NPR Music

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Ann Powers join host Robin Hilton for a quick run through some of the most essential new albums out on April 13, starting with the Korean surf-rock band Say Sue Me and their wistful and gritty album Where We Were Together. Also on the show: Singer Juliana Hatfield's inspired and uplifting tribute to Olivia Newton John, the distorted chaos of A Place To Bury Strangers and more. Full playlist: 1. Say Sue Me: Where We Were Together, 2. Juliana Hatfield: Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton John, 3. A Place To Bury Strangers: Pinned, 4. Laura Veirs: The Lookout, 5. L.A. Salami: The City Of Bootmakers, 6. Goldmund: Occasus, 7. Tinashe: Joyride. Also notable for April 13: John Prine: The Tree Of Forgiveness, Josh Rouse: Love In The Modern Age, Rainbow Kitten Surprise: How To: Friend, Love, Freefall, Mr. Fingers: Cerebral Hemispheres.

It's pretty much impossible to ever fully understand why we love or dislike a song. Sometimes we're just in a bad mood when we first hear it and the whole experience sours. Or maybe the opposite happens: You're in a totally elated mood and every song you hear sounds way better than it really is. We open this week's show with a brief reflection on this phenomenon before settling on the one thing we're always looking for no matter what: Songs that transport us in some way. Full playlist: 1. Whyte Horses: "Counting Down The Years," 2. Khruangbin: "Evan Finds The Third Room," 3. Beatrice Dear: "Atungak," 4. Abuse Of Power: "View Of The Few," 5. Ari Roar: "Don't Have A Fit," 6. Ólafur Arnalds: "re:member"

All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton chats with NPR Music's Lars Gotrich, Tom Huizenga, Marissa Lorusso, Sidney Madden and Ann Powers about some of the best new albums out now on Apr. 6, from the scorching punk of Norway's Dark Times to the mesmerizing cello drones of Clarice Jensen, rap phenom Cardi B, dance pop singer Kylie Minogue's country turn and much more. Full playlist. 1. Dark Times: Tell Me What I Need, 2. Christina Vontzou: No. 4, 3. Cardi B: Invasion Of Privacy, 4. Clarice Jensen: From This That Will Be Filled, 5. Hop Along: Bark Your Head Off, Dog, 6. Kylie Minogue: Golden, 7. Kali Uchis: Isolation, 8. Wye Oak: The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs. Also notable for April 6: Tom Misch: Geography, Dr. Octogon: Moosebumps, Paul de Jong: You Funken Sucker, Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Sex & Food, Eels: The Deconstruction.

As we sift through the thousands of video entries we got for this year's Tiny Desk contest, we've laughed, loved and made a lot of phenomenal discoveries along the way. On this edition of All Songs Considered we share one of the most powerful and deeply moving ones we've seen. It comes from a band called Bernie And The Believers whose lyricist, Bernie Dalton, pursued his lifelong dream of making an album, even after ALS robbed him of his ability to move or speak. We share the song the group performed for its Tiny Desk contest entry, "Unusual Boy." Full playlist: 1. Confidence Man "Boyfriend (Repeat)," 2. Illuminati Hotties "Paying Off The Happiness," 3. Young Fathers "In My View," 4. Forth Wanderers "Taste," 5. Bernie And The Believers "Unusual Boy (feat. Essence)," 6. Nikolai Lugansky "No. 5 in G Major. Moderato," 7. Hookworms "Opener."

All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton chats with NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael, Felix Contreras, Marissa Lorusso and Ann Powers about the must-hear albums out on March 30. This includes country singer Kacey Musgraves boundary-pushing Golden Hour, the Cuban big band Orquesta Akokan, conceptual hip-hop from Jean Grea and Quelle Chris, crazy infectious pop from Haley Kiyoko and much more. Albums featured: 1. Orquesta Akokan: Akokan, 2. Kacey Musgraves: Golden Hour, 3. Haley Kiyoko: Expectations, 4. Jean Grae and Quelle Chris: Everything's Fine, 5. Bettye LaVette: Things Have Changed, 6. Frankie Cosmos: Vessel, 7. Lindi Ortega: Liberty, 8. Ashley McBryde: Girl Going Nowhere. Also notable for March 30: Amen Dunes: Freedom, Mary Chapin Carpenter: Sometimes Just The Sky, The Voidz: Virtue, Rich The Kid: The World Is Yours, Trace Mountains: A Partner To Lean On, DJ Esco: Kolorblind, Czarface & MF Doom: Czarface Meets Metalface.

The March For Our Lives rallies that unfolded across the country this past weekend underscored the heightened state of fear and anger over gun violence in the U.S. We open this week's show with a powerful new song from the blues and soul artist Fantastic Negrito, that he says channels his own anxieties and outrage over the state of the world, called "Plastic Hamburgers." The surprisingly loud and gritty rock cut is from his upcoming album, Please Don't Be Dead. Complete playlist for this episode: 1. Fantastic Negrito "Plastic Hamburgers," 2. Guided By Voices "Space Gun," 3. Stella Donnelly "Talking," 4. Hearts Hearts "Phantom/Island," 5. John Prine "Summer's End," 6. Grouper "Parking Lot"

All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton talks with NPR Music's Lars Gotrich, Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson about the essential albums out on March 23. This includes Jack White's sprawling, completely bonkers Boarding House Reach, Americana from Courtney Marie Andrews, R&B singer Toni Braxton's first new solo album in nearly a decade and more. Hear the discussion and songs with the play button at the top of the page or by subscribing to the All Songs Considered podcast. Featured Albums: 1. Jack White: Boarding House Reach 2. Lissie: Castles 3. Courtney Marie Andrews: May Your Kindness Remain 4. Sunflower Bean: Twentytwo In Blue 5. Toni Braxton: Sex And Cigarettes 6. Yamantaka//Sonic Titan: Dirt 7. Erika Wennerstrom: Sweet Unknown

Our bleary-eyed, ear-ringing week of seemingly non-stop live music in Austin, Texas has ended and we're back one last time to reflect on the 2018 South by Southwest festival and play some of our favorite discoveries.Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton, along with NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Rodney Carmichael, convene in the NPR studios to share the most memorable stories and songs of the festival, from the gritty rock of Brooklyn's THICK and Afro-electronic soundscapes of Sudan Archives to the mumble rap of Tierra Whack, the soaring pop of G Flip and much more. Full playlist: 1. THICK "Are You With Me?" 2. Theodore "Are We There Yet?" 3. G Flip "About You" 4. Aisha Badru "Bridges" 5. Sudan Archives "Come Meh Way" 6. Tierra Whack "Mumbo Jumbo" 7. Buddy "Black (feat. A$AP Ferg)" 8. Gang Of Youths "What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?" 9. Xylouris White "Call And Response" 10. Saint Sister "Causing Trouble" 11. Gato Preto "Dia D" 12. Surma "Hemma" 13. Weird Bloom "My Dear Elena Summer's Vudun" 14. Thunderpussy "Velvet Noose"

Our final day at SXSW 2018 and we discuss the remarkable lute/drum duo Xylouris White, Tierra Whack a creative artist who grew up in the Philly rap scene, a transformative set from Cuddle Magic, the flow and breath of Dessa and the story of an inhaler. And a testament to the folks who put this festival together and the wide scope of sounds

Andrew W.K. and his whole band gave us the life-affirming gift of joycore, Dermot Kennedy took us to church in a church and Lido Pimienta delivered a searing Latinx performance as did the Rev. Sekou. Trupa Trupa from Poland was a favorite as was G Flip.