NPR Music

All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton talks with NPR Music's Ann Powers and Lauren Onkey about the life and legacy of the Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin passed away on Aug. 16 at the age of 76. In this career-spanning conversation, we share the songs and stories behind one of the most influential artists of all time, from her earliest days singing gospel in her father's church, through her '80s pop hits, later collaborations with artists like Lauryn Hill and much more.

Let's go back 50 years to a basement outside Woodstock New York — to the formation of a sound and an album that all these years later still shapes the musical landscape. The album is Music From Big Pink and the band is simply called The Band.

Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are joined by NPR Music's Stephen Thompson in this encore presentation of 'Songs We Should Retire.' Each picked a handful of classic and more recent tunes to debate longevity and overstayed welcomes in modern music history. Should "American Pie" be put out to pasture? Has John Lennon's "Imagine" been imagined one too many times? Does Pharrell's "Happy" still make us happy, or should we, as Stephen suggests, cryogenically freeze it so we never have to hear it again in our lifetimes?

We recently put out a call asking listeners to share their thoughts about the songs on Courtney Barnett's latest album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, and other tracks from her rich lyrical catalog. On this week's show, we share some of those listener stories and thoughts, and Courtney talks about what inspires her, the creative process and how her music can be interpreted.

On this week's New Music Friday, All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton talks to NPR Music guests Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson about the essential new releases for July 27, including the jangly guitar pop of Tony Molina, a celebration of queerness and the company we keep from Thin Lips and whimsical sing-a-longs from Raffi. Featured Artists/Albums: 1. Israel Nash: Lifted, featured song "Rolling On," 2. Phantastic Ferniture: Phantastic Ferniture, featured song "Bad Timing," 3. Thin Lips: Chosen Family, featured songs "Chosen Family" and "Gaslight Anthem (The Song Not The Band)," 4. Tony Molina: Kill The Lights, featured song "Nothing I Can Say," 5. Raffi: Dog On The Floor, featured song "Play Play Play," 6. Cody Jinks: Lifers, featured song "Head Case"

It's that time of year, the last weekend in July when NPR Music covers the friendliest festival around, the Newport Folk Festival.The festival's nearly 60-year history is steeped in the roots of American traditions and expands beyond the singer-songwriter tradition that the words "folk music" might conjure. This year we'll be treated to electronic R&B from Moses Sumney, the gospel sounds of War & Treaty, lyrical rock from Courtney Barnett, the Nashville sounds of Margo Price and Jason Isbell, the brilliant guitar of St. Vincent, instrumental vibes from Khruangbin and so much more

All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael, Ann Powers, and Stephen Thompson to talk about July 20th's notable releases. Highlights include sultry R&B from The Internet, seething rock from songwriter Meg Myers, the "Joy" of Ty Segall & White Fence, a new album from the bluegrass group Punch Brothers and more. 1. The Internet: Hive Mind, 2. Lori McKenna: The Tree, 3. Punch Brothers: All Ashore, 4. Ty Segall & White Fence: Joy, 5. Meg Myers: Take Me To The Disco, 6. Buddy: Harlan & Alondra. Other Notable Releases for July 20: Ovlov: Tru, Nathan Salsburg: Third, Balún: Prisma Tropical, Bugge Wesseltoft & Prins Thomas: Bugge Wesseltoft & Prins Thomas, Struckout: Struckout

Happy National Corn Fritter day! Or, if you want to travel back in time to Friday, when this episode was recorded, happy late National French Fry Day, too. Whatever you want to celebrate, it's always a special occasion when there's new music. Songs and artists featured on this episode: 1. Metric: "Dark Saturday," 2. Ohmme: "Water," 3. Black Belt Eagle Scout: "Soft Stud," 4. The Goon Sax: "Make Time 4 Love," 5. Mirah: "Hot Hot," 6. Richard Thompson: "The Storm Wont' Come," 7. Villagers: "A Trick Of The Light"

Happy Friday the 13th! On this week's New Music Friday, All Song Considered's Robin Hilton speaks with NPR's Ann Powers, Stephen Thompson, Lars Gotrich, and Sidney Madden about the best new releases of the week. Highlights include Wiz Khalifa's long-awaited followup to the 2011 pop-rap breakout Rolling Papers, the calming songs of Luluc, affirmations of love from the Dirty Projectors and more. Featured Albums - Rayland Baxter: Wide Awake; Dirty Projectors: Lamp Lit Prose; The Ophelias: Almost; Wiz Khalifa: Rolling Papers 2; Luluc: Sculptor; Amy Shark: Love Monster; Cowboy Junkies: All That Reckoning; Other Notable Releases For July 13: Deaf Heaven: Ordinary Corrupt Human Love; Wet: Still Run; Body/Head: The Switch; Lotic: Power; Jenn Champion: Single Rider; Laurel Halo: Raw Silk Uncut Wood; The Suffers: Everything Here; Valley Queen: Supergiant

Love is often presented as something easy, a matter of simply following your heart. But in actuality, it's rarely that effortless. Several of this week's songs reflect the sour, absurd, and heartrending aspects of intimacy. Complete playlist: 1. Michael Rault: "I'll Be There," 2. Flasher: "Pressure," 3. Wet: "Love Is Not Enough," 4. John Grant: "Love Is Magic," 5. Tim Hecker: "Music For Tundra Pt. 1," 6. Deafheaven: "Canary Yellow"