShadeFeatured song: "Pale Interior"4. Helado Negro — Far InFeatured song: "Wake Up Tomorrow"5. angel du$t — Yak: A Collection of Truck SongsFeatured song: "Love is the Greatest" and "All the Way Dumb"6. Lonely Guest — Lonely GuestFeatured songs: "Atmosphere" and "Move Me"7. John Forté — Vessels, Angels & AncestorsFeatured song: "88"8. Circuit des Yeux — -ioFeatured song: "Sculpting the Exodus"Other notable releases for Oct. 22: Bedouine — Waysides; Jackson + Sellers — Breaking Point; John Coltrane — A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle; Lana Del Rey — Blue Banisters; My Morning Jacket — My Morning Jacket.

Producer Giles Martin talks about a new 5-disc deluxe version of Let It Be, one of The Beatles' most complicated albums. Hear his remixed version of the album plus never-before-heard banter and outtakes.

This is the third and final installment in a special series from NPR's 'It's Been A Minute' podcast looking at important moments in the history of pop-music crossover. On this episode, Sam and his guests look at the so-called "Latin Explosion" of the late 1990s and ask who this historic if calculated moment was actually for, and what were the business considerations behind it? And what does "Livin La Vida Loca" have to do with all of it? You'll find all that out and more in this episode.

Atlanta rapper Young Thug's Punk, Coldplay's Music of the Spheres, solo debuts from Finneas, Remi Wolf and more are among NPR Music's picks for the week's best new albums.Featured Albums: 1. Remi Wolf — JunoFeatured Song: "Anthony Kiedis"2. Coldplay — Music of the SpheresFeatured Song: "People of the Pride"3. Young Thug — PunkFeatured Song: "Tick Tock"4. Joy Crookes — SkinSong: "Poison"5. Finneas — OptimistFeatured Song: "The Kids Are All Dying"6. Pinkpantheress — to hell with itFeatured Song: "Noticed I cried" Other notable releases for Oct. 15: The Beatles — Let It Be (50th Anniversary Ed.); Dos Santos — City of Mirrors; Le Ren — Leftovers; Pokey LaFarge — In the Blossom of Their Shade; Xenia Rubinos — Una Rosa.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new music of the week, including a reflection on the cost of fame from Mitski, Shamir's "Gay Agenda," sweet "Change" from Big Thief and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Mitski: "Working for the Knife" (Single)2. Cate Le Bon: "Running Away," from Pompeii3. Big Thief: "Change," from Change EP4. Doran: "Old Moon," from Doran5. Kevin Morby & Hamilton Leithauser: "Virginia Beach" (Single)6. Shamir: "Gay Agenda" (Single)

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Janet Jackson's Control. That album was her first real commercial hit and, looking back, helped redefine all of pop music. In the late '80s and '90s, Jackson was one of the biggest stars of our time — right up there with her brother, Michael and Madonna. And yet, Jackson isn't always given her due. In this special episode from NPR's It's Been A Minute podcast, host Sam Sanders explores why that is, how she made the album Control, and the incident — that lasted all but a second — that changed the course of her career.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include James Blake's Friends That Break Your Heart, new ones from Cimafunk, the underground hip-hop duo Atmosphere, Reba McEntire, and more. Featured Albums:1. James Blake — Friends That Break Your HeartFeatured Songs: "Foot Forward" and "Frozen"2. BadBadNotGood — Talk MemoryFeatured Song: "Beside April"3. Susana Baca — Palabras UrgentesFeatured Song: "Cambalache"4. Natalie Hemby — Pins and NeedlesFeatured Song: "Banshee"5. Various — Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows Vol. 2 (John Prine tribute album)Featured Song: "Summer's End" (Performed by Valerie June)6. Cimafunk — El AlimentoFeatured Song: "Sal De Lo Malo"7. Various — It's A Good, Good Feeling: The Latin Soul of Fania RecordsFeatured Song: "Soul Drummers" (Performed by Ray Baretto)8. Joshua Crumbly — ForEverFeatured Song: "KOLKATA"9. Atmosphere — WORD?Featured Song: "Fleetwood"10. Reba McEntire — Revived, Remixed, RevisitedFeatured Song: "Fancy"

Fifty years ago this month, the TV show Soul Train was first broadcast nationally. It brought Black music, dance, fashion and performance into viewers' homes every weekend and continued for more than 30 years. There was nothing like it on TV, and all these years later, there's been nothing like it since. On this special episode from the NPR podcast, It's Been A Minute with Sam Sanders, we look at the lasting impact of Soul Train and why it mattered.

Every month, we ask the NPR Music staff: What's the one song you couldn't escape? What's the one album to which you'll return all year?Songs featured in this episode: • Ada Lea: "hurt" from one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a garden • MUNA (Feat. Phoebe Bridgers), "Silk Chiffon"• Little Simz: "Standing Ovation" from Sometimes I Might Be Introvert• Mon Laferte: "Nothing Else Matters" from The Metallica Blacklist• Sun-El Musician (Feat. Simmy), "Higher"• Jon Hopkins: "Sit Around the Fire (Feat. Ram Dass & East Forest)" from Music for Psychedelic Therapy Follow the #NowPlaying blog for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

NPR Music's picks for the best new releases out this week include the long-awaited studio album from Philly rapper Meek Mill, a stunning record from Brandi Carlile, country singer Miko Marks and more.Featured Albums: 1. Meek Mill — Expensive PainFeatured Song: "Blue Notes 2"2. Brandi Carlile — In These Silent DaysFeatured Song: "Broken Horses"3. Ben Marc — Breathe SuiteFeatured Song: "Breathe Suite A"4. Tirzah — ColourgradeFeatured Song: "Hive Mind"5. Illuminati Hotties — Let Me Do One MoreFeatured Song: "Knead"6. Shad — TaoFeatured Song: "Black Averageness"7. Miko Marks — Race RecordsFeatured Song: "Hard Times"Other notable releases for Oct. 1: Dar Williams — I'll Meet You Here; Hovvdy — True Love; Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett — Love For Sale; Strand of Oaks — In Heaven.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen's favorite new songs of the week include the funny, uplifting music of Wet Leg, a prayer for peace from 77-year-old Pakistani artist Ustad Saami and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Wet Leg: "Wet Dream" (Single)2. NoSo: "Suburbia" (Single)3. Nynke Laverman: "Stoarm" from Plant4. Nora Brown: "The Very Day I'm Gone" from Sidetrack My Engine5. Jane Fontana: "Untitled, No. 1" from In Situ EP6. Grace Cummings: "Heaven" from Storm Queen7. Le Ren: "I Already Love You" from Leftovers8. Ustad Saami: "Prayer for Peace" from east Pakistan sky

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from R&B singer Anthony Hamilton, a Sufjan Stevens collaboration with Angelo De Augustine, country singer Mickey Guyton and more.Featured Albums: 1. Anthony Hamilton — Love is the New BlackFeatured Song: "Love Is The New Black"2. Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine — A Beginner's MindFeatured Song: "Lady Macbeth In Chains"3. Kari Faux — Lowkey Superstar DeluxeFeatured Song: "While God Was Sleeping"4. Hayden Pedigo — Letting GoFeatured Song: "Some Kind of Shepherd"5. Mickey Guyton — Remember Her NameFeatured Song: "Different"6. Solemn Brigham — South Sinner StreetFeatured Songs: "Keep The Hope" and "Vice North"7. Japanese Breakfast — Sable Featured Songs: "Glider" and "Cartographer's Theme"8. Ada Lea — One Hand on the Steering Wheel The Other Sewing A GardenFeatured Song: "Oranges"Other notable releases for Sept. 24: Alessia Cara — In The Meantime; Andy Shauf — Wilds; Arturo O'Farrill — Dreaming in Lions; Caleb Landry Jones — Gadzooks Vol. 1; Laura Jane Grace — At War With Silverfish; NAO — And Then Life Was Beautiful; Poppy — Flux.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new songs of the week, including a new one from the Leeds rock band alt-J, Swedish singer-songwriter Loney Dear, Amythyst Kiah and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. alt-J: "U&ME," from The Dream2. Hyd: "Skin 2 Skin," from Hyd (EP)3. Amythyst Kiah: "Black Myself (Moby Remix)" (Single)4. La Luz: "Lazy Eyes and Dune," from La Luz5. Bnny: "Sure," from Everything6. Loney Dear: "Go Easy On Me Now (Sirens + emergencies)," from A Lantern and a Bell

In the seventh and final episode of Top Shelf, hear from the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest winner, Neffy: a rising singer-songwriter from Arlington, Va., with a breathtaking, soulful, inimitable voice.

The debut album from singer and rapper Lil Nas X tops our list of the week's best releases, along with the 25th anniversary of Buena Vista Social Club, new ones from José González, Carly Pearce and more.Featured Albums: 1. Lil Nas X — MonteroFeatured Song: "Dead Right Now"2. Carly Pearce — 29: Written In StoneFeatured Song: "Diamondback"3. Charley Crockett — Music City USAFeatured Song: "Honest Fight"4. Adia Victoria — A Southern GothicFeatured Song: "Troubled Mind"5. Buena Vista Social Club — Buena Vista Social ClubFeatured Songs: "Chan Chan" and "El Diablo Suelto"6. José González — Local ValleyFeatured Song: "Visions"7. Sheila Jordan — Comes Love: Lost Session 1960Featured Song: "Ballad of the Sad Young Men"8. Moor Mother — Black Encyclopedia of the AirFeatured Song: "Vera Hall"Other notable releases for Sept. 17: Bob Dylan — Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 16; Cory Henry — Best of Me; James Vincent McMorrow — Grapefruit Season; Lindsey Buckingham — Lindsey Buckingham; Melissa Ethridge — One Way Out.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including the Tiny Desk Contest-winning song from the singer, Neffy, new ones from Snail Mail, My Morning Jacket and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Neffy: "Wait Up" (Single)2. Aisha Badru: "Rebirth," from The Way Back Home EP3. Lily Konigsberg: "Sweat Forever," from Lily We Need To Talk Now4. Sloppy Jane: "Party Anthem," from Madison5. My Morning Jacket: "Love Love Love," from My Morning Jacket6. Snail Mail: "Valentine," from Valentine

It's a packed release day, with new albums from the prince of reggaeton J Balvin, Kendrick Lamar collaborator and rising rapper Baby Keem, Kacey Musgraves, Andrew W.K. and more.Featured Albums: 1. Common — A Beautiful Revolution Pt 2Featured Song: "A Beautiful Chicago Kid"2. Kacey Musgraves — Star-CrossedFeatured Songs: "Cherry Blossom" and "Gracias A La Vida"3. J Balvin — JOSEFeatured Song: "La Familia"4. Yebba — DawnFeatured Song: "Boomerang"5. Andrew W.K. — God Is PartyingFeatured Songs: "Babalon" and "Goddess Partying"6. AZ — Doe or Die IIFeatured Song: "Check Me Out"7. Park Hye Jin — Before I DieFeatured Song: "Me Trust Me"8. Low — Hey WhatFeatured Song: "White Horses"9. Deb Never — Where Have All The Flowers GoneFeatured Song: "Stupid"10. Bomba Estéreo — DejaFeatured Song: "Agua"11. Baby Keem — The Melodic BlueFeatured Song: "Range Brothers"Other notable releases for Sept. 10: Heartless Bastards — A Beautiful Life; Matthew E. White — K Bay; Sleigh Bells — Texis; We Were Promised Jetpacks — Enjoy The View.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tunes of the week, including a profoundly moving reflection on Hurricane Katrina, a new story-song from Andy Shauf and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. 79rs Gang: "Stop The Water" (Single)2. Andrea von Kampen: "Water Flowing Downward," from That Spell3. Opium Moon: "Night," from Night + Day4. Claire Cronin: "Bloodless," from Bloodless5. Andy Shauf: "Spanish On The Beach" (Single)6. Marc Farre: "Prayer Flags," (Single)

Our picks for the best new albums out this week come from the British rapper LIttle Simz, jazz pianist Kirk Lightsey, rising reggaeton singer Jhay Cortez, metal veterans Iron Maiden and more.Featured Albums:1. Little Simz — Sometimes I Might Be IntrovertFeatured Songs: "Introvert" and "The Rapper That Came To Tea"2. Jhay Cortez — TimelezzFeatured Song: "Los Bandoleros"3. Kirk Lightsey — I Will Never Stop Loving YouFeatured Song: "I Will Never Stop Loving You"4. Iron Maiden — SenjutsuFeatured Song: "Days Of Future Past"5. Lady Blackbird — Black Acid SoulFeatured Songs: "Five Feet Tall" and "Blackbird"6. Baby Queen — The YearbookFeatured Song: "Raw Thoughts"7. L'Orange — The World Is Still Chaos, But I Feel BetterFeatured Song: "Talk To Friendly Walls"Other notable releases for Sept. 3: Damu The Fudgemunk — Conversation Peace; Imagine Dragons — Mercury, Act I; Lady Gaga — Dawn Of Chromatica (remix album)

Every month, we ask the NPR Music staff: What's the one song you couldn't escape? What's the one album to which you'll return all year? In August, we got vulnerable with James Blake, leveled up with Foxing, cooed with PinkPantheress, discovered an obscure Polish composer via pianist Lucas Debargue, memorialized a member of Injury Reserve and went back in time to Lee Morgan's weekend residency at the Lighthouse. Songs heard on this episode: • James Blake: "Life is Not the Same" from Friends That Break Your Heart • Foxing: "Beacons" from Draw Down the Moon• PinkPantheress, "Just for me"• Lucas Debargue: "Nostalgie du pays" from Zal — The Music of Miłosz Magin • Injury Reserve: "Knees" from By the Time I Get to Phoenix • Lee Morgan: "Absolutions (Friday, Set 2)" from The Complete Live at the Lighthouse Follow the #NowPlaying blog for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

Before we announce this year's winner, we're asking our judges to share their favorite entries in a weekly livestreamed series. In this episode, last year's winner, Linda Diaz, shares her picks.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on Aug. 27 include new ones from CHVRCHES, Indigo De Souza, Terence Blanchard and more.Featured Albums 1. CHVRCHES — Screen Violence Featured Song: "Final Girl" 2. Madi Diaz — History Of A Feeling Featured Song: "Woman In My Heart" 3. Chapel Hart — The Girls Are Back In Town Featured Song: "You Can Have Him Jolene" 4. Tré Burt — You, Yeah, You Featured Song: "Sweet Misery" 5. GRIP — I Died For This?! Featured Song: "The Lox! (feat. Tate 228)" 6. Indigo De Souza — Any Shape You Take Featured Song: "Way Out" 7. Terence Blanchard — Absence Featured Song: "The Elders" 8. Andrew Cyrille Quartet — The News Featured Song: "Go Happy Lucky" Notable releases for Aug. 27: Halsey — If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power; Big Red Machine — How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?; Steve Gunn — Other You; Marisa Anderson & William Tyler — Lost Futures; The Bug — Fire; Yann Tiersen — Kerber; Mouse Rat — The Awesome Album; Nite Jewel — No Sun; Southern Avenue — Be The Love You Want; Carlos Henriquez — The South Bronx Story; Kenny Garrett — Sounds From The Ancestors

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite songs of the week, including a 50th anniversary edition of George Harrison's "Isn't It A Pity."1. George Harrison: "Isn't It A Pity," from All Things Must Pass (50th Anniversary)2. Immersion, (feat. Laetitia Sadier): "Riding The Wave," from Nanocluster Vol. 13. Circuit des Yeux: "Dogma," from -Io4. Hand Habits: "Aquamarine," from Fun House5. Coco: "Knots," from Coco6. Big Thief: "Sparrow" (Single)

Before we announce this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, we're asking our judges to share their favorite entries in a weekly livestreamed series. In this episode, Jewly Hight shares her picks.

NPR Music picks the best new albums out this week, including new releases by Lorde, Sturgill Simpson, Deafheaven and more.

The great Brazilian-born, now Los Angeles-based musician has just put out Drama, his first solo album in seven years. We also hear music that changed his life, including songs from The Smiths and Gilberto Gil.

Before we announce this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, we're asking our judges to share their favorite entries in a weekly livestreamed series. In this episode, John Morrison shares his picks.

Black Thought guests on a new one from the British duo Jungle, The Killers' Pressure Machine documents the hopes and horrors of rural America, Boldy James & The Alchemist team up again and more.Featured Albums:1. Jungle — Loving in StereoFeatured Songs: "Talk About It" and "Romeo"2. The Killers — Pressure MachineFeatured Songs: "Terrible Thing" and "West Hills"3. Boldy James & The Alchemist — Bo JacksonFeatured Song: "E.P.M.D."4. Falkner Evans — Invisible WordsFeatured Song: "Made Visible"5. Meet Me @ The Altar — Model CitizenFeatured Song: "Feel A Thing"6. El Michels Affair Meets Liam Bailey — Ekundayo InversionsFeatured Songs: "Conquer & Divide" and "Intro"7. Wednesday — Twin PlaguesFeatured Songs: "Toothache" and "Twin Plagues"Other notable releases for Aug. 13: Dan + Shay — Good Things; Devendra Banhart and Noah Georgeson — Refuge; Jade Bird — Different Kinds of Light; Joy Orbison — Still Slipping Vol. 1; $uicideboy$ — Long Term Effects of SUFFERING.

Before we announce this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, we're asking our judges to share their favorite entries in a weekly livestreamed series. In this episode, Tobe Nwigwe shares his picks.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from the R&B singer Tinashe, composer Max Richter and the greatest rap duo you've never heard of, Abstract Mindstate. Featured Albums:1. Abstract Mindstate — Dreams Still InspireFeatured Track: "I Feel Good" 2. Max Richter — ExilesFeatured Tracks: "Flowers Of Herself" and "Exiles"3. Laura Stevenson — Laura StevensonFeatured Tracks: "State" and "Mary"4. Tinashe — 333Featured Track: "333"5. Fuubutsushi — NatsukashiiFeatured Track: "Suzushii Kaze"6. Lingua Ignota — Sinner Get ReadyFeatured Tracks: "Pennsylvania Furnace" and "The Order of Spiritual Virgins"Other notable releases for Aug. 6: Barbra Streisand — Release Me 2; Eluvium — Virga II; Moritz Von Oswald Trio — Dissent; Ty Segal — Harmonizer.

In July, we found solace in veterans (Billy Bragg) and newcomers (Canary Room), witnessed personal transformations from IDK and WILLOW, hit funky grooves with William Parker and heard angels become mortal in a collaboration between Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine. Songs heard in this episode: • Billy Bragg: "I Will Be Your Shield" from The Million Things That Never Happened• Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine: "Reach Out" from A Beginner's Mind• Canary Room: "Christine" from Christine• WILLOW: "don't SAVE ME" from lately I feel EVERYTHING• IDK: "Hey Auntie" from USEE4YOURSELF • William Parker: "Tabasco" from Mayan Space StationFollow the #NowPlaying blog for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

Before we announce this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, we're asking our judges to share their favorite entries in a weekly livestreamed series. In this episode, Phoebe Bridgers shares her picks.

The sophomore full-length from Billie Eilish tops our shortlist of the best new albums out this week, along with a posthumous Prince record, Jack Antonoff's Bleachers, the singer Yola and more.Featured Albums: 1. Billie Eilish — Happier Than Ever Featured Song: "NDA"2. Isaiah Rashad — The House Is BurningFeatured Songs: "True Story" and "HB2U"3. Bleachers — Take the Sadness Out Of Saturday NightFeatured Songs: "Stop Making This Hurt" and "91"4. Los Lobos — Native SonsFeatured Song: "The World Is A Ghetto"5. Prince — Welcome 2 AmericaFeatured Song: "One Day We Will All Be Free"6. Torres — ThirstierFeatured Song: "Are You Sleep Walking?"7. Yola — Stand For MyselfFeatured Song: "If I Had To Do It All Again"8. Skirts — Great Big Wild OakFeatured Song: "Easy"Other notable releases for July 30: Leela James — See Me; LUMP — Animal; Naia Izumi — A Residency in the Los Angeles Area; Poise — Vestiges; Son Volt — Electro Melodier.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen's favorite new tracks of the week include an amped-up Steady Holiday, late-'70s, post-punk sounds from Gustaf and Wet Leg, the calming guitar of Lanterna and more.Featured Songs:1. Steady Holiday: "Love Me 2" (Single)2. Gustaf: "Book," from Audio Drag For Ego Slobs3. Wet Leg: "Chaise Longue" (Single)4. Ada Lea: "damn," from one hand on the steering wheel the other sewing a garden5. The Colorist Orchestra & Howe Gelb (feat. Pieta Brown): "Sweet Pretender," from Not On The Map6. AHI: "Danger," from Prospect7. Lanterna: "Aix," from Hidden Drives

Before we announce this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, we're asking our judges to share their favorite entries in a weekly livestreamed series. First up: Tiny Desk producer Bobby Carter.

Kanye West's long-awaited (and much-hyped), DONDA tops our list of the best albums out this week, along with new ones from Leon Bridges, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Ledisi and more.Featured Albums:1. Kanye — DONDA2. Leon Bridges — Gold Diggers SoundFeatured Song: "Motorbike"3. Chiiild — Hope For SaleFeatured Song: "Wasting Time"4. Samia — ScoutFeatured Song: "As You Are"5. Christone "Kingfish" Ingram — 662Featured Song: "Too Young To Remember"6. Bardo — Everywhere Reminds Me Of SpaceFeatured Song: "Neon Light"7. Emma-Jean Thackray — YellowFeatured Song: "Venus"8. Ledisi — Ledisi Sings NinaFeatured Song: "Feeling Good"Other notable releases for July 23: Brittany Howard — Jaime Re-imagined; Dave — We're All Alone In This Together; Mega Bog — Life, And Another.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen's favorite tracks of the week include a classic murder ballad reimagined by Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a new collaboration with Nils Frahm and F.S. Blumm, Soccer Mommy and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Soccer Mommy: "rom com 2004" (Single)2. My Idea: "Stay Away Still," from That's My Idea EP3. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & Nathan Salzburg: "Stagger Lee" (Single)4. Hana Vu: "Maker" (Single)5. Devendra Banhart & Noah Georgeson: "In A Cistern," from Refuge6. F.S. Blumm & Nils Frahm: "Desert Mule," from 2X1=4

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Willow's Lately I Feel Everything, new ones from Clairo and John Mayer, a posthumous release from Alice Coltrane and more.Featured Albums:1. Willow — Lately I Feel EverythingFeatured Songs: "Breakout" and "Xtra"2. Clairo — SlingFeatured Song: "Zinnias"3. Rodrigo Amarante — DramaFeatured Song: "Tao"4. John Mayer — Sob RockFeatured Song: "Guess I Just Feel Like"5. Cakes da Killa — MUVALAND Vol. 2Featured Song: "Lite Werk"6. Alice Coltrane — Kirtan: Turiya SingsFeatured Song: "Jagadishwar"7. John Vanderslice — I Can't Believe Civilization Is Still Going Here In 2021! Congratulations To All Of Us, Love DCBFeatured Song: "I Get A Strange Kind Of Pleasure From Just Hanging On"8. John Vanderslice — Ethical Jute Mouse: Lost Songs from Tiny Telephone 2001-2021Featured Song: "Advancing Army Clip"Other notable releases for July 16: Charlie Worsham — Sugarcane; Ida Mae — Click Click Domino; Jodi — Blue Heron; Karen Black — Dreaming Of You: 1971-1976; Pop Smoke — FAITH.

All Songs host Bob Boilen shares his favorite songs of the week, including a long-overdue celebration of Sparks, a Ben Gibbard collaboration with Tycho, the return of Courtney Barnett and more. Featured Songs And Artists:1. Sparks, Adam Driver & Marion Cotillard: "So May We Start (feat. Simon Helberg)," From Annette2. Courtney Barnett: "Rae Street," From Things Take Time, Take Time3. Indigo De Souza: "Kill Me," From Any Shape You Take4. Tycho & Benjamin Gibbard: "Only Love" (Single)5. Lala Lala: "DIVER," From I Want The Door To Open6. Mega Bog: "Station to Station," From Life, And Another

The best albums out this week include a revealing, self-titled release from rapper Vince Staples, Snoh Aalegra's Temporary Highs in the Violet Skies, Half Waif's Mythopoetics and more.Featured Albums: 1. Vince Staples — Vince StaplesFeatured Song: "Are You With That?"2. Attacca Quartet — Real LifeFeatured Songs: "Real Life" and "Drifting Circles"3. Snoh Aalegra — Temporary Highs in the Violet SkiesFeatured Songs: "Tangerine Dream" and "Indecisive"4. Half Waif — MythopoeticsFeatured Song: "Horse Racing"5. The Goon Sax — Mirror IIFeatured Song: "In The Stone"6. Les Filles de Illighadad — At Pioneer WorksFeatured Song: "Eghaas Malan"Other notable releases out on July 9: The Alchemist — Rapper's Best Friend 6; Rejjie Snow — Baw Baw Black Sheep; Royal Canoe — Sidelining; The Wallflowers — Exit Wounds.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tunes of the week, including one with The National's Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, a Jack Antonoff-produced song from Clairo and more.Featured Songs:1. Orla Gartland: "You're Not Special Babe," from Woman on the Internet2. Aldous Harding: "Old Peel" (Single)3. Matthew E. White: "Genuine Hesitation," from K Bay4. Big Red Machine: "Latter Days (feat. Anaïs Mitchell)," from How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?5. Dos Santos: "A Shot in the Dark" (Single)6. Clairo: "Blouse," from Sling7. jess joy: "her0," from PATREEARCHY

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out now include Chicago rapper G Herbo's 25, the wild euphoria of The Go! Team, singer Laura Mvula's first new music in five years and more.Featured Albums:1. The Go! Team — Get Up Sequences Part OneFeatured Song: "Let The Seasons Work"2. G Herbo — 25Featured Song: "Demands"3. Laura Mvula — Pink NoiseFeatured Song: "Conditional"4. Declaime and Madlib — In The Beginning Vol. 1Featured Song: "Cool Ways"5. boyband — Never Knows BestFeatured Song: "IRL"6. Izzy Johnson — Earth TonesFeatured Song: "Existing"

Brandi Carlile has become one of Joni Mitchell's greatest interpreters. NPR Music's Ann Powers talks with the singer-songwriter about her life with Blue, conversations with James Taylor and the gift Joni gave her.

Doja Cat, SAULT and Tyler, The Creator lead a crazy-packed day for new releases, along with Lucy Dacus, Cautious Clay and more. Featured Albums:1. Doja Cat — Planet HerFeatured Song: "Payday (feat. Yung Thug)"2. Tyler, The Creator — Call Me If You Get LostFeatured Song: "Lumberjack"3. SAULT — NINEFeatured Songs: "London Gangs" and "9"4. Hiatus Kaiyote — Mood ValiantFeatured Song: "Chivalry Is Not Dead"5. Lucy Dacus — Home VideoFeatured Song: "Hot & Heavy"6. Squirrel Flower — Planet (i)Featured Song: "Roadkill"7. Cautious Clay — Deadpan LoveFeatured Song: "Whoa"8. Faye Webster — I Know I'm Funny hahaFeatured Song: "Sometimes"9. Pom Pom Squad — Death of a CheerleaderFeatured Song: "Drunk Voicemail"10. Lightning Bug — A Color Of The SkyFeatured Song: "September Song, Pt. ii"Other notable releases for June 25: Cedric Burnside — I Be Trying; Hiss Golden Messenger — Quietly Blowing It; L'Rain — Fatigue; Matthew Dear — Preacher's Sigh And Potion: Lost Album; Modest Mouse — The Golden Casket; The Mountain Goats — Dark In Here.

Our favorite new artists of 2021 (so far) include Jay Som and Palehound together as Bachelor, the queer pop celebrations of girl in red, Olivia Rodrigo, the warped rap duo Paris Texas and more.1. Bachelor (Jay Som & Palehound): "Back Of My Hand," from Doomin' Sun 2. girl in red: "Serotonin," from if i could make it go quiet 3. Arlo Parks: "Hurt," from Collapsed in Sunbeams 4. Celeste: "Strange," from Not Your Muse5. mehro: "lightning," from SKY ON FIRE 6. dodie: "Hate Myself," from Build A Problem 7. Olivia Rodrigo: "brutal," from SOUR 8. Paris Texas: "A QUICK DEATH," from BOY ANONYMOUS

The best albums out this week include GoldLink's Haram!, H.E.R.'s Back of My Mind, a comic book soundtrack called Dark Nights: Death Metal, a debut album from trans punk Cher Strauberry and more.Featured Albums:1. Goldlink — Haram!Featured Songs: "Terrordome" and "Evian"2. Various — Dark Nights: Death MetalFeatured Song: "Diana" by Chelsea Wolfe3. H.E.R. — Back of My MindFeatured Song: "We Made It"4. Amythyst Kiah — Wary + StrangeFeatured Song: "Wild Turkey"5. Donnie — The Colored Section (20th Anniv.)Featured Song: "Beautiful Me"6. Ambar Lucid — Get Lost In The MusicFeatured Song: "The Door"7. Mykki Blanco — Broken Hearts & Beauty SleepFeatured Song: "Free Ride"8. Cher Strauberry — Chering Is CaringFeatured Song: "Swish And Spit"Other notable releases for June 18: Angelique Kidjo — Mother Nature; Azure Ray — Remedy; Francis Lung — Miracle; Hania Rani — Music For Film And Theater; Joan Armatrading — Consequences.

Lorde talks about her new song, we get an update on the Tiny Desk contest, Pokey LaFarge recalibrates his sound, Illuminati Hotties go "Pool Hopping" and other great new songs to fall in love with.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Lorde: "Solar Power" (Single)2. Illuminati Hotties: "Pool Hopping," from Let Me Do One More3. Azure Ray: "Bad Dream," from Remedy4. The Go! Team: "A Bee Without Its Sting," from Get Up Sequences Part One5. The Goon Sax: "Psychic," from Mirror II6. Lea Thomas: "Howl," from Mirrors To The Sun7. Pokey LaFarge: "Get It 'Fore It's Gone," from In The Blossom of Their Shade

Sleater-Kinney's Path of Wellness, the thundering pop of Marina, Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo and the blood-slowing sounds of Dustin O'Halloran are among NPR Music's picks for the best music out on June 11.Featured Albums:1. Marina — Ancient Dreams In A Modern LandFeatured Songs: "Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land" and "Goodbye"2. Skyzoo — All The Brilliant ThingsFeatured Song: "St. James Liquors"3. Sleater-Kinney — Path of WellnessFeatured Song: "Path of Wellness"4. Jesse Markin — NoirFeatured Song: "This Is A Testament"5. Dustin O'Halloran — SilfurFeatured Song: "Opus 17"6. Ches Smith & We All Break — Path of Seven ColorsFeatured Song: "Here's The Light"Other notable releases for June 11: Dean Blunt — Black Metal 2; Garbage — No Gods, No Monsters; Migos — Culture III; Mind Maintenance — S/T; Polo G — Hall of Fame.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, featuring former Tiny Desk contest winner Naia Izumi, West African art-folk group The Narcotix, Laura Stevenson and more.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Laura Stevenson: "State," from Laura Stevenson2. Jomoro: "Nest," from Blue Marble Sky3. The Narcotix: "Lilith," from Mommy Issues EP4. Gone to Color: ""The 606" (feat. Jessie Stein,) from Gone To Color5. Naia Izumi: "Voodoo," from A Residency in the Los Angeles Area6. Maddie Jay: "Spiral," from CMYK EP

Rostam's beautifully transfixing Changephobia, Japanese Breakfast's Jubilee and Liz Phair's first new album in more than a decade are among NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on June 4.Featured Albums:1. Rostam — ChangephobiaFeatured Song: "Bio 18"2. Poté — A Tenuous Tale Of HerFeatured Song: "Valley"3. The Avalanches — Since I Left You (20th Anniv. Ed.)Featured Songs: "Frontier Psyychiatrist" and "Two Hearts In 3/4 Time"4. Loraine James — ReflectionFeatured Song: "Simple Stuff"5. Japanese Breakfast — JubileeFeatured Song: "Savage Good Boy"6. Liz Phair — Soberish Featured Song: "Spanish Doors"7. Tristen — Aquatic FlowersFeatured Song: "Complex"8. Juana Molina — SegundoFeatured Song: "Martin Fierro"Other notable releases for June 4: August Fannon and Defcee — We Dressed The City With Our Names; Hailu Mergia and The Walias Band — Tezeta; Joy Oladokun — In Defense Of My Own Hapiness; Lil Baby and Lil Durk — The Voice Of The Heroes; Wolf Alice — Blue Weekend.

In May, we swooned to Olivia Rodrigo's Sour, marveled at Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, went back to the '90s with The Zolas, bathed in the opulent luxury of Sinéad Harnett's voice, got lost in Bill Laurance's piano universe, and jazz group Sound Prints expanded its possibilities. Songs featured on this episode: • Olivia Rodrigo: "jealousy, jealousy" from Sour• Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen, "Like I Used To"• The Zolas: "Yung Dicaprio" from Come Back to Life • Sinéad Harnett: "Stay" from Ready is Always Too Late• Bill Laurance: "Cables Rewired" from Cables Rewired• Sound Prints: "The Flight" from Other WorldsFollow the Press Pause playlist for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

NPR Music picks the best new albums out this week, including new releases by DMX, Bachelor, Mustafa, Natalia Lafourcade and more.Featured Albums:1. Bachelor — Doomin' SunFeatured Song: "Spin Out"2. DMX — ExodusFeatured Song: "Hold Me Down"3. Mustafa — When Smoke RisesFeatured Song: "Ali"4. Various Artists — Fire in Little AfricaFeatured Song: "City of Dreams"5. Mereba — AzebFeatured Song: "Rider"6. Natalia Lafourcade — Un Canto por México, Vol. 2Featured Song: "La Llorona"Notable releases for May 28: Black Midi — Cavalcade; GWAR — The Disc With No Name; k.d. lang — Makeover; Moby — Reprise; Porter Robinson — Nurture; Quivers — Golden Doubt; Lou Barlow — Reason to Live; Juanes — Origen; Scotch Rolex — Tewari

This weeks All Songs Considered features a striking collaboration between Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen. I also share a conversation and music with Angélique Kidjo, psych-guitar from Mdou Moctar and more.1. Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen: "Like I Used To" (Single)2. Aerial East: "The Things We Build," from Try Harder3. Saint Sister: "Manchester Air," from Where I Should End4. Sunny Jain: "Where is Home," from Phoenix Rise 5. Angélique Kidjo: "Africa, One Of A Kind (feat. Mr Eazi & Salif Keita)," from Mother Nature6. Mdou Moctar: "Afrique Victime," from Afrique Victime

NPR Music picks the best new albums out this week, including new releases by Olivia Rodrigo, Allison Russell, Audrey Nuna and more.Featured Albums:1. Olivia Rodrigo — Sour Featured Song: "Brutal"2. Patrick Paige II — If I Fail, Are We Still Cool? Featured Song: "Curfew"3. Allison Russell — Outside ChildFeatured Song: "4th Day Prayer"4. Georgia Anne Muldrow — VWETO III Featured Song: "Old Jack Swing"5. Audrey Nuna — A Liquid Breakfast Featured Song: "Damn Right"6. Erika de Casier — Sensational Featured Song: "Polite"Notable releases for May 21: Twenty One Pilots — Scaled and Icy; Blake Shelton — Body Language; Counting Crows — Butter Miracle, Suite One; Mdou Moctar — Afrique Victime; CHAI — Wink; Lambchop, Showtunes; Lord Huron — Long Lost; Edmar Castañeda — Family; Sunny Jain — Phoenix Rise; Rising Appalachia — The Lost Mystique of Being in the Know; Claire George — The Land Beyond the Light; BLK JKS — Abantu: Before Humans

1. Sleater-Kinney: "Worry With You," from Path of Wellness2. Billie Marten: "Human Replacement," from Flora Fauna3. Sleepersound: "Silence Otherwise," from Idle Voices4. Green-House: "Peace Piece," from SC255. Lowland Hum: "In Your Eyes," from So Low6. Briars of North America: "Sala," from Supermoon

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on May 14 include Jorja Smith's Be Right Back, St. Vincent's homage to early '70s rock, a staggering new project from saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings and more.Featured Albums:1. Jorja Smith — Be Right BackFeatured Song: "Digging"2. St. Vincent — Daddy's HomeFeatured Song: "Melting of the Sun"3. Paris Texas — Boy AnonymousFeatured Song: "Force of Habit"4. Maxine Funke — SéanceFeatured Song: "Quiet Shore"5. Giant Claw — Mirror GuideFeatured Song: "Until Mirror"6. Shabaka Hutchings and Sons of Kemet — Black to the FutureFeatured Song: "Let The Circle Be Unbroken"7. Billy Bang — Lucky ManFeatured Song: "Jungle Lullaby" Other notable releases for May 14: The Black Keys — Delta Kream; Damien Jurado — The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania; Fatima Al Qadiri — Medieval Femme; Holly Macve — Not the Girl; Juliana Hatfield — Blood; Rodrigo y Gabriela — The Jazz EP; Sarah Neufeld — Detritus.

We brought together all six Tiny Desk Contest winners for some music and conversation. Hear the songs that earned them a ticket to the Tiny Desk, plus their advice for entering the Contest.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including "the most fun song" Torres has ever written, the latest from Laura Marling's project called LUMP and more.1. Torres: "Don't Go Puttin Wishes in My Head," from Thirstier2. LUMP: "Animal (feat. Laura Marling & Mike Lindsay)," from Animal3. Caveman: "Like Me," from Smash4. Rodrigo Amarante: "Maré," from Drama5. koleżanka: "7th st/ 7th ave," from Place Is6. Water From Your Eyes: ""Quotations"," from Structure

WNXP's Jewly Hight shares a conversation with electronic dance artist Dawn Richard and her mom Debbie. Her new album, Second Line, grew out of Dawn's desire to better understand where her mom came from and what matters to her.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the intricately detailed pop of Dodie, a posthumous release from legendary drummer Tony Allen, a mind-blower from Daniel Bachman and more.Featured Albums:1. Dodie — Build A ProblemFeatured Song: "Special Girl"2. L'Orange & Namir Blade — Imaginary EverythingFeatured Song: "Nihilism"3. Daniel Bachman — AxacanFeatured Songs: "Blues in the Anthropocene" and "Year Of The Rat"4. Tony Allen — There Is No EndFeatured Song: "Stumbling Down"5. Sophia Kennedy — MonstersFeatured Song: "I'm Looking Up"6. James Brandon Lewis — Jesup WagonFeatured Song: "Lowlands of Sorrow"7. Nasimiyu — PotionsFeatured Song: "Parasite"Other notable releases for May 7: Angel Olsen — Song of the Lark and Other Far Memories; Iceage — Seek Shelter; Miranda Lambert — The Marfa Tapes (with Jack Ingram and John Randall); Squid — Bright Green Field; Sufjan Stevens — Convocations; Weezer — Van Weezer.

In April, we adored biting and beautiful indie rock from Pom Pom Squad and Flock of Dimes, witnessed Zao's metallic brutality, were transported by Catalan multi-instrumentalist Rita Payés and kora player Toumani Diabaté, and were reminded why we love ILOVEMAKONNEN. Songs featured on this episode: • Pom Pom Squad: "Head Cheerleader" from Death of a Cheerleader• Flock of Dimes: "Awake for the Sunrise" from Head of Roses• Zao: "Creator/Destroyer" from The Crimson Corridor • Rita Payés: "Nunca vas a comprender" from Como La Piel• Toumani Diabaté & London Symphony Orchestra: "Elyne Road" from Kôrôlén • ILOVEMAKONNEN: "So Saucy" from My Parade Follow the Press Pause playlist for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include girl in red's long-awaited debut, the Flying Lotus soundtrack for Yasuke and more.Featured Albums:1. girl in red — If I Could Make It Go QuietFeatured Song: "Serotonin"2. Dawn Richard — Second LineFeatured Song: "Bussifame"3. Ashley Monroe — RosegoldFeatured Song: "Siren"4. Shelley FKA Dram — S/TFeatured Song: "Rich And Famous"5. Amy Shark — Cry ForeverFeatured Songs: "The Wolves" and "Amy Shark"6. Matt Sweeney & Bonnie "Prince" Billy — SuperwolvesFeatured Song: "Make Worry For Me"7. Flying Lotus — YasukeFeatured Song: "African Samurai"Other notable releases for April 30: Amy Speace & The Orphan Brigade — There Used To Be Horses; Gojira — Fortitude; Julia Stone — Sixty Summers; Manchester Orchestra — The Million Masks of God; Marianne Faithful & Warren Ellis — She Walks In Beauty; Rosie Tucker — Sucker Supreme; Teenage Fanclub — Endless Arcade; Tōth — You And Me And Everything.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including the calming sounds of Ballaké Sissoko, the plainspoken wisdom of singer Faye Webster and more.Featured Songs:1. No-No Boy: "The Best God Damn Band in Wyoming," from 19752. Faye Webster: "Cheers," from I Know I'm Funny haha3. Tōth: "Guitars Are Better Than Synthesizers for Writing Through Hard Times," from You And Me And Everything4. Ballaké Sissoko: "Kadidja," from Djourou5. Lau Noah: "Las Siete Lágrimas," 36. Manchester Orchestra: "Telepath," from The Million Masks of God

NPR Music's shortlist for the best albums out on April 23 includes Nashville singer and rapper Houston Kendrick's technicolor pop, Malian Kora player Toumani Diabaté, Dinosaur Jr. and more.1. Houston Kendrick — Small InfinityFeatured Song: "Ugly Vybes"2. Hannah Jadagu — What Is Going On?Featured Song: "Sundown"3. Dinosaur Jr. — Sweep It Into SpaceFeatured Song: "And Me"4. Arooj Aftab — Vulture PrinceFeatured Songs: "Suroor" and "Baghon Main"5. Toumani Diabaté and The London Symphony Orchestra — KorolenFeatured Songs: "Elyne Road" and "Cantelowes"6. Hasaan Ibn Ali — Metaphysics: The Lost Atlantic AlbumFeatured Song: "El Hasaan"Other notable releases for April 23: Alfa Mist — Bring Backs; Ethel Cain — Inbred; Jupiter Okwess — Na Kozonga

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tunes of the week including a "Hot and Heavy" track from Lucy Dacus, and Beatles producer George Martin's little-known side project, Ray Cathode. 1. Lucy Dacus: "Hot & Heavy," from Home Video2. Uwade: "The Man Who Sees Tomorrow" (Single)3. Field Music: "When You Last Heard From Linda," from Flat White Moon4. Ray Cathode (George Martin and Maddalena Fagandini): "Time Beat" (Single)5. Ray Cathode (George Martin and Maddalena Fagandini): "Waltz In Orbit" (Single)6. Rosie Tucker: "Barbara Ann," from Sucker Supreme7. Smoothboi Ezra: "Stuck" from Stuck EP

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on April 16 include the latest from UK rapper AJ Tracey, Norah Jones' first-ever live album, a feast of sonic wonders from Son Lux and more.Featured Albums:1. AJ Tracey — Flu GameFeatured Song: "Anxious"2. Norah Jones — Til We Meet AgainFeatured Song: "Cold, Cold Heart"3. Masabumi Kikuchi — HanamichiFeatured Song: "Ramona"4. London Grammar — Californian SoilFeatured Song: "America"5. Sharon Van Etten - Epic 10Featured Songs: "Don't Do It" and "Peace Signs"6. Son Lux — Tomorrows IIIFeatured Songs: "Come Recover" and "Unbind"Other notable releases for April 16: The Armed — ULTRAPOP; Conway the Machine — La Maquina; David Wax Museum — Euphoric Ouroboric.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new songs of the week including an ambient track from Sufjan Stevens, solo work from Phish's Page McConnell, Squirrell Flower and more. 1. Charlotte Jacobs: "Where You Want Me To," from The Shape of Wandering EP2. Damien Jurado: "Tom," from The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania3. Squirrel Flower: "Hurt A Fly," from Planet (i)4. Jess Locke: "Tell Me I'm Okay," from Don't Ask Yourself Why5. Mabe Fratti: "Hacia el Vacío," from Será Que Ahora Podremos Entendernos6. Sufjan Stevens: "Meditation V," from Convocations 7. Page McConnell: "Radio Silence," from Maybe We're The Visitors

A deeply personal and revealing record from Brockhampton, Dutch artist Benny Sings, breakout rapper Lakeyah, the Vijay Iyer Trio and more make NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on Apr. 9.Featured Albums:1. Benny Sings — MusicFeatured Song: "Nobody's Fault"2. Brockhampton — Roadrunner: New Light, New MachineFeatured Song: "The Light"3. Lakeyah — In Due TimeFeatured Song: "Look At Me"4. claire rousay — A Softer FocusFeatured Song: "Peak Chroma"5. Mon Laferte — SeisFeatured Song: "Se Me Va Quemar El Corazon"6. Matthew E. White & Lonnie Holley — Broken Mirror: A Selfie ReflectionFeatured Song: "Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection"7. Sheep, Dog & Wolf — Two MindsFeatured Song: "Two Minds"8. Cehryl — Time MachineFeatured Song: "Outside the Party, Inside the Dream"9. The Vijay Iyer Trio — UneasyFeatured Song: "Children of Flint"Other notable releases for April 9: Ballaké Sissoko — Djouro; Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble — Now; Max Richter — Voices 2; Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turissi — They're Calling Me Home; Taylor Swift — Fearless (Taylor's Version); Yaya Bey — The Things I Can't Take With Me.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite songs of the week, including a Leonard Cohen cover from First Aid Kit, reflections on the comforts of home from Rhiannon Giddens and more. 1. Bachelor, (Jay Som & Palehound): "Stay in the Car," from Doomin' Sun2. Wallice: "Hey Michael," from Off The Rails EP3. Major Murphy: "Real," from Access4. Iceage: "Shelter Song," from Seek Shelter5. Rhiannon Giddens (feat. Francesco Turrisi): "Avalon," from They're Calling Me Home6. First Aid Kit: "Famous Blue Raincoat/Anthem," from Who By Fire7. Skullcrusher: "Song for Nick Drake," from Storm In Summer EP

NPR Music picks the best new albums out this week, including new albums by Leslie Jordan, Flock of Dimes, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and more.1. Nasty Cherry — The Movie EP Featured Song: "Six Six Six"2. Mello Music Group — Bushido Featured Song: "One of the Last (feat. Marlowe)"3. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad with Gary Bartz — Jazz Is Dead 6Featured Song: "Spiritual Ideation"4. Leslie Jordan — Company's Comin' Featured Song: "Working on a Building (feat. Ashley McBryde & Charlie Worsham)"5. Flock of Dimes — Head of Roses Featured Song: "Price of Blue"6. Dry Cleaning — New Long Leg Featured Song: "Scratchcard Lanyard"7. Godspeed You! Black Emperor — G_d's Pee (AT STATE'S END) Featured Song: "OUR SIDE HAS TO WIN (for D.H.)"

In March, we indulged R&B pleasures from Joyce Wrice and Solomon Fox, we missed our friends with a sweet song by Joel Young, dreamed of summer with Hirsch, bum-rushed IKOQWE's razor-edged boom-bap, and discovered the cosmic secrets of Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders. Songs featured on this episode: • IKOQWE: "Pele" from The Beginning, The Mediums, The End and The Infinite • Joyce Wrice: "Losing" from Overgrown • Solomon Fox: "Rockaways" from Solomon• Hirsch: "Reaction" from Denihilism • Joel Young, "Friend"• Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders: "Movement 5" from PromisesFollow the Press Pause playlist for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

The singer and fiddler shares the stories and inspiration behind her sweetly affecting record, Under The Pepper Tree in this conversation with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen.

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on Mar. 26 include the relentlessly infectious songs of AJR, Israeli rapper and singer Noga Erez, Tune-Yards, jazz legend Dr. Lonnie Smith and more.Featured Albums:1. AJR — OK ORCHESTRAFeatured Song: "Joe"2. Noga Erez — KIDSFeatured Song: "End of the Road"3. Clark — Playground In A LakeFeatured Songs: "Lambent Rag," "Forever Chemicals," "Earth Systems"4. Miko Marks — Our CountryFeatured Song: "Ancestors"5. Tune-Yards — SketchyFeatured Song: "Make It Right"6. Dr. Lonnie Smith — BreatheFeatured Song: "Track 9"7. serpentwithfeet — DeaconFeatured Song: "Sailor's Superstition"Other notable releases for Mar. 26: Armand Hammer & The Alchemist — HARAM; Dntel — The Seas Trees See; El Michels Affair — Yeti Season; First Aid Kit — Who By Fire; Floating Points/Pharoah Sanders/London Symphony Orchestra — Promises; Rod Wave — Soulfly.

"Somebody's like, 'Beeps are the new cowbell,' and I agree!" Julien Baker unpacks the experimentation of her new album, Little Oblivions, with Torres' Mackenzie Scott.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including an uplifting piece from Kishi Bashi, the Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté, the return of Gem Club and more. Featured Artists And Songs:1. Kishi Bashi: "Wait for Springtime," from Emigrant EP2. Gem Club: "Spirit & Decline" (Single)3. Red Ribbon: "Renegade," from Planet X4. Madi Diaz: "New Person, Old Place" (Single)5. Montparnasse Musique: "Panter," from Montparnasse Musique6. Toumani Diabaté & The London Symphony Orchestra: "Mamadou Kanda Keita," from Kôrôlén7. Witch Camp (Ghana): "Left To Live Like an Animal," from I've Forgotten Now Who I Used To Be

Hear monumental new music from Jon Batiste, country legend Loretta Lynn, the rapper Benny the Butcher and more on NPR Music's list of the best new albums out this week.Featured Albums:1. Jon Batiste — We AreFeatured Song: "We Are"2. Loretta Lynn — Still Woman EnoughFeatured Song: "You Ain't Woman Enough"3. Melissa Carper — Daddy's Country GoldFeatured Song: "Makin' Memories"4. Vegyn — Like A Good Old FriendFeatured Song: "I See You Sometimes"5. Benny The Butcher — The Plugs I Met 2Featured Song: "Live By It"6. Middle Kids — Today We're The GreatestFeatured Song: "R U 4 Me"7. Colin Miller — HookFeatured Song: "From the Other Room"8. Maria DeHart — QuarantunesFeatured Song: "In My Head"9. New Pagans — The Seed, The Vessel, Roots And AllFeatured Song: "Christian Boys"Other notable releases for March 19: Alex Somers — Siblings and Siblings 2; A.A. Williams — Songs From Isolation; Lana Del Rey — Chemtrails Over The Country Club; Landlady — Landlady; Pink Siifu and Fly Anakin — $mokebreak.

Host Bob Boilen shares more songs about finding both light and darkness in life on this week's All Songs Considered, including a devastating new single from Lucy Dacus. 1. Ben Howard: "Far Out," from Collections From The Whiteout2. Lucy Dacus: "Thumbs" (Single)3. Sour Widows: "Crossing Over," from Crossing Over EP4. Kelli Scarr: "Eve of Spring" (Single)5. Cautious Clay: "Roots" (Single)6. Lightning Bug: "The Right Thing Is Hard To Do," from A Color of the Sky

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on March 12 include Valerie June's magical meditations, a Blake Mills and Pino Palladino collaboration, Selena Gomez's first Spanish language record and more.Featured Albums:1. Valerie June — The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For DreamersFeatured Songs: "You And I" and "Starlight Ethereal Silence"2. Selena Gomez — RevelaciónFeatured Song: "Adios"3. Pino Palladino and Blake Mills — Notes With AttachmentsFeatured Song: "Soundwalk"4. Lushlife — RedamancyFeatured Song: "Depaysement"5. LOUISAHHH — The Practice of FreedomFeatured Song: "Love Is A Punk"6. Graham Lambkin — SolosFeatured Songs: "Ginkamix" Other notable releases for March 12: Allie Crow Buckley — Moonlit and Devious; DJ Muggs — Dies Occidendum; Lake Street Dive — Obviously; Leanne Betasamosake Simpson — Theory of Ice.

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson listened to the nearly 300 artists performing at this year's online edition of SXSW and share their most exciting discoveries. This includes the Korean electro-pop duo HAEPAARY, the South African folksinger Bongeziwe Mabandla, the gentle Australian pianist Sophie Hutchings and the occasional detour into Welsh indie-rock, danceable hip-hop and more.

An absolute eccentric, Peter Stampfel picked one favorite song for every year of the 20th century, then performed and recorded them all for an enormous collection.

Our picks for the best new albums out on March 5 include an ambitious remix from Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats, the surreal hip-hop of Genesis Owusu, flickering dance pop from Jane Weaver and more.Featured Albums:1. Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats — Unlocked 1.5Featured Song: "Cosmic"2. Ian Sweet — Show Me How You DisappearFeatured Song: "My Favorite Cloud"3. Adult Mom — DriverFeatured Song: "Wisconsin"4. Hafez Modirzadeh — FacetsFeatured Song: "Facet 33 Tides"5. Genesis Owusu — Smiling With No TeethFeatured Songs: "Centrefold," "Drown," "Smiling With No Teeth," and "On The Move!"6. Jane Weaver — FlockFeatured Song: "The Revolution of Super Visions"7. Elizabeth and the Catapult — Sincerely, eFeatured Song: "Together Alone"Other notable releases for March 5: Arab Strap — As Days Get Dark; Fruit Bats — The Pet Parade; Jesswar — TROPIXX; Jimbo Mathus and Andrew Bird — These 13; Kings of Leon — When You See Yourself; Tigers Jaw — I Won't Care How You Remember Me.

In February, new albums by Aaron Lee Tasjan, Wild Pink and Black Country, New Road had us yearning for live music; VanJess sang matters of the heart; and Will Liverman devoted an entire album to Black composers. Songs featured on this episode: • Aaron Lee Tasjan: "Computer of Love" from Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!• Wild Pink: "Oversharers Anonymous" from A Billion Little Lights• Black Country, New Road: "Science Fair" from For the First Time• VanJess: "Slow Down" from Homegrown• Maxine Funke: "Lucky Penny" from Seance• Will Liverman: Three Dream Portraits: No. 2, Dream Variation from Dreams of a New DayFollow the Press Pause playlist for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

NPR Music's picks for the best new albums out this week include Julian Baker's Little Oblivions, the warped pop of Jimmy Edgar, stirring protest songs from Chris Pierce, a debut from Sam Dew and more.Featured Albums:1. Julien Baker — Little Oblivions Featured Song: "Highlight Reel"2. Karima Walker — Waking The Dreaming BodyFeatured Song: "Window I"3. Chris Pierce — American SilenceFeatured Song: "Sound All The Bells"4. Don Cherry — Cherry JamFeatured Song: "You Took Advantage Of Me"5. Jimmy Edgar — Cheetah BendFeatured Song: "Cheetah"6. Sam Dew — Moonlit FoolsFeatured Song: "Rap Shit"7. Adrian Younge — The American NegroFeatured Song: "James Mincey Jr."8. A Winged Victory For The Sullen — Invisible CitiesFeatured Songs: "The Merchant Of Seven Nations" and "The Celestial City"Other notable releases for Feb. 26: Blanck Mass — In Ferneaux; Cloud Nothings — The Shadow I Remember; Glitterer — Life Is Not A Lesson; Lucy Spraggan — Choices; Nick Hakim — Will This Make Me Good (Remixes)

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including Charlie Hickey's collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers, José González's first song in Spanish and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Charile Hickey: "Ten Feet Tall," from Count The Stairs2. Francis of Delirium: "Let It All Go," from Wading3. Floatie: "Catch a Good Worm," from Voyage Out4. Matt Sweeney and Bonnie "Prince" Billy w/ Mdou Moctar: "Hall of Death," from Superwolves5. José González: "El Invento" (Single)6. Ethel Cain: "Michelle Pfeiffer," from Inbred7. Mint Julep: "Pulse," from In A Deep And Dreamless Sleep

NPR Music's picks for the best new albums out on Feb. 19 include the disco euphoria of SG Lewis, soaring, instrumental rock from Mogwai, the Somali supergroup 4 Mars, Tash Sultana and more.Featured Artists And Albums:1. SG Lewis — timesFeatured Song: "Back to Earth"2. Pauline Anna Strom: Angel Tears In SunlightFeatured Song: "Temple Gardens At Midnight"3. Mogwai — As The Love ContinuesFeatured Song: "F*** Off Money" 4. Tash Sultana — Terra FirmaFeatured Song: "Crop Circles"5. Lava La Rue — Butter-FlyFeatured Song: "Magpie"6. 4 Mars — Super Somali Sounds From The Gulf Of TadjouraFeatured Song: "Dhulka Hooyo"7. Cassandra Jenkins — An Overview On Phenomenal NatureFeatured Song: "Crosshairs"8. The Hold Steady — Open Door PolicyFeatured Song: "Unpleasant Breakfast"Other notable releases for Feb. 19: Animal Collective — Crestone; Another Michael — New Music And Big Pop; David Gray — Skellig; Hand Habits — Dirt; Indigo Sparke — Echo; Katy Kirby — Cool, Dry Place; Wild Pink — A Billion Little Lights.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares thrilling new music from Tune-Yards, Tōth's tale of playing the trumpet — and fainting — during a funeral, the stunning voice of a singer named mehro and more.Featured Songs: 1. mehro: "Chance With You," from SKY ON FIRE 2. Tōth: "Turnaround (Cocaine Song)," from You And Me And Everything 3. Buzzy Lee: "Strange Town," from Spoiled Love 4. Johanna Samuels: "Nature's Way," from Excelsior! 5. Moontype: "About You," from Bodies of Water 6. Tune-Yards: "hold yourself," from sketchy.

NPR Music's shortlist for the best albums out this week includes new ones from the English rapper slowthai, R&B singer Pink Sweat$, the jazz super group R+R=Now, His Name Is Alive and more.Featured Albums:1. slowthai — TyronFeatured Songs: "45 Smoke," "Push" and "ADHD"2. Pink Sweat$ — Pink PlanetFeatured Song: "Pink Money"3. R+R=Now — R+R=Now LiveFeatured Song: "Change of Tone"4. Jakob Bro — Uma ElmoFeatured Song: "Beautiful Day"5. Various — Cuba: Music And RevolutionFeatured Song: "Chequere Son"6. Dominique Fils-Aimé — Three Little WordsFeatured Song: "While We Wait"7. Anika Pyle — Wild RiverFeatured Songs: "Failure II" and "June"8. His Name Is Alive — Hope Is A CandleFeatured Songs: "Still" and "Halo"Other notable releases for Feb. 12: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah — New Fragility; Claud — Super Monster; Death by Unga Bunga — Heavy Male Insecurity; Django Django — Glowing in the Dark; Jillette Johnson — It's A Beautiful Day And I Love You; Pale Waves — Who Am I?; Sports — Get A Good Look Pt. 1; Various — Judas and the Black Messiah OST

On this week's show, All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares a mix of old favorites and new discoveries, including Julien Baker, the return of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, BONZIE and more.1. Julien Baker: "Favor," from Little Oblivions2. BONZIE: "Caves," from Reincarnation3. The Sea The Sea "Stumbling Home" from Stumbling Home4. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: "CYHSY 2005," from New Fragility5. Eve Adams: "Blues Look The Same," from Metal Bird6. Suss: "Drift," from Promise

NPR Music's roundup of the week's best new albums includes a surprise solo release from Paramore's Hayley Williams, the 20th anniversary edition of J Dilla's Welcome 2 Detroit, Foo Fighters and more.Featured Albums:1. Foo Fighters — Medicine at MidnightFeatured Song: "Shame Shame"2. Odette — HeraldFeatured Song: "Trial By Fire"3. Black Coffee — SubconsciouslySong: "Wish You Were Here"4. John Carpenter — Lost Themes IIIFeatured song: "Alive After Death"5. The Staves — Good WomanFeatured Song: "Careful Kid"6. Editrix — Tell Me I'm BadFeatured Song: "Tell Me I'm Bad"7. Hayley Williams — Flowers for Vases - descanosFeatured Songs: "Just A Lover" and "How You Doin?"8. J Dilla — Welcome 2 Detroit (20th Anniversary Edition)Featured Song: "Think Twice" and "Give it Up (acapella version)"9. Femi and Made Kuti — Legacy +Featured Songs: "As We Struggle Every Day" and "Hymn"10. Archie Shepp & Jason Moran — Let My People GoFeatured Song: "Wise One"Other notable releases for Feb. 5: Aaron Lee Tasjan — Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!; Black Country, New Road — For the First Time; Jane Birkin — Oh! Pardo Tu Dormais; Miss Grit — Impostor; Psychedelic Porn Crumpets — Shyga! The Sunlight Mound; Puma Blu — In Praise of Shadows; Sun June — Somewhere; The Weather Station — Ignorance.

In January, we saw ourselves in FKA twigs and Jazmine Sullivan, drank from Ian Sweet's astral pop, shuffled Cassandra Jenkins' Tarot deck and got lost in William Parker's tone worlds. Songs featured on this episode: • FKA twigs (feat. Headie One, Fred again..), "Don't Judge Me"• Jazmine Sullivan: "Girl Like Me (feat. H.E.R.)" from Heaux Tales• Ian Sweet: "Drink the Lake" from Show Me How You Disappear• Cassandra Jenkins: "Hard Drive" from An Overview on Phenomenal Nature • William Parker: "The Golden Light (Hymn)" and "A Great Day to be Dead" from Migration of Silence Into and Out of The Tone WorldFollow the Press Pause playlist for the NPR Music staff's favorite new songs.

NPR Music's picks for the best new albums out this week include a Madlib-Four Tet collaboration, stunning debuts from Celeste and Arlo Parks, the Malian artist Nahawa Doumbia and more. Featured Albums: 1. Madlib & Four Tet — Sound AncestorsFeatured Song: "Hoprock"2. Celeste — Not Your MuseFeatured Song: "Tonight Tonight"3. Weezer — OK HumanFeatured Song: "All My Favorite Songs"4. Nahawa Doumbia — KanawaFeatured Song: "Didadi"5. Arlo Parks — Collapsed in SunbeamsFeatured Song: "Hope"6. Ani DiFranco — Revolutionary LoveFeatured Song: "Crocus"7. Shai Maestro — HumanFeatured Song: "Time"8. Yasmin Williams — Urban DriftwoodFeatured Song: "Juvenessence" and "Urban Driftwood"Other notable releases for Jan. 29: Anna B Savage — A Common Turn; The Besnard Lakes — The Besnard Lakes Are The Last Of The Great Thunderstorm Warnings; The Body — I've Seen All I Need To See; Buke & Gase With So Percussion — A Record Of...; Goat Girl — On All Fours; The Notwist — Vertigo Days; PJ Harvey — Is This Desire - Demos; Steven Wilson — The Future Bites; Tribulation — Where The Gloom Becomes Sound.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tunes and discoveries of the week, including a powerful song on addiction from Margo Price, a stirring violin concerto, and more surprises.1. Hand Habits: "4th of July," from dirt - EP2. Miss Grit: "Impostor," from Impostor - EP3. Margo Price: "Hey Child," from That's How Rumors Get Started4. Anna Fox Rochinski: "Cherry," from Cherry5. Anna B Savage: "Baby Grand," from A Common Turn6. Iceland Symphony Orchestra: "Violin Concerto by Daníel Bjarnason," from Occurrence

NPR Music's shortlist of the best albums out on Jan. 22 includes the country hip-hop of Willie Jones, electronic artist Yu Su, Atlanta rapper BRS Kash, Rhye and more. Featured Albums:1. Th1rt3en — A Magnificent Day For An ExorcismFeatured Song: "The Magician"2. Yu Su — Yellow River BlueFeatured Song: "Klein"3. BRS Kash — Kash OnlyFeatured Song: "Do It"4. Remy Banks — The Phantom Of ParadiseFeatured Song: "Tomorrow"5. Rhye — HomeFeatured Song: "Black Rain"6. Typhoon — Sympathetic MagicFeatured Song: "Empire Builder"7. Palberta — Palberta 5000Featured Song: "Fragile Place"8. Willie Jones — Right NowFeatured Song: "American Dream"Other notable releases for Jan. 22: Alina Kalancea — Impedance; Bicep — Isles; CARM — CARM; Elio — Can You Hear Me Now; Elori Saxl — The Blue of Distance; Erik the Architect — Future Proof; Groupie — Ephemeral; James Yorkston and the Second Hand Orchestra — The Wide River; Jeremiah Fraites — Piano Piano; Lande Hekt — Going to Hell; Logic1000 — You've Got The Whole Night To Go; Thee Conductor — Spirit of a Ghost; Widowspeak — Honeychurch.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new musical discoveries, with messages of love, understanding and acceptance.1. Bernice: "It's Me, Robin" from Eau de Bonjourno2. Nana Yamato: "Do You Wanna" from Before Sunrise3. Darkside: "Liberty Bell" from Spiral4. Nora Brown: "East Virginia" from Cinnamon Tree5. Steady Holiday: "Love Me When I Go To Sleep" from Take The Corners Gently6. Steven Wilson: "King Ghost" from The Future Bites

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the latest solo release from Zayn, the "bratty feminist" pop of Ashnikko, the Israeli jazz quartet Apifera and more.Featured Albums: 1. Ashnikko — DemidevilFeatured Song: "Toxic"2. Zayn — Nobody's ListeningFeatured Song: "Outside"3. Sexual Harrassment — I Need A FreakFeatured Song: "I Need A Freak"4. Kate Davis — Strange BoyFeatured Song: "I'll Do Anything But Break Dance For Ya, Darling"5. Pom Poko — CheaterFeatured Song: "Like A Lady"6. Apifera — OverstandFeatured Song: "Overstand"7. Midnight Sister — Painting the RosesFeatured Song: "Dearly Departed"8. Pearl Charles — Magic MirrorFeatured Song: "Take Your Time"Other notable releases for Jan. 15: Azure Ray — Azure Ray; Beach Bunny — Blame Game; Buck Meek — Two Saviors; Danielle Durack — No Place; Frank Iero and the Future Violents — Heaven is a Place, This is a Place; Jody Lo — I Will Not Break the Scale; Matthew Sweet — Catspaw; Samia — The Baby Reimagined; Shame — Drunk Tank Pink; You Me At Six — Suckapunch.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares surprising collaborations between Vagabon and Courtney Barnett, Buke and Gase with So Percussion and more great discoveries.Featured Artists And Songs:1. Vagabon Feat. Courtney Barnett: "Reason to Believe" 2. Gia Margaret: "Solid Heart" 3. Shame: "Nigel Hitter" from Drunk Tank Pink4. Buke and Gase / So Percussion: "Hold It In" from A Record Of...5. awakebutstillinbed: "beauty" from stay who you are6. Another Sky: "It Keeps Coming" from Music For Winter Vol. 1

Spanish punk, metal-sampling rap, Kenyan grindcore, Russian synth pop — this is how NPR Music's resident Viking coped, raged and soothed himself in 2020. Songs featured on this episode: • Accidente: "Lo que importa" from Canibal• Backxwash: "Spells" from God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It• Aisha Orazbayeva: "Oliver Leith: Blurry Wake Song" from Music for Violin Alone• Maral: "Bushehr" from Push• Moor Mother: "Circuit Break" from Circuit City• Стереополина: "Последнее свидание" from Институт культуры и отдыха• Claire Rousay: "Two Things" from Both• Meurtrieres: "Alienor" from MeurtrièresFor more, follow the Viking's Choice playlist and subscribe to the newsletter.

In 2012, All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton rented a small cabin in the woods and invited some of their closest friends for what they were sure would be the party of the century.

In 2018, Steve Martin, John Legend, William Shatner and more joined Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton for All Songs Considered's annual holiday extravaganza, which unfolded like a bad high school play.

Kacey Musgraves, Conor Oberst and more special guests join All Songs hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton on a steam engine to the North Pole.

Every year, All Songs Considered hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton go on a musical holiday adventure. This year, they take a rocket ride to outer space and are joined by a few special guests.

Join hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton as they set out on a snowy road trip in search of the true spirit of the holiday season.

Ann Powers joins All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen to discuss your favorite albums of the year.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we celebrate the life of Beethoven and the lasting powers of his music in the 250 years since his birth.

Originally recorded live on NPR Music's YouTube channel, host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR's Ann Powers and Sidney Madden, along with contributor Christina Lee to count down NPR Music's top five songs of the year.

Radio Milwaukee's Tarik Moody leads a discussion on NPR Music's number one album pick and why it's one of 2020's most important and potent releases.In just over a year, Sault has released three albums with little warning and scant member information. If the group's previous albums, 5 and 7 brought the funk-soul party, then UNTITLED (Black Is) "funnels rage and sorrow into contemplative streams of thought, over equally brooding music meant to slow your heart rate," Marcus J. Moore wrote in his review for NPR Music. He further called the album "a robust collection of funk, soul, meditative spoken-word and protest chants meant to score the full spectrum of Blackness."This conversation about the Sault album originally ran live on NPR Music's YouTube channel shortly after the record was released in June.

In this bonus feed drop we share an episode of NPR Music's new podcast Louder Than A Riot. Hosts Rodney Carmichael and Sidney Madden spent a year investigating the link between the rise of hip-hop and mass incarceration. In this episode they look at the story of Mac Phipps, a rapper whose own lyrics were used against him in court.

We pick our favorite music released in November 2020, featuring Kali Uchis' heart-struck devotionals, Tierra Whack's playful pop, metal duo Jucifer's tribute to Arabic music and Salaam Remi's star-studded soundtrack of the Black experience. Songs featured: • Salaam Remi: "Live from Soul in the Horn" from Black on Purpose • Shameika, "Shameika Said (feat. Fiona Apple)" • Tierra Whack, "Peppers and Onions" • Ólafur Arnalds: "Spiral" from Some Kind of Peace• Kali Uchis: "la luna enamorada" from Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞ • Jucifer: "Mitochondria" from نظم (Nazm)

NPR Music's pick for the best new albums out this holiday week include an epic return for The Smashing Pumpkins, Three 6 Mafia rapper Juicy J, a previously unreleased Bill Evans concert and more.Featured Albums:1. The Smashing Pumpkins — CyrFeatured Song: "Save Your Tears"2. Juicy J — The Hustle ContinuesFeatured Song: "1995"3. Ane Brun — How Beauty Holds The Hand Of SorrowFeatured Song: "Trust"4. Sundae Crush — A Real SensationFeatured Song: "Good Boy"5. Bill Evans — Bill Evans Live At Ronnie Scott'sFeatured Song: "A Sleeping Bee"6. Various — Pop Ambient 2021Featured Song: "Mittsommer" Other notable albums out Nov. 27: Bad Bunny — El Último Tour del Mundo; Bille Joe Armstrong — No Fun Mondays; Bombino — Live in Amsterdam; JFDR — Dream On; Miley Cyrus — Plastic Hearts.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite songs of the week including Steve Earle performing the work of his late son, Justin Townes Earle who died of an apparent drug overdose in August.Featured Tracks: 1. Steve Earle: "Harlem River Blues" from J.T.2. Buck Meek: "Pareidolia" from Two Saviors3. Horsegirl: "Ballroom Dance Scene" (Single)4. Painted Shield: "Ten Years From Now" from Painted Shield5. Miloe: "Change Your Mind" from Greenhouse6. Katy Kirby: "Traffic!" from Cool Dry Place

Hear the first episode of the podcast, created with Vermont Public Radio's Erica Heilman, as the band reveals how they made their latest album, Free Love.Erica Heilman spent hours talking with singer Amelia Meath and synthesist Nick Sanborn. We get a deep insight into how this couple works together — in this case, it began with Amelia's voice memo. It was just her singing, unaccompanied. And though they've made music together for the past seven-plus years, Nick thought it might be the best thing she'd ever done. Give a listen to Shaking Out The Numb, and see how the song unfolds.

NPR Music's picks for the week's best new albums includes the debut, studio full-length from rapper Megan Thee Stallion, the first all-Spanish album from Kali Uchis, U.K. dub artist The Bug and more.Featured Albums:1. Megan Thee Stallion — Good NewsFeatured Song: "Savage Remix"2. Mamalarky — MamalarkyFeatured Song: "Drug Store Model"3. The Bug (feat. Dis Fig) — In BlueFeatured Song: "Take"4. Kali Uchis — Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros Demonios)Featured Song: "La Luna" and "te pongo mal"5. Partner — Never Give UpFeatured Song: "Honey"6. Shygirl — ALIASFeatured Song: "Twelve"7. Grandaddy — The Sophtware Slump 20th Anniversary EditionFeatured Song: "Jed's Other Poem" (solo piano version)8. Visionaries — VFeatured Song: "Put It Together"Other notable releases for Nov. 20: 5 Billion In Diamonds — Divine Accidents; Anna McClellan – I Saw First Light; Ida Mae — Raining For You; Neil Young — Archives Vol. II (1972-1976); Ronn McFarlane and Carolyn Surrick — Fermi's Paradox; Tayla Parx — Coping Mechanisms; Tank and the Bangas — Friend Goals; War on Drugs — Drugs Live.