We update our running list of the year's best songs with a plainspoken but moving story from Chris Staples, a wildly unpredictable piece from soprano Barbara Hannigan, Natalia Lafourcade and more.

Featured artists and songs:
1. Third Coast Percussion: "Please Be Still," from 'Standard Stoppages'
2. Chris Staples: "Two Carat Diamond," from 'Don't Worry'
3. Barbara Hannigan, David Chalmin: "Che t'ho fatt'io?," from 'Electric Fields'
4. Natalia Lafourcade: "Cocos en la playa," from 'Cancionera'
5. Brooklyn Rider: "Tenebrae," from 'The Four Elements'

'All Songs Considered' 25th anniversary segment: Our No. 1 songs from 2012

Weekly reset: Airing out and beating futons on a Saturday morning in Toyohashi, Japan

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

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

Hear new songs from past episodes in the All Songs Considered playlists in Apple Music and Spotify.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes WXPN's John Morrison to discuss billy woods, Thom Yorke, PinkPantheress and more.

Featured albums:

• billy woods, GOLLIWOG (Stream)

• Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke, Tall Tales (Stream)

• PinkPantheress, Fancy That (Stream)

• MIKE & Tony Seltzer, Pinball II (Stream)

• mclusky, the world is still here and so are we (Stream)

See our long list of records out May 9 and sample more than 40 new albums via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org/music.

Credits

Host: Stephen Thompson

Guest: John Morrison, WXPN

Producer: Simon Rentner

Editors: Otis Hart and Elle Mannion

Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed

Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins

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The music this week comes from a variety of countries and genres, some of it sounds like music you've heard ... while others sound like nothing you've heard before.

Featured artists and songs:

• Natalia Bernal, "Más Allá"

• Jaze, "mil procedimientos"

• Jaze & Susana Baca, "jomalón"

• Jaze, "boomeran'"

• The Mars Volta, "Fin"

• The Mars Volta, "Enlazan las tinieblas"

• The Mars Volta, "Alba del orate"

• The Mars Volta, "Lucro sucio"

• Diego Mema, "la forma de quererte"

• Diego Mema, "till there was you" (Beatles cover)

• The Rumba Madre, "Abuela"

• Junior Zamora, "Salsa y Clase"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Whether you prefer solitude, get-togethers with family or friends, or steeling yourself for the week to come, we've got the perfect album to score your early Sunday hours.

Featured artists and albums:
1. Miles Davis: 'Kind of Blue'
2. Astrud Gilberto: 'The Astrud Gilberto Album'
3. The Congos: 'Heart of the Congos'
4. Madredeus: 'O Espírito da Paz'
5. Laurie Spiegel: 'The Expanding Universe'
6. BAD OPERATION: 'BAD OPERATION'
7. Django Reinhardt: '1937'
8. Tirzah: 'Devotion'
9. Margo Guryan: 'Take a Picture'
10. V/A: 'Worried Now, Won't Be Worried Long: Alan Lomax's "Southern Journey," 1959–1960'
11. Electrelane: 'The Power Out'
12. Woo: 'Into The Heart Of Love'
13. St. Germain: 'Tourist'

All Songs Considered 25th anniversary segment: Our No. 1 songs from 2011

Weekly reset: Bells ringing at Duomo di Firenze, Florence, Italy

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

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

Hear new songs from past episodes in the All Songs Considered playlists in Apple Music and Spotify.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Julie Bee of Marfa Public Radio to talk through the best albums released on May 2.

Featured albums:

• Car Seat Headrest, 'The Scholars' (Stream)

• Samantha Crain, 'Gumshoe' (Stream)

• PUP, 'Who Will Look After The Dogs?' (Stream)

• Jenny Hval, 'Iris Silver Mist' (Stream)

• Jolie Laide, 'Creatures' (Stream)

See the long list of albums out May 2 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at npr.org/music.

Credits

Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Julie Bernal, Marfa Public Radio
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editors: Otis Hart and Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Anamaria Sayre talks about the history of Puerto Rican hip-hop with rapper PJ Sin Suela.

Featured artists and songs:

• PJ Sin Suela & Chuwi, "Escúchame "

• PJ Sin Suela, "Es La Hora"

• Nuff Ced & Tek 1, "Metrópolis"

• PJ Sin Suela, Siete Nueve & Messy Deprat , "Illegal 2.0"

• E.A. Flow, "D'Aqui"

• Intifada, Luis Diaz & Yallzee "Albizu"

• Los Pleneros de La Cresta, "Los de la Isla"

• Bad Bunny & Los Pleneros de La Cresta, "CAFé CON RON"

• Tego Calderón, "Gracias"

• Ñejo Y Dálmata, "Asi Es la Vida"

• PJ Sin Suela, "San Dunga"

• PJ Sin Suela, "Mambrú"

• PJ Sin Suela, "Vivo"

• PJ Sin Suela & Jorge Drexler, "Todo Se Complica"

Credits

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Lauren Migaki. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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We update our running list of the year's best songs with a staggering cut from the new 'Sinners' film, hyperpop from Jane Remover, the return of Foxwarren and more.

Featured artists and songs:
1. Miles Caton: "I Lied to You," from 'Sinners'
2. Foxwarren: "Yvonne," from '2'
3. Jane Remover: "Dancing with your eyes closed," from 'Revengeseekerz'
4. Mal Blum: "I'm So Bored," from 'The Villain'
5. Men I Trust: "The Landkeeper," from 'Equus Asinus'

All Songs Considered 25th anniversary segment: Our number one songs from 2010

Weekly reset: Dinner and dance performance, Chiang Mai, Thailand

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

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

Hear new songs from past episodes in the All Songs Considered playlists in Apple Music and Spotify.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Coco Jones. Samia. Fly Anakin. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Ayana Contreras from Denver public radio stations KUVO Jazz and The Drop to discuss the best new albums they heard this week.

Featured albums:

• Coco Jones, 'Why Not More' (Stream)

• Samia, 'Bloodless' (Stream)

• Emma-Jean Thackray, 'Weirdo' (Stream)

• David Murray, 'Birdly Serenade' (Stream)

• Fly Anakin, '(The) Forever Dream' (Stream)

Check out our long list of albums out April 25 and sample more 50 of them via our New Music Friday playlist at npr.org/music.

To learn more about the Tiny Desk Contest artists you heard in this episode, check out Ayana Contreras' Top Shelf special on YouTube.

Credits

Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Ayana Contreras, KUVO Jazz & The Drop
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editor: Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins

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Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre talk artistic growth and precocious talent.

Featured artists and songs:

• Natalia Lafourcade, "Cancionera"

• Natalia Lafourcade & El David Aguilar, "Como Quisiera Quererte"

• Natalia Lafourcade & Hermanos Gutierrez, "Luna Creciente"

• Irene Diaz, "Anything For You"

• Eladio Carrión & Myke Towers, "Vetements"

• Eladio Carrión & Lia Kali, "Me Muero"

• Kayatibu, LUIZGA & Yaka Huni Kuin, "Nai Basa Masheri"

• Santi Sc, "Cuando Nos Besamos" (feat. Dirk)

• Santi Sc, "Home Run"

• Maria Marquez, "La Lagrima"

Credits

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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We asked listeners to tell us about the one song they couldn't stop listening to because of how it made them feel. On this episode we share some of their picks and the stories behind them.

Note: This episode originally aired in Dec. 2024

Weekly reset: Mochi street vendor, Japan

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

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

Hear new songs from past episodes in the All Songs Considered playlists in Apple Music and Spotify.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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