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30 episodes
New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 14
Aug 14, 2026 · 46 min
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 'Sunshine' (AWAL) (19:38) Hovvdy 'Big World' (Arts & Crafts) (27:08) Sweeping Promises 'You Say I Romanticiz…
Alt.Latino: Why Harry Styles and The xx love Latin America
Aug 12, 2026 · 40 min
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? So does Madonna. A few actually. As early as the '50s, Nat King Cole experimented with Spanish and re…
Cover songs that are better than the originals
Aug 11, 2026 · 52 min
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 the originals, talk about why, and what, exactly, a cover song needs to become a classic. NPR Music’s…
The Ripple Effect: Deadheads share their stories
Aug 9, 2026 · 40 min
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, we’re closing The Ripple Effect by listening to voice memos from you: Deadheads and people who love…
New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 7
Aug 7, 2026 · 42 min
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 Glaspy, 'I Am Both' (21:42) Album No. 4 - Man/Woman/Chainsaw, 'Cannonball' (27:36) Album No. 5 - Arun…
Alt.Latino: Ana's summer playlist
Aug 5, 2026 · 31 min
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 Cositas"). Plus, Felix balances the bangers with chill-out room Uruguayan jazz, a psychedelic guitar ja…
Slayyyter's new single, King Princess covers Neil Young
Aug 4, 2026 · 41 min
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 Jóhannsson, and more. NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton. Support the show with a revie…
What's next for the Grateful Dead's legacy?
Aug 1, 2026 · 45 min
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 community that has grown up around it, go from here? NPR Music's resident Deadheads Felix Contreras and Isa…
New Music Friday: The best albums out July 31
Jul 31, 2026 · 43 min
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 & JD Beck, 'WHO ASKED?' (22:17) Album No. 4 - Shearwater, 'The New World' (29:13) Album No. 5 - MOLIY,…
Alt.Latino: Is Bill Evans techno?
Jul 29, 2026 · 29 min
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 channeling -- as Ana puts it -- "experimental Boricua stuff." Featured artists and albums: (00:45) Va…
How to love the Grateful Dead
Jul 28, 2026 · 46 min
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 big series about the band we're launching Aug. 1. Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify…
New Music Friday: The best albums out July 24
Jul 24, 2026 · 40 min
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 - Tyla, 'A*Pop' (20:39) Album No. 4 - Shania Twain, 'Little Miss Twain' (27:50) Album No. 5 - Portra…
Alt.Latino: Spain wins (at music, too)
Jul 22, 2026 · 28 min
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 Barcelona, and some old favorites whose voices never stop (looking at you, Buika!). Artists featured in…
Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more
Jul 21, 2026 · 42 min
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 feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:28) Sy…
New Music Friday: The best albums out July 17
Jul 17, 2026 · 42 min
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 - Steve Lacy, 'Oh Yeah?' (16:38) Album No. 3 - Nia Archives, 'Emotional Junglist' (22:27) Album No. 4…
Alt.Latino: Country twang, Brazilian flow
Jul 15, 2026 · 32 min
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 Malo, the twangy return of Oklahoma's rising star Wyatt Flores, and much more. Artists and albums fe…
beabadoobee, The Rolling Stones, Four Tet, more
Jul 14, 2026 · 46 min
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) beabadoobee: “Switchblade” (08:31) Bonobo & Arooj Aftab: “Fire on the Water” (15:09) The Rolling Stones:…
New Music Friday: The best albums out July 10
Jul 10, 2026 · 42 min
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 Waterhouse, 'Loveland' (22:17) Album No. 4 - Allison Russell, 'In the Hour of Chaos' (28:22) Album No. 5 -…
Alt.Latino: The best Latin music of 2026 (so far)
Jul 8, 2026 · 41 min
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 albums featured in this episode: (02:15) Trueno - 'TURR4ZO' (07:06) Jonathan Suazo - 'Ricano Vol. 2: F…
Summer’s simple pleasures: Roséwave
Jul 7, 2026 · 37 min
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 Make You” and Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar,” to Katie Gavin’s “Aftertaste,” Waxahatchee’s “Much…
The best albums of 2026 (so far)
Jul 3, 2026 · 41 min
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 - Neurosis, 'An Undying Love For A Burning World' (27:18) Album No. 5 - Tiffany Day, 'HALO' (33:46) Album No.…
NPR Music+: “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service
Jul 2, 2026 · 36 min
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 seems to have captured how rapid advances in technology would change how we communicate and even love, br…
Alt.Latino: Mon Laferte's captivating coda
Jul 1, 2026 · 29 min
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 MOMO., while Ana brought in music from São Paulo-based artist Tijolo. Also this week, Chicago-based…
The year’s best songs (so far)
Jun 30, 2026 · 47 min
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 Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:38) Mandy, Indian…
New Music Friday: The best albums out June 26
Jun 26, 2026 · 42 min
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 Every Breath I Take' (09:11) Album No. 2 - Ibeyi, 'Offering' (15:57) Album No. 3 - Chanel Beads, 'Your…
Alt.Latino: They opened for Miles Davis and Sly Stone, then disappeared
Jun 24, 2026 · 24 min
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 Davis, Sly and the Family Stone, Herbie Hancock and The Isley Brothers. But the band would break up…
Beck’s ‘Odelay’ at 30, Mitski covers One Direction, more
Jun 23, 2026 · 47 min
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: “Fireproof” (13:50) Sarah Davachi: “Songs of the Smile’s Fig: III. Follies” (21:56) Shearwater: “Daydre…
New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19
Jun 19, 2026 · 40 min
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, 'The Story of Michael and Tanya' (15:39) Album No. 3 - Micah Thomas, 'Lucid' (20:40) Album No. 4 -…
Alt.Latino: The sounds of Cuban resilience
Jun 17, 2026 · 22 min
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 that has always fueled Cuban music: a deep love for the intersection of cultures. The music we share…
Songs for any road trip
Jun 16, 2026 · 41 min
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 kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Eric Burdon and War: “Spill t…
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