NPR Music

Hear the songs we just had to share this week. NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton to update our running list of the year’s best songs, with head-spinning, shape-shifting wonders from Asher White, transcendent ambient sounds from Early Fern, the first new solo album from Neko Case in eight years and more. Featured artists and songs: 1. Asher White: “Beers with my name on them,” from ‘8...

What songs take us back to 2008? Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson recall a pretty folk-heavy year with lots of groundbreaking debuts. 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...

Big Thief. David Byrne. El Michels Affair. WFUV's Alisa Ali joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums coming out Friday, Sept. 5. The Starting 5: • Big Thief, 'Double Infinity' • El Michels Affair, '24 Hr Sports' • Curtis Harding, 'Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt' • Lucrecia Dalt, 'A Danger to Ourselves' • David Byrne, 'Who Is The Sky?' The Lightning Round: • Saint...

Felix shares the music that's helped him recover from a serious illness. Anamaria shares some new exquisite (and, in one case, slightly toxic) love songs. Featured artists and songs: • Blood Orange, "I Can Go" (feat. Mabe Fratti & Mustafa) • Draco Rosa, "Quiero Vivir" • Caetano Veloso, "Voce E Linda" (Remixed Original Album) • Tim Bernardes, "BB (Garupa de Moto Amarela)" • Tim Bernardes, "Última V...

We get a jump on the upcoming fall releases we’re most excited about, including new ones from Skullcrusher, S. Carey, Silvana Estrada and more. Featured artists and albums: 1. Snōōper: ‘Worldwide’ (Oct. 3) 2. Sudan Archives: ‘The BPM’ (Oct. 17) 3. Claire Rousay: ‘Little Death’ (Oct. 31) 4. Crushed: ‘No Scope’ (Sept. 26) 5. Cate Le Bon: ‘Michelangelo Dying’ (Sept. 26) 6. S. Carey: ‘Watercress’ (Oct...

The songs that take us back to 2007, the golden age of indie pop and rock. 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

Sabrina Carpenter. The Beaches. Margo Price. This week, Stephen Thompson chats with NPR Music's Hazel Cills and WMOT's Jessie Scott about the best new albums out this new music Friday. The Starting 5: • The Beaches, 'No Hard Feelings' • The Beths, 'Straight Line Was A Lie' • Margo Price, 'Hard Headed Woman' • Rodney Crowell, 'Airline Highway' • Anna Tivel, 'Animal Poem' Read more about WMOT's live...

This week, NPR Music reporter Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento is back on the mic, bringing host Anamaria Sayre new music in the vein of her 2010s Tumblr era. Think emo bangs, bright blue skinny jeans and a Warped Tour T-shirt. Sonically, this week’s picks run through bedroom pop, sultry balladry and Bronx-Dominican rap over post-punk basslines. Featured artists and songs: • Titanic (I. la Católica and Ma...

We update our running list of the year’s best songs with a bunch of glitched-out ear candy, raging rock, and tracks that seek real, human connections in an increasingly artificial landscape. Featured artists and songs : 1. Disiniblud: “Give-upping (feat. Julianna Barwick),” from ‘Disniblud’ 2. ear: “Fetish” (single) 3. Emily Yacina: “Talk Me Down,” from ‘Veilfall’ 4. Anamanaguchi: “Rage (Kitchen S...

The songs that take us back to 2006. Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary. A shortened 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

Nourished By Time. Mac Demarco. Earl Sweatshirt. Stephen Thompson and Vermont Public's Tad Cautious discuss the best new albums out this new music Friday. The Starting 5: • Nourished By Time, The Passionate Ones ( Stream ) • Pino Palladino & Blake Mills, That Wasn't a Dream ( Stream ) • Greg Freeman, Burnover ( Stream ) • Kathleen Edwards, Billionaire ( Stream ) • Mac DeMarco, Guitar   ( Stream )...

What songs take us back to 2005? Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary. A shortened 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

On Alt. Latino we often discuss the way that traditions are recognized and expanded upon. Usually it’s when we’re talking about new artists.   But this week we are spending time honoring two legends: Tex Mex accordion player Flaco Jimenez and Latin jazz pianist/composer Eddie Palmieri each died within the last few weeks. They were foundational to their respective musical cultures, products of two...

A nostalgic look back at the most memorable songs that defined All Songs Considered in its first five years. Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary. A version of this episode originally ran on March 4, 2025 See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NP...

KAYTRANADA. Dijon. Molly Tuttle. We discuss the best new albums of the week with arts critic Amelia Mason from WBUR in Boston. Intro • KAYTRANADA, 'AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!' ( Stream ) The Starting 5 • Dijon, 'Baby' ( Stream ) • Marissa Nadler, 'New Radiations' ( Stream ) • Molly Tuttle, 'So Long Little Miss Sunshine' ( Stream ) • Pile, 'Sunshine and Balance Beams' ( Stream ) • Joseph Decosimo, 'Fiery G...

Alt. Latino host Anamaria Sayre and frequent guest Isabella Gomez Sarmiento share their favorite Latin pop earworms of the moment.  Featured artists and songs: • Simon Grossmann, "Copa Del Mundo" • Xavi & Kapo, "Bien Pedos" • Ana Frango Elétrico, "A Sua Diversão" • Piek & Letón Pé, "Prendan Un Fokin Abanico" • Letón Pé, "Madrugá" • Martox, "Si Es Verdad" • Lena Dardelet & Martox, "A mí de ti" • st...

Before summer disappears, we share our favorite songs for your long and winding drives, plus a list of ground rules (does the driver always have final say?), and a breakdown of what works best when. Featured artists and songs: 1. Eric Burdon and War: “Spill the Wine,” from Eric Burdon Declares “War” 2. Stromae: “Santé,” from Multitude 3. Broadway Cast: “Alexander Hamilton,” from Hamilton 4. Joe Ic...

Ethel Cain. Charley Crockett. J.I.D. Plug in to the week's top new releases with NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and guest DeShun Nance of WJSU's The Sipp in Jackson, Miss. The Starting 5: • J.I.D, 'God Does Like Ugly' ( Stream ) • Ethel Cain, 'Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You' ( Stream ) • Amaarae, 'BLACK STAR' ( Stream ) • Charley Crockett, 'Dollar a Day' ( Stream ) • Gordi, 'Like Plasticine...

Some might call it whiplash, the way we sometimes zip from one genre of Latin music to another in our New Music shows. But I like to think of it as an expression of the richness and vitality of all music made under what is known as Latin music. This week's selections reinforce the idea that trying to identify this music under one heading is impossible. Let's just call it Good Music. Featured artis...

We update our list of the year’s best songs with new obsessions from The Antlers, polymath Keaton Henson, pianist Julia Hamos, Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and more. Featured artists and songs: 1. Julia Hamos: “Ellis Island,” from Ellis Island 2. The Antlers: “Carnage,” from Blight 3. Gabriela Ortiz: “El olo del Jaguar,” from Yanga 4. Keaton Henson: “Lazy Magician (feat. Julia Steiner)” (single) 5....

Newcomer Emily Hines. Hardcore collective The Armed. A Susumu Yokota boxset. WDET's Liz Warner joins NPR Music's Stephen Thompson to dive into their favorite albums out this week. The Starting 5: • Emily Hines, 'These Days' • The Armed, 'THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED' • Mal Devisa, 'Palimpsesa' • Caimin Gilmore, 'BlackGate' • Susumu Yokota, 'Skintone Edition Volume 1' (bo...

Global superstar Bad Bunny is hosting an unprecedented 30 concert residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Fans are calling it a defining cultural moment for the island. Anamaria Sayre attended two recent shows and shared her reflections. Music featured in this episode: • Bad Bunny, "Callaita" • Bad Bunny, "Baile Inolvidable" • Los Pleneros de la Cresta, "Los de la Isla" • Gilberto Santa Rosa,"La Agarr...

You asked, we listened: Roséwave is back! Our summer playlist series returns with syrupy sweet songs from the likes of Amerie, Wednesday, Addison Rae, Marvin Gaye, and more. Featured artists and songs: 1. The Jamies: "Summertime Summertime" 2. The Lijadu Sisters: "Come on Home," from 'Horizon Unlimited' 3. Amerie: "Why Don't We Fall in Love," from 'All I Have' 4. Waxahatchee: "Much Ado About Nothi...

Tyler Childers. Patty Griffin. Indigo De Souza. Joe Kendrick of WNCW in North Carolina joins us to discuss the best albums out on July 25. Intro: • Tyler, The Creator, 'DON'T TAP THE GLASS' The Starting 5: • Tyler Childers, 'Snipe Hunter' • Patty Griffin, 'Crown of Roses' • Indigo De Souza, 'Precipice' • Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, 'New Threats from the Soul' • Yoshika Colwell, 'On The Wing'...

Before Ana heads off to see Bad Bunny's unprecedented residency in Puerto Rico, we chat a little about why the celebration is significant to the island and Latin music in general. We also dig deep into new releases that include four different approaches to the guitar and a musician from Peru who defies genre to create his own musical language. Music heard in this episode: • Hermanos Gutiérrez, "El...