NPR Music

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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

The Contenders, Vol. 14: The songs we can't stop playing this week

We update our running tally of the year's best songs with a return from Moses Sumney, 2022 Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador, Orville Peck's collaboration with Beck and more. Featured songs and artists: 1. Orville Peck and Beck: "Death Valley High," from Stampede 2. Nilüfer Yanya: "Call It Love," from My Method Actor 3. Alisa Amador: "Woke Up Today," from Multitudes 4. Moses Sumney: "Gold Coast," from Sophcore 5. Neil Young and Crazy Horse: "Helpless," from Early Daze 6. Rema: "YAYO," from H...

Jul 23, 2024•45 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out July 19

This week on New Music Friday from All Songs Considered , NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Stephen Thompson listen to a grab bag of new releases out on July 19, including what's being called the last Childish Gambino album ever, returns by public radio faves Los Campesinos and Dr. Dog and a vibe-heavy follow-up made by the creators of one of the longest-running Billboard singles of all time, just in time to greet the the heat waves of summer 2024 (sorry). Then, one of the week's biggest albums ...

Jul 19, 2024•57 min

Breathe: Songs to calm your nerves

We pause to take a deep breath this week and chill out with a mix designed to slow the blood and calm the nerves, including the one song scientists say can reduce anxiety by up to 65%. Note: This episode originally ran on March 26, 2024. Featured songs and artists: • Marconi Union: "Weightless" • Mary Lattimore: "Wawa by the Ocean" from 'Collected Pieces' • Van-Anh Nguyen and Noshika Masuda: "Spiegel im Spiegel" by Arvo Pärt • Brian McBride: "Girl Nap" from 'The Effective Disconnect' • Laraaji: ...

Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 3 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out July 12

NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen present the noteworthy albums out July 12, including new releases by Nashville iconoclast Sturgill Simpson, poignant lyricist Cassandra Jenkins, pop rebel Remi Wolf and more. Visit npr.org for the long list of albums out July 12 and playlists of their top songs. Read Ann Powers' review of Zach Bryan's The Great American Bar Scene here . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your...

Jul 12, 2024•46 min

Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Omar Apollo, Karol G and Papo Vazquez

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre round up their favorite new tracks, including heartbroken music from Omar Apollo, a mix of jazz and Afro-Puerto Rican sounds from Papo Vazquez and a controversial new merengue electrónico track from Karol G. Songs featured in this episode: •Omar Apollo, "Empty" •Los Cenzontles, "Different Drum" •Mabe Fratti, "Oidos" and "Intento fallido" •Karol G, "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido" •Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Hamilton de Holanda, "Mandalagh" •Papo Vazquez and Mighty Pir...

Jul 10, 2024•28 min

The Contenders, Vol. 13: The songs we can't stop playing this week

The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes new ones from Wilco and Omar Apollo, an ode to friendship from Charli XCX and Lorde and more. Featured songs and artists: 1. Wilco: "Hot Sun," from 'Hot Sun Cool Shroud' 2. Charli XCX and Lorde: "The girl, so confusing version with lorde" (single) 3. Sondre Lerche: "You Are Impossible," from 'Two Way Monologue (20th Anniversary Edition)' 4. Omar Apollo: "Plane Trees" (feat. Mustafa), from 'God Said No' 5. Remy Bond: "Summer ...

Jul 09, 2024•45 min

'Born In The U.S.A.' at 40

With the Fourth of July week here, we look at an album all about the messy, complicated and wonderful culture of America: Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. , which recently turned 40 years old. 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...

Jul 02, 2024•31 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 28

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Anamaria Sayre give you the lowdown on Omar Apollo's new LP, Lil Yachty's collaboration with James Blake, and the fourth album by Hiatus Kaiyote. Featured albums: - Omar Apollo, 'God Said No' - Lil Yachty & James Blake, 'Bad Cameo' - Hiatus Kaiyote, 'Love Heart Cheat Code' Visit npr.org/music to see the entire list of albums out June 28 and stream our New Music Friday playlist. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data ...

Jun 28, 2024•34 min

In Conversation: Edgar Barrera

Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras visit the Miami studio of the Latin pop super-producer. 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

Jun 26, 2024•33 min

The Contenders, Vol. 12: The songs we can't stop playing this week

Our updated list of the year's best songs includes a sweet reflection from beabadoobee, Nathy Peluso's wildly infectious "Aprender A Amar," the mind-blowing virtuosity of pianist Yuja Wang and more. Featured songs and artists: 1. Nathy Peluso: "APRENDER A AMAR," from 'GRASA' 2. Jakob Lindberg: "Musette" and "Tombeau" from 'Robert de Visée: Theorbo Solos' 3. Brijean: "Workin' On It," from 'Macro' 4. Yuja Wang: "Danzón No. 2 (Marquez)," from 'The Vienna Recital' 5. beabadoobee: "Coming Home," from...

Jun 25, 2024•45 min

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 21

The first half of 2024 has been stuffed with blockbuster albums, and as we reach the midpoint of the year, we've got one more to add to the list. On this week's episode of New Music Friday from All Songs Considered , Hazel Cills and Anamaria Sayre discuss the new album from the breakout star of the Mexican Regional movement. Peso Pluma's new Éxodo sees the singer branching out with new sounds and new collaborators. Also out this week: the always captivating Kehlani gets adventurous on Crash and ...

Jun 21, 2024•43 min

The best songs of 2024 (so far)

With the first half of the year almost behind us, we hit pause to reflect on some of the best tracks we've gotten so far, from Chappell Roan, Brittany Howard, Pedro The Lion and more. Featured songs: • Chappell Roan: "Good Luck, Babe!" (single) • Pedro the Lion: "Modesto," from 'Santa Cruz' • Tyla: "Safer," from 'TYLA' • Blondshell: "Docket (feat. Bully)" (single) • Helado Negro: "Colores Del Mar," from 'Phasor' • Jessica Pratt: "World on a String," from 'Here In The Pitch' • Mk.gee: "I Want," f...

Jun 18, 2024•50 min

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