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NPR Music

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.
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Episodes

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Rosalía, Twanguero and Wyatt Flores

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are back with a new music show, featuring Rosalía, Helado Negro, Wyatt Flores and more. Songs featured in this episode: • Twanguero, "Rumba #2" • Twanguero, "La Leyenda de Cañaveral" • Rosalía, "Omega (feat. Ralphie Choo)" • Wyatt Flores, "Oh Susanna" • Helado Negro, pablopablo, "Lejos De Más" • Troker, "El Novio (Versión Mariachi)" • Los Sufridos, Bad Gyal, "Duro de Verdad pt. 2" Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Edito...

Oct 09, 202432 min

The Contenders, Vol. 18: The songs we can't stop playing this week

Reflections on regret from beabadoobee and Bon Iver, deep sonic meditations from Nala Sinephro and Jill Fraser, and more updates to our running list of the year's best songs. Featured songs and artists: 1. beabadoobee: "California," from This is How Tomorrow Moves 2. Bon Iver: "S P E Y S I D E," from SABLE 3. Mabe Fratti: "Kravitz," from Sentir que no sabe 4. Jem: "Come On Closer," from Finally Woken (20th Anniversary Remastered Edition) 5. Nala Sinephro: "Continuum 3," from Endlessness 6. Jill ...

Oct 08, 202450 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 4

NPR Music's Lars Gotrich and Sheldon Pearce round up the most exciting albums out this Friday, and reflect on the history of instrumental music as protest. Featured albums: • The Smile, 'Cutouts' • Blood Incantation, 'Absolute Elsewhere' • Half Waif, 'See You At The Maypole' • Darius Jones, 'Legend of e'Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye)' • Yasmin Williams, 'Acadia' • Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 'NO​ ​TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28​,​340 DEAD' Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind ...

Oct 04, 202439 min

The songs we can't stop playing on repeat

Alt.Latino is usually all about sharing new music across Latin America, but what about the older cuts Ana and Felix are obsessed with? On this episode, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras share the music they've been playing on repeat, from beloved classics by greats like Ella Fitzgerald to surprising new discoveries out of Mexico like Paloma Morphy. Songs featured in this episode: •Paloma Morphy, "me faltas tú" •George Shearing Quintet, "Juana Palangana" •Carin León and Bolela, "Aviso importante...

Oct 02, 202436 min

'How Women Made Music'

How Women Made Music, a new book out now from NPR, considers what the canon of popular music would look like without men. On this episode, we dig into the book and talk about the greatest albums and songs by women and other marginalized voices, with NPR Music's Ann Powers, contributor Marissa Lorusso and host Robin Hilton. Questions, comments, suggestions and feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data fo...

Oct 01, 202443 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 27

As NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers discuss on this week's episode, there's a thread of loss running through some of the most notable, thrilling albums out on September 27. From the self-titled, posthumous album by the Scottish electronic producer SOPHIE to the harsh, alien sounds created by Alan Sparhawk on White Roses, My God , his first solo album following the death of his wife Mimi Parker, who was also his musical partner for decades in the great band Low, tributes to loved ones...

Sep 27, 20241 hr 2 min

Alt.Latino talks all the surprise nominations for the 2024 Latin Grammys

Wait a minute — does Alt.Latino actually agree with a lot of the Latin Recording Academy's nominations this year? Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento run through as many of the whopping 58 categories as they can in this episode dissecting the nominations for the upcoming ceremony. Songs featured in this episode: •Grupo Frontera, "CANSADO DE SUFRIR" •Grupo Frontera and Yahritza y Su Esencia, "LAS FLORES" •Grupo Frontera and Christian Nodal, "Ya Pedo Quién Sabe" •...

Sep 25, 202447 min

The Contenders, Vol. 17: The songs we can't stop playing this week

We update our running list of the year's best songs with a slice of pop perfection from Oso Oso, harrowing sounds from Colin Stetson, a blissful journey with composer Christopher Rountree and more. Featured songs and artists: 1. Oso Oso: "dog without its bark," from life till bones 2. Christopher Rountree: "Almanac," from 3BPM 3. Colin Stetson: "Hollowing," from The love it took to leave you 4. Emily D'Angelo: "Freezing," from Freezing 5. Lia Kohl: "Tennis Court Light, Snow," from Normal Sounds ...

Sep 24, 202452 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 20

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Lars Gotrich provide a guide the most exciting new releases out today. This week, the selections include some recordings that are new and some that are as much as a half-century old, verging on mythological. The producer Jamie xx began his career as a teenager making beats for the moody electronic band The xx. His solo recordings, including the new album In Waves , have tapped into a higher energy and a wider range of sounds. The saxophonist Nubya Garcia's new a...

Sep 20, 20241 hr 8 min

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Manu Chao, Linda Diaz and Solo Fernández

This week on Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras talk about an exciting new album from Manu Chao on the way — his first in 17 years — and their favorite recent songs from artists like the Dominican indie rock band Solo Fernández, ethereal pop from Tiny Desk Contest Winner Linda Diaz and more. Songs featured in this episode: •Janiero feat. André Viamonte, "LEGO" •Manu Chao, "São Paulo Motoboy" •Solo Fernández, "TELESCOPIO" •Solo Fernández, "BROOKLYN" •Solo Fernández, "TÚ NUNCA DEJARÁS ...

Sep 18, 202436 min

Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' at 20

We look back at Arcade Fire's monumental debut album, why it was so special, the ways it changed the musical landscape, and how it sounds two decades later. Questions, comments or any feedback at all always welcome: allsongs@npr.org 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...

Sep 17, 202444 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 13

NPR Music's Ann Powers and Hazel Cills are your guides to the best music out this Friday, Sept. 13, including the 10th studio album by Miranda Lambert. Postcards From Texas is a new chapter for the onetime Nashville Star contestant who has become one of that industry town's most reliable songwriters and stars — and also a return to her home state. There's more, including a album by Robyn Hitchcock made up mostly of covers of songs from 1967, a year he describes as "a portal between childhood and...

Sep 13, 202449 min

Alt.Latino's 'El Tiny' takeover is back — and this year it's all about love

'El Tiny' season at the Tiny Desk launches next week and this year it's all about love — familial and romantic, with drama fit for a telenovela. Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras preview this year's line-up, sharing a sneak peek at what 2024's 'El Tiny' has to offer. Songs featured in this episode: •Juanes, "Mala Gente" •Juanes, "A Dios Le Pido" •Ivan Cornejo, "Ya Te Perdí" •Okan, "La Reina Del Norte" •Eladio Carrión, "Mama's Boy" •Daniel, Me Estás Matando, "Lo Hice, Te Dejé" •Danny Ocean, "Me ...

Sep 11, 202422 min

The Contenders, Vol. 16: The songs we can't stop playing this week

We update our running list of the year's best songs with the shapeshifting rock of Caleb Landry Jones, Angélica Garcia's dystopian grooves, a searing look at infidelity from Damien Jurado and more. Featured songs and artists: 1. Caleb Landry Jones: "Hey Dawn," from Hey Gary, Hey Dawn 2. Angélica Garcia: "El Que," from Gemelo 3. Damien Jurado & The Fremont Abbeye: "Sheets ('24)," from Sheets ('24) 4. Laura Marling: "Patterns," from Patterns In Repeat 5. Carlos Ares: "Cigarra," from Peregrino ...

Sep 10, 202444 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 6

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers take you on a tour of the most exciting albums out Friday, Sept. 6 Featured albums: • LL Cool J, 'The FORCE' • MJ Lenderman, 'Manning Fireworks' • Nala Sinephro, 'Endlessness' • The Dare, 'What's Wrong with New York?' • Toro Y Moi, 'Hole Erth' For the complete list of new albums out this week and to stream our New Music Friday playlist, visit https://npr.org/music . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for ...

Sep 06, 20241 hr 3 min

New music from Alt.Latino

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras play some of their favorite new songs from the last few months, featuring globe-spanning electronica from Colombian producer Sinego, border-crossing new music from La Doña, nuanced salsa from Spanish Harlem Orchestra and more. 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...

Sep 04, 202432 min

Fall preview 2024

We look ahead to the final big push of releases for 2024, with fall albums from Mount Eerie, SOPHIE, Soccer Mommy, a newly discovered Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan recording and more. Featured albums: 1. SOPHIE: SOPHIE 2. Mount Eerie: Night Palace 3. Dua Saleh: I Should Call Them 4. Kim Deal: Nobody Loves You More 5. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Chain Of Light 6. Soccer Mommy: Evergreen 7. Katie Gavin: What A Relief 8. Oliver Coates: Throb, shiver, arrow of time 9. Nubya Garcia: Odyssey Other most-anticipated...

Sep 03, 202443 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 30

The best albums out this week include Wild God from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Doechii's Alligator Bites Never Heal , Jon Hopkins' Ritual and more. Featured Albums: • Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Wild God • Doechii, Alligator Bites Never Heal • Enumclaw, Home In Another Life • Ellen Reid, Big Majestic • Laurie Anderson, Amelia • Jon Hopkins, Ritual Other notable releases for Aug. 30: • Muni Long, Revenge • Emily D'Angelo, Freezing • AWOLNATION , The Phantom Five • Big Sean, Better Me Than ...

Aug 30, 202456 min

The Contenders, Vol. 15: The songs we can't stop playing this week

The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes tips for staying engaged, being happy and letting go from Arooj Aftab, Great Grandpa, Japandroids and more. Featured artists and songs: 1. Arooj Aftab: "Raat Ki Rani," from Night Reign 2. The Smile: "Don't Get Me Started" (Single) 3. Japandroids: "D&T," from Fate & Alcohol 4. Peter Cat Recording Co.: "I Deny Me," from Beta 5. Great Grandpa: "Kid" (Single) 6. Yasmin Williams: "Virga (feat. Darlingside)," from Acadia L...

Aug 27, 202447 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 23

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Sheldon Pearce are your guides to seven anticipated albums out Aug. 23. During the second half of the episode, the two dig into the mercurial nature of the album format in 2024. Featured albums: - Sabrina Carpenter, 'Short n' Sweet' - Lainey Wilson, 'Whirlwind' - Illuminati hotties, 'POWER' - Fontaines D.C., 'Romance' - Heems, 'Veena' - Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, 'Woodland' - Magdalena Bay, 'Imaginal Disk' See the longer list of albums out August 23 and st...

Aug 23, 202450 min

The sound of Venezuelan protest music over the last 30 years

Over the past month thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets to protest the disputed election of president Nicolás Maduro, while Venezuelan artists like Danny Ocean use music to reflect on this political moment. But Ocean's work is just one data point in a long history of music from Venezuela that embodies the political opinions and emotions of those within the country and the diaspora. On this week's episode, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are joined by producer Isabella Gomez Sar...

Aug 21, 202423 min

Nick Cave on the encounters that brought him to 'Wild God'

On August 30, the Australian-born rock titan Nick Cave will release Wild God , a new album with his band The Bad Seeds. It's a high point in Cave's career, and NPR Music's Ann Powers spoke with him about the struggles — personal, musical and religious — he faced on the road to making the album. Wild God is filled with songs about encounters with the divine, which does not always take a benevolent form. And it follows a decade in which Cave, having publicly faced tragedy in his own life, has evol...

Aug 20, 20241 hr 1 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 16

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Hazel Cills give you a quick rundown of the most notable albums out Friday, Aug. 16, including Post Malone's country project, F-1 Trillion, Tinashe's seventh LP Quantum Baby, and Charly Bliss's first new record in five years. Featured Albums: - Tinashe, Quantum Baby - Post Malone, F-1 Trillion - Charly Bliss, Forever - Morgan Wade, Obsessed - Starflyer 59, Lust For Gold - Palehound, Live at First Congregational Church Visit https://npr.org/music to see the longe...

Aug 16, 202446 min

The funniest songs of all time

"Weird Al" Yankovic helps curate a mix of some of the funniest songs of all time, from classics like Tom Lehrer's "The Elements," to more fringe discoveries from The Hazzards, Tonio K. and more. Note: This episode originally ran on Apr. 9, 2024. 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...

Aug 13, 202450 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out August 9

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers survey the new albums out August 9, ranging from Ravyn Lenae's focused R&B to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's scuzzed-up glam-rock and an elegant solo piano album recorded by Japanese pop star and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto just months before his death in 2023. Plus: A new album made by 39-year-old American bassist esperanza spalding and 81-year-old Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento leads to a discussion of collaborations across generations. ...

Aug 09, 202454 min

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Danny Ocean, Girl Ultra and Superfónicos

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre run through their favorite new music, including new work from Venezuelan artist Danny Ocean in the midst of the country's political crisis, Girl Ultra leaning into her techno side, funky, electro-cumbia from Superfónicos and more. Songs featured in this episode: •Superfónicos, "Renaceré" •Girl Ultra, "lalala" •Fuerza Regida, "TUQLO" •Danny Ocean, "por la pequeña Venecia" •Lisa Morales, "Hermanitas in the Rain" •Jazz Orishas, "Deniye" Audio for this episode of A...

Aug 07, 202430 min

The golden age of slacker rock

Thirty years after the release of Beck's "Loser," we look back at its impact on the rise of slacker rock and how we still hear its influence today. Note: This episode originally ran on Feb. 27, 2024. 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...

Aug 06, 202459 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out August 2

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Sheldon Pearce dig deep into the latest release by bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, who, more than 30 years into her career, continues to melt the boundaries between genres. Her latest album, No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin , is being released on the centennial of the birth of the author and activist, and overflows with musical, political and historical ideas. Daoud and Sheldon also share new albums and EPs by Khalid, Orville Peck, Moses Sumney, Maren Mor...

Aug 02, 202449 min

S.O.S.: Songs of summer

These aren't the big bangers and Top 40 hits designed to capitalize on the typical summer vibes. We instead play the songs that feel like summer or say summer to us. Featured artists and songs: 1. Kaytranada and Rochelle Jordan: "Lover/Friend," from 'Timeless' 2. HUGEL: "Patadas de Ahogado / LATIN MAFIA (Rework)" (single) 3. Keaton Henson: "Sandwalking," from 'Somnambulant Cycles' 4. Tems: "Love Me Je Je," from 'Born in the Wild' 5. Karol G: "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido" (single) 6. Mary Lattim...

Jul 30, 202445 min

Alt.Latino's guide to Chicano soul

The genre commonly referred to as "Chicano soul" has that "you know it if you hear it" kind of sound. It's a bicultural interpretation of late 1950s and early '60s African American R&B ballads by Mexican American youth, influenced by the operatic style of Mexican rancheras. Broken hearts, unrequited love and loving the wrong person are often the main themes. Real talk: it's the smooth, bilingual vocals of Malo's 1972 hit "Suavecito" expressing the thrill of a new love that is still heard at ...

Jul 24, 202428 min
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