Welcome to your all-in-one destination for every NPR Music podcast. We break down the best new albums to hit streaming each week on New Music Friday; we share the latest songs worthy of your playlists on All Songs Considered; there’s off-the-rails conversations (and chisme!) about Latin music on Alt.Latino. The NPR Music channel is your hub for new records, iconic artists and cult heroes, free of algorithms and full of surprises. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org . You’ll get…
Phoebe Bridgers. Jungle. Hovvdy. It's a surprisingly stacked Summer Friday this week, and you can hear all about it with New Music Friday host Stephen Thompson and guest Samantha Hval from WMNF in Tampa, Fla. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Phoebe Bridgers 'Lost Weekend' (Dead Oceans) (10:25) Jungle…
Harry Styles just finished a 5-night run in Mexico City. You know who else had a 5-night run in Mexico City? Michael Jackson in 1993. Mainstream artists have a long history of being enticed by the energy of performing for a Latin American crowd … which means there’s also a long and less-known history of big pop stars making music for that audience. Did you know Michael Jackson has a Latin track?…
Sometimes a cover song is so good, so singular that it completely eclipses the original version. Think Sinéad O'Connor doing Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Jimmy Hendrix lighting up Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” or, of course, Whitney Houston’s defining take on Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” On this week’s show, we share some of our picks for cover songs that are better than…
At the outset of The Ripple Effect, NPR Music’s series on the Grateful Dead, we asked fans to share stories about how they fell in love with the band. The response was overwhelming: wry, emotional and personal. It was overflowing with shared experiences that underline exactly how crucial the community that surrounds the Dead is to the band’s legacy. Now that we’ve reached the end of Days Between,…
Ravyn Lenae. Margaret Glaspy. Overmono. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Liz Warner from WDET in Detroit about their favorite albums out Friday, August 7. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:54) Album No. 1 - Ravyn Lenae, 'Blue Island' (08:03) Album No. 2 - Overmono, 'Pure Devotion' (15:26) Album No. 3 - Margaret…
To celebrate Ana's world premiere as a DJ -- a gig playing for 5,000 people in Central Park, which she definitely, absolutely prepared for -- this week we present her summer playlist. We've got song of the summer contenders (Aitana's "SUPERESTRELLA"), sleeper hits we missed when they dropped (Quevedo's "EL BAIFO"), and bubbly classics-in-the-making we keep coming back to (Rawayana's "Se Vienen…
We open this week’s show by reflecting on the loss of Glen Hansard, an artist who was critical to shaping the sound and spirit of All Songs Considered in its earliest days. We then share some of our favorite new tracks of the week, including a King Princess cover of Neil Young’s “Helpless,” cheeky pop from Coco & Clair Clair, a stunning ambient track from Adam Wiltzie and the late composer Jóhann…
Death never stopped the Grateful Dead before. Since Jerry Garcia's death in 1995, a sprawling collection of musicians and fans across generations have kept the band’s legacy alive in different ways. But without members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Deadheads are experiencing their first summer where there’s no clear inheritor of the Grateful Dead’s mantle. Where does the music, and the dedicated…
The Durutti Column. Arca. MOLIY. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Olive Kimoto of member station KCRW in Los Angeles about their favorite albums out Friday, July 31. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (01:34) Album No. 1 - The Durutti Column, 'Renascent' (08:49) Album No. 2 - Arca, 'XXXXX' (17:20) Album No. 3 - DOMi &…
Bill Evans might not be techno. But in this week's episode, the slow-building angst and tension of electronic producer Debit's new music reminded Ana of the beloved jazz piano master. And that kind of genre cross-pollination is everywhere in this week's showcase of new music: Brazilian field recordings remixed for the club, multiple reinterpretations of the Cuban guaguancó, and Spanish producers…
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest places, if you look at it right. And if you get confused, just listen to the music play. This week, resident Deadheads Isabella Gomez Sarmiento and Felix Contreras help host Robin Hilton hear what he’s been missing in the music of the Grateful Dead. Are you a Deadhead? Share your memories about the Grateful Dead and we may include them in a…
Charli xcx. Tyla. Shania Twain. Guest host Ann Powers chats with Nastia Voynovskaya of member station KQED in San Francisco about their favorite albums out Friday, July 24. Plus, some NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (02:06) Album No. 1 - Charli xcx, 'Music, Fashion, Film' (08:16) Album No. 2 - Willow, 'The Thread' (14:59) Album No. 3…
We'll take any excuse to talk about the insane quality of music coming out of Spain these days. This week, we got one: Spain defeated Argentina on Sunday to win the 2026 World Cup Final. So, this episode is a celebration of the multitude of music scenes across Spain that we can't get enough of. Catch boundary-pushing electronic and hip hop producers in Madrid, indie rockers and songwriters in…
We share our picks for the best new tracks out now, including the laid-back dystopia of Sylvan Esso’s “Concrete Glen,” an acoustic take on Phoebe Bridgers’ “Lost Boys,” the glitched-out chaos of feeble little horse and more. NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton. Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or…
Gracie Abrams. Nia Archives. Steve Lacy. On a release day full of catchy earworms, host Stephen Thompson chats with Tshego Letsoalo of KALW in San Francisco about their favorite albums out Friday, July 17. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:58) Album No. 1 - Gracie Abrams, 'Daughter from Hell' (08:13) Album No. 2 -…
With last week's best-of show behind us, we've got a clean slate to dive into our favorite new music kicking off the second half of the year. Felix brings a batch of country tracks, while Ana -- to absolutely no one's surprise -- continues her exploration of Brazil's endless supply of captivating music. Catch a mesmerizing indie-ambient album from João Carvalho, some posthumous crooning from Raul…
On her stellar new single, “Switchblade,” beabadoobee shreds ‘90s style. The Rolling Stones have still got it on their latest album, Foreign Tongues . And Four Tet surprises us with a new “wingdings” project. We’ve got all that and more as we share our picks for the best new songs of the week. NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:20)…
Jack White. Baby Rose. Suki Waterhouse. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Maggie Brennan of WCBE in Ohio about their favorite albums out Friday, July 10. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (02:00) Album No. 1 - Jack White, 'Frozen Charlotte' (07:28) Album No. 2 - Baby Rose, 'YEARNALISM' (15:23) Album No. 3 - Suki…
It’s that time of the year again: a mix between Christmas and Halloween for me and Felix. We gift you our best album picks of the year so far — and there’s nothing spookier for us than having to choose. So here it is, the music we’ve loved and listened to the most in the first half of 2026, some of the best (in our opinion) from all of Latin America and its diaspora. — Anamaria Sayre Artist and…
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…
On a special mid-year episode of New Music Friday, host Stephen Thompson and a lineup of NPR Music writers and critics reflect on their favorite albums of the year so far. Albums featured in this episode: (01:14) Album No. 1 - Noah Kahan, 'The Great Divide' (07:16) Album No. 2 - underscores, 'U' (14:00) Album No. 3 - Cécile McLorin Salvant, 'With Every Breath I Take' (20:13) Album No. 4 -…
The origin story of The Postal Service is as simple (and twee) as they come: An electronic music producer (Jimmy Tamborello) and an indie rock singer-songwriter (Ben Gibbard) decide to collaborate on a few songs, sending each other music via snail mail. But The Postal Service’s only album, Give Up , eventually went platinum, and the band is selling out arenas decades later. It’s a record that…
On this week’s Alt.Latino, Anamaria and I both gush about 'Femme Fatale Vol. 2,' the new album from Chilean-Mexican singer Mon Laferte, who is on one of the more amazing creative streaks I've witnessed in a while. Also, Ana and I sometimes unintentionally align when picking new music for the show, and that took place this week with a couple of Brazilian highlights: I chose an artist who records as…
It's the midway point of 2026, and it's safe to say that when it comes to the best songs of the year, there's not really any consensus to be found. So we’ve assembled our personal Top 10 list of the most memorable songs to cross our paths, 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…
Beth Orton. Chanel Beads. Cécile McLorin Salvant. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Ayana Contreras from KUVO in Denver about their favorite new albums out Friday, June 26. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Introduction - Roberta Flack, 'The Montreux Years' (02:01) Album No. 1 - Cécile McLorin Salvant, 'With…
This week's episode is a musical time machine. In the late 1960s, the band Zapata sprang out of a street gang in northwest Washington, D.C., with a sound that combined a variety of contemporary styles: Afro-Caribbean rhythms, soul jazz and the golden era of American R&B. The mixture worked. For a few years, Zapata opened for an astonishing number of A-list acts passing through the city, like Miles…
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:…
Tierra Whack. The War and Treaty. A plethora of new jazz releases. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Nate Chinen from WRTI in Philadelphia about their favorite new albums out Friday, June 19. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (01:17) Album No. 1 - Tierra Whack, 'Whack's Museum' (06:43) Album No. 2 - The War and Treaty,…
We're living in a moment when the geopolitical intersects with the personal in a profound way. The relationship between the United States and Cuba is once again in the news, and it happens at a time when there are a handful of new releases from Cuban artists on the island and around the world. The sounds of the albums are vastly different, but they all draw from the same deep well of inspiration…
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 any…
Olivia Rodrigo. Pussy Riot. Hayley Kiyoko. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Nastia Voynovskaya from KQED in San Francisco about their favorite albums out Friday, June 12. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Songs of the Summer (01:59) Album No. 1 • Olivia Rodrigo, 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love'…
Ruben Ramos' life story mirrors the history of what we now know as Tejano music. His family's musical roots in Texas go back to 1918, and as a boy he was brought into the family bands, first as a drummer and then as a vocalist. He's been playing big band-inflected Tejano music now for more than six decades, and just released a tribute album tracing that musical lineage, called 'Los Días de Calor.'…
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! So, 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…
Vince Staples. Zoh Amba. Death Cab for Cutie. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Laura Grant from WEXT in New York about their favorite albums out Friday, June 5. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Album No.1 Death Cab for Cutie, 'I Built You a Tower' (ANTI-Records) (08:18) Album No. 2 Vince Staples, 'Cry Baby'…
The best new tracks of the week include a raging, dance floor remix of Wet Leg’s “Catch These Fists,” a touch of vintage soul from rapper Vince Staples, Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien and more. NPR Music’s Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton. A good review helps! So, leave us one on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen! Questions, comments, suggestions…
Boards of Canada. Kurt Vile. Iceage. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Andrew Brown of KUTX in Austin about their favorite albums out Friday, May 29. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Paul McCartney (02:00) Boards of Canada (09:22) Kurt Vile (17:01) Iceage (22:18) feeble little horse (27:45) Greg Mendez (33:46)…
We don’t often get to discuss the ways that Latin American music made its way west across the Pacific Ocean. But this week we have two incredible projects that celebrate that journey. First, a Japanese band that fuses traditional minyo folk sounds with cumbia and other Latin rhythms. Then, a project that unearths a forgotten history of the 19th century Mexican cowboys who went to Hawaii to help…
We weigh the options and attempt to pick the one song that best captures the Millennial experience, from the dizzying highs of the dot-com boom, when anything seemed possible, to the post-9-11 bust, the "hope and change" of the Obama years, and prolonged period of generational disillusionment. NPR Music editors Hazel Cills and Sheldon Pearce join host Robin Hilton. A good review helps! So, leave…
Aja Monet. Jack Antonoff's Bleachers. Radiohead's Ed O'Brien. Guest host Ann Powers chats with Aurora McGuckin of MVY Radio in Massachusetts about their favorite albums out Friday, May 22. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Bleachers, 'everyone for ten minutes' (06:55) JPEGMAFIA, 'EXPERIMENTAL RAP' (12:49) Ed…
Two different pioneers - from two different continents - are at the heart of this episode of new music. Since the late 80s, Gipsy Kings have been infusing Catalan rumba flamenca with a pop sensibility that defies the purists. Their new single "Historia," from an upcoming album of the same name, shows they've still got that punchy danceability forty years on. And across the pond, Mexican rocker and…
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 of…
It’s been five years since we last heard music from Isaiah Rashad. And four years since he largely disappeared from the public eye after two leaked sex tapes, featuring Rashad with other men, upended his life. Now, he's back. On his album, 'It's Been Awful,' he reaches new levels of clarity and intimacy. Having survived hypervisibility, this new music encapsulates what it means to truly be seen.…
Jobi Riccio. Dua Saleh. Tank and the Bangas. Plus, others not named Drake! NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with J oe Kendrick of WNCW in North Carolina about their favorite albums out Friday, May 15. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Introduction & Jobi Riccio, 'Face The Feeling' (07:49) Dua Saleh, 'Of…
Since 2014, we've been hitting bands up to send in their videos for the opportunity to win the Tiny Desk Contest. And almost from the beginning, Alt.Latino has been pulling aside the bands and artists that play Latin music. It’s always been a highlight to see the incredible talent that's out there night after night in bars, clubs, community centers, street parties and backyards, finding new ways…
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!…
MUNA. Stephen Sanchez. Lykke Li. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Celia Gregory from WNXP in Nashville about their favorite albums out Friday, May 8. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) MUNA, 'Dancing On The Wall' (08:17) Aldous Harding, 'Train on the Island' (16:00) Deb Never, 'Arcade' (22:15) Lykke Li, 'The…
With Mother’s Day nearing, listeners share songs that remind them of their moms and the deeply moving stories behind them. NPR's Mitra Arthur 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, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org Featured artists and songs: (00:00)…
Kacey Musgraves. American Football. Tori Amos. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Jewly Hight from WPLN in Nashville about their favorite albums out Friday, May 1. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Kacey Musgraves, 'Middle of Nowhere' (08:41) American Football, 'American Football (LP4)' (16:25) Isaiah Rashad,…
Fusion is at the heart of so much of the music we cover - especially on this week's episode. Flamenco producers descend on Hermosillo to experiment with regional Mexican music. Young Argentine artists blend trap with folk and rock en Español. A sunny Rio sound is born in Spain. Plus, a New Mexican string band, an Afro-Brazilian collective and an exploration of Latin roots from Cypress Hill.…
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 and more. NPR Music’s Hazel Cills joins host Robin Hiton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:49) Olivia Rodrigo: “drop dead” from you seem pretty sad…