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 in 1974, and for years their recorded material was believed to be lost. Now, surviving member Pepe Gonzalez has restored a cassette tape of Zapata's music from 1971, and is releasing it for the first time. In this episode, Felix chats with Gonzalez about the origins of the band, and how they tried to unify the Black and Hispanic musical scenes in the city at the time.

The podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Otis Hart. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

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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: “Daydream Unbeliever”
(32:33) Sleep: “Have Spacesuit Will Travel”
(41:39) L’Rain: “soulless cycle”

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


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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
- Your Brother's Keeper & Gary Bartz, 'Where Rivers Meet'

(26:21) Album No. 5
- Sam Barsh, Keyon Harrold & Mark Guiliana, 'Straight08'


(32:30) The Lightning Round

- Tucker Zimmerman, 'Dream Me A Dream'
- The Phoenix Trio, 'Tomorrow is Today'
- Janus Rasmussen, 'Inert'
- Daniel Lanois, 'Belladonna Nocturne'
- Wild Up, 'Gay Guerilla Vol. 5'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Nate Chinen, WRTI
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Robin Hilton and Tom Huizenga

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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 this week is a reminder of the very real lives of the people caught in the middle of a situation with an uncertain outcome. It is joyous, contemplative, rhythmically sophisticated and lyrically profound. Just like all Cuban music.

Artists & songs featured in this episode:

(00:52) OKAN, "Ajé (Owo Nla Nla)"
(03:30) Ibeyo, "Aset"
(06:45) Orquesta Akokán, "No Me Voy" 
(11:50) Cimafunk, "Cocinarte"
(15:47) X Alfonso, "Unicornio"

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

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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: [email protected]

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Eric Burdon and War: “Spill the Wine”
(03:09) Stromae: “Santé”
(04:57) Broadway Cast: “Alexander Hamilton”
(07:53) Joe Iconis / Broadway Cast: “Michael in the Bathroom”
(10:14) Abiotic: “Vermosapien”
(12:02) Wipers: “Mystery”
(13:36) Steely Dan: “My Old School”
(17:28) Tunde Olaniran: “Namesake”
(19:54) Shania Twain: “Man, I Feel Like a Woman!”
(22:37) Pat Travers: “Amgwanna Kick Booty”
(26:27) Anthrax & Public Enemy: “Bring The Noise”
(27:49) Unwed Sailor: “Monster Collecting”
(29:46) The Allman Brothers Band: “Midnight Rider” and “Southbound”
(33:12) Lake Street Dive: “You Go Down Smooth”
(35:41) Black Sabbath: “Turn Up The Night”
(37:19) Simple Minds: “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”

Note: A version of this episode originally posted in August 2025.


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Olivia Rodrigo. Pussy Riot. Hayley Kiyoko. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Nastia Voynovskaya from KQED in San Francisco about their favorite albums out Friday, June 12. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Songs of the Summer

(01:59) Album No. 1
• Olivia Rodrigo, 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love'

(10:01) Album No. 2
• Pussy Riot, 'CYKA'

(17:31) Album No. 3
• YHWH Nailgun, 'Magazine'

(22:01) Album No. 4
• Hayley Kiyoko, 'girls like girls (the album)'

(28:31) Album No. 5
• Six Sex, 'ULTRA'


(34:10) The Lightning Round

• Kelsey Lu, 'So Help Me God'
• Ambrose Akimusire & Mary Halvorson, 'Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings'
• Diles Que No Me Maten, 'Escrito en Agua'
• Horse Lords, 'Demand To Be Taken Alive!'
• Mon Laferte, 'Femme Fatale Vol. 2'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.


Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Nastia Voynovskaya, KQED
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Robin Hilton, Lars Gotrich and Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

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Ruben Ramos' life story mirrors the history of what we now know as Tejano music. His family's musical roots in Texas go back to 1918, and as a boy he was brought into the family bands, first as a drummer and then as a vocalist. He's been playing big band-inflected Tejano music now for more than six decades, and just released a tribute album tracing that musical lineage, called 'Los Días de Calor.' In this episode, Felix chats with "El Gato Negro" Ramos about the history of Tejano music across the twentieth century, and how his own story fits inside of it. 

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

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NPR listeners share the songs they reach for when they need to reset the mood, their day or even their life.

This is a followup to our April episode on songs for starting over.  NPR’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.

A good review helps! So, leave us one on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen!

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

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(01:13) Quincy Jones: “Dead End”

(02:12) Bill Withers: “Lovely Day”

(04:51) Florence + the Machine: “Shake It Out”

(08:06) Jacob Collier: “Something Heavy”

(11:24) Des’ree: “You Gotta Be”

(16:32) Peter Gabriel: “Washing Of The Water”

(19:57) Cat Power: “Nothin But Time”

(23:02) John Denver: “Sweet Surrender”

(27:46) Isley Brothers: “Summer Breeze”

(31:22) Green Day: “Still Breathing”

(34:10) Vienna Teng: “Level Up”


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Vince Staples. Zoh Amba. Death Cab for Cutie. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Laura Grant from WEXT in New York about their favorite albums out Friday, June 5. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Album No.1
Death Cab for Cutie, 'I Built You a Tower' (ANTI-Records)

(08:18) Album No. 2
Vince Staples, 'Cry Baby' (Loma Vista Recordings)

(15:43) Album No. 3
Jalen Ngonda, 'Doctrine of Love' (Daptone Records)

(20:41) Album No. 4
Zoh Amba, 'Eyes Full' (Matador Records)

(27:19) Album No. 5
Laura Misch, 'Lithic' (One Little Independent Records)


(32:39) Lightning Round Recommendations

• Fightmaster, 'Tolerance' (Many Hats)
• Red Clay Strays, 'Grateful' (RCA)
• Slippers, 'Slippers 08' (Perennial)
• Suzanne Ciani, Metropole Orkest, Simon Dobson, 'CIANI/ORKEST' (AKP Recordings)
• Tara Clerkin Trio, 'Somewhere Good' (World of Echo)

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Laura Grant, WEXT
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Robin Hilton, Hazel Cills and Lars Gotrich


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The best new tracks of the week include a raging, dance floor remix of Wet Leg’s “Catch These Fists,” a touch of vintage soul from rapper Vince Staples, Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien and more.

NPR Music’s Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton.

A good review helps! So, leave us one on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen!

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

Featured artists and songs:

(00:00) Intro

(01:03) Wet Leg

(07:05) Katia & Marielle Labèque

(15:23) Balming Tiger

(22:42) Wild Up

(31:00) Vince Staples

(36:06) Ed O’Brien


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