Mavis Staples. Young Miko. A jaw-dropping project from Rosalía. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Liz Felix from WYEP in Pittsburgh to discuss their favorite new albums out November 7.

The Starting 5:

- Rosalía, 'Lux'
- Young Miko, 'Do Not Disturb'
- Various Artists, 'All Things Go: 10 Years'
- Portugal. The Man, 'Shish'
- Mavis Staples, 'Sad and Beautiful World'


The Lightning Round:

- Juana Molina, 'DOGA'
- Liam Kazar, 'Pilot Light'
- The Mountain Goats, 'Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan'
- The Cranberries, 'MTV Unplugged'
- Sarathy Korwar, 'There Is Beauty, There Already'


See the long list of albums out Nov. 7 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org


Credits:

Host: Stephen Thompson

Guests: Anamaria Sayre and Liz Felix, WYEP

Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell

Digital Producer: Elle Mannion

Editor: Otis Hart

Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed

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Ever since I heard the Argentine saxophonist Gato Barbieri back in the Seventies, I’ve been fascinated by musicians from South America who found their way to jazz.

Lately there seems to be a strong showing of contemporary musicians from various Latin American countries who not only play jazz but also mix certain Latin American folk traditions into their sound.

So, this week I spoke with six of them: vocalist Claudia Acuña from Chile, Argentine vocalists Sofia Rei and Roxana Amed, Mexican vocalist Magos Herrera, guitarist/vocalist Camila Meza and tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana.

Each has a story about identity, living the jazz dream and how they came to jazz.

Hopefully you’ll use this roadmap to start your own journey into jazz, if you haven’t already.

- Felix

Music heard in this episode:

Claudia Acuña - “Prelude To A Kiss”
Sofia Rei - “El Gavilán”
Gato Barieri - “To Be Continued”
Roxana Amed - “Corazón delator”
Mangos Herrera - “Luz de Luna”
Camila Meza - “Utopia”
Melissa Aldana - “A Purpose”

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Our fourth installment of music to slow the blood is a mix of all-new releases from this year, from the world-building, ambient sounds of Ozbolt and Klein to the hope, optimism and good company found in the music of Samia, Hand Habits, KeiyaA and more.

NPR Music’s Dora Levite and Sheldon Pearce join host Robin Hilton.

Featured songs and artists:

1. Kieren Hebden & William Tyler: “Secret City,” from ‘41 Longfield Street Late ‘80s’
2. Cassandra Jenkins: “Only Relaxation,” from ‘My Light, My Massage Parlor’
3. David Cordero & anthené: “Humedal,” from ‘Let One Bird Sing’
4. KeiyaA: “stupid prizes,” from ‘hooke’s law’
5. Annahstasia: Unrest,” from ‘Tether’
6. Klein: “it is what it is in d minor,” from ‘sleep with a cane’
7. Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke: “The Spirit,” from ‘Tall Tales’
8. Hand Habits: “Jasmine Blossoms,” from ‘Blue Reminder’
9. Ozbolt: “Harkerville Coastal Trail,” from ‘Chasyng Drakens’
10. Samia: “Pool (Stripped),” from ‘The Baby (5th Anniversary Edition)’
11. The Armed: “I Steal What I Want,” from ‘The Future Is Here And Everything Needs To Be Destroyed’
12. Stars of the Lid: “Goodnight,” from ‘Music for Nitrous Oxide (30 Year Anniversary 2025 Remaster)'

Enjoy the show? Send it to a friend and leave us a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

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It was a year of staggering losses, from David Bowie and Prince to Leonard Cohen and George Michael. But it was also a year of monumental new music, including Beyonce’s 'Lemonade' and a mountain-sized rock anthem from Mitski.


Note: This is a recurring series in celebration of All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.

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A Waxahatchee side project. Guided By Voices. keiyaA. Marfa Public Radio's Julie Bee joins NPR Music's Stephen Thompson to break down the best albums out on Halloween.

The Starting 5:

- Snocaps (Katie and Allison Crutchfield), s/t (Stream)

- Guided By Voices, Thick Rich and Delicious (Stream)

- Chat Pile & Hayden Pedigo, In The Earth Again (Stream)

- keiyaA, hooke's law (Stream)

- Anna von Hausswolff, Iconoclasts (Stream)

The Lightning Round:

- Florence + The Machine, Everybody Scream

- The Charlatans, We Are Love

- Saintsenaca, Highwalllow & Supermoon Songs

- Hilary Woods, Night CRIÚ

- Lily Lyons, Re-Open The World

See the long list of albums out Oct. 31 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org.


Follow Julie Bee's weekly Marfa Public Radio show on Mixcloud.

Credits:

Host: Stephen Thompson

Guest: Julie Bee, Marfa Public Radio

Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell

Digital Producer: Elle Mannion

Editor: Otis Hart

Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed


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Not to sound like a broken record, but I'll say it again: the variety of creative expression in what is inadequately labeled "Latin music" continues to astound me.

From the bossa nova-by-way-of-Guatemala of Fabuloso and Los Skeepers, to the evolving torch singing of the Chilean-via-Mexico vocalist Mon Laferte, to the ‘Western noir’ of California singer Andrés Miguel Cervantes, to Nathy Peluso’s Argentine take on Seventies New York City salsa, to jazz from southern Spain’s Chano Domínguez... how do we even try to keep up with this kind of output?

Someone has to do it, and we’re glad it’s us. 

Featured artists and songs:

- Milo J, 'OLIMPO', 'Bajo De La Piel', 'Jangadero'

- Fabuloso & Los Skeepers, 'Si Te Gusta'

- Mon Laferte, 'Las Flores Que Dejaste En La Mesa', '1:30'

- Chano Domínguez & Emaginario, 'March Of The Siguiriyas'

- Nathy Peluso, 'ÁNGEL'

- Andrés Miguel Cervantes, 'Dreams of Jacumba'


This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

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It’s a week of surprises as we update our running list of the year’s best music, with a mix of songs that refuse to be any one thing. Plus, singer Brandi Carlile drops a stunning, stadium-sized rock anthem.

NPR Music editor Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.

Featured artists and songs:

1. Brandi Carlile: “Church & State,” from ‘Returning to Myself’
2. Hannah Frances: “The Space Between (feat. Daniel Rossen),” from ‘Nested in Tangles’
3. Kelly Moran: “Don’t Trust Mirrors,” from ‘Don’t Trust Mirrors’
4. Blood Orange: “The Last of England,” from ‘Essex Honey’
5. Magdalena Bay: “Second Sleep” (single)

Weekly reset: A family of bears rummage through a forest on an autumn afternoon.

Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]


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Guitar rock comes roaring back, a monumental tear-jerker wrecks legions of fans, hip-hop hits Broadway and more.

Note: This is a recurring series in celebration of All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.

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Brandi Carlile. Miguel. Tortoise. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Ayana Contreras from KUVO in Denver about their favorite albums out Friday, Oct. 24.

The Starting 5:

- Brandi Carlile, 'Returning To Myself'
- Miguel, 'Caos'
- Tortoise, 'Touch'
- Daniel Caesar, 'Son Of Spergy'
- Yazmin Lacey, 'Teal Dreams

The Lightning Round:

- iLe, 'Como Las Canto Yo'
- Natural Information Society, 'Perseverance Flow'
- Hannah Jadagu, 'Describe'
- Hether, 'Holy Water'
- Joyer, 'On the Other End of the Line'

See the long list of albums out Oct. 24 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org.

Credits:

Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Ayana Contreras, KUVO
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Elle Mannion
Editor: Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed


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This is the first episode of a new series on All Songs Considered, hosted by NPR Music critic Ann Powers and editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen. Most of what you hear on All Songs is focused on new music, but now, every other Thursday, Ann and Daoud will pick an old song and discuss how it has managed to stand the test of time and why we still care about it. This week’s song: “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)” by Stevie Wonder, from 1972.

This episode is available for everyone, but upcoming episodes in this series will be just for NPR Music+ supporters. NPR Music+ is a new way to support NPR and public radio. When you join, you’ll get access to every episode in this new series, and you’ll get to hear every episode of All Songs Considered and Alt.Latino sponsor-free. Sign up at plus.npr.org/nprmusic

Follow Ann and Daoud's work at NPR Music
Subscribe to the NPR Music newsletter
Follow NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts

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