All Songs Considered

Roséwave is a feeling more than a singular sound or genre. It’s the kind of sweetness and sadness that underscores the long, languid days of summer.  Long drives with old friends, watching your kids at the pool, backyard barbecues while the sun slowly sets.  On this episode we share a mix of songs that offer the perfect soundtrack for your roséwave days and nights, from Linda Ronstadt’s “How Do I...

Consensus has been hard to find in 2026, but we’ve assembled our top-ten list of the most memorable songs of the year at this midway point, from the outlaw country of Charley Crockett to the glam rock of Friko, Lana Del Rey’s twisted ode to love, Vince Staples’ “White Flag” and more. NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:38) Mandy, Indian...

We share our picks for the best new tracks of the week, including Mitski’s surprising cover of One Direction’s “Fireproof.” But first, we remember Beck’s still-mind-blowing Odelay , which just celebrated its 30th anniversary.  NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Beck’s Odelay at 30 (03:39) Perennial: “What’s New On The Beat Scene” (08:55) Mitski: “...

It’s the season of road trips -- and nothing goes better with those long and winding roads than music.  This week we share our picks for the perfect playlist, breakdown what works best when, and consider some ground rules -- does the driver always have the final say? Reviews help!  Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts.  Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of an...

NPR listeners share the songs they reach for when they need to reset the mood, their day or even their life. This is a followup to our April episode on songs for starting over .  NPR’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton. A good review helps! Leave us one on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind a...

Our latest picks for the best new tracks of the week include a raging, dancefloor remix of Wet Leg’s “Catch These Fists,” a touch of vintage soul from rapper and singer Vince Staples, Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien channels Kentucky poet Wendell Berry who says, “to know the dark, go dark,” and more. NPR Music’s Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton. A good review helps! So, leave us one on Apple ,...

We weigh the options and attempt to pick the one song that best captures the Millennial generation's experience, from the dizzying highs of the dot-com boom, when anything seemed possible, to the post-9-11 bust, the hope of the Obama years, and prolonged period of generational disillusionment. NPR Music millennials Hazel Cills and Sheldon Pearce join host Robin Hilton. A good review helps! So, lea...

Our latest mix of the week’s best new songs includes a moody reflection on burnout from Gracie Abrams, rising L.A. duo Evening Elephants, the elusive electronic collagists Ear and more.   NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton. Please leave a glowing review on  Apple ,  Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback...

Our latest mix of the best new tracks this week includes a massive eye-roll from Charli xcx, the first-ever solo music from Mike D of the Beastie Boys, another surprise drop from electronic music icons Boards of Canada, and more. NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton. Leave us a glowing review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen! Question...

With Mother’s Day nearing, listeners share the songs that remind them of their moms and the deeply moving stories behind them. Support the show with a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org Note: A version of this episode originally ran in 2024 Featured artists and...

Our latest picks for the week’s best new songs include Olivia Rodrigo’s head-over-heels earworm “Drop Dead,” a stunning bonus cut from Rosalía’s LUX album, a surprising pop turn from Peter Gabriel, twisted dance beats from Nine Inch Nails, Rostam and more. NPR Music’s Hazel Cills joins host Robin Hiton. Support the show with a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tel...

Our latest mix of the best new songs out now includes a scorching new cut from Jack White, a surprise (and breathtaking) return of electronic legends Boards of Canada, outlaw country from Charley Crockett and more.   NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton. Support the show with a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, sug...

We talk with Beck about his gauzy new song, "Ride Lonesome," what he’s been up to since releasing his last album seven years ago, and what he (maybe?) has planned for the coming year. Support the show with a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com...

We celebrate spring and new beginnings with a perfect mix of songs for starting over.  This can take many forms: songs that spark a good, cleansing cry; songs that offer wisdom, or just a sure-fire jolt of adrenaline. But in the end, all of the tracks can help reconfigure your mood, your day or even your life.    Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music’s Noah Caldwell and Dora Levite. Featured ar...

The British act Jungle had a big hit with “Back on 74” — and its unforgettable dance video — in 2023. Now, the group is back with “Carry On,” a breezy, sun-dappled song about surviving a broken heart. We give it a spin to open the show, along with a study on optimism from one of José González’s best albums, a celestial ambient cut from throat singer Tanya Tagaq and more. NPR classical critic Tom H...

More than 6,000 artists entered this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, hoping to win their very own performance behind the actual Desk. We’ll announce the winner soon, but in the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite entries, from the riff-rock group Pump Action, to soul singer Les Greene, loop artist Jackie Marchal, singer-songwriter Yuri Shin and more. Tiny Desk series producer Bobby Carter joins...

Our latest mix of the best new songs out now includes a stunning live version of Bon Iver’s “Heavenly Father,” a track the band originally wrote for the 2014 film Wish I Was Here , but never made available to stream before now. We’ve also got a stirring new ballad from Tori Amos, Luxembourg indie rocker Francis of Delirium (who assures us this is, in fact, a beautiful life), the long-awaited (if c...

We check back in with our running list of the best songs of the week, including Olivia Rodrigo’s cover of The Magnetic Fields classic “The Book of Love,” Noah Kahan’s anthemic new single “Porch Light,” one of Aldous Harding’s boldest songs to date and more.  NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton. (00:00) Intro (01:29) Noah Kahan: “Porch Light” from ‘The Great Divide’ (09:09) Olivia Rodri...

Will this finally be Diane Warren’s year at the Oscars, when she goes up against “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters and “I Lied to You” from Sinners ? (Probably not.) Host Robin Hilton is joined by New Music Friday’s Stephen Thompson to cruelly rank those nominees along with “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi! . (00:00) Intro (02:37) Fifth place (08:45) Fourth...

This week we're obsessing over the hilarious and harrowing “Where’s My Phone,” from Mitski, a slightly softer solo cut from Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, the confounding but wondrous wordplay of Father John Misty and more. NPR Music editor Hazel Cills joins host Robin Hilton. Featured songs and artists: Mitski: “Where’s My Phone,” from ‘Nothing’s About to Happen to Me’ Robber Robber: “The Sound It Mad...