NPR Music

Who’s the Mariah Carey of Halloween? Labels and artists are trying to capitalize on spooky season, but these are the songs that belong in the canon, from the truly terrifying to autumnal and nostalgic. Featured songs: 1. Phoebe Bridgers: “Killer” from ‘Stranger in the Alps’ 2. Fever Ray: “If I Had A Heart,” from ‘Fever Ray’ 3. Sufjan Stevens: “John Wayne Gacy, Jr” from ‘Illinois’ 4. Jack Lenz: “Go...

A new synth-pop duo comes out of the gate with a perfect song and country gets metaphysical, but a surprise drop from the tail end of 2013 dominates the year. Note: This is a recurring series in celebration of All Songs Considered’ s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for spo...

Tame Impala. Silvana Estrada. Soulwax! Guest host Anamaria Sayre is joined by Travis Holcombe of KCRW in Los Angeles to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Oct. 17. The Starting 5:  - Tame Impala, 'Deadbeat' ( Stream ) - Silvana Estrada, 'Vendrán Suaves Lluvias' ( Stream ) - Soulwax, 'All Systems Are Lying' ( Stream ) - Meme del Real, 'La Montaña Encendida' ( Stream ) - Clarice Jensen, 'I...

There is no question that Mexican vocalist and composer Silvana Estrada is special to Alt. Latino. Ever since she launched her 2022 album "Marchita" with a series of revelatory singles, she seemingly spoke directly to Alt. Latino co-host Anamaria Sayre. Since those earliest days, the two have been able to spend quite a bit of time together in interviews and other public gatherings, which only brou...

We’ve got two of the most-talked-about albums of the year, the return of electro-folk wonder Juana Molina, guitar rock from Alien Boy, Agriculture and more.  NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton as we update our running list of the year’s best songs. Featured artists and songs: 1. Geese: “Islands of Men,” from ‘Getting Killed’ 2. Juana Molina: “Siestas ahí,” from ‘DOGA’ 3. Dijon: “Yamah...

A country music makeover, an electro-pop crooner inspired by Sam Cooke, the stomp-clap era continues, and more. Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship...

Madi Diaz. Madison Cunningham. The return of Mobb Deep. Guest host Rodney Carmichael chats with Celia Gregory from WNXP in Nashville about their favorite albums out Friday, Oct. 10. Intro: - Patti Smith, 'Horses (50th Anniversary)' The Starting 5: - Madi Diaz, 'Fatal Optimist' ( Stream ) - Princess Nokia, 'Girls' ( Stream ) - Madison Cunningham, 'Ace' ( Stream ) - Makaya McCraven, 'Off The Record'...

The flood gates open to K-Pop, plus a feel-good rock anthem (from a band that hasn’t released anything since), a pop juggernaut that became the year’s “song of summer,” and more. Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...

Gloria Estefan is one of those musicians whose work and mere presence in the record industry deserves without question platitudes like ‘pioneering’ or ‘ground breaking.’ In fact, we have often mentioned her in that light throughout the fifteen years of Alt. Latino. So it was a thrill to invite her to chat with us once again, this time immediately after a stunning Tiny Desk performance that will pu...

The Pink Floyd guitarist and singer talks about the 50th anniversary of Wish You Were Here , a new live album and concert film for his latest solo release  Luck And Strange , and more. Weekly Reset: Rowing on an autumn lake. Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind...

Taylor Swift just dropped her new album The Life Of A Showgirl. It touches on her relationship with fiancé Travis Kelce while reflecting on fame, normalcy, the Internet, and a simmering beef with a fellow pop star. Our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour unpack all the songs on this special episode, including “Actually Romantic,” “Eldest Daughter,” “CANCELLED!”, and “Ruin The Friendship.” Note: Look...

dodie. Molly Nilsson. Leon Vynehall. We welcome Skylar Rochelle of 90.9 The Bridge in Kansas City to the show to recommend five albums not made by Taylor Swift. The Starting 5: • dodie, 'Not For Lack Of Trying' • Blue Lake, 'The Animal' • Snõõper, 'Worldwide' • Molly Nilsson, 'Amateur' • Leon Vynehall, 'In Daytona Yellow' The Lightning Round: • S. Carey, 'Watercress' (EP) • Ledisi, 'For Dinah' (A...

It's that time of year again: NPR's Tiny Desk becomes El Tiny, featuring concerts from some of the most exciting and legendary Latin artists around. So, this week Felix and Ana run through this year's El Tiny lineup and listen to performances from Fito Paez, Carlos Vives, Chuwi and more. Plus, a conversation about the news that Bad Bunny will perform at next year's Super Bowl LX. This podcast epis...

We update our running list of the year’s best songs with club beats from Tame Impala, the fractured pop of Dominik Fike, good vibes from singer Amber Mark and more. Featured artists and tracks: 1. Tame Impala: “Dracula,” from ‘Deadbeat’ 2. Gabriel Jacoby: “The One” (single) 3. Dominic Fike: “Quite The Opposite,” from ‘Rocket’ 4. NewDad: “Misery,” from ‘Altar’ 5. Madi Diaz: “Heavy Metal,” from ‘Fat...

We "wake the hell up" to pop music, Adele plays the Tiny Desk, a certain Australian artist drops the year's most infectious song, and more. Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year. Tell us what you think: allsongs@npr.org Share this show with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify or where...

Neko Case. Jeff Tweedy. Amanda Shires' divorce album. Evan Miller from member station WYSO in Ohio joins Lars Gotrich to talk about their favorite albums out Sept. 26. The Starting 5 - Neko Case, 'Neon Grey Midnight Green' - Jeff Tweedy, 'Twilight Override' - Robert Plant, 'Saving Grace' - Amanda Shires, 'Nobody's Girl' - Cate Le Bon, 'Michelangelo Dying' The Lightning Round - Geese, 'Getting Kill...

The way new music comes to Alt. Latino World Headquarters says a lot about our slight age difference. I still get CDs in the mail, with an occasional music file sent via email. Ana is constantly playing me audio files she gets vial email or texts from her new music sources, very rarely on CD. So while we were busy putting the finishing touches on our fist annual El Tiny takeover of the Tiny Desk C...

The Wilco frontman talks about his new triple solo album, 'Twilight Override,' an enthralling opus on the miracle and wonder of life, and why he can't get enough of it, even when everything seems bad. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

It was a year of both soaring euphoria and quiet calm, with lots of sonic adventures. Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year. Tell us what you think: allsongs@npr.org Share this show with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. See pcm.adswizz.com for in...

Joan Shelley, Lola Young and the return of Sarah McLachlan. Kyle Meredith from WFPK in Louisville joins Stephen Thompson to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Sept. 19. The Starting 5: - Joan Shelley, 'Real Warmth' ( Stream ) - Lola Young, 'I'm Only F****** Myself' ( Stream ) - Wednesday, 'Bleeds' ( Stream ) - Sarah McLachlan, 'Better Broken' ( Stream ) - Yasmine Hamdan, 'I remember I fo...

Bad Bunny's months-long residency in Puerto Rico is coming to an end. The shows brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to the island, and sparked new debates about Puerto Rican identity and politics. For this week's episode, Alt. Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras traveled to San Juan to take in one of the final performances, and interview both locals and tourists about the musical an...

We’ve got six must-hear songs to add to our running list of the year’s best tracks, including some shredding from The Beths, a gorgeous solo piano piece from Dustin O’Halloran, sublime jazz from Nicholas Payton and more. Featured artists and songs: 1. The Beths: “No Joy,” from ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’ 2. Nate Smith & Saje: “Big Fish,” from ‘Live Action’ 3. Dustin O’Halloran: “Gold” (Single) 4. Da...

We enter the stomp-clap era as we look back at our number one songs from 2009. Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Guerilla Toss. Die Spitz. The return of Spinal Tap. Raina Douris from WXPN's World Cafe joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums out Friday, Sept. 12. The Starting 5: - Spinal Tap, 'The End Continues' ( Stream ) - Guerilla Toss, 'You're Weird Now' ( Stream ) - Die Spitz, 'Something to Consume' ( Stream ) - Frost Children, 'Sister' ( Stream ) - Mark William Lewis, 'Mark William Lewis...

This week's episode of Alt. Latino is a tribute to host Felix Contreras, who just received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Journalism from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Co-host Anamaria Sayre and the Alt. Latino team surprised Felix with guest appearances from Juanes, Daymé Arocena, Chucho Valdés, Dolores Huerta and more. This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NP...